Mahmoud was the most celebrated4 of all the califs who had kept their court at Ispahan. He was a patron of the arts and sciences, and naturally a friend to the blessings5 of peace. Some of his predecessors6, however, had been of different sentiments, and thought their happiness and glory consisted only in warlike exploits, in the desolation of villages, towns, and cities, without regarding the horrible carnage of human beings, and the miseries7 to which thousands of families were thereby8 reduced. His subjects being thus accustomed to warlike achievements, being naturally savage9, and thinking nothing but a victorious10 hero fit to govern them, they rebelled against their peaceful monarch11.
Though Mahmoud wisely preferred peace to war, yet he was by no means destitute12 of true courage, and he now found himself under the disagreeable necessity of taking the field, as the only means of quelling13 his rebellious14 subjects. His arms were every where victorious, and he returned in triumph to Ispahan, where he hoped to enjoy the fruits of his victories in peace and tranquility.
In this, however, he was much disappointed; for his rebellious subjects attributed his successes more to good fortune than wisdom or courage, and they seemed only to be in want of a chief to lead them to open rebellion. Selim put himself at the head of these rebels; but, in the course of two years' contest, Selim lost his head, and Mahmoud returned in triumph to his capital.
The man, who has long been accustomed to115 scenes of blood and slaughter15, will naturally become hardened and of savage feelings, totally the reverse of those of pity, tenderness, and humanity. Almost every day convinced Mahmoud, that he must part with either his tender feelings or his throne. He wished to pursue the middle path between clemency16 and tyranny; but the rebellious spirit of his subjects by degrees so hardened his heart, that he at last became the complete tyrant17.
The people soon began to groan18 under the weight of his iron hand, and offered up their prayers to the great prophet for a peaceful king, such as Mahmoud had been. Alas19! all their prayers were in vain, for Mahmoud was young and vigorous, and beloved by his army. He was once loved; he was now dreaded20 in every part of the Persian empire.
The calif, after having some time exercised his tyranny with a high hand, suddenly withdrew from public affairs, and shut himself up in the recesses21 of his palace, visible to no one but the emir he had always trusted. In this unprecedented22 solitude23 he passed his time during the whole course of a moon, and then suddenly appeared again on his throne. A visible alteration24 had taken place in his countenance25, and, instead of the ferocity of a tyrant, clemency and mercy seemed seated on his brow. He was no longer the savage calif, but the father of his country.
Such an unexpected change undoubtedly26 became the universal topic of conversation, and various reasons were assigned for his sudden transformation27, but none of their conjectures28 came near the truth. An accident, however, brought every thing to light.
Among the wise men of Ispahan was Alicaun, who was one day conversing29 with an iman, and several dervises, concerning the change of the calif's conduct. One of the dervises laid claim to the honour of this change, having obtained it of Mahomet by fasting and prayer. Another said, that this great work had been accomplished30 by a beauty in the seraglio; but an iman, or priest, was bold enough to contradict them both, and boasted, that it was by his remonstrances31 that the calif's heart was softened32. Alicaun being then called upon to give his opinion, replied, "The lion, weary of the chase, lies down to repose33 a little: but let the traveller be upon his guard; perhaps he is only sleeping to recover his lost strength, that, when he wakes, he may rush forth34 with additional fury."
One of the treacherous35 dervises reported this conversation to the calif, and, in consequence thereof, Alicaun was ordered to appear before him.
Alicaun accordingly made his appearance, when the calif, having taken his seat at the tribunal, thus addressed him: "I have been informed of the particulars of your late conversation;117 your having compared me to the noble lion, can have nothing in it that ought reasonably to offend me; but tell me sincerely, in which of these lights you considered the lion; as the generous monarch of the forest, or as the savage tyrant?"
Alicaun bowed down his head to the earth, and replied, "My sovereign, you have ordered me to speak sincerely: I will obey your orders, regardless of the consequences that may follow. When I lately took the liberty to compare you to the lion, I must own I had in my view the ferocity of that animal. I am sensible I deserve to die:—your decree will determine, whether you are the monarch of the forest, or the savage tyrant. Should you be graciously pleased to spare me, it will turn to your own advantage; because if you condemn36 me to die, my accusers will think I spoke37 truth; but pardon me, and they will be confounded."
