Two days after Chimas paid a fecond vifit to the King, and complained in very fharp terms, of his breach of promise. The King, afhamed of his weakness, affured him, that on the morrow his fubjects fhould have reafon to be fatisfied. But as foon as Chimas was departed, his favorites again deftroyed thofe good intentions. Such is the abufe to which all human affairs are liable: truth and falfehood ufe the fame weapons and imperious eloquence is a two edged fword.

The people again affembled, and were again difappointed; which fo exafperated them, that they took up arms and returned to the palace, determined to force the gates and fet it on fire. The King and his wicked counsellors were now convinced of their in. juflice; but knew not how to divert the ftorm which threatened them with deftruction. In this extremity a dreadful refolution was taken, to cut off all the great men of the kingdom, flattering themselves that when the

leaders

leaders were no more, the rabble might be easily dispersed. In order to put their detestable scheme in execution: the prince fent for Chimas, and by the most magnificent promises, engaged him to prevail on the people to lay down their arms, on which the King would immediately administer justice according to the ancient laws of the kingdom. Accordingly Chimas addreffed himself to the people, and even promifed them that they fhould be no longer deceived. His eloquence had the defired effect; the people dispersed, and retired to their respective habitations.

This dangerous tumult being thus happily appeased, Chimas, at the head of the vizirs, learned men, and generals of the army, repaired to the palace, where they were received with all feeming marks of refpect, and fucceffively introduced into the palace; but inftead of receiving the thanks their conduct jully merited, they were all maffacred, by perfons prepared to execute this bloody tra

gedy.

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An

An action fo full of horror infpired the populace with a rage little less than madness; they affembled before the palace in the most tumultuous manner, and attempted to force the gates, but as this was not to be done fuddenly, the King found means to escape, thro' a fmall door in the garden. Soon after the people fet fire to the palace gates, and dragged thofe wicked councellors who had given fuch inhuman advice to their mo narch, into the street, where they fuffered the punishment due to their crimes.

Having thus far vented their fury, they placed the fon of Chimas, a youth about eighteen years of age, at the head of affairs; who followed the steps of his father, foon removed the evils complained of by the people, and made the wicked feel the weighty hand of justice.

In the mean time the young monarch wandered among the mountains of Indoftan, where he suffered the greatest hardships.

His

His food was wild fruits and roots, his drink the water that gushed from the rocks, his bed the rugged furface of the earth, and his covering the azure canopy of heaven. Here exposed to all the inclemencies of the weather, he bewailed his former follies, and implored forgiveness from his maker. One day as he was thus employed, with his eyes fixed on the celeftial arch, he was roused from his contemplations by the approach of a venerable old man, who seemed to totter under the weight of years.

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My Son, cried this aged mortal, what corroding care preys on thy mind? and what terrible misfortune has driven thee from the habitations of men to feek an afylum among the brute creation? I have many years refided in thefe fequeftered parts; but never faw in them a man before. I have however found more folid pleasure here, than I ever could discover in all the companies of mirth and feftivity, fo common among the giddy

race of mortals.

And if thou wilt attend to my instructions, I will teach thee the path to happiness. It is the nature of man to confider all misfortunes as real evils. but this is a dangerous error. They are often intended by that Being who governs the universe, as gentle corrections, to remove the veil which pleasure throws over the objects that furround us, and turn our feet from the paths of deftruction to thofe that lead to happiness and joy. Fortunate, my fon, are those who confider misfortunes as the kind rebukes of an indulgent parent happy therefore will thy condition be if they prove the means of teaching thee, how fleeting and how unfatisfactory are the joys of the fons of men; and of fixing thy defires on thofe that are reserved for a future ftate of existence; then fhalt thou pass through this thirfty defert without complaining: and, at the end of thy journey, enter ́on pleasures that shall never have an end. Experience