STORY OF THE PHILOSOPHER SECIJNDUS. prince of this -world ; thou mayest indeed hear me, but thou hast no power whatever to compel mo to use my voice." Adrian, accordingly, read what he had written,, and said, " Thou art fully excused. But still I would propose to thee some questions for thee to answer me thereon ; of which the first is, 'What is the world?'" In answer to this, the other wrote, " The world is a circle without end, a sightly commodity, a form made of many forms, an eternal course, a revolution without error." "What is the ocean?" "The embracer of the world, the encircling limit, the dwelling-place of the rivers, the fountain of the showers." "What is God?" "An immortal mind, an unimaginable loftiness, a form of many forms, a research that defies investigation, an eye that sleeps not, all-embraeing, light, good." "What is the sun ? " " The eye of the heavens, a circle of heat, light without setting, the ornament of the day, the distributor of the hours." "What is the moon?" "The ornament of the heavens, the rival of the sun, the enemy of evil-doers, the solaee of wayfarers, the guide of mariners, the signal for solemnities, the bestower of dew, the présager of tempests." "What is the earth?" "The foundation of the heavens, the centre of the universe, the guardian and the mother of fruits, the cover of hell,- the mother of those who are born, the devourer of all, the store-house of life." " What is man ?" " A mind incarnate, an apparition for a season, a looker-on of life, a slave of death, a traveller on his road, a gues.t on the spot, a struggling spirit, an abode for a short season." "What is beauty?" " A fading flower, a carnal felicity, an object of desire to mankind." " What is woman ?" " The confusion of man, an insatiable beast, a continual anxiety, a never-ceasing strife, the shipwreck of an unchaste man, a human slave." " What is a friend ?" " A desirable name, a man seldom seen, a refuge in distress, an endless blessing." " What are riches ? " " A weight of gold) a servant of cares, an unpleasing delight, an insatiate envy, an ever-craving desire, an exalted face, a hateful object of desire." "What is poverty ?" "An odious blessing, the mother of L L 2