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Young man named Bekir, immensely rich, who, being left to the government of himself, was guided solely by the dictates of his passions, squandered away his whole fortune m a very short time, and as obliged to satisfy the pressing importunities of his creditors, by selling his estate, furniture, and all his slaves, (even those he most esteemed) one only remained, named Gulroui, the possession of whom alone consoled him under the loss of all the rest; their hearts were reciprocally attached to each other, and love had never under its empire two more faithful lovers.

The misfortunes of Bekir daily increased, and he at length saw himself reduced to the most dreadful necessity. One day as he was discoursing with Gulroui, on his misfortunes, and they were condoling each other on their miserable situation; I could support without murmuring, says Bekir, the evils at heaven hath so justly punished me with, you were not to be a sufferer also; but alas! our sorrows are fatally united, for tho' you are in every respect amiable and faultless, yet must you be loaded with all the rigour and severity of my fate; for