WHEN Jehaundar Sultan, from the wonder-relating tongue of the par­rot, had heard of the beauties of this phœnix of the hilly region of soul-fascination, and his heart, without having seen her, became ensnared in the mazy locks of the angel-like charmer; the bird of love, for such a mistress of the bride-chamber of heart-captivation, chose her nest in the branches of his mind. In order to remove doubt, and attain cer­tainty, he selected an artist of magic skill and fascinating pencil, named Benuzzeer;* who with his delicate strokes could so delineate a view of the habitable quarters of the earth, with all its mountains and deserts, on the single leaf of a jasmine, that at one glance at its perspective, without the labour of travel, you might visit the seven regions, and view truly, as a figure reflected in a mirror, the properties of all the kingdoms of the globe, and the cultivated and waste parts of the earth. On the rind of a pistachio, he could so clearly pourtray a field of battle, with the representation of its mountain-like elephants, vast encampments, hosts of heroes, bands of warriors, and extensive line of action, that the struggles of the Rustum-hearted,* and the attacks of the courageous on each other, also the dis­tinction of the valiant man from the coward, would appear distinctly at once to the eye.

The revolutions of this azure canopy tinged with gold, had not beheld with the eye of fancy or gaze of imagination, such an enchanting artist of magic pen, nor hoary time heard, upon this varied surface, of a master of such exquisite skill and wonderful execution. By the nice touches of his miraculous pencil, the figured bird, like the real one of the garden, seemed ready to burst forth in song; and, through the nurture of his charm-like pen, the imagery of fancy sprung up like flowers glowing in fresh­ness and beauty. Without exaggeration, if Mani,* painter of the Arzung, had still on the page of life preserved the portrait of existence, he would have acknowledged him for his master, and adored his skill.

To the above-mentioned famous painter, disguised as a merchant, the prince entrusted various rarities of the age, and numerous curiosities of the world, that under such a character, travelling to the delightful country of the bereaver of his understanding, and hav­ing pourtrayed on a silken leaf the unequalled form of the angel who, unseen, had subdued the kingdom of his mind, he might bring it to his presence. Benuzzeer, having fixed the burthens of travel on the camels of resolution, mea­sured his stages, and in swiftness of career lightly reined as the western gale, after encountering various impedi­ments, hardships and the inconvenien­cies of foreign countries, having reached the paradise-like empire, arrived at the city of Meenosowaud, which was the capital of the father of the hoori-formed princess. Having fixed his abode in a garden* which was a place of recreation to Bherawir Banou, he opened his bag­gage; and having taken some of his rarest commodities as an offering to the enjoyers of the splendours beaming on those attendant on the royal couch,* he obtained the honour of an audience.

The emperor, being highly gratified with the sight of his precious merchan­dize, according to the customs of sovereigns, observing the requisite atten­tion to strangers, showered upon him favours greater than the human mind could expect, and with condescension and kindness thus interrogated him: “From what flourishing region have you arrived? and where are the manufacto­ries of these rare goods? for no merchant or trader ever before brought such exquisite pieces of workmanship and curious valuables to our court.”

Benuzzeer, out of policy, mingling truth with fiction, represented such descriptions of his country and sovereign, that admiration increased in the mind of the emperor, from whose presence, when dismissed, he returned to his quarters. The fame of his merchandize being spread abroad in every division and street, at length the attendants at the sacred apartments of Bherawir Banou having heard it, conveyed the rumour to the audience of the damsels near the person of the princess, brilliant as the sun. From the court of purity was issued the sublime order for the coming of Benuz­zeer to the presence. For that day, making the fatigue of travel and excess of labour his apology, he requested to be excused, and thus represented:

“The merchandize in my humble lodging is in general worthy the approval of the attendants on their sacred highness. Entirely with the view of offering my goods as a pesh­cush to the admitted within the veil of purity, did I subject myself, as of no inconvenience, to the difficulties and dangers of foreign travel. To God be praise and thanksgiving, that I have attained my desire, and under the auspices of upright intention, having in health and safety passed many dan­gerous wilds and perilous desarts, have at length reached the sacred court of the empress of the age.

“As, however, my bales are now opened, and repacking them to con­vey to the sublime palace must be attended with much risque and trouble, (though on such account to make excuse is intrusive in a dependant) if the august princess, condescending to indulge a stranger, would in her glory and magnificence cast, like the phœnix,* the shadow of good fortune on this Irim-envied garden,* it would be auspicious to him, and amusing to her highness. Further, whatever the sublime commands may decree, ser­vants have only to obey, as submission is their duty here and hereafter.”

Bherawir Banou, honouring the request of Benuzzeer with her royal com­pliance, on the following morning, when the enlightener of the world, having lifted his head from the collar of the east, had expanded the mantle of brilliancy over the earth, proceeding towards the garden, in an howduje* embroidered with gold, (the dazzling richness of whose kubdeh* made the sun burn with envy) seemed like the moon entering the sign of Aries. The delicate natives of the garden, on the approach of this moving cypress, having lost their bloom of cheek, all shrunk like water from a sense of inferiority, and withered. When seated on the musnud of glory, she commanded the attendance of Benuzzeer.

Benuzzeer, at these soul-gratifying tidings, from excess of joy and exulta­tion, swelled like the blossoming rose-bud; and, with speed equal to the breeze, hastening to the presence of the blooming shoot of royalty, presented articles worthy of acceptance. Bhera­wir Banou, seated behind the conceal­ment of a close curtain, ordered some of her elderly attendants to receive the effects from the hands of Benuzzeer, and bring them within the veil. When the princess had examined them, her delight was such as cannot be expressed in the narrow bounds of relation.

She uttered their praises and her approval in a loud tone, and commanded her servants, if he had any other articles, to bring them to her; upon which, after the usual obeisance, they represented, that he had yet a little casket wrapped in velvet, but would not shew it. Bherawir Banou, supposing it must contain some still more precious article, commanded it to be opened; but Benuzzeer, affecting excuses, would not consent, and the princess thence became more importunate.

When Benuzzeer perceived that her curiosity was at its height, and the object to which he had an eye was concerned in its gratification, he with subtle artifice thus represented: “Though the article on which I chiefly pride myself, and esteem as the medium of my exalta­tion, is certainly this, yet, as it is a charge from a sovereign prince, I cannot open it but in his presence.” On hearing this, the curiosity of Bherawir Banou was increased from one to an hundred fold, and she requested him with much intreaty to open the casket. Benuzzeer replied, “Though compli­ance with this command, and engag­ing in such an action, will occasion defalcation in the trust of integrity; yet, as the wish of the princess Asylum of the world is bent upon this object beyond all bounds, I have no remedy: But, unless the humblest of slaves shall himself present it to the Keemia* impressive sight, to view it is impossible.”

As the impatience and desire of Bherawir Banou to behold curiosities and masterpieces of art was extreme, and Benuzzeer apparently seemed a man of very great age and infirmity, she graced his petition with exalting compliance; and gave orders that, without the skreen of a curtain, he should acquire the rays of honour by a view of the beauties of her presence. Benuzzeer, from excessive joy and rapture forgetting himself, like the atom receiving new life from the beams of the sun, quickly took the lock from the casket, and by introduction of the attendants on the retirement of purity and excellence, became admitted face to face to the sun of the heaven of beauty and perfection. At the first glance, like a pictured figure, becoming speechless and without sensation or motion, his eye, from wild astonishment, like that of the Nergus, became fixed in gaze; fainting overpowered him, and the casket fell from his hand on the ground.