"I forgive you, Alicaun," said the calif; "and I will tell you, and all present, my motive38 for doing so. You are not a stranger to the influence my favourite emir, Abdalla, has over me. Like many other monarchs39, I became jealous of my favourite, on the unbounded acclamations he received on his return home from a war of no great consequence. I therefore resolved on putting him to death, but was at a loss in what manner I should accomplish that purpose.
"To attempt it by open violence would endanger my throne; I therefore resolved to do it by stratagem40. At the bottom of my palace gardens, you all know, is a tremendous precipice41, whose base is washed by the waters of the Tigris. Hither I resolved to take him, under the idea of consulting him on some important matters of state, and, when I found him off his guard, as he could not suspect my intentions, to shove him headlong over the precipice into the river.
"Thought I in myself, this is the last sun Abdalla shall ever behold42; for, by this time, we had reached the fatal spot; when, on a sudden, by chance, let me say rather, by the will of Heaven, the ground trembled beneath my feet, and I perceived part of the rock on which I stood was parting from the main body. At this critical moment, Abdalla seized me by the arm, and forcibly pulled me to him, otherwise I should certainly have fallen down the horrible precipice into the foaming43 billows beneath, and thus have met with that fate I designed for another.
"Shame and gratitude44 for some moments struck me dumb and motionless: with shame, that a sovereign prince should stoop to such mean treachery; and with gratitude, that I should owe my life to that man, who saved mine at the very moment I was plotting his destruction!
"I instantly retired45 to the most secret chamber46 in my palace, and opened my soul in prayer119 and thanksgiving to the Eternal. In this dejected situation, I suffered several days and nights to pass away, bitterly reflecting on my folly47, and reproaching myself for sinking so much beneath the real dignity of royalty48. What, said I, is the life of a sovereign more than that of his meanest subject, since the one is no more secure from the arrows of death than the other!
"In a little time, by reasoning in this manner, I found all my tyranny and self-consequence humbled49, and I wished in future to be considered only as a man. As the nights were long and tedious to me, in order to divert my mind from painful and disagreeable reflections, I resolved to take my rambles50 in disguise through the different parts of Ispahan.
"Among these rambles, chance carried me one night into a house of public entertainment. Here, while drinking the liquor I had ordered, I listened to the conversation of several parties round me.
"One of these parties consisted of a grave old man, surrounded by several youths, who seemed to pay the greatest veneration51 and attention to the words of the aged52 sire. I drew nearer to them, and was surprised to find them talking of the late transaction between me and Abdallah. The substance of their debates will never be erased53 from my memory.
"'There was a time,' said the old man, 'when all Persia would have extolled54 to the skies the generous action of Abdalla; but I fear, there is not at present a single voice that will thank him for saving the life of the calif.'
"One of the youths, who I found was the old man's son, said he perfectly55 agreed in what he had mentioned, but advised him at the same time to be cautious in his observations; 'for,' said he, 'what is more quick than the ears of a tyrant, or more baneful56 than the tongue of a courtier!'
"'I fear not,' said the venerable old man, 'the ears of a tyrant, nor the tongue of a courtier. The most they can do is to shorten a life that has already almost finished its career. A man on the verge57 of fourscore has little to fear from the terrors of this life. My father, who has been dead half that time, left behind him in his cellar nine bottles of wine of a most delicious flavour. Believe me, this is the only liquor I ever dared to drink in opposition58 to the laws of Mahomet; and not even this, but on very particular occasions; nor have I yet consumed the whole.
"I drank the first two bottles, continued the old man, on the birth of your eldest59 brother: two other bottles were dispatched, when the father of the present calif delivered Persia from the invasion of a tyrant: and two others when the present tyrant mounted the throne. Believe me, I shall be happy to live to treat you with the other three bottles, when Mahmoud shall be121 called into the next world, to give an account of his conduct in this. Yet I would much rather wish to drink them with you, should he reform, cease to be a tyrant, and again become that good prince he one day was."
"The company could not help smiling at such a declaration; but I was far from wishing to partake of their mirth. Had the old man, but a few days before, uttered such words as these, his head would undoubtedly have been the price of his temerity60; but what would then have excited my revenge, now filled my mind with the deepest reflections. I stole away for fear of being discovered, and hastened home to my palace, there to ruminate61 by myself on this adventure. It is evident, said I to myself, that I must have been the worst of tyrants62, since this good old man, who drank but two bottles at the birth of his eldest son, wishes to drink three on the news of my decease. He hopes for such an event to crown all his wishes, and to complete his victory.
