en abandoned,
and endeavour to find out the place near the fountain which had served
him for a cradle. He was to make inquiry of every living soul he might
meet on the road, in order to get information concerning the fate of
this precious deposit; and having found him, to carry him to the arms
of his tender mother, whom he was to bring with him also to Issessara.
But many obstacles stood in the way of these things. The prudent envoy
caused the whole desert to be searched, but to no purpose: he did not
succeed so well in finding the child as in bringing back the mother.

Kassera, desperately in love with this Princess, could not think of
parting with her. On the arrival of the ambassador, with presents from
the King of Dineroux, and a commission to bring away the Queen, he
felt some struggles in his heart; but love triumphed over them. This
imperious passion magnified, in his eyes, the good offices he had
done, and made the giving up of a woman seem but a poor return for
them. In a word, he renounced the glorious title of a generous
protector for that of a base ravisher of the wife of his ally.

Nevertheless, he appeared to receive with gratitude the embassy of
Bohetzad, and the presents with which it was accompanied. Meanwhile,
he was informed that the auxiliary troops, which he had furnished this
monarch, had returned into Persia. The officers who commanded them
extolled to the skies the bravery, the abilities, and the magnificence
of Bohetzad. They returned from his dominions, delighted with himself,
loaded with kindness, and astonished at the power with which he was
surrounded, and the resources of the country over which he reigned.
These universal reports raised an unusual conflict in the soul of
Kassera. He was not accustomed to victory over himself, for, till that
moment, he had yielded to every inclination. But he must now either
give up a violent passion, or the title of the benefactor of a
Sovereign equal to himself in dignity and in power, and that, too, at
the hazard of drawing upon Persia the scourge of a cruel war, and of
seeing all Asia in dreadful confusion.

"Be ashamed, Kassera," said he to himself, "of the guilty designs you
have formed. Return thanks to fortune for the favour it has done you,
in opening your eyes to the folly of your conduct. May the King of
Dineroux for ever remain ignorant that, forgetting what you owe both
to yourself and him, you have dared to covet a blessing which he holds
so