The ring at length descended to a sire Saladin [who has turned away in perplexity] Nathan Saladin Nathan This Ay! I hear. Conclude the tale. 'Tis ended, Sultan! All that follows next Question arises, tumult and debate But all in vain the true ring could no more Be then distinguished than-[after a pause, in which he awaits the Sultan's reply] the true faith now. Is that your answer to my question ? But it may serve as my apology. No! I cannot venture to decide between Saladin Nathan Saladin Nathan Saladin Nathan Rings, Nathan! Come, a truce to this! The creeds 'Tis true! But then they differ not in their foundation. Must be received on trust. Is it not so? In whom are we most likely to put trust? In our own people? in those very men Whose blood we are? who, from our earliest youth, Why should I credit my forefathers less To charge your ancestors with falsehood, that By our Prophet's faith, Now let us to our rings once more return. In virtue of a promise that he should One day enjoy the ring's prerogative. In this they spoke the truth. Then each maintained It was not possible that to himself His father had been false. Each could not think His father guilty of an act so base. Rather than that, reluctant as he was To judge his brethren, he must yet declare Well! and the judge? I'm curious now to hear The judge said: If the father is not brought Saladin Nathan Saladin Who wears it, both by God and man beloved. Has caused three rings to fill the place of one. O, charming, charming! And, the judge continued, By offices of kindness and of love, And trust in God. And if, in years to come, The virtues of the ring shall reappear Amongst your children's children, then, once more Come to this judgment seat. A greater far Than I shall sit upon it, and So spake the modest judge. decide. O God, O God! And if now, Saladin, you think you're he Saladin [approaches NATHAN and takes his hand, which he retains to the end of the scene]. Nathan Saladin This promised judge-I?— Dust! I?-Naught! O God! What is the matter, Sultan? Dearest Nathan! That judge's thousand years are not yet past; I have been trav'ling, and am just returned Saladin [fixing his eyes upon NATHAN] — CAPTAIN COOK'S DEATH. (From "Narrative of Cook's Voyages," by A. Kippis.) THE circumstances which brought Captain Cook back to Karakakooa Bay, and the unhappy consequences that followed, I shall give from Mr. Samwell's narrative of his death. This narrative was, in the most obliging manner, communicated to me in manuscript, by Mr. Samwell, with entire liberty to make such use of it as I should judge proper. Upon a perusal of it, its importance struck me in so strong a light that I wished to have it separately laid before the world. Accordingly, with Mr. Samwell's concurrence, I procured its publication, that, if any objections should be made to it, I might be able to notice them in my own work. As the narrative had continued for more than two years unimpeached and uncontradicted, I esteem myself fully authorized to insert it in this place, as containing the most complete and authentic account of the melancholy catastrophe which, at Owyhee, befell our illustrious navigator and commander. "On the 6th [February, 1779] we were overtaken by a gale of wind, and the next night the 'Resolution' had the misfortune of springing the head of the foremast in such a dangerous manner that Captain Cook was obliged to return to Keragegooah in order to have it repaired; for we could find no other convenient harbor on the island. The same gale had occasioned much distress among some canoes that had paid us a visit from the shore. One of them, with two men and a child on board, was picked up by the 'Resolution,' and rescued from destruction: the men, having toiled hard all night in attempting to reach the land, were so much exhausted that they could hardly mount the ship's side. When they got upon the quarterdeck, they burst into tears, and seemed much affected with the dangerous situation from which they had escaped; but the little child appeared lively and cheerful. One of the 'Resolution's' boats was also so fortunate as to save a man and two women, whose canoe had been upset by the violence of the waves. They were brought on board and, with the others, partook of the kindness and humanity of Captain Cook. "On the morning of Wednesday, the 10th, we were within a few miles of the harbor, and were soon joined by several |