The history of Arsaces, Prince of Betlis: By the editor of Chrysal. In two volumes. ... [pt.1]

THE HISTORY OF ARSACES, PRINCE OF BETLIS. BOOK THE SECOND.

SECTION I.

SOME days passed before Temugin could attend to the continuation of the captive's story; but his curiosity, though restrained, was far from being satisfied. The first evening he could spare from his weightier cares, he commanded his atten∣dance; when he resumed his narrative, in these words.

From the general tenour of the mer∣chant's conversation, I had been led to think his principles strictly just, and generous to the best of his conception; but I soon found that the difference be∣tween speculation and practice is equally great, in every station of life. On the third day, after our arrival at Cairo, he fulfilled his professions of friendship, and gratitude for the service I had done him, by selling me as a slave to the grand visier.

I must not, however, in justice to him, omit a particular circumstance, which happened on this occasion. When he was delivering me to the visier, he told me, as an excuse of his disappoint∣ing the hopes of liberty, which he had always given me, that it had not been his intention to sell me, but the visier, who had been pleased with something in my appearance, offered him so high a price, that he could not possibly refrain from accepting it;

for you know, he

concluded, that it is a rule with us, who live by buying and selling, never to refuse a good offer.

This excuse took effect, though not in the manner it was intended. It gave me such a contempt for the man, who made it, that I left him with pleasure, though to continue in slavery.

The accounts which I had received from my father of the perfection, to which every power of human art and genius had been carried in Egypt, had raised my curiosity so high to see the country, that I almost forgot the wretch∣ed state, in which I went thither. But how was my expectation disappointed! The ruins of ancient magnificence only made present misery the more remarkable. The rulers prided themselves in brutal violence, in the destruction of works they could not imitate; and the con∣tempt of sciences above their compre∣hension. The people, a mixture of that

draff of all nations, who destitute of principle or sentiment, ramble from their native homes, and submit to all the in∣sults and oppression of foreign tyranny for the sordid sake of scraping up wealth, which they dare not enjoy, had neither leisure, genius, nor spirit to cultivate either art or science.

My soul sickened in the contempla∣tion of such degeneracy. I would have preferred returning to the Bedouins in the desart, to remaining in a country, once the pride of nature, had I been master of myself. There was a possi∣bility at least that those savages might be reclaimed in time; but here, every thing was evidently growing worse; nor could imagination set bounds to their fall, when the height, from which they had already fallen, was considered.

But I was soon delivered from the pain of such contemplations. In less than a moon, after I was sold to the

visier, he was deposed, and strangled; and all his property confiscated to the use of the sultan.

In the dissipation, usual on such oc∣casions, it fell to my lot, to be given to an officer, who was sent the very next morning to execute a like sentence, on Almanzor, the brother of the late visier, who commanded the Egyptian army on the confines of Biledulgerid, and took me in his train.

As it was necessary to the success of his commission, that he should execute it, before the fate of the late visier should come to the knowledge of his brother, to put him on his guard, as his great abilities and virtues had endeared him so highly to his troops, that they would, to a man, have defended his life, with their own, we traversed the inhospitable desart of Barca, with the utmost expe∣dition.

SECTION II.

ON the fourth morning of our jour∣ney, as we sat upon the bank of a river, to refresh nature after so severe a fatigue, we were surprized at the sight of a troop, which came pouring down upon us, from every side.

The state of universal war, in which we knew the rovers of those desarts live with all mankind, left us no room to doubt of their intentions; at the same time, that their numbers shewed it was in vain to attempt resistance.

In such a situation, there was not a moment to deliberate. I sprung instantly upon my horse, whom I had learned from the Bedouins never to quit; and calling to all those, who preferred death to slavery, to follow me, I plunged into the river: But not above three or four

followed my example; the rest, stupe∣fied by the affright, and fond of life, even in its most abject state, not daring to make so desperate an effort to preserve their liberty.

The rapidity of the stream hurried me away, with a violence which soon di∣verted my attention from every thing, but the immediate danger of my life. Thrice was I swallowed in the whirl∣pools, which foamed among the rocks, that broke the current of the river; but the strength and spirit of my horse, to whom I clung in the instinctive impulse of self-preservation, after I had lost sense of every thing else, bore me through to the opposite shore.

When I had recovered myself a little, and returned thanks to heaven, for so signal a mercy; I looked wishfully around for my companions, but all in vain. However as I had been borne by the

torrent, out of the view of the enemy, I lingered awhile on the bank, to see if they might not happily have gained some other part; till at length losing every shadow of such hope, and growing ap∣prehensive, that the rovers might find some safer place to pass the river, and pursue me, I turned about, and plunged into the pathless wilderness, ignorant whither to direct my steps.

I proceeded thus, guided only by de∣spair, till the approach of night, when the roaring of the various beasts issuing from their dens in search of prey, warned me to provide for the safety of the present moment, however dreadful the farther prospect, which lay before me. Accord∣ingly fastening my horse to the root of a lofty tree, I climbed its summit, and imploring the divine protection, disposed myself to rest among the branches, in the best manner such a situation would admit.

Nature was so exhausted by the ac∣cumulated fatigue, which I had under∣gone, both in mind and body, that I soon sunk into a profound sleep, in which I lost, for some happy hours, the remembrance of my misfortunes.

At the approach of morning, when my senses were refreshed, and the facul∣ties of my mind had recovered their vigour, I saw a vision, and in the power of imagination beheld the same celestial being, which had appeared to me, in my dream, the morning before I left the house of my father.

Selim,

methought he said, regarding me with a look of reprehension,

from thine own presumptuous folly have arisen thy misfortunes. Let experience teach thee wisdom. Thou art now launched forth into the great ocean of the world. Pursue thy course steadily through it, under the direction of rea∣son;

nor while thou shalt merit its pro∣tection by virtue, fear being deserted by that power, which hath hitherto so eminently protected thee. Remember, that though the days of man are num∣bered, and the hour of his death ap∣pointed from the beginning, the man∣ner of that death depends upon himself, whether in infamy or glory.

