evil; I detest that man." But his
more amiable and pious friend said, "Pray, do not speak so, your
Highness: it is not right." Seeing that he was unwilling to go until he
had consulted the prophet, the King of Israel ordered the latter to be
sent for. The two sovereigns awaited him in state, in their royal robes
upon their thrones, at the large open space always left in Oriental
cities at the entrance of the gates, for public meetings, business, and
courts of justice.

Before the messenger returned, the false prophets had renewed their
predictions of a safe and successful career to the two kings; and one of
them had distinguished himself by making horns of iron, which he placed
upon his head, agreeably to the allegorical style of the East, and said:
"Thus shalt thou push against thy enemies, and shalt overcome them,
until they be utterly consumed."

Meanwhile, the royal messenger approached with the prophet; and being a
good-natured man and a courtier, he begged the latter not to affront his
master, by speaking differently from the other seers, who all, with one
accord, joined in predicting peace and success. But the undaunted man of
God replied, that what Jehovah revealed to him he would speak, neither
more nor less.

At last, they arrived in the presence of royalty; and the King of Israel
said to him, "Speak, and declare the counsel of God: shall we go up
against the city, or shall we abandon our undertaking?" With a manner of
cutting irony--for he well knew that the monarch neither cared to know
the will of the Lord, nor would obey it, when known--the prophet
answered, quoting the language of the fortune-tellers around him: "Go
up, and prosper; for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the
king." But it was so evident that there was something behind this
satire, that the idolatrous prince replied to him, "How often must I be
compelled to tell you to speak the truth, and to declare the will of
Heaven?"

Then the prophet spoke, and this time the mockery had vanished from his
tone and manner, and his voice was serious and sad: "I see a vision that
distresses me: all Israel is scattered upon the hills, like sheep which
have no shepherd. And Jehovah says, 'These have no master: let each one
return to his house in peace.'"

When he heard this, the King of Israel turned to his friend: "Now you
see a proof of my words," said he. "Did I not tell you that he would
never predict aught but evil of me?"

But the prop