groaning in Turkish fetters, thy generosity may make thee think of Venice." 24. The feelings of Hamet at this unexpected deliverance are not to be described. Francisco put him on board a ship, which was bound to one of the Grecian islands, and, after taking leave of him in the tenderest manner, forced him to accept of a purse of gold to pay his expenses. 25. Affectionate was the parting of Hamet with his little friend, whom he embraced in an agony of tenderness, wept over him, and implored Heaven to grant him all the blessings of this life. 26. About six months afterwards, one morning, while the family were all in bed, Francisco's house was discovered to be on fire, and great part of the house was in flames before the family were alarmed. The terrified servant had but just time to awaken Francisco, who had no sooner got into the street, than the whole staircase gave way, and fell into the flames. 27. If the merchant thought himself happy on having saved himself, it was only for a moment, as he soon recollected that his beloved son was left behind to the mercy of the flames. He sunk into the deepest despair, when, upon inquiry, he found that his son, who slept in an upper apartment, had been forgotten in the general confusion. 28. He raved in agonies of grief, and offered half his fortune to any one who would risk his life to save his child. As he was known to be very rich, several ladders were instantly raised by those who wished to obtain the reward; but the violence of the flames drove every one down who attempted it. 29. The unfortunate youth then appeared on the top of the house, extending his arms, and calling out for aid. The unhappy father became motionless, and remained in a state of insensibility. At this critical moment, a man rushed through the crowd, and ascended the tallest ladder, seemingly determined to rescue the youth, or perish in the attempt. 30. A sudden gust of flame, bursting forth, led the people to suppose he was lost; but he presently appeared descending the ladder with the child in his arms, without receiv ing any material injury. A universal shout attended this noble action, and the father, to his inexpressible surprise, on recovering from his swoon, found his child in his arms. 31. After giving vent to the first emotions of tenderness, he inquired after his generous deliverer, whose features were so changed by the smoke, that they could not be distinguished. Francisco immediately presented him with a purse of gold, promising the next day to give him the reward he had offered. 32. The stranger replied, that he should accept of no reward. Francisco started, and thought he knew the voice, when his son flew to the arms of his deliverer, and cried out, "It is my dear Hamet! it is my dear Hamet!" 33. The astonishment and gratitude of the merchant were equally excited; and, retiring from the crowd, he took Hamet with him to a friend's house. As soon as they were alone, Francisco inquired by what means he had been a second time enslaved. fa 34. "I will tell you in a few words," said the generous Turk. "When I was taken by the Venetian galleys, my ther shared in my captivity. It was his fate and not my own, which so often made me shed those tears, which first attracted the notice of your amiable son. 35. "As soon as your bounty had set me free, I flew to the Christian who had purchased my father. I told him that, as I was young and vigorous, and he aged and infirm, I would be his slave instead of my father. 36. "I added, too, the gold, which your bounty had bestowed on me; and, by these means, I prevailed on the Christian to send back my father in that ship you had provided for me, without his knowing the cause of his freedom. Since that time, I have staid here a willing slave, and Heaven has been so gracious as to put it into my power to save the life of that youth, which I value a thousand times more than my own." 37. The merchant was astonished at such an instance of gratitude and affection, and pressed Hamet to accept of the half of his fortune, and to settle in Venice for the remainder of his days. Hamet, however, with a noble magnanimity, refused the offer, saying, he had done no more than what every one ought to do in a similar situation. 38. Though Hamet seemed to underrate his past services to the merchant, yet the latter could not suffer things to pass in this manner. He again purchased his freedom, and fitted a ship out on purpose to take him back to his own country. At parting, they mutually embraced each other, and, as they thought, took an eternal farewell. 