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hook, and pipe, and the shepherd's garb, were laid aside he was now clothed in a purple robe, and a turban sparkling with jewels, and his beauty was the admiration of the court. Nevertheless, he wanted not diligence and applica tion to render himself capable of the most serious affairs. As he grew into years and experience, he merited the confidence of his master, who, observing his genius admirably turned for the splendour and magnificence of a court, made him keeper of all his jewels and costly furniture; a post of great honour and trust in Persia.

FREE-THINKER, No. 128, June 12, 1719.

No. XXXIV.

Justum et tenacem propositi virum,

Non civium ardor prava jubentium;
Non vultus instantis tyranni

Mente quatit solida,

HORATIUS

The just, who firmly keeps his destin'd course,

No tyrant's threat'ning frowns control;

No crowd's unjust demands can force,
Or shake the steady purpose of his soul.

BOSCAWEN.

WHILE the great Cha-Abbas lived, Alibez grew daily in the favour of his master. As his years increased, and his judgment ripened, he often called to mind his former condition, with a sensible regret." O, blessed days! (would he say · to himself) days of innocence! days in which I relished uninterrupted joys, not mixed with fears! O days! such as I have never since enjoyed: and am I never to see the like again? The monarch who has deprived me of my peaceable hours, by delivering me over to riches and honours, has robbed me of my whole store of happiness!"—He grew impatient to revisit his native village: and his heart beat with emotions of tenderness, as he viewed the places where in his youth he used to dance, to pipe, and to

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sing with his companions. He was liberal in bounties to his parents, his relations, and all his acquaintance: but he earnestly entreated them, as they tendered their own felicity, never to quit the tranquillity of a country life, nor ever once to think of experiencing the flattering miseries of a court. 1

These miseries did he feel in the utmost severity, after the death of his kind master, ChaAbbas; who was succeeded by his son, ChaSephi. A cabal of courtiers, full of envy and artifice, concerted measures to prejudice the prince against Alibez.-" He has abused (said they) the confidence of the late king: he has amassed immense treasures; and has converted to his own use the most valuable jewels of the crown, which were committed to his care.”

Cha-Sephi was young; and, at the same time, he was a monarch: either of which circumstances was alone sufficient to render him credulous, inadvertent, and averse to business. He had the vanity to pride himself upon reforming all his father's regulations; and he called the old king's wisdom in question upon all occasions, to magnify his own. That he might have a pretext to remove Alibez from his high post, he ordered him (by the advice of his wicked councillors) to produce immediately the great scymitar,

studded with diamonds of an inestimable value, which the king his grand-father used in combats. Cha-Abbas, it seems, had formerly taken all the valuable diamonds off from this scymitar; and Alibez proved, by unquestionable witnesses, that the stones had been disposed of by the late king, before he was appointed keeper of the jewels.

When the enemies of Alibez found that they could not ruin him by this pretence, they advised Cha-Sephi to command him to make a particular inventory, within fifteen days, of all the jewels and valuable furniture intrusted to his care. The fifteen days expired; Cha-Sephi demanded he might view all the particulars specified in the inventory. Alibez set open all the doors, and shewed him every thing committed to his keeping. There was nothing wanting; every thing was ranged in exact order, and preserved with great care. The king was again disappointed, and greatly surprised when he saw the regularity observed in the disposition of all his treasures; so that he began to entertain a favourable opinion of Alibez; when, casting his eye through a long gallery full of rich furniture, he discovered at the end of it an iron door, strongly barred, with three great locks. Thereupon, the invidious courtiers, observing the cu- |

riosity of the king, whispered to him, "It is there Alibez has treasured up all the riches of which he has defrauded you."

Hereupon, the king again grew jealous of Alibez; and with a loud voice cried out in a rage, "I will instantly see what lies concealed within that strong place; take off the locks, and clear yourself from my suspicions, without delay." At these words, Alibez threw himself prostrate at the feet of his prince; conjuring him, in the most solemn manner, not to take from him the only valuable treasure he had upon earth:-" It is not equitable (said he) that I should be at once deprived of my whole substance, my sole resource, on which alone I have depended, as my recompence for the services of many years under the king your father. Take every thing else, if you please, from me, but let me preserve what I have treasured here."-The king now made no doubt of the iniquity of his minister; and raising his voice with greater vehemence, gave an absolute command to have the iron door set open. When Alibez saw it not safe longer to resist the will of his prince, he produced the keys, and took off the locks himself from the door.

The king immediately entered the strong place; and all the wealth he found there was a

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