And dictate to your ear. One counfel I "Keep old blunt Honefty close by your fide: "So fafely fhall each various storm befriend, "And waft you bounding o'er the deep profound; Oppofing rocks in vain obftruct your course, "To lame your paffage to the realms of love." 66 THE WISE CONDUCT OF HASSAN, KING OF GOLCONDA. IT AN EASTERN TALE, Tis the peculiar province of wisdom to examine with the greatest attention whatever offers itfelf as fit either to be done, or to be avoided.-Haffan, king of Golconda, followed this excellent maxim in the most difficult conjun&ture that can employ the thoughts of an earthly Monarch. This king was fix-fcore years old, was defirous or refigning his empire, and finishing his glorious reign, by the choice of a worthy fucceffor. He had three fons by three different women, who were all living; each of them pleaded in behalf of her own fon; fo that the King, who was equally a good husband husband and a good father, wavered in the most cruel uncertainty. 'What fhall I refolve on?' faid he to himfelf: The laws declare for the eldest; my favourite fultanefs pleads for the fecond; and I myself incline for the youngeft.O too lovely fultanefs, I have felt the effects of your sweet and alluring looks! O thou weak nature, that yieldeft to my love! But neither of you fhall triumph over the laws; I will die on the throne, that, after my death, the laws may decide the controverfy. But what? The laws will decide nothing; a cruel war will be kindled between my children; my people will be the victim of their ambition, and I owe all to my people.O beauteous fultanefs! I ought to facrifice you, myself, and whatever elfe is dear to me, to the good of my fubjects; I will therefore leave them at liberty to chuse themselves a fovereign.' After these reflections, he affembled his vifiers, the nobles, and the people: I have,' said he to them, one foot on the throne, and the other in the grave; but I would, if it were poffible, not go down into the abyfs of eternity with the crown on my head; its weight oppreffes and weighs me down, I refign it to you, chufe for yourselves a Mafter.' At these words, there appeared in all their looks a profound fadnefs. The people cried out out with one voice," Live, long live the King, our father, and our friend!" 'Be not fo much concerned,' interrupted the king, you are my bowels; you can fuffer nothing, but I must feel fo great a pain as would fhorten my days.' At this, they redoubled their cries, and the aged monarch himself could not refrain from tears.-. Think no more,' faid he, on what you are going to lofe, but confider what you have ftill left.-The princes, my children, have all the qualities that make men great; proclaim which of them you think most worthy to poffefs the throne I refign.' A profound filence fucceeded their fighs and lamentations. The whole affembly caft their eyes on the throne, and faw the three princes fitting on the fteps; they admired each of them, and, not liking one more than another, no man could determine which to chufe. Then the prime vifier approached the throne, and spoke in this manner: "O wife and valiant king! May he who draws light out of darkness, and from the horrors of the night produces a glorious and delightful morning, keep you in his holy care, and perpetuate your posterity! Receive with your accustomed goodnefs the advice of your faithful flave: Let each of your three fons reign three days only, and we will determine afterwards, fince your majefty is pleased pleased to give us leave. Our choice then will be founded on judgment; for men are known, when they are in high fortune, and in wine. The man is truly wife, whom neither the one nor the other of them can corrupt." This advice of the grand vifier was followed, and prevailed over the fubtle infinuations of his three wives, who faw all their folicitations rendered vain, and their projects confounded. Accordingly, the eldeft prince was clothed in. purple, and took the fceptre of government in his hand. His mother counselled him to be affable and liberal, not to alter the form of the government, and to pardon criminals. By this means," faid fhe," you will have all the empire for you, the king, the nobles, and the people." 66 : Inftructions grounded on fuch principles feemed to promise a happy iffue. The prince followed them exactly, but his conduct appeared ftudied and affected, which occafioned fome diftrult. The three days of his reign being expired, the fecond prince afcended the throne. His mother gave him oppofite inftructions: " Depose," faid fhe," the vifiers; banifh the doctors of the law; raife to the higheft dignities men of ambitious minds. who, to keep their employments, will vote you the throne; and, when you are well fettled in it, we will recall the vifiers and the doctors, whofe fidelity the riches, which thy ambitious ministers shall have amaffed, will ferve to regain, and to reanimate their zeal. This model was followed; but the people dreaded the worst that could happen, from a prince who pretended to the crown, and gave himself for little trouble to deferve it. The King's third fon took upon him, in his turn, the fovereign authority. He would have no advice from his mother; "For though," faid he, "I have an infinite refpect for my mother, and even believe, that she would give me no advice but what is founded on reason, it would be, at best, but fuperfluous. The laws are what I will obferve; and what is dark and intricate in them, our wife vifiers and learned doctors, all of whom I reftore to their employments, will help me to interpret." After he had spent the firft day, and part of the fecond, in appointing good judges for the people, and old and prudent officers over the foldiers, the king, his father, fent fome of the doctors to exa |