THE califs of the East having extended their as far as the boundaries of Europe, found their iron sceptre too heavy to be supported with any degree of pleasure or satisfaction. They therefore appointed what are called emirs; but each of these governors soon assumed the power of sultans. Not with the appearance of being equal to their master, they frequently his conduct, and sometimes dethroned him.
Mahmoud was the most of all the califs who had kept their court at Ispahan. He was a patron of the arts and sciences, and naturally a friend to the of peace. Some of his , however, had been of different sentiments, and thought their happiness and glory consisted only in warlike exploits, in the desolation of villages, towns, and cities, without regarding the horrible carnage of human beings, and the to which thousands of families were reduced. His subjects being thus accustomed to warlike achievements, being naturally , and thinking nothing but a hero fit to govern them, they rebelled against their peaceful .
Though Mahmoud wisely preferred peace to war, yet he was by no means of true courage, and he now found himself under the disagreeable necessity of taking the field, as the only means of his subjects. His arms were every where victorious, and he returned in triumph to Ispahan, where he hoped to enjoy the fruits of his victories in peace and tranquility.
In this, however, he was much disappointed; for his rebellious subjects attributed his successes more to good fortune than wisdom or courage, and they seemed only to be in want of a chief to lead them to open rebellion. Selim put himself at the head of these rebels; but, in the course of two years' contest, Selim lost his head, and Mahmoud returned in triumph to his capital.
The man, who has long been accustomed to115 scenes of blood and , will naturally become hardened and of savage feelings, totally the reverse of those of pity, tenderness, and humanity. Almost every day convinced Mahmoud, that he must part with either his tender feelings or his throne. He wished to pursue the middle path between and tyranny; but the rebellious spirit of his subjects by degrees so hardened his heart, that he at last became the complete .
The people soon began to under the weight of his iron hand, and offered up their prayers to the great prophet for a peaceful king, such as Mahmoud had been. ! all their prayers were in vain, for Mahmoud was young and vigorous, and beloved by his army. He was once loved; he was now in every part of the Persian empire.
The calif, after having some time exercised his tyranny with a high hand, suddenly withdrew from public affairs, and shut himself up in the of his palace, visible to no one but the emir he had always trusted. In this he passed his time during the whole course of a moon, and then suddenly appeared again on his throne. A visible had taken place in his , and, instead of the ferocity of a tyrant, clemency and mercy seemed seated on his brow. He was no longer the savage calif, but the father of his country.
Such an unexpected change became the universal topic of conversation, and various reasons were assigned for his sudden , but none of their came near the truth. An accident, however, brought every thing to light.
Among the wise men of Ispahan was Alicaun, who was one day with an iman, and several dervises, concerning the change of the calif's conduct. One of the dervises laid claim to the honour of this change, having