their heads uncovered. The prophet replied, "That throne fignifies my coffin; under which you "will foon walk, in the manner "reprefented to you."

Ibnabbas informs us, that the Almighty commanded the angel of death, faying, "Repair to my be"loved, Mahommed; but touch not "his immaculate foul, without his "own acquiefcence." frâiel, attended by a hoft of kindred fpirits, in the difguife of an Arabian villager, tranfported himfelf in an inftant to the prophet's habitation, with the commiffion of God in his hand. He repeated the customary falutation, and begged admittance, as having come off a long journey. Fatima was fitting by her father's pillow, when he heard the voice, and defired the ftranger to call another time, as the prophet was not at leifure. A repetition of the requeft, by Ifrâiel, was followed by an anfwer, couched in the fame terms. The third time, it was demanded in a peremptory tone, which ftruck the family with terror. The prophet opened his eyes, and demanded the caule of their confternation. Fatima anfwered, "That "an extraordinary kind of stranger, "who flood at the door, had thrice “demanded admiffion, and would "take no denial." The prophet afked her if the knew not who it was? She aufwered, "God is wife, I "know not."-" He is," purfued the prophet, "the deftroyer of lufts, the annihilator of paffions, "the maker of widows, and of orphans; an intruder, who opens "doors without the affiftance of a

"key; and lays proftrate without "the aid of arms. He is, my "daughter, the angel of death, "and attends for the foul of your "father; whofe threshold he re"fpects, or he had entered without

hefitation, it not being his prac"tice to wait for admiffion: open "the door, that he may come in." "Alas!" exclaimed Fatima, " then "the ruin of Medina approaches, "for its protector is about to depart.”

"

The prophet defired her to be comforted, as even angels would behold her grief with concern. With his holy hands, he wiped off the tears which ran down her cheeks; and befeeched the Almighty to endue her with patience and refignation to fupport his lofs; enjoining her, as foon as death fhould have clofed his eyes, to repeat the fol lowing fentence: "From God we

are, and to God we must return." Fatima continued to dwell on her approaching lofs, in the most moving terms, and was interrupted by her father, who again defired that Ifrâiel might be admitted.

"

The angel of death now appeared, faying, "Peace to the "prophet! The Almighty has fent "you his bleffing, and reftricted me from touching your foul, till "I have your own permiffion.” The prophet replied, "It is my "requeft that you refrain from "it till Gabriel arrives."* That angel, the meffenger of the word of God, mean time had received his commiffion to repair to Mahommed, and carry to the beloved of the Almighty a turban,

made

made from the texture of the cloth of Paradife. Weeping and lamenting he flood before him, and was gently txed by Mahommed, with having forfaken him in his prefent awful fituation; which the angel excufed, by alleging that he had been employed about his affairs, and now brought the joyful tidings which he himself would with for; namely, that the violence of the flames of hell had been abated for his paflage, the gardens of Paradife adorned, and hofts of angels drawn up for the reception of his foul. The prophet acknowledged the goodnefs of God; but added, that his mind was oppreffed with cares for the future fate of his difciples. Gabriel defired him to be under no concern on that account, as the Almighty would work out the falvation of as many of them as he fhould defire. The prophet then beckoned Ifrâiel to come forward and execute his commiffion; which, while he was doing, the Lord of the world fixed his eyes on the cieling, and repeated the name of the Moft High; when his hands, which were clafped together, and extended, fuddenly dropping on his breaft, his foul took its flight to the presence of its Creator. "From God we are, and to God we must return."

grief for the lofs of her father, yet they agree in this, that it continued long inceflant.. At the end of about fix months, her hufband Ali going one day into her apartment, beheld her employed in kneading dough, for bread, mixing up a compofition for her children's hair, and making preparation for washing their garments." Ali, aftonifhed at the novelty of the scene, addreffed her, "O! worthy

to be ferved by men and angels! "O! fole daughter of the prophet, "and laft of apoftolic women! O! "mother of the two martyrs! ne"ver yet have I beheld your atten"tion engaged by two employ "ments at a time, and now I fee "it taken up with three.-What myftery does this conceal?"The holy Fatima (her eyes bathed in tears) replied, "O! prince, dif"tinguifhed in the plain of La "Futtah, and furnamed of the

Almighty, the Lion of God! O! "bud of the garden, and line of "Abu Taleb! the happinefs of our union draws to a clofe; the hour of feparation is arrived, and

"

the period of abfence is about to "commence.-Laft night I dreamt "I beheld my father, ftanding on an eminence, and looking round "as if in expectation of fome one's approach. I called out, Whence are you, my parent! my heart "is afflicted, and my body wafted "with anguish, on your account.' "He replied, I am now come for

you: the time is arrived, in which

you must wean your affections "from the fiefh, and break the "bonds of your earthly habitation;

VOL. XXXI.