39. After many years had elapsed, and young Francisco was grown up to manhood, beloved and respected by every one, it so happened that some business make it necessary for him and his father to visit a neighbouring city on the coast; and, as they supposed a passage by sea would be more expeditious than by land, they embarked in a Venetian vessel, which was bound to that port, and ready to sail. 40. A favourable gale soon wafted them out of sight, and promised them a speedy passage; but, unfortunately for them, before they had proceeded half their voyage, they were met by some Turkish vessels, who, after an obstinate resistance from the Venetians, boarded them, loaded them with irons, and carried them prisoners to Tunis. There they were exposed in the market-place in their chains, in order to be sold as slaves. 41. At last, a Turk came to the market, who seemed to be a man of superiour rank, and, after looking over the prisoners, with an expression of compassion, he fixed his eyes upon young Francisco, and asked the captain what was the price of that young captive. 42. The captain replied, that he would not part with him for less than five hundred pieces of gold. The Turk considered that as a very extraordinary price, since he had seen him sell others, that exceeded him in strength and vigour, for less than a fifth part of that money. 43. "That is true," replied the captain; "but he shall either fetch me a price that will repay me the damage he has occasioned, me, or he shall labour all the rest of his life at the oar." The Turk asked him, what damage he could have done him more than the rest of the crew. We 44. "It was he," replied the captain, "who animated the Christians to make a desperate resistance, and thereby proved the destruction of many of my bravest seamen. three times boarded them with a fury that seemed invincible, and each time did that youth attack us with a cool and determined opposition; so that we were obliged to give up the contest, till other ships came to our assistance. I will, therefore, have that price for him, or I will punish him for life. 45. The Turk now surveyed young Francisco more attentively than before; and the 'young man, who had hitherto fixed his eyes in sullen silence on the ground, at length raised them up; but he had no sooner beheld the person who was talking to the captain, than, in a loud voice, he uttered the name of Hamet. The Turk, struck with astonishment, surveyed him for a moment, and then caught him in his arms. 46. After a moment's pause, the generous Hamet lifted up his hands to heaven, and thanked his God, who had put it in his power to show his gratitude; but words cannot express his feelings, when he found that both father and son were slaves. Suffice it to say, that he instantly bought their freedom, and conducted them to his magnificent house in the city. 47. They had here full leisure to discourse on the strange vicissitudes of fortune, when Hamet told his Venetian friends, that, after their generosity had procuted him liberty, he became an officer in the Turkish army, and, happening to be fortunate in all his enterprises, he had been gradually promoted, till he arrived at the dignity of bashaw of Tunis. 48. That, in this situation, he found the greatest consolation in alleviating the misfortunes of the Christian prisoners, and always attended the sales of those unhappy slaves, to procure liberty to a certain number of them. And gracious Allah, added he, has this day put it in my power, in some measure, to return the duties of gratitude. 49. They continued some days with Hamet, who did every thing in his power to amuse and divert them; but, as he found their desire was to return to their own country, he told them that he would not detain them against their wishes; and that they should embark the next day in a ship bound for Venice, which would be furnished with a passport to carry them safe there. 50. The next day, he dismissed them with every mark of tenderness and affection, and ordered a party of his own *Pronounced suf-fize'. guards to attend them to the vessel. They had no sooner got on board, than they found, to their inexpressible surprise and joy, that they were in the very ship in which they had been taken; and that, by the generosity of Hamet, not only the ship, but even the whole crew, were redeemed and restored to freedom. 51. Francisco and his son, after a quick passage, arrived in their own country, where they lived beloved and respected, and endeavoured to convince every one they knew, how great were the vicissitudes of fortune, and that God never suffers humanity and generosity to go unrewarded, here or hereafter. THE QUARREL OF BRUTUS AND CASSIUS. Cassius. THAT you have wronged me doth appear in this: .. You have condemned and noted Lucius Pella, Brutus. You wronged yourself to write in such a case. That every nice offence should bear its comment. Cas. I an itching palm! You know that you are Brutus that speak this, Bru. The name of Cassius honours this corruption, Cas. Chastisement ! Bru. Remember March, the Ides of March remember; * Pronounced chas'tix-ment. |