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Article THE CHOICE OF ABDALA: ← Page 3 of 5 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Choice Of Abdala:
her fine eyes seemed rather to beam with complacency and content , than to sparkle with hilarity and joy . When they had approached near the wandering pnnce , they stopped : and presently the eldest thus addressed him : " Unhappy Abdala ! art thou retired to this grove to g ive vent to thy tears ? The phophet , who knows the rectitude of thy soul , will not permit thy lish his desi But vain will be thy pursuit
cruel parent to accomp gn , after the phantom Happiness , which has no real existence among the sons of men . My life has been one continued scene of woe . With me the effusion of tears lias been incessant . Spring has no beauties , Summer no radiance , nor Autumn any charms for me : for and and Autumn idlfade-and Pleasure
Spring , Summer , rapy ^ ; whenever caught , will perish in the very moment of enjoyment . — Take then , virtuous Prince , the advice of a friend . Whenever the course of succession shall call thee to the empire of thy ancestors , seat not thyself on the fatal throne ; for those ancestors have passed away like fleeting shadows , aud dominion and g lory are momentary possessionsTrust not the caprice of fate bseeking unsubstantial
. y joys . Taste not the luxurious banquet ; for the banquet will satiate . Turn thine ear from the sounds of harmony ; for its sweet sounds fatigue . Nor court the roses of beauty ; for the roses of beauty fade . Be wise , and take up thy abode in the lonely forest ; for in the g loom of solitude , where Despondence will lull every hope with her sighsMisfortune and Disappointment can never enter . "
, She ceased : then waving a sable wand , the . cell of a dervise rose to view , amid savage wilds and projecting . rocks . At this instant , the laughter-loving nymph , with sportive air , caught Abdala ' s arm : ' Prince , ' said she , ' what a scene is this for the " rapturous pleasures of youth I Can you listen a moment to the dismal lessons of that melancholy dame ? To reject the pleasures of in ail their
life is ingratitude to Heaven : to enjoy them , exquisite . variety , is to be truly happy ; Let music and love then wirtg each moment with delig ht . How wretched the youth who is not awake to love and joy ! How insensible , how inanimate his soul ! But Abdala is neither ' insensible , nor inanimate . A thousand bright-eyed beauties shall bless thee with unfading charms . Thou shalt rove from fair to fair ; and each moment shall teem with ecstacy and bliss . Take my advice . Ascend the throne of thy ancestors ; but ascend it only for its pleasures ; and leave to some hoary vizier its
perplexities and cares . . These very opposite representations perplexed the prince ; but neither won the attention of his soul . Life appeared a- burden as described by the first ; a fantastic dream as painted by the last . . He turned , in this perplexity , to the sedate but cheerful sister . ' Prince , ' said she , anticipating the meaning of his speaking eye , * th is naturalWhen extremes only are proposed ,.
Reay suspence . son will necessarily pause ! Reject what each advise ; and attend to my counsel . —Thy father will soon terminate his wretched life Go , and succeed to his throne . By thy wisdom and virtues bbsite-• i IT
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Choice Of Abdala:
her fine eyes seemed rather to beam with complacency and content , than to sparkle with hilarity and joy . When they had approached near the wandering pnnce , they stopped : and presently the eldest thus addressed him : " Unhappy Abdala ! art thou retired to this grove to g ive vent to thy tears ? The phophet , who knows the rectitude of thy soul , will not permit thy lish his desi But vain will be thy pursuit
cruel parent to accomp gn , after the phantom Happiness , which has no real existence among the sons of men . My life has been one continued scene of woe . With me the effusion of tears lias been incessant . Spring has no beauties , Summer no radiance , nor Autumn any charms for me : for and and Autumn idlfade-and Pleasure
Spring , Summer , rapy ^ ; whenever caught , will perish in the very moment of enjoyment . — Take then , virtuous Prince , the advice of a friend . Whenever the course of succession shall call thee to the empire of thy ancestors , seat not thyself on the fatal throne ; for those ancestors have passed away like fleeting shadows , aud dominion and g lory are momentary possessionsTrust not the caprice of fate bseeking unsubstantial
. y joys . Taste not the luxurious banquet ; for the banquet will satiate . Turn thine ear from the sounds of harmony ; for its sweet sounds fatigue . Nor court the roses of beauty ; for the roses of beauty fade . Be wise , and take up thy abode in the lonely forest ; for in the g loom of solitude , where Despondence will lull every hope with her sighsMisfortune and Disappointment can never enter . "
, She ceased : then waving a sable wand , the . cell of a dervise rose to view , amid savage wilds and projecting . rocks . At this instant , the laughter-loving nymph , with sportive air , caught Abdala ' s arm : ' Prince , ' said she , ' what a scene is this for the " rapturous pleasures of youth I Can you listen a moment to the dismal lessons of that melancholy dame ? To reject the pleasures of in ail their
life is ingratitude to Heaven : to enjoy them , exquisite . variety , is to be truly happy ; Let music and love then wirtg each moment with delig ht . How wretched the youth who is not awake to love and joy ! How insensible , how inanimate his soul ! But Abdala is neither ' insensible , nor inanimate . A thousand bright-eyed beauties shall bless thee with unfading charms . Thou shalt rove from fair to fair ; and each moment shall teem with ecstacy and bliss . Take my advice . Ascend the throne of thy ancestors ; but ascend it only for its pleasures ; and leave to some hoary vizier its
perplexities and cares . . These very opposite representations perplexed the prince ; but neither won the attention of his soul . Life appeared a- burden as described by the first ; a fantastic dream as painted by the last . . He turned , in this perplexity , to the sedate but cheerful sister . ' Prince , ' said she , anticipating the meaning of his speaking eye , * th is naturalWhen extremes only are proposed ,.
Reay suspence . son will necessarily pause ! Reject what each advise ; and attend to my counsel . —Thy father will soon terminate his wretched life Go , and succeed to his throne . By thy wisdom and virtues bbsite-• i IT