laze of the
diamonds, compared to one glance from her lightning eye? What were the
bright red rubies, compared to her parted coral lips--or the whiteness
of the pearls when she smiled, and displayed her teeth? Her arched
eyebrows were more beautifully pencilled than the rainbow; the blush
upon her cheek turned pale with envy every rose in the celestial
gardens; and in compassion to the court, many of whom were already
blind, by rashly lifting up their eyes to behold her charms, an edict
had been promulgated, by which it was permitted to the mandarins and
princes attending the court, to wear green spectacles to save their
eyes. The magnificent Youantee was consumed with love as with a raging
fever, and the physicians of the emperor were alarmed for his celestial
health; by their advice Chaoukeun consented only to receive him in a
darkened chamber. All was joy. The empire rang with the praises of the
pearl beyond all price. The gaols were ordered to be levelled to the
ground--criminals to be pardoned--the sword of justice to remain in its
scabbard--the bastinado to be discontinued. Even the odious lantern-tax
was taken off, in honour of the peerless Chaoukeun, whose praises were
celebrated by all the poets of the country, until they were too hoarse
to sing, and the people too tired to listen to them.

Ti-tum, tilly-lilly, ti-tum, tilly-lilly, ti-tum, ti.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

"I'm sure I don't wonder at their being tired," observed the pacha,
yawning, "if they were like you."

"God is great," replied Mustapha, with another yawn. "Shall he
proceed?"

"Yes, let him go on; wake me when the story is ended," replied the
pacha, laying down his pipe.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alas! how soon was all this delirium of happiness to be overthrown: how
soon was the prophecy to be fulfilled, that there should be not only joy
in life, but also sorrow! the magnificent Youantee was roused from his
dream of delight by courier after courier coming in, and laying at the
celestial feet tidings of the advance of the hundred thousand warriors.
A solemn council was summoned, and the imperial edict was passed, that
the barbarians of the north, should be driven back to their lands of
eternal frost and snow. The imperial armies departed from the capital,
each individual composing its hundred of thousands, vowing by his two
tails th