The Two Serpents

Ouigmnuu tho Sultan, put hiR son With Sftib, the, wjpp ; iud, whcn the boy wan done With itadiotu taskB, it wan tho teacher's way To weave for hiiii sonifi mural tale eadi day. One cvening when tho honr had come a round, ThiH tale lic told - in Porsian imualu fouiul ! " Once i niagician, Bkilled in cvery art, Meeting King Lohak, brcathed upón Iiír neart, When froiu that región, venonious and bright, Two hideous serpent wriggled forth in wight. Tfte Ring, who saw them folïhw in his path, Stormed the magician with liie ficrocat wrath ; Bnt hc, undauntcd, annwerecl back ngaiu : ' These are the tokens of your glorion reign ; nd, if you winh henceforth unbounded good, Fail not to feed theni well with liiminn Mood ; Give thrm your pturdiest men in sacrifice For their support - for this is juut and WÍM.1 The King, at first, gr.w pale when this waw said, But by degrses toits result was led, And scattered slunghter till tumultuoUH frar Siuote all his strickru subjeöts fir and urar. At leugth his jeople, peeing so mauy slais, Revolted at the King's bloodthirsty reign, And locked him in a cavern far a way, Where to the serpents he himstlí was prey." " O history horrible !' tho young Priucc said. " What could have put mich tmRfiieBB in hit head ? Now teil anothcr tale more fair, I pray, That I with shuddering may not end the day." " Moat willingly," naid Saib, " and, when 'tis done, You will confess it is a Rimplc one : " Oace on a time a youiig Sultan was led To hced all things m artful coarticr aaid,. ? ííYi Who crammed him with delnnionn that wcre rife Witli all the poignanciCH of Binf ui lifp - With dreanis of glory aiid intagincd joy, And thiiiRK that dazzle only to innoy. Pride and voluptuouBiieHH pevformcd tluir part Tiil they becanin joint rulcrs of his heart ; And. held by theee, above hi people's groan Hc M'alked, until they snatched liim fioiu the throae. Still, though he lost his crown, Pleasurc and Pride 31ung, likc two aldei-H perclied npon his Bide, Till, Hinking down within their coiling Fnafe", He dicd .it length, of sorrow and dct?pair." Then eaid the Prince, when Saib paiiBetï for rest, Uiitrue or truc, I like thiB talo the best." ' Alas !" said Saib, why do you thus exclaim ? Bettr or not - both stories are the game !"