her own fon; fo that the king, who was equally a good husband and a good father, wavered in the moft cruel uncertainty. What fhall I refolve on? faid he to himself: the laws declare for the eldeft; my favourite fultana pleads for the fecond, and I myself incline for the youngeft. O too lovely fultanefs; I have felt the effects of your fweet and alluring looks! O thou weak nature, that yieldeft to my love! But neither of you fhall triumph over the laws; I will die on the throne, that, after my death, the laws may decide the controverfy. But what? The laws will decide nothing; a cruel war will be kindled between my children; my people will be the victims of their ambition; and I owe all to my people. O beauteous fultanefs! I ought to facrifice you, myself, and whatever elfe is dear to me, to the good of my subjects: I will there. fore leave them at liberty to chuse themfelves a fovereign.

After

After thefe reflections, he affembled his viziers, the nobles, and the people. I have, faid he to them, one foot on the throne and the other in the grave; but I would, if it were poffible, not go down into the abyss of eternity with the crown on my head; its weight oppreffes and weighs me down. I refign it to you; chufe for yourselves a mafter. At these words there appeared in all their looks a profound fadness. The people cried out with one voice, “ Live, long live the king, our father and our friend!""Be not fo much concerned," interrupted the king: you are my bowels; you can suffer nothing, but I muft feel fo great a pain as would shorten my days." At this they redoubled their cries, and the aged monarch himfelf could not refrain from tears. "Think no more," said he, "on what you are going to lofe; but confider what you have ftill left. The princes my children have all the qualities that make men great;

66

great; proclaim which of them you think moft worthy to poffefs the throne I refign.'

A profound filence fucceeded their fighs and lamentations. The whole afsembly cast their eyes on the throne, and faw the three princes fitting on the fteps. They admired each of them; and not liking one more than the other, no man could determine which to chufe. Then the prime vizier approached the throne, and spoke in this manner: "O wife and valiant king! may he, who draws light out of darkness, and from the horrors of the night produces a glorious and delightful morning, keep you in his holy care, and perpetuate your pofterity! Receive with your accuflomed goodness the advice of your faithful flave: let each of your three fons reign three days only, and we will determine afterwards, fince your majefly is pleafed to give us leave. Our choice then will be founded on judgment; for men are known, when they are in high fortune

fortune, and in wine. The man is truly wife, whom neither the one nor the other of them can corrupt?

This advice of the grand Vizier was followed, and prevailed over the subtle infinuations of his three wives, who faw all their folicitations rendered vain, and their projects confounded.

Accordingly, the eldeft Prince was cloathed in purple, and took the fceptre of government into his hand. His mother counfelled him to be affable and liberal, not to alter the form of government, and to pardon criminals. By this means, faid the, you will have all the empire for you, the king, the nobles, and the people."

Inftructions grounded on such principles feemed to promife a happy iffue. The Prince followed them exactly; but his conduct appeared ftudied and affected, which occafioned fome diftruft.

The three days of his reign being expired,

the

the fecond Prince afcended the throne, His mother gave him opposite instructions ;

Depose, said she, the Vizirs; banish the doctors of the law; raife to the highest dignities men of ambitious minds, who, to keep their employments, will vote you the throne; and, when you are well fettled in it, we will recal the Vizirs and the doctors, whose fidelity the riches which thy ambitious minifters fhall have amaffed, will ferve to regain and to reanimate their zeal.

This mode was followed; but the people dreaded the worst that could happen from a Prince who pretended to the crown, and gave himself fo little trouble to deferve

it.

The king's third fon took upon him, in his turn, the fovereign authority. He would have no advice from his mother: "For though, faid he, I have an infinite respect for my mother, and even believe that the would give me no advice but what is found

ed