—

My vision was broken off, as he spoke these words, by a most tremendous noise, at which I instantly awoke; when the first object I saw was an huge-lion, which had just seized upon my horse, and was tearing him piece-meal.

The distress, with which I was affected at this sight, is not to be expressed. The sense of my dreadful situation, deprived thus of my best assistance to traverse those boundless wilds, was heightened by gratitude to the noble creature, which had so lately saved my life. I wept in the weakness of my soul; and was

tempted by despair to precipitate myself upon him, and either revenge, or share his fate.

But a recollection of the words, which I had just heard in my vision, prevented my being guilty of such rashness. I considered that the dangers, which made my present prospect so terrifying, were yet less immediately terrible, than those which I had so lately escaped; and gathering hope from thence, I implored a continuance of the divine protection, and resigned myself with humility to the dispensations of heaven.

This restored my mind to some se∣renity, and enabled me to consider, which way I should direct my course, as soon as the departure of the lion should permit me to descend from my place of safety; but so many obstacles presented themselves on every side, that reason could find no hope, whereon to form a choice.

In this perplexity, it occurred to me at length to pursue the journey, in which I had been engaged; and strive to join, if possible, the army of Almanzor, though with a different intention from that with which I had been sent.

No resolution, which was not abso∣lutely impossible, could have been at∣tended with greater difficulties. I had still an immense tract of this inhospitable wilderness to traverse. I knew not my way through it. I knew not even where the army of Almanzor lay. My only direction was, that I had heard our journey pointed to the west; and I im∣agined that the traces of so great an army, would be easily discovered, when once I should come into an inhabited country.

On the support of this slender hope, I set out accordingly, as soon as I de∣scended from the tree, and travelled through the wilderness for the space of

forty days, without meeting the footstep of any human creature, or having the satisfaction of any certainty, that I was not involving myself deeper in those inexplicable wilds; chusing my steps by day with the most anxious dread of the serpents, and other venemous reptiles, which hissed continually on every side; and flying at the approach of night to some tree for safety from the various beasts, whose roarings tore the air around me; while I fed on wild fruits, with the birds of the air, except when failing of them I was forced to feed upon the birds themselves, which I slew with my bow and arrows.

At length even these resources failed me. I was several days without meeting any fruits; and consequently met very few birds, which seldom resort any places, but those in which they find their food.

My spirits losing by degrees the sup∣port of hope, sunk with my strength. I thought it in vain to struggle longer with a fate, which seemed inevitable; and therefore layed me down to wait for death, in whatever shape he should please to attack me.

SECTION III.

THE place I chose for this purpose was of itself sufficient to throw a gloom over the happiest mind. Stupendous ruins, inhabited by every animal, the most fierce and poisonous of the savage race, and surrounded with woods, al∣most impervious to them, hung over a rapid stream, broken into numberless cataracts, by the fragments of the build∣ings, which had fallen into it.

Imagination wearied itself, in the pre∣sent contemplation, in reflection on the former grandeur of this scene of deso∣lation,

till I sunk into a kind of slumber. But the impression made upon my mind, by such objects, had heightened the sense of my own misery, too much, to permit my sleeping long. I soon awoke, and raising my eyes, what was my astonishment to see a being, whose ap∣pearance was such as must strike the most insensible heart with awe. His stature arose, above the common size of man. His beard fell bright as burnished silver down his breast. A loose vesture shewed his large limbs; and a staff sup∣ported him, as he stooped over me.

My heart almost died within me, at the sight. I was sensible that I was awake; and wanted that intrepidity, with which sleep prepares us to behold its own creatures. I thought I beheld a being of another world; and though despair had steeled me against every com∣mon attack of fear, a sacred horrour seized my whole soul; and for a time suspended all its faculties.

Recovering at length the power of utterance,

Defend me, heaven!

I ex∣claimed,

my life is in thine hand.

— Then prostrating myself at his feet,

O gracious being,

I continued,

of what∣soever state, for my soul feels thou art above mortality, receive into thy pro∣tection, the most forlorn of man∣kind; and direct me to some end of the misery, under which I am now sinking.

He saw the distress of my soul, and reaching his hand with a look of in∣effable benevolence,

Arise, my son!

said he,

arise; and fear not. You behold a man, like yourself! A man, once as unhappy, as you can possibly be, till resignation, and the lenient hand of time, in some degree healed the wounds of misfortune; and restored peace to my heart. Nature, at the long disused sight of man, first led me toward you; and sympathy now bids

me offer you all the consolation and assistance in my power.

Encouraged by these words, and more by the manner, in which the venerable speaker of them addressed me, I arose; and bowing my head, in sign of grate∣ful obedience, for I was not yet suffi∣ciently assured to speak, I followed him toward his habitation, which he shewed me at some distance from the other ruins, by the side of the river.

It was a circular building of vast ex∣tent, the walls of which had been so high, that though a great part of them was fallen, in several places, that which remained standing, was still sufficient to exclude every creature, without wings: nor could I perceive a place of entrance, for any other, as he led me all around it.

I was just going to express my sur∣prize at this, when my conductor

stooped; and taking a ladder, which lay concealed at a little distance, he applied it to a narrow aperture in the wall, at a considerable height from the ground, into which, when we had ascended, he drew the ladder after him.

I found myself, now, in a large gal∣lery, arched over-head, and supported by massy pillars, of the most exquisite workmanship. It looked into an open space, in the center of the building, part of which was planted with fruit-trees of different sorts, and the rest cul∣tivated as a garden, and filled with various kinds of vegetables.

