For bribes, and found he soon could bribe no more; That time arrived, for Osmyn's stock was small, And the young tyrant now possess'd it all; The cruel youth, with his companions near, Gave the broad hint that raised the sudden fear; Th' ungenerous insult now was daily shown, And Osmyn's peace and honest pride were flown; Then came augmenting woes, and fancy strong Drew forms of suffering, a tormenting throng; He felt degraded, and the struggling mind Dared not be free, and could not be resign'd; And all his pains and fervent prayers obtain'd Was truce from insult, while the fears remain'd. "One day it chanced that this degraded Boy And tyrant-friend were fixed at their employ; Who now had thrown restraint and form aside, And for his bribe in plainer speech applied: 'Long have I waited, and the last supply Was but a pittance, yet how patient I! But give me now what thy first terrors gave, My speech shall praise thee, and my silence save.' "Osmyn had found, in many a dreadful day, The tyrant fiercer when he seem'd in play: He begg'd forbearance: 'I have not to give; Spare me awhile, although 'tis pain to live: Oh! had that stolen fruit the power possess'd To war with life, I now had been at rest.' "'So fond of death,' replied the Boy, ''tis plain Thou hast no certain notion of the pain; But to the Caliph were a secret shown, Death has no pain that would be then unknown.' "Now," says the story, "in a closet near, The monarch seated, chanced the boys to hear; There oft he came, when wearied on his throne, To read, sleep, listen, pray, or be alone. "The tale proceeds, when first the Caliph found That he was robb'd, although alone, he frown'd; And swore in wrath that he would send the boy Far from his notice, favour, or employ; But gentler movements soothed his ruffled mind, And his own failings taught him to be kind. "Relenting thoughts then painted Osmyn young, His passion urgent, and temptation strong; And that he suffer'd from that villain-Spy Pains worse than death, till he desired to die; Then if his morals had received a stain, His bitter sorrows made him pure again: To reason, pity lent her powerful aid, For one so tempted, troubled, and betray'd: And a free pardon the glad Boy restored To the kind presence of a gentle lord; Who from his office and his country drove That traitor-Friend, whom pains nor pray'rs could move: Who raised the fears no mortal could endure, And then with cruel av'rice sold the cure. "My tale is ended; but, to be applied, I must describe the place where Caliphs hide." Here both the females look'd alarm'd, distress'd, With hurried passions hard to be express'd. "It was a closet by a chamber placed, Where slept a lady of no vulgar taste; Her friend attended in that chosen room That she had honour'd and proclaim'd her home; To please the eye were chosen pictures placed; And some light volumes to amuse the taste; Letters and music on a table laid, For much the lady wrote, and often play'd: