subdued
many of them.

The Potuans gained, indeed, in power and wealth, but they suffered more
from the loss of friendship and the increase of fear and envy in the
conquered. The honorable regard for justice and equity, to which they
had hitherto owed their prosperity and supremacy, began from that time
to fade. On the death of Mikleta, however, the people recovered from
their folly, and showed their regret for it, while at the same time they
regained the good will of their neighbors, by putting a blot upon the
memory of their ruler.

But, to return to myself. I took but little pleasure in associating with
my companions, a set of absurd trees, who constantly ridiculed me for my
quick perception.

This quality, I have already said, I was blamed for, very early in my
career but by learned trees, with grave and dignified complaisance.
These saplings, on the contrary, pestered me with silly nicknames. For
example, they took a malicious delight in calling me Skabba, which means
an untimely or unripe thing.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

CHAPTER IX.

THE JOURNEY AROUND THE PLANET NAZAR.

I had now performed the toilsome duties of a courier for two years,
having been every where with orders and letters. I was tired of this
troublesome and unbecoming business. I sent to the king petition after
petition, asking for my discharge, and soliciting for a more honorable
appointment. But I was repeatedly refused, for his majesty did not think
my abilities would warrant promotion. He condescended to refer me to the
laws and customs, which allowed those only to be placed in respectable
and important offices, who were fitted for them by talent and virtue.
It was necessary, he continued, that I should remain where I was, till I
could, by my merits, pave my way to distinction. He concluded thus:

Study to know yourself, is wisdom's rule;
The wise man reasons,--blunders, still, the fool.
Strive not with feeble powers great weights to move,
Before your shoulders long experience prove.

I was thus obliged to remain, as patiently as I could, in my old
service, amusing myself in thinking how to bring my talents to the
light. In my continual journeys about the country, I studied the nature
of the people, the quality of the soil; and, in short, became accurately
acquainted with every thing worthy of observation. That I might not
forget any thing, I used myself to write notes of each journey. These
notes I