Murad the Unlucky and Other Tales | Page 6

china vases, remarkable for their beauty, but still more
valuable on account of certain verses inscribed upon them in an
unknown character, which were supposed to operate as a talisman or
charm in favour of their possessors.
"Both these vases my father bequeathed to my brother Saladin;
declaring he could not venture to leave either of them to me, because I
was so unlucky that I should inevitably break it. After his death,
however, my brother Saladin, who was blessed with a generous temper,
gave me my choice of the two vases; and endeavoured to raise my
spirits by repeating frequently that he had no faith either in good
fortune or ill fortune.
"I could not be of his opinion, though I felt and acknowledged his
kindness in trying to persuade me out of my settled melancholy. I knew
it was in vain for me to exert myself, because I was sure that, do what I
would, I should still be Murad the Unlucky. My brother, on the
contrary, was nowise cast down, even by the poverty in which my
father left us: he said he was sure he should find some means of
maintaining himself; and so he did.
"On examining our china vases, he found in them a powder of a bright
scarlet colour; and it occurred to him that it would make a fine dye. He

tried it, and after some trouble, it succeeded to admiration.
"During my father's lifetime, my mother had been supplied with rich
dresses by one of the merchants who was employed by the ladies of the
grand seignior's seraglio. My brother had done this merchant some
trifling favours, and, upon application to him, he readily engaged to
recommend the new scarlet dye. Indeed, it was so beautiful, that, the
moment it was seen, it was preferred to every other colour. Saladin's
shop was soon crowded with customers; and his winning manners and
pleasant conversation were almost as advantageous to him as his scarlet
dye. On the contrary, I observed that the first glance at my melancholy
countenance was sufficient to disgust every one who saw me. I
perceived this plainly; and it only confirmed me the more in my belief
in my own evil destiny.
"It happened one day that a lady, richly apparelled and attended by two
female slaves, came to my brother's house to make some purchases. He
was out, and I alone was left to attend to the shop. After she had looked
over some goods, she chanced to see my china vase, which was in the
room. She took a prodigious fancy to it, and offered me any price if I
would part with it; but this I declined doing, because I believed that I
should draw down upon my head some dreadful calamity if I
voluntarily relinquished the talisman. Irritated by my refusal, the lady,
according to the custom of her sex, became more resolute in her
purpose; but neither entreaties nor money could change my
determination. Provoked beyond measure at my obstinacy, as she
called it, she left the house.
"On my brother's return, I related to him what had happened, and
expected that he would have praised me for my prudence; but, on the
contrary, he blamed me for the superstitious value I set upon the verses
on my vase; and observed that it would be the height of folly to lose a
certain means of advancing my fortune for the uncertain hope of
magical protection. I could not bring myself to be of his opinion; I had
not the courage to follow the advice he gave. The next day the lady
returned, and my brother sold his vase to her for ten thousand pieces of
gold. This money he laid out in the most advantageous manner, by
purchasing a new stock of merchandise. I repented when it was too late;
but I believe it is part of the fatality attending certain persons, that they
cannot decide rightly at the proper moment. When the opportunity has

been lost, I have always regretted that I did not do exactly the contrary
to what I had previously determined upon. Often, whilst I was
hesitating, the favourable moment passed. {1} Now this is what I call
being unlucky. But to proceed with my story.
"The lady who bought my brother Saladin's vase was the favourite of
the Sultan, and all-powerful in the seraglio. Her dislike to me, in
consequence of my opposition to her wishes, was so violent, that she
refused to return to my brother's house while I remained there. He was
unwilling to part with me; but I could not bear to be the ruin of so good
a brother. Without telling him my design, I left his house careless of
what should become of me. Hunger, however,