K

* in

"in which you muft remove your tents from the ftraits of earth, to "the world of heaven; make hafte, "for I cannot depart without you:' " I replied, O my father, this " event is my with, the confumma“tion of which I have conftantly "fighed for.' Ufe no delay, "then,' he repeated again, for "to-morrow night you muft accompany your parent.'-I here awoke, with my heart entirely "abforbed by the defire of the "world to come, and am certain, "that the clofe of this day, or tomorrow evening, will be the pe"riod of my diffolution; I am there"fore making bread to-day, as grief on my account may render you incapable of doing it tomorrow, and my children in confequence may hunger in vain; I "wash their garments now, knowing not who will attend to the "wants of my orphans hereafter; "and I am preparing to clean their "hair at this time, ignorant whom they will have to clean it when "I am gone."-Thus, Fatima was anxious to keep their hair from being polluted by common dirt: had fhe beheld what afterwards happened, their graceful ringlets defiled with duft, and their enchanting countenances flained with blood; how would he have fupported the heartrending fight!

ed, "I were ignorant of the cruel "fate which awaits them; and of "the extent to which it will be "carried! Go," the continued, my children, to the burial ground "of Buckea; and employ your prayers to heaven in behalf of your mother."

When Ali had heard her to a conclufion, the tears running down his checks, he replied," O! my be"loved, hardly yet have I recover"ed from one wound, when lo! "another is inflicted on me; and "to the death of your father, is the lofs of you now to be added." Fatima defired him to be comforted under both, and not to leave her, as the moments of her life were num

66

When they were gone, fhe extended herself on the bed, and defired Ali to fit down by her: îhe called for Afmah, the daughter of Awmife; and defired dinner might be ready by the time her fons would return, and served up to them in another apartment; that they might efcape the mifery of feeing her in her lait agonies. Almah did as he had been directed, and on their return brought up dinner. The princes, in aftonifhment, demanded, if ever he had feen them fit down without their mother, and wherefore the fuppofed they would do it now; Afmah faid, her miftrefs being indifpofed, they had better not wait for her; but they replied, that without their mother's company, no refreshment could be palatable to them, and went ftrait towards her apartment.

On feeing them approach, Fatima defired Ali to fend them away again, to the tomb of her father, that they might humble themfelves before God; while the endeavoured to repofe herself. When they were gone, fhe defired Ali to take her head to his bofom, for her life now ebbed faft. Ali replied, he had neither heart nor refolution to behold her in fuch a fituation; or to attend to language to affecting.

"O!

"O! Ali!" fhe answered, " the " road which I am going, is a road "which all muft travel; and the "fullness of my grief is fuch, as muft, of neceffity, be allowed "utterance. Be patient, then, and "imbibe the bitter draught of my "diffolution." Ali took her to his bosom; when, in the affliction with which he was overwhelmed, a tear dropped on her cheek; the opened her eyes, and feeing the violence of his grief, obferved, that the prefent was rather a feafon for teftamentary duties, than unavailing forrow. "O! firft of women! he quickly replied," reveal your " will." "I have four requests," continued Fatima: First, If I "have misbehaved myfelf towards you, or ever given you uneafiness, "that you forgive me." He an-` fwered, "God forbid! during the "time we have lived together, nei"ther in word nor in act, have you "done aught to give my heart a

"

"

pang: you have been my perpe"tual folace; not my forrow: my comforter in affliction; not the "difturber of my repofe. In you "I have found the faithful mif"trefs; not the imperious tyrant: poffeffed of the fweetnels and foftnefs of the rofe; not the fharpness and annoyance of the "thorn." 66 Secondly, Let my children," the continued, " be "dear to you; forfake not those "who poffefs fo tender a place in my heart; withdraw not from "their heads your foftering hand; "and, fhould the forwardnefs of youth ever break out in them, "let it obtain your forgivenefs. Thirdly, Let me be conveyed to my grave by night; that, as in "life, my perfon has been fecluded "from the eyes of men, fo, in death,

