permitted his son to commence a
partnership with him in his trade; he transcribed them with his own
hand, and made a present of them to the youth, together with the
articles of partnership. Here, young man, said he, is a paper of more
worth than these articles. Read it over once a month, till it is wrought
in your very soul and temper. Walk by these rules, and I can trust my
estate in your hands. Copy out these counsels in your life, and you will
make me and yourself easy and happy.

_The Vision of Mirza, exhibiting a Picture of Human Life._

1. On the fifth day of the moon, which, according to the custom of my
forefathers, I always keep holy, after having washed myself, and
offered up my morning devotions, I ascended the high hills of Bagdat, in
order to pass the rest of the day in meditation and prayer. As I was
here airing myself on the tops of the mountains, I fell into a profound
contemplation on the vanity of human life; and passing from one thought
to another, surely, said I, man is but a shadow, and life a dream.

2. Whilst I was thus musing, I cast my eyes towards the summit of a rock
that was not far from me, where I discovered one in the habit of a
shepherd, with a little musical instrument in his hand. As I looked upon
him, he applied it to his lips, and began to play upon it. The sound of
it was exceeding sweet, and wrought into a variety of tunes that were
inexpressibly melodious, and altogether different from any thing I had
ever heard: they put me in mind of those heavenly airs that are played
to the departed souls of good men upon their first arrival in Paradise,
to wear out the impressions of the last agonies, and qualify them for
the pleasures of that happy place. My heart melted away in secret
raptures.

3. I had often been told that the rock before me was the haunt of a
genius; and that several had been entertained with that music, who had
passed by it, but never heard that the musician had before made himself
visible. When he had raised my thoughts by those transporting airs which
he played, to taste the pleasures of his conversation, as I looked upon
him like one astonished, he beckoned to me, and, by the waving of his
hand, directed me to approach the place where he sat.

4. I drew near with that reverence which is due to a superior nature;
and as my heart was entirely subdued by the captivating strains I had
heard, I fell down at his feet and wept. The genius smiled on me with a
lo