When I had indulged my curiosity for some minutes, in gazing at objects so new to me, we descended into a spacious apartment, under the gallery; in the middle of which there arose a fountain, that filled a bath of the whitest marble;

and with its over-flowing watered the garden, through which it was led in channels, cut for that purpose.

SECTION IV.

AS we advanced to the fountain, we were met by a young female, the sight of whom added to the wonder, with which my soul was filled. She was clad in a robe of blue silk, which covered her whole form. A net of the same colour enclosed her hair, which was wrapped in woven tresses round her head; and shone like the plumes of the raven. Her eyes—

Hold!

interrupted Temugin,

I hate descriptions of beauty. They are al∣ways drawn, by an over-heated imagina∣tion; and only make the partiality of the painter ridiculous.

The captive blushed at this rebuke; and looking down abashed for some mo∣ments, sighed and resumed his story.

She started at the sight of me; and gazing with the most eager astonish∣ment, turned her eyes frequently to my conductor, as if to enquire, who I could be.

He soon understood her; and smiling at her surprize,

Receive, my child,

said he,

a stranger whom heaven hath sent to enliven this solitary scene. Bring your guest a garment to put on, when he comes out of the bath; and then prepare us a repast, from those stores, which the bounty of heaven supplies faster than we can consume; and are always best bestowed upon those who want them most.

On his saying this, she withdrew; and returning directly with a vesture,

her father and I went into the bath to∣gether.

When I had purified and refreshed my∣self, after my fatigue, he led me back into the gallery, where she had laid for us, a variety of fruits, some dried in the sun, and others fresh-plucked from the trees, with a vase of living water, just drawn from the fountain.

My host, having thanked heaven for its blessings, reached me some of the fruits; and encouraged me to eat by his example.

Having satisfied the cravings of na∣ture; and being in some degree re∣lieved by his beneficence, from the awe, with which his appearance had struck me, I began to recover my spirits; and look around me, with less embar∣rassment.

I congratulate you, my son,

said my host, observing the alteration in my looks,

on the comfort, which this scene of desolation has administered to your distress. Be not ashamed. It argues not any malevolence of dispo∣sition. Nature receives consolation from society, even in misery; from the thought of not being marked for the sole object of the wrath of heaven.

Distress, great as ever wounded the human heart, first drove me into these wilds; where chance directed my steps to this place. The view struck me. I thought such an habitation best suited to my state; and that the hand of heaven had led me to it, to shew me the vanity of this world, and all its grandeur.

This reflection soothed my heart; and time insensibly wore off the edge of my afflictions, so far, that in a

few years I could say, I was not un∣happy; nor had a wish to throw away, for any thing this world could afford, beyond what I enjoyed in this solitude. But alas! even this absence of unhap∣piness was too much to last! I had more to suffer before I was to be re∣leased from life.

But I see you are fatigued. Even∣ing draws on, when we must retire to rest. While day confines the natural lords of these ruins to their caves, I walk abroad, sole viceroy of their em∣pire; but yield the more pleasant even∣ing, and cool night to the stronger; and retire to this place of safety, while they resume their sway.

In the morning, when rest shall have refreshed your over-laboured body, and calmed the tumult in your mind, I will lead you through some of the most re∣markable places of my dominion; and afterwards gratify the curiosity, which

I see you feel, by relating the occur∣rences of my life; from a comparison of which, with your own, you can not fail of receiving consolation, and en∣couragement to slight the evils of so uncertain a state.

Think that you lie this night, among the ruins of a city, once the habita∣tion of myriads; but now for ages lost to human knowledge; and sleep contented and secure, in just contempt of every thing which can happen, in such a world.

—Saying this, he led me to another apartment in the gallery; and recommending me to the protection of heaven, left me to my rest.

But it was a considerable time, before the working of my mind would permit me to sleep. The change of my state, from the preceding day, appeared too great and sudden to be real. I doubted my senses; and feared that all was no

more than a fond illusion of imagina∣tion.

Revolving at length the whole pro∣gress of my life, my eyes were opened; and I saw the clue, with which I had been led by heaven, through the laby∣rinth. Elevated by this thought, I offered up my soul, in prayer and thanksgiving; and resigning myself, in humble assurance, to the same pro∣tector, soon found the blessing of quiet sleep.

SECTION V.

WHEN I joined my beneficent host, the next morning, he saw the change in my looks, and congratulated me upon it.

I rejoice, my son,

said he,

at your having found that comfort, which resignation to the will of heaven, never fails to bring to a virtuous heart. A placid countenance shews a mind at peace. As soon as we shall have taken some food, I will fulfil my promise of shewing you my dominions.

We then sat down, and eating of some fruits, which had been laid in rea∣diness for us,

Had there never been a less innocent banquet made in this place,

said he smiling,

it would not now be an heap of ruins.

Then observing, that I still looked with wonder at every thing around me,

I see,

he continued,

that you are

surprized at the structure of my habi∣tation. From ruins of the same kind, which I have seen in places, once under the dominion of a people from the regions of the setting sun, called Ro∣mans, a name perhaps unknown to you, I judge that this edifice was raised for the exhibition of shews, to entertain the populace, who, after feasting in these galleries, beheld with savage pleasure the fiercest of the brute creation, let loose in yonder open space to indulge their natural antipathies; and to the disgrace of humanity, men still more brutal, entering into deadly combat with them, or with each other, compelled by tyrant force, or for the sordid sake of hire.

Struck with horror at such an account, I could not forbear exclaiming in the indignation of my soul,

Justly hath such an abandoned people been exter∣minated from the face of the earth!

Justly hath a place polluted with such crimes, fallen to ruin!

Take care, my son,

he returned;

man must not presume to direct the justice, or trace the wrath of heaven, whose ways are all above his compre∣hension. If the most virtuous people were brought to a strict account for their actions, the most sacred places judged by what is done in them, the whole earth would long since have been an uninhabited desart; a scene of deso∣lation and ruin.

But let us go, before the heat of the sun becomes too fierce, and take a view of some of the neighbouring parts of these ruins. They will reconcile you to the fate, which invariably attends all the works, all the designs of man.

At our return, if your curiosity shall so require, we will beguile the sultry

hours of noon, in the cool shade of these arches, by a recital of the mis∣fortunes which drove me thus from human intercourse.

The scenes, through which he led me, were sufficient to humble human pride; and damp the ardour of am∣bition, in their highest flights. Every effort of art to elude oblivion, and guard against the waste of time, was here defeated in the most mortifying manner. Statues, whose remains shewed traces of the most exquisite workman∣ship; and columns, which seemed to have been built as firm, as the foun∣dations of the earth, lay defaced and tumbled on each other, in heaps of pro∣miscuous rubbish.

These statues,

said my guide,

see∣ing me struck by the sight, were finished with so much care to perpetuate the name of some noted person; these columns raised with such strength to

eternize the memory of some famous action; but so effectually hath the vain design been defeated, that during a residence of more than five hundred moons among these ruins, never have I met in all my searches a single in∣scription, which might direct me to the most distant conjecture, even of the name of a city, on the magnificence of which so much labour and cost were evidently expended; never have I seen the face of an human being, before your's, except my own immediate com∣panions.

Such reflections were too painful to be pursued. I turned away from the objects, which suggested them; and my conductor seeing how deeply I was af∣fected, discontinued his intended walk, for that time; and kindly returned with me, to his habitation; where seating ourselves, on the verge of the fountain, I requested him to relate the history of his life, which he began in these words.

SECTION VI.

Though the recital I am now entering upon, will lift up the oblivious veil, which time hath kindly thrown over my griefs; and the wounds of my heart open at the recollection of misfortunes too mighty to admit of redress, yet for thy sake, O my son, do I willingly under∣take the painful task; as a view of the evils inevitably incident to humanity, cannot fail of administering a melan∣choly consolation under your present distresses, and may convey instruction for your future conduct; the events which rule the life of man, in all its various situations, arising from causes essentially alike, however they may hap∣pen to differ in circumstances merely accidental.

But first, as my misfortunes arose im∣mediately from those of my country, and were in every sense connected with

them, it will be necessary for me to look back for a moment to distant ages, in order to give a just view of the latter, and of the causes from which they sprung.

When the intestine divisions, which had so long distracted the councils of the mighty city of Carthage, had at length made that queen of Africa fall a prey to the ambition of the Romans, the few who remained of the illustrious house of Barcas, disdaining to live in subjection to enemies, whom they had so often vanquished in the field, and preferring liberty, under the heaviest inconvenien∣cies which nature could support, to all the luxury and magnificence of their enslaved country, resolved to leave it, and seek some happier habitation.

Communicating their design accord∣ingly, to as many as they imagined wil∣ling and worthy to share in it, they all put themselves under the conduct of

Narbal, nephew to the great Annibal; and secretly embarking their families and wealth in ships provided by him for the purpose, they set sail in a propitious hour, committing themselves, and all their hopes, to the guidance and pro∣tection of the gods of their country.

The melancholy cause of their flight convincing them of the necessity of di∣recting their course to some very distant region, Narbal, whose genius, turned to pursuits of a milder nature than the rest of his illustrious family, had led him into every climate under heaven to pro∣mote the commerce of his country, de∣termined to seek a settlement on the island of Serendib, as the place most likely to be safe from the invasion of the Romans, those enemies to human liberty.

Sailing therefore along the coast of Africa, they passed the mouths of the Nile, and landing at Calixene, journied

by land from thence to Suez; where Narbal, who was well known, and high in respect, soon procured other ships, in which he pursued his intended voyage, till he came within sight of Dira; when a violent storm of wind arose, which in spite of all the skill and efforts of the mariners, drove him back upon the coast of Saquem. I call places by their pre∣sent names, to avoid obscurity.

A wise man turns every event to ad∣vantage. Narbal having landed his people, to refresh them after the fatigues of the storm, went to take a view of the country, which he found beautifully blessed by nature, and wanting only proper cultivation to make it afford all the necessaries of life; the few inhabi∣tants, who had fled at his approach, living poorly, content with the sponta∣neous produce of the earth.

Pleased with this discovery, and con∣struing the storm as a direction from

heaven, he immediately chose a spot, on the banks of a beautiful river, the mouth of which formed a spacious har∣bour; and laid the foundations of a city, which he named Byrsa, in pious remem∣brance of the revered place of his nati∣vity, whose unhappy fate made him afraid to adopt the inauspicious name of Carthage.

Misfortune had softened the minds of this new people; and taught them all those duties of humanity, which are too often neglected in the high blood of a prosperous estate. The tenderness with which they treated such of the na∣tives as happened to fall into their hands, whom they constantly dismissed with presents, soon won the love and confidence of all the neighbouring peo∣ple, so far that they came to them in crowds, and submitted gladly to an au∣thority, which they saw promoted their happiness.

With such an accession, their city soon arose to a considerable degree of strength and convenience, for the safety as well as for the necessary purposes of life; and the inhabitants, encouraged by success, applied themselves to every art of industry and genius, to advance their general interest.

The hills echoed with the voice of their flocks and herds. The plains and vallies smiled in the rich livery of har∣vest; while the ships, which had served the melancholy purpose of their flight, now brought them the most precious merchandizes of the East, in return for their manufactures, and the superfluous produce of their new country.

SECTION VII.

WHEN all things were settled in this prosperous course, Narbal, whose views were too extensive to be confined to the present moment, assembled his whole people; and laying before them the present flourishing state of their affairs, resigned into their hands the authority with which they had entrusted him; advising them to establish some permanent form of government, which might give a rational hope of securing the continuance of their happiness.