66

"" my bier may be facred from their "view. Fourthly, Neglect not to frequent the tomb of her, to "whom you have been fo dear; "and whofe faithful and affection"ate companion you have been. "Now, alas! the connection must, "of neceffity, be diffolved." Ali promited a faithful obfervance of her requests; and propofed others. on his part: Firft, That if he had been ever wanting in his attention to her, he would forgive him. Secondly, When the beheld her father, that he would prefent the falutation of one who continued to feel and deplore his lofs. Thirdly, that the would not, for any part of his conduct towards her, complain of him to the prophet. Fatima anfwered, "God is my witnefs, that, during "the time we have lived together, "I have not experienced from you. a word or a deed, that can be complained of: on the contrary, your conduct towards me has been "full of manlinefs, liberality, and "kindnefs; engaging words, and "laudable actions."

While they were engaged in this affecting difcourfe, a noife of lamentation and complaint fuddenly af failed them, from without; and in a voice, interrupted by fobs, admittance was foon after folicited by Hoffen and Hoflain, that they might take a laft farewel of their parent. Ali opened the door, and taking them affectionately in his arms, afked by what means they had dif covered their mother's approaching end. They replied, "On arriving "at the maufoleum of our grand"father, we heard a voice faying, Behold! the orphans of Fatima are arrived!' which was followed "by another, faying, • Behold! "the intercellors of the day of K 2 "judgement

"

"

68

"judgement are arrived?' and then a third, which refembled the "voice of the prophet; faying, "Lo! the darlings of my heart are here!' When we entered the "maufoleum, and had performed "our devotions, we heard a voice proceed from the tomb, faying, "Return, my children, that you " may behold your mother, to meet "whom I am come here, for the "last time.'" With this they ruth ed on, and beheld Fatima, with her head reclined on the pillow; they fell at her feet, befeeching her to open her eyes, and blefs her orphans with a laft look. Fatima, aroufed, took them to her bofom, faying, " O! my beloved fons! God knows "what is to happen to you, after I "am gone; and to what extent "the tyranny of your enemies will "be exercifed against you!" She then called for her daughters, and delivered them to Hoffen and Hoffain; earnestly and repeatedly recommending them all to the protection of Ali.

When her husband and children had left her, Fatima defired Afmah to prepare water for her ablutions; which he went through with a minute attention to the precepts and ceremonies of her religion, in a manner that is feldom done; after which, fhe directed her couch to be

ply it, after her death, to the ne for which it was defigned. She now defired to be left alone; as the withed to commune with her God, Afmah has related, that about haif an hour after the had quitted her mistress, he heard her weeping aloud, which induced her to go in. when the obferved Fatima engaged in the moft pious and fervent devotion; invoking the Almighty, by the honour of her father, and his defire again to behold her; by the mifery which preyed on the heart of Ali, at the profpect of her difflution; by the grief of her fons, and diftraction of her daughters; tơ have mercy on her father's dilciples, and to pardon the fins of the ungodly. At this Afmah could not fuppreis her fobs, which attrading the notice of Fatima, fhe demanded if he had not defired to be left alone, and be called to in a fhort time; that if no answer was returned, it might be known fhe had departed to the bofom of her father. On this, Afmah again retired, and foon after calling, no answer was returned; when, entering the apart ment, and drawing the veil from her miftrefs's face, fhe faw that she was no more. "From God we are, and "to God we muft return."

fhe then spoke to her fervant of a certain unction made from the camphire of Paradife, and given to her father by the angel Gabriel, for the purpose of his body being anointed with it after his decease, which he had divided into three parts; one part for himfelf, one for Ali, and one for her: the latter fhe defired might be brought: when it was produced, the bade Almah ap

mour.

By William Prefion, Eff.

M.R.I.A. In Two Parts. From Tranfactions of the Royal Irijā Academy.

Part the Firft.

RIDICULE is that branch

of the fine or mimetic arts which profefs to excite the emotion of mirth. It is feen more ftrik