representing falfely the value of their eftates; three for concealing their debts; and one, for raising the rent of a decrepit tenant.

I have now fent you a narrative, which the ladies may oppose to the tale of Hymenæus. I mean not to depreciate the fex which has produced poets and philofophers, heroes and martyrs; but will not fuffer the rifing generation of beauties to be dejected by partial fatire; or to imagine, that those who cenfured them have not likewife their follies, and their vices. I do not yet believe happiness unattainable in marriage, though I have never yet been able to find a man, with whom I could prudently venture an inseparable union. It is neceffary to expofe faults, that their deformity may be feen; but the reproach ought not to be extended beyond the crime, nor either sex to be condemned, becaufe fome women, or men, are indelicate or dishonest.

I am, &c.

TRANQUILLA.

NUMB. 120. SATURDAY, May 11, 1751.

N the reign of Jenghiz Can, conqueror of the east,

IN

in the city of Samarcand, lived Nouradin the merchant, renowned throughout all the regions of India for the extent of his commerce, and the integrity of his dealings. His warehouses were filled with all the commodities of the remoteft nations; every rarity of nature, every curiofity of art, whatever was valuable, whatever was useful, hafted to his hand. The streets were crowded with his carriages; the fea was covered with his ships; the ftreams of Qxus were wearied with conveyance, and every breeze of the sky wafted wealth to Nouradin.

At length Nouradin felt himself seized with a flow malady, which he first endeavoured to divert by application, and afterwards to relieve by luxury and indulgence; but finding his ftrength every day less, he was at laft terrified, and called for help upon the

fages

fages of phyfick; they filled his apartments with alexipharmicks, restoratives, and effential virtues; the pearls of the ocean were diffolved, the fpices of Arabia were diftilled, and all the powers of nature were employed to give new fpirits to his nerves, and new balfam to his blood. Nouradin was for fome time amufed with promifes, invigorated with cordials, or foothed with anodynes; but the difeafe preyed upon his vitals, and he foon difcovered with indignation, that health was not to be bought. He was confined to his chamber, deferted by his phyficians, and rarely visited by his friends; but his unwillingness to die flattered him long with hopes of life.

At length, having paffed the night in tedious languor, he called to him Almamoulin, his only fon; and difmiffing his attendants, "My fon," fays he, "behold here the weaknefs and fragility of man; "look backward a few days, thy father was great

and happy, fresh as the vernal rofe, and strong as "the cedar of the mountain; the nations of Afia

drank his dews, and art and commerce delighted " in his fhade. Malevolence beheld me, and fighed: "His root, fhe cried, is fixed in the depths; it is "watered by the fountains of Oxus; it fends out "branches afar, and bids defiance to the blaft; pru"dence reclines against his trunk, and profperity "dances on his top. Now, Almameulin, look upon

me withering and proftrate; look upon me and "attend. I have trafficked, I have profpered, I "have, rioted in gain; my houfe is fplendid, my "fervants are numerous; yet I difplayed only a "finall part of my riches; the reft, which I was hin

"dered

"dered from enjoying by the fear of raising envy, or

tempting rapacity, I have piled in towers, I have "buried in caverns, I have hidden in fecret repofi"tories, which this fcroll will difcover. My pur"pofe was, after ten months more spent in commerce, to have withdrawn my wealth to a fafer

country; to have given seven years to delight and "festivity, and the remaining part of my days to "folitude and repentance; but the hand of death "is upon me; a frigorifick torpor encroaches upon "my veins; I am now leaving the produce of my

toil, which it must be thy bufinefs to enjoy with "wisdom." The thought of leaving his wealth filled Nouradin with fuch grief, that he fell into convulfions, became delirious, and expired.

Almamoulin, who loved his father, was touched a while with honeft forrow, and fat two hours in profound meditation, without perufing the paper which he held in his hand. He then retired to his own chamber, as overborn with affliction, and there read the inventory of his new poffeffions, which fwelled his heart with such transports, that he no longer lamented his father's death. He was now fufficiently composed to order a funeral of modeft magnificence, suitable at once to the rank of Nouradin's profeffion, and the reputation of his wealth. The two next nights he spent in vifiting the tower and the caverns, and found the treasures greater to his eye than to his imagination.

Almamoulin had been bred to the practice of exact frugality, and had often looked with envy on the finery and expences of other young men he therefore believed, that happiness was now in his power,

. fince

fince he could obtain all of which he had hitherto been accustomed to regret the want. He refolved to give a loose to his defires, to revel in enjoyment, and feel pain or uneafinefs no more.

He immediately procured a fplendid equipage, dreffed his fervants in rich embroidery, and covered his horfes with golden caparisons. He fhowered down filver on the populace, and fuffered their acclamations to fwell him with infolence. The nobles faw him with anger, the wife men of the ftate combined against him, the leaders of armies threatened his deftruction. Almamoulin was informed of his danger: he put on the robe of mourning in the prefence of his enemies, and appeased them with gold, and gems, and fupplication.

He then fought to ftrengthen himself, by an alliance with the princes of Tartary, and offered the price of kingdoms for a wife of noble birth. His fuit was generally rejected, and his prefents refufed; but a princefs of Aftracan once condefcended to admit him to her prefence. She received him fitting on a throne, attired in the robe of royalty, and fhining with the jewels of Golconda; command fparkied in her eyes, and dignity towered on her forehead. Almamoulin approached and trembled. She faw his confufion, and difdained him: How, fays fhe, dares the wretch hope my obedience, who thus fhrinks at my glance? Retire, and enjoy thy riches in fordid oftentation; thou waft born to be wealthy, but never canft be great.

He then contracted his defires to more private and domeftick pleafures. He built palaces, he laid out gardens, he changed the face of the land, he

tranfplanted