But they, who had learned wisdom in the school of adversity, were not to be tempted by any allurements of power, to forego the advantages which they ex∣perienced under his care. They not only refused to accept his resignation, but in the warmth of their gratitude and confidence, offered to chuse him directly for their king.

Though this far out-went the intention of Narbal, he thought proper to accede in appearance to their proposal for the present, as the method for accomplish∣ing the great design he had in view; but declined actually receiving the crown, till he should make some preparations, which he esteemed necessary for so solemn a ceremony.

The opportunities Narbal had had of comparing the various forms of govern∣ment, in all the various countries thro' which he had travelled, having enabled him to discover the defects and advan∣tages in each, he directly applied him∣self with the utmost assiduity and atten∣tion, to select from all, such particular parts, as when digested into one con∣sistent system, might be most likely to procure the happiness of the community, the great end of all government, in the purity of its original intention.

When he had compleated his design, he again convened the people, on a mount which arose in the midst of the city; and having offered up sacrifices and prayers to the gods, to be propi∣tious to his undertaking, the most vene∣rable of the elders informed them of the cause of their being assembled.

An universal burst of joyful acclama∣tion testifying their assent, Narbal ad∣vanced to the altar, and waving his hand to demand attention, declared with a determined look and accent, that as he was come there that day, to take upon him the government of the state, at their request, not by his own desire, he expected they would permit him to explain the terms, on which alone it was his invariable resolution to enter upon that equally difficult and impor∣tant charge.

A silence, still as death, following his words, he drew forth from his bosom a

written roll, and read aloud to them a particular account of the form of govern∣ment which he proposed to establish, desiring them to make their objections to the whole, or any particular part thereof, which they should disapprove; as the sanction of their approbation that day was to be for ever after irrevocable.

SECTION VIII.

IT is not necessary to enter into a minute detail of all the several parts of his system. A short sketch of the lead∣ing principles of it, will sufficiently shew its excellence.

Justly sensible that the prosperity of a state is necessarily derived from and dependent on the favour of heaven, he ordained, that all the sacred rites of religion should be constantly performed with piety and proper order; and to enable the persons set apart for the per∣formance of them to attend to that

duty, without interruption from the anxieties and avocations of domestic care, and give them that respect in the eyes of the people, which is indispen∣sibly necessary to add weight and in∣fluence to precepts, he appointed them a competent support out of the public revenue, without laying them under the dangerous necessity of receiving that support from the voluntary con∣tributions of particulars, who might either want ability or inclination to give it, and therefore would hold the de∣mander in disesteem; as a right to enforce such demand, by compulsive means, the only remedy in such a situa∣tion, must raise animosities which would prejudice the people against his pre∣cepts, as well as against himself.

The miseries which he had invariably seen the people groan under, in those countries where the prince knows no law but his own will, and executes that law himself, over-balanced every temp∣tation

with which power could assail his generous heart, and determined him against a form of government, where greatness is purchased at so dear a price; as on the other hand, he had before his eyes, in the unhappy fate of his native country, a melancholy proof of the evils attending those governments, in which the supreme power is lodged solely in the collective body of the people, whose councils are too often dictated by caprice or intrigue, and whose motions, where the object is not instantly present, are as slow and feeble, as their resolutions are precipitate and rash.

Between these two extremes, the wis∣dom of Narbal chose a mean, in which he hoped to avoid the evils incident to both.

To give dignity and vigour to the state, he ordained, that it should be governed by a king; as he also ordained, that the crown should descend by regu∣lar

succession in one family, to obviate the fatal consequences which attend the struggles of ambition; being too well read in the human heart, to trust the people with the right of chusing their sovereign on every succession; a right inestimable in its first principle, where reason directs the choice to merit only, but liable to such abuse in the practice, as over-balances every advantage.

To prevent the abuse of power, when thus rendered hereditary and certain, he appointed limits to the authority of the crown, by laws which ascertained the rights of the people; which laws were to be acknowledged by every successive sovereign, on his ascending the throne; and his observation of them made the condition of the people's obedience.

To assist the sovereign with their ad∣vice, in the arduous affairs of govern∣ment, he instituted a council composed of the elders and chiefs of the Cartha∣ginian

families, who had been the com∣panions of his flight, to whom he joined a few of the natives, most eminent for their virtue, to obviate any apprehen∣sion, that their interests might be sacri∣ficed to those of their new fellow-subjects.

That this council should not be sub∣ject to the influences of fear or merce∣nary motives, he appointed them several honourable and important privileges, and consigned to each a considerable property out of the public stock, which privilege and property were to descend to their posterity, who were to be the hereditary counsellors of the king, and guardians of the laws, so long as they persevered in the principles of private as well as public virtue, for which they were raised to such honour; but on their falling off from them, or dissipating the property thus given to secure their inde∣pendance, all those advantages were to be forfeited, their families reduced to a

private rank, and their places filled with persons more worthy of them.

Lest this preeminence should tempt this hereditary council to infringe upon the authority of the sovereign, or join him in oppressing the people, above whom they were thus raised, Narbal instituted a second council, inferior in rank, to be chosen annually by the people from among themselves, to watch over their interests, and defeat any at∣tempt which might be made either by the sovereign, or the superior council, to exceed the limits respectively ap∣pointed to them; which second council was to be convened at a certain time in every year, to examine past transactions, and concert future measures; during their attendance on which duties, they were to enjoy the same privileges as the superior council; but at the end of that attendance, to return to their former private state; and this short duration of their authority was ordained, that in case

this representative council, or any of its members, should deviate from the sense of their constituents, or betray their confidence, the people might have a timely remedy in their power, by cor∣recting their choice; and entrusting their rights into more faithful hands, before any evil or error committed by them should take too deep a root.

By these two councils, in conjunction with the sovereign, were to be framed all future laws for the government of the state, as well in its interior policy, as in respect to its connections and inter∣course with other states; which con∣junction was so essential, that the dissent of the sovereign, or either council, pre∣vented the establishment of the law pro∣posed: and of all laws, the execution was committed to the king, with a power of appointing persons proper for that purpose; but under this restriction, that no person should be appointed to

execute the laws, who was himself known to persist in the violation of any law.

And lastly, to support the dignity of the crown, and defray the necessary ex∣pences of the state, he appointed a cer∣tain portion of lands to be cultivated by such delinquents, as by their crimes should deserve the loss of liberty; being sensible of the absurdity and injustice to the public, of depriving it of the service of its members, by punishing any crime, beside murder, with the death of the criminal; and that as all other crimes proceed ultimately from idleness, their proper punishment is labour, the appre∣hension of which accumulated as far as the strength of the criminal could pos∣sibly support, and continued for his life, must be much more effectual to prevent the commission of such crimes, than any other punishment, however severe, but of short duration; and till there should be a sufficient number of such delinquents, or if happily there never should, then

by the lower ranks of the people for hire, to be paid out of the produce of their labour.

To such a system of government it was impossible to make any objection. The people unanimously testified their approbation of it in the strongest man∣ner; and Narbal, having sworn at the altar to preserve it inviolably, in every respect and instance, to the utmost of his power; and imprecated the ven∣geance of heaven upon any of his suc∣cessors who should attempt to subvert it, he received the crown from the hands of the chief priest, amid the universal acclamations and blessings of all pre∣sent; who in return swore fidelity to him, and obedience to the government, which he planned for their mutual bene∣fit; concluding the sacred solemnity with oblations and prayers to the gods for their blessing and protection.

SECTION IX.

THE same wisdom and public spirit which had dictated this form of govern∣ment, appeared in every act of Narbal's reign. He promoted virtue, and pu∣nished vice. He secured the civil rights and private property of his subjects, by plain and equitable laws. He established order in the state; and regulated its in∣ternal policy. He restrained ostentatious expence, luxury, and excess. He en∣couraged industry, and application to the useful arts; and his own conduct was the best comment on his laws.

When he had settled these most im∣mediate objects of his care, he extended it to others more remote, though not less important.

He knew that industry is the true parent of strength; and commerce the only inexhaustible fund of wealth to a

state: but he had learned from the un∣happy fate of Carthage, that even com∣merce may be pursued too far, and that excess of wealth is weakness. He there∣fore directed the spirit of industry to a more solid object.

Of all the ways, in which the com∣bined force of the human mind and body can be exerted, the most advan∣tageous, and at the same time the most truly honourable, is agriculture. It creates that wealth, which commerce only collects: it supports the arts, by supporting life for the exercise of them: it increases population, and provides for that encrease. In a word, as much as the supply of natural, is more important than that of artificial wants; as much as life itself, than the phantastic emolu∣ments of it, by so much is agriculture superior to every other art: and for this reason, the first and great aim of Nar∣bal's policy, through the whole course of his reign, was to improve agriculture,

and promote it by every encouragement of interest and honour.

Nor was his care confined within the circle of his own kingdom. He studied the genius and interests of all the neigh∣bouring nations; and laid down rules for the conduct proper to be observed in every possible intercourse with them.

Though the first aim of Narbal's po∣licy was peace, and his first laws calcu∣lated for the cultivation of it, he was too well acquainted with human nature to expect that such a blessing could be pre∣served to his people without the support of force, to repel the attacks of envy, interest, and ambition.

To establish this force therefore, in constant readiness for so necessary a pur∣pose, he ordained that all the Byrsan youth should learn the warlike arts, and appear at certain stated times in every year before him, to shew their expert∣ness

at them; encouraging emulation by honorary prizes; but at the same time taking every possible precaution to suppress ambition and an indiscriminate passion for war.

The wisdom of these institutions soon appeared. His people were held in esteem and respect by all the neighbour∣ing nations. They were happy in them∣selves; and their country flourished in all the blessings of industry and peace; and as far as human reason could look forward into time, the firmness of the basis upon which his happiness was founded, secured its duration.

But why do I dwell thus fondly on the excellencies of a government, which is now no more? The theme must be disinteresting to you; but my mind is so filled with the revered idea, that in the over-flowing of my heart, I have insensibly ran into lengths, beyond my

first design.

— Saying this he wiped away the tears.—

Imitate not his prolixity,

interrupted Temugin,

by a description of grief, as disgusting in your repetition, as it was groundless in him. As well may it be expected to make the sea stand still, as to frame a system of government, which will not change. Every hour produces incidents, which alter its form, as neces∣sarily as the motion of the air moves the face of the waters. But such is the wisdom of speculative legislators. Pro∣ceed.

—

The captive bowed his head in sub∣mission to a reproof, the force of which he felt; and thus resumed his story.

SECTION X.

HEAVEN,

continued my host,

re∣warded the virtue of Narbal, in the amplest manner. He saw all his pious labours crowned with success; and died full of years, and full of glory, leaving his crown to a son, worthy to succeed him.

The kingdom of Byrsa flourished for many ages, under a long succession of princes of the race of Narbal; who all adhered faithfully to the great prin∣ciples of his government, every change which became necessary, in the change of times, being regulated by them.

But unhappily the same care was not observed, perhaps was not possible to be observed, in the minuter matters of domestic policy. A long course of pros∣perity made the Byrsans forget, that their state owed its origin to misfortune; and wealth, accumulated by frugality,

was thought to remove the necessity of that virtue.

The natural wants of man are few, and easily supplied; but the artificial are infinite, and insatiable. Not content with the necessaries of life, he looks around for the conveniences, from which to the luxuries the ascent is insensible.