"In this manner my thoughts were agitated63, and it was not till some time afterwards I recollected64 he said, that he should finish his bottle with still greater pleasure, should he hear of my reformation. All my former notions of tyranny and power appeared to vanish before me, and my heart seemed to receive impressions of a different nature. To accomplish this work was my motive for being so long hidden from public view, and from thence has arisen that change in my conduct with which I see all my good subjects so much astonished and delighted. I will endeavour to change no more, but to live in the affections of my people. I leave you now to judge whether the good old man may not venture to drink his remaining three bottles."
"Those three bottles are already drank," exclaimed a youth, while he was endeavouring to penetrate65 through the crowd of courtiers to the throne. As soon as he got to the calif, he threw himself at his feet, and again exclaimed, "Commander of the faithful under Mahomet, they are already drank!"
Mahmoud then ordered him to rise, and asked him who he was that had thus spoken. The youth replied, "Most gracious sovereign, I am one of five children, of whom the old man you have just mentioned is the father. I was one of the party in that conversation, which has made such a noble and generous impression on your royal heart. As we were yesterday surrounding him, he thus addressed us: 'I feel nature is nearly exhausted66 in me; but I shall now die with pleasure, since I have lived to see such an unexpected reformation in Mahmoud. Let us drink the three remaining bottles and be merry.'"
The calif then ordered him to fetch his father, that he might have the sire and son always near123 him. The youth then retired, and Mahmoud dismissed the assembly for the present.
Thus you see, my youthful readers, how easily you are to be led astray by your passions, when you suffer them to prevail over reason. Learn early to give law to your passions, or your passions will in time give law to you, and govern you with a tyrannical power.
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1
dominions
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| 统治权( dominion的名词复数 )； 领土； 疆土； 版图 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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arraigned
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| v.告发( arraign的过去式和过去分词 )；控告；传讯；指责 | |
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4
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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5
blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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6
predecessors
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| n.前任( predecessor的名词复数 )；前辈；（被取代的）原有事物；前身 | |
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7
miseries
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| n.痛苦( misery的名词复数 )；痛苦的事；穷困；常发牢骚的人 | |
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thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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12
destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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13
quelling
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| v.（用武力）制止，结束，镇压( quell的现在分词 ) | |
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14
rebellious
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| adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的 | |
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15
slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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16
clemency
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| n.温和，仁慈，宽厚 | |
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17
tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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18
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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19
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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20
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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21
recesses
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| n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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22
unprecedented
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| adj.无前例的，新奇的 | |
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23
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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24
alteration
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| n.变更，改变；蚀变 | |
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25
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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26
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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transformation
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| n.变化；改造；转变 | |
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conjectures
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| 推测，猜想( conjecture的名词复数 ) | |
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29
conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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30
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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31
remonstrances
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| n.抱怨，抗议( remonstrance的名词复数 ) | |
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32
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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33
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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34
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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35
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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36
condemn
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| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
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37
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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38
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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39
monarchs
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| 君主，帝王( monarch的名词复数 ) | |
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40
stratagem
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| n.诡计，计谋 | |
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41
precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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42
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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43
foaming
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| adj.布满泡沫的；发泡 | |
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44
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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45
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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46
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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47
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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48
royalty
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| n.皇家，皇族 | |
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49
humbled
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| adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低 | |
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50
rambles
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| （无目的地）漫游( ramble的第三人称单数 )； （喻）漫谈； 扯淡； 长篇大论 | |
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51
veneration
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| n.尊敬，崇拜 | |
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52
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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53
erased
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| v.擦掉( erase的过去式和过去分词 )；抹去；清除 | |
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54
extolled
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| v.赞颂，赞扬，赞美( extol的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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55
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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56
baneful
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| adj.有害的 | |
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57
verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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58
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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59
eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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60
temerity
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| n.鲁莽，冒失 | |
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61
ruminate
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| v.反刍；沉思 | |
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62
tyrants
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| 专制统治者( tyrant的名词复数 )； 暴君似的人； （古希腊的）僭主； 严酷的事物 | |
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63
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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64
recollected
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| adj.冷静的；镇定的；被回忆起的；沉思默想的v.记起，想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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65
penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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66
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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