throne. Some time ago he had secretly let him down into the bottom of
this well we have spoken of. This unhappy victim soon sank under so
many difficulties. He died, but this event was not known, although the
other parts of the secret had transpired.

The grandees of the realm and the whole nation, shocked at the
capricious cruelty, which exposed them all to the same danger, rose
with one accord against the tyrant, and assassinated him. The
adventure of Abosaber had been long since forgotten. One of the
officers of the palace reported that the King went every day to carry
bread to a man who was in the well, and to converse with him. This
idea led their thoughts to the brother who had been so cruelly used by
the tyrant. They ran to the well, went down into it, and found there
the patient Abosaber, whom they took for the presumptive heir to the
crown. Without giving him time to speak, or to make himself known,
they conducted him to a bath, and he was soon clothed in the royal
purple and placed upon the throne.

The new King, always steady to his principles, left Heaven to operate
in his favour, and was patient. His deportment, his reserve, and his
coolness disposed men to prophecy well of his reign, and the wisdom of
his conduct justified these happy presages. Not contented to weigh
with indefatigable patience the decisions of his own judgment, he was
present as often as possible at all the business of the State.
"Viziers, Cadis, ministers of justice," said he to them, "before
deciding hastily, take patience and inquire."

They admired his wisdom, and yielded themselves to its direction. Such
was the disposition of their minds with respect to him, when a train
of events produced a great change in it.

A neighbouring monarch, driven from his dominions by a powerful enemy,
vanquished, and followed by a small retinue, took refuge with
Abosaber, and implored on his knees the hospitality, assistance, and
good offices of a King renowned for his virtues, and especially for
his patience.

Abosaber dismissed his divan to converse with this exiled Prince, and,
as soon as they were alone, he said to him, "Behold in me Abosaber,
your former subject, unjustly spoiled by you of all his fortune, and
banished from your kingdom. Observe the just difference in the
conduct of Heaven towards us. I departed from my village, reduced by
you to the last point of wretchedness. I submitted, however, to my
lot, was patient, and Providence hat