No sooner had the sumptuary laws, so strictly enjoined by Narbal, began to be relaxed, than the spirit of commerce, consequentially, and designedly restrained by them, broke through all bounds; and ransacked every quarter of the earth to gratify the phantastick demands of luxury and caprice.

The opportunities, which this opened, of bartering from one to another, the various products of all the various na∣tions, with whom they traded, afforded them such gain, that as their wealth had

made them luxurious, so their luxury made them wealthy.

The effects of this were soon felt. The wealth of individuals exceeded that of the state, in every degree of just pro∣portion: and their expence exceeded that wealth. A false refinement uni∣versally took place of that sublime sim∣plicity of sentiment and manners, which had been the honourable characteristic of the Byrsan nation. Their buildings were raised more for ostentation than use. Their garments were fashioned by vanity. Their food was chosen meerly for its expence, however disagreeable to the taste, or destructive to health. Respect was measured by riches. Ho∣nours were openly sold; or conferred for services, in their nature most dis∣honourable. Virtue and merit were de∣pressed by contempt and neglect; while vice found favour, and injudicious mercy encouraged crimes, by disarming justice of its terrors.

In a word, the whole business of life was dissipation; and every thing serious, every regard to decency, moral virtue, and religion, was turned into ridicule.

In order to carry on their commerce to greater advantage, the Byrsans planted colonies, in different parts of the earth, which drained their own country of its most useful inhabitants; none who were not possessed of considerable wealth, or whose professions did not immediately minister to the gratification of luxury, finding any encouragement, or even being able to live at home, where the fascination of example had made a pro∣fusion in expence unavoidable; and idle∣ness and vanity had so far enhanced the price of the indispensible necessaries of life, as to involve the industrious poor, whose labour is the natural support, as their numbers make the real strength of a state, in all the miseries of want; and oblige them to seek subsistence else∣where.

Time shewed the consequence of this conduct. These colonies, encreasing in numbers, in proportion to the depopu∣lation of their mother country, by such emigrations; and flourishing in all the arts carried from thence, at length felt their own strength; and scorning a de∣pendance no longer supported by suffi∣cient power, took the first plausible occasion to shake it off; and ever after carried themselves like states allied upon equal terms, rather than subjects.

Nor was the exterior polity of the Byrsans, ruled by principles of greater wisdom, or virtue. Proud of their wealth, they looked with contempt on every poorer nation; and blindly mistak∣ing that wealth for strength, scrupled not to invade their rights, as views of interest or ambition chanced to tempt them.

Such a conduct often necessarily en∣gaged them in wars, with the neigh∣bouring

nations; and gave the sanction of justice to the attacks, which envy of their prosperity had before designed against them; but as these attacks were always made on some particular occasion, and singly by the people then aggrieved, they constantly failed of their effect, and only encreased by such exertion, the power they were intended to over-turn.

In this manner did they proceed for many ages, flourishing in a false pros∣perity, the cause of which insensibly undermined its foundation, like a tree, growing by the side of a river, whose waters, at the same time, that they make its branches spread, and cover them with bloom, wash away the earth from its roots; till it falls unexpectedly in the midst of its glory, over-turned by the slightest gust of wind; and buries every thing near it, in its ruins.

SECTION XI.

IN the commotions which shook the earth, when the Arabians, under the pretext of propagating their religion, im∣piously ravaged and enslaved the greater part of the world, as if the benign Father of creation could be pleased with the misery and desolation of his works, a body of Egyptians, who had escaped their fury, settled themselves in a moun∣tainous and barren tract of land, which lay between the country of the Byrsans, and the desart, over which they had fled with their families, in their de∣spair.—

Appalled at this arraignment of the religion, in which I had been educated; of principles, which I had ever been taught to hold most sacred, all my re∣spect for my host could not prevent my interrupting him.

Mercy, gracious heaven! I exclaimed, what do I hear? Can any duty be more incumbent on man, than to propagate the true religion, even by force, where persuasion fails? Is not every man, who refuses to receive it, an enemy to God, and as such to be cut off from among men? And is it not a most, impious breach of that duty, a prostitution of benevolence to exert it, toward him?

Beware, O my son,

he replied, with a look and accent of the greatest earn∣estness,

beware of intruding thyself into the councils of heaven! Has the Su∣preme Being told you, that only one religion is acceptable to him? And that the religion, which you profess, is that one? If you alledge a particular reve∣lation of your religion, do not others rest upon a like foundation? And doth not every man believe his own to be true?

In such a contrariety, by what virtue have you alone merited the preference of being right? Or rather, how hath the place of your birth merited that preference? For by that was deter∣mined the mode of your religion: And would a matter of such importance have been left depending on a circumstance so meerly accidental?

Beside, to allow what you contend for, that your religion is the only one, which is right, hath the Deity delegated to you a power, which he hath not ex∣erted himself, of compelling all men to think alike? Or, if he intends such compulsion, doth he want your assistance to effect it? Can not he, who createth the mind, mould it as he pleaseth? And is it not in vain; is it not impious for man to attempt controuling that which the Deity hath left free?

Nor is it less so, to attempt usurping his vengeance: If he would punish,

are not famine and pestilence, as swords, in his hand? Does not the thunder roar? Do not the foundations of the earth tremble at his word? Universal bene∣volence is the sacrifice most acceptable to heaven; nor can any religion be derived from thence, which would en∣join a breach of that invariable, eternal duty.

Then observing that I was ready to burst with indignation, and eagerness to controvert what he said;

Repress your zeal, my son,

he continued, softening his voice, and regarding me, with a look of inexpressible tenderness;

and examine dispassionately, before you presume to judge. Influenced by the same motives, I once thought as you do now; and held in detestation every religion, but my own; or rather that of the country, in which I had hap∣pened to be born, which I had received implicitly, without examination, or

proof. But reason and experience have since opened my eyes, to my error.

If only one manner of worship could be acceptable to the Deity, would he not have made that manner known to all mankind, at their creation? Would he not have made the mind conceive it as invariably, as he made the senses repre∣sent their objects? Would he not have made it as self-evident, as the founda∣tion of moral virtue, which is received without variation, by all mankind* 1.1.— If eternal unhappiness was to be the necessary consequence of differing from this manner, would it have been con∣sistent, either with his goodness, or his justice, to have left by so much the greater part of mankind ignorant of it? This would have been to create them on purpose for unhappiness. An im∣putation,

which is the greatest offence possible for man to offer to God, so far as respects himself only.

Consider, that the mode of worship, which prevails most in the world, is not known to the hundredth, perhaps not to the thousandth part of its inhabi∣tants. — Consider also how many ages have passed away, before any of the present modes were known at all; and then you will see the impious absurdity of excluding from mercy, all but the few professors of a particular one among them.

Who then shall dare to call the man, who professes a different mode of wor∣ship, an enemy to heaven? And how can it be a duty to attempt propagating by force, an uniformity, which is not prescribed? Should he not rather con∣clude from its not having been pre∣scribed, that the variety is pleasing; in the same manner as the beauty of sen∣sible

objects ariseth from variation in their parts. Wherever I hear the praises of the Deity sung, my soul shall accom∣pany them, without objecting to the manner; nor will I hazard the profana∣tion of so sacred a duty, by arrogantly attempting to obtrude any other.

To prove the necessary obligation of mutual benevolence, man was created in a state of indispensible dependance upon the assistance of others, from the first moment of his life. Shall he not, then, give that assistance, which he has received; and must continue to re∣ceive? Have all, who have administered relief to his wants, professed the same religion with him? And would their professing another make their assistance ineffectual to his relief? Be the religion of a man what it will, while the morsel of bread, which I receive from his hand, yields me wholesome nourishment, never will I think myself absolved from, much less interdicted the duty of ad∣ministering

relief to his wants. No∣thing less than an immediate interpo∣sition of the Deity, by a total change of natural effects, being sufficient to abrogate a law, made necessary by him, to my nature.

In a word, my son, the worship, truly acceptable to the Deity, is the im∣mediate act of the soul, and consists in gratitude for his blessings, and resigna∣tion to his will; while I pay that with sincerity of heart, I fear not his taking offence at the posture of my body, or any other—

Cease!

interrupted Temugin,

nor waste time in repeating the proofs of principles self-evident. Some mode of worship is necessary; and since no par∣ticular one has been universally esta∣blished by that power, which alone hath the right, every country is entitled to pursue its own; and every individual obliged to observe it, in his actions,

which only are subject to human au∣thority.

SECTION XII.

THE Byrsans,

resumed the captive,

who at the time of the arrival of those strangers were beginning to deviate from the sage institutions of Narbal, and turn all their attention from agriculture to commerce, gave no obstruction to this new settlement; either not thinking those mountains worth cultivating, or per∣haps not being yet so intoxicated by good fortune, as to forget the origin of their own state.

For several ages there subsisted but little intercourse between the Byrsans and their new neighbours, who had assumed the name of Coptes; the Byrsans, in the pride of prosperity, disdaining to take notice of a people struggling with distress; and the Coptes, in the sullen diffidence of that distress, keeping at

an equal distance from such unfeeling neighbours.

While the Byrsans therefore were ex∣tending their commerce to the extremi∣ties of the earth, and revelling in the luxuries which it produced, the Coptes, precluded by their situation from every foreign intercourse, applied themselves entirely to agriculture, in which the natural disadvantages of their country obliged them to exert all their industry, in order to procure the indispensible ne∣cessaries of life.

But these disadvantages were more than made amends for by the conse∣quences. They secured them from the pernicious effects of luxury, and all the train of vices and evils which attend on wealth. If they possessed but little, they wanted still less! They were strong in body, and resolute of spirit; and their habitations were filled with a numerous and healthful progeny.

In the course of time, such unremitted industry changed the face of the coun∣try, and remedied all the unkindnesses of nature. The hills were covered with flocks and herds. The song of the hus∣bandman echoed in the vallies; and the voice of plenty and content was heard through all the land.

Such a change at length raised the envy and avarice of the Byrsans, who were then in the zenith of their glory. They sent haughtily to the Coptes, to demand possession of their country, which they alledged to belong to themselves; and without even waiting for an answer, prepared to march a powerful army to seize by force, that which they were conscious they had no right to receive peaceably.

The Coptes naturally were surprized at such a demand; and directly sent an embassy of the most respectable persons in their state, to shew the injustice of it.

They alledged the length of the time, during which they had been in undi∣sturbed possession of the country, which their ancestors had found desolate, and unpossessed by any inhabitants. That the Byrsans, far from claiming any right to it at that time, as they cer∣tainly would have done, had they thought it belonged to them, took not the least notice, much less offence at their settling there; nor had ever men∣tioned such a claim in any of the trans∣actions which had occasionally passed between the two nations since. And finally, that the title of the Coptes to the country which they inhabited, was equally good with that of the Byrsans to theirs; both people having been compelled by necessity to fly from their native homes, and fix themselves in the same manner, wherever they could find a place of refuge.

Unanswerable as these arguments were, they had no force with the Byrsans,

who scarcely deigned to wait till the king should give the ambassadors an audience.

At this unhappy period commences the sad story of my misfortunes, which were so immediately derived from those of my country, that I thought it neces∣sary to give this short detail, as an intro∣duction to the events of my own life.

The entrance of an eunuch to acquaint Temugin with the arrival of an express from the general of one of his armies, interrupted the captive at this place. He was commanded to withdraw, and wait the emperor's pleasure to hear the con∣tinuation of his narrative at some other time.

End of the SECOND BOOK.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Probably, DO, AS YOU WOULD BE DONE BY.