what was to be done, as not to impede the crowds, who arrived momentarily, and who, from their emaciated, jaded looks, and miserable debility, appeared to have suffered more on the journey than even the prince himself. All sense of their wretched situation and feelings, however, disappeared on beholding the end of their wishes; and they rushed into the gateway, with feeble shouts of acclamation.

In order to take time for consideration without being exposed to the gaze of so many votaries of Pleasure, the prince went round to the back part of the Temple, where, to his astonishment, the most profound silence reigned, and, although he looked in at several of the windows, he saw no person. At last, he approached a large folding gate, and he heard it turn upon its grating hinges. He saw two men come out, bearing a coffin, and advanced towards them, in hopes of getting from them some account of the economy of the Temple. Judge his surprise and horror when he learned that the men had scarcely time to bury one of the votaries of pleasure, before their services were required to pay the last duties to another, and that of the

thousands who entered on the other side, scarcely one survived his entrance a month or two, and not one had been known to be there a year, before he was carried out on this side, which was termed The Golgotha.

The men hurried away after this short explana tion, and the prince then for the first time perceived that he was in the midst of graves, which. filled all the prospect as far as the eye could reach. Being oppressed with fatigue, he sat down on one of the graves, with a firm resolution to retrace his steps so soon as darkness should have cleared the road, and freed him from impertinent gazers. He could not but own the justice of the fate which his own credulity, folly, and vices had brought upon him; he now accused himself of the highest ingratitude towards the benevolent fairy Prudentia; but shame prevented him from soliciting her to forget it, and to take him again under her protection.

The Temple of Pleasure was grown so detes-. table to the prince, that he had not patience. enough to tarry in its neighbourhood, till the shades of night should have covered the earth. He quitted his seat, and, advancing to the

front of the Temple, he turned his back upon it without deigning to look at it. The windows of the Temple were instantly thrown up, and he heard the voices of multitudes, female as well as male, shouting out in the most mortifying tones of derision, and contempt :— "See-see the Prince Georgishkan, who was lately the boast of fashion, now going to vulgarize himself, or turn hermit! Ah, thou weak, spiritless, pusillanimous prince, unworthy of thy rank!"

The prince continued his march, shutting his ears against all their revilings and reproaches, which were at length converted into peals of laughter, and hissing, and continued as long as he was in sight. He then congratulated himself on his happy escape, and imagined that the worst was past: but the road was still covered with passengers, every one of whom stopped and treated the prince with the same tokens of scorn and derision. To free himself from these insults, he penetrated into the grove on one side of the road, with an intention of resting himself again, till the road should beclear, and he might travel without annoyance..

As he sat ruminating at the foot of a tree, he perceived, in spite of his pennyless situation, and the difficulties which he should have to encounter in his retreat, a kind of self-congratulation on his resolution.

The sounds of passengers at length ceasedthe moon rose very bright as if to favour the prince's intentions—and, regaining the road, he pursued his course towards the portal. His mind was oppressed with the thoughts of his wretched situation, when his attention was suddenly attracted by the sight of somewhat lying in the midst of the road, which sparkled with uncommon brilliancy. At first, he thought the vacillating sparks proceeded from a glow-worm; but on a closer inspection, he saw a cluster of them. Going up to the spot, judge what were his emotions of surprise and joy at beholding his own belt with the purse, sabre, and dagger, the two latter in the very same condition, as when he delivered them up at the gamingtable, but the former was as full as it could be crammed. He concluded that they had been lost by the winner in his progress to the Temple of Pleasure, and having fastened them once

more round his waist, his heart expanded with satisfaction, and he fell on his knees to return thanks to Alla and the Prophet for this singular interference in his behalf, and encouragement to persist in his resolution of retracing his steps.

He now pursued his journey, so invigorated in mind, that he scarcely felt his bodily fatigue and want of refreshment. Two hours after daybreak he reached the Temple of Fortune, into which he was obliged to enter, in spite of his utmost reluctance. The attendants were sur prized to see a guest arrive at the hour when their house was usually cleared, and the more so at his travelling towards the portal. On their testifying their astonishment to the prince, he asked them if it was so unusual a circumstance. They replied that they had, indeed, seen some very few individuals, who had summoned resolution enough to retrace their steps: but that of those few, the greatest number had turned back again, unable to bear the ridicule of the other passengers, and that it was a very rare thing, that any one got out at the portal.

The prince took a slight repast, and refreshed