The intoxicating spirit of this discourse ran into my head, and the
dregs of the cup still rested in my hand, when a traveller, as passing
by, entered the outer circle of the congregation, and its expiring
undulation lit upon him. He sent forth such a groan that the others in
sympathy with him joined in lamentation, and the rawest of the assembly
bubbled in unison. I exclaimed, "Praise be to God! those far off are
present in their knowledge, and those near by are distant from their
ignorance. If the hearer has not the faculty of comprehending the
sermon, expect not the vigor of genius in the preacher. Give a scope to
the field of inclination, that the orator may have room to strike the
ball of eloquence over it."


XI

One night in the desert of Mecca, from an excess of drowsiness, I had
not a foot to enable me to proceed; and, laying my head on the earth, I
gave myself up for lost, and desired the camel-driver to leave me to my
fate.--How could the foot of the poor jaded pedestrian go on, now that
the Bactrian dromedary got impatient of its burden? While the body of a
fat man is getting lean, a lean man must fall the victim of a hardship.

The camel-driver replied: "O brother, holy Mecca is ahead, and the
profane robber behind; if you come forward you escape, but if you stay
here you die!" During the night journey of the caravan, and in the track
of the desert, it is fascinating to dose under the acacia-thorn tree;
but, on this indulgence, we must resign all thoughts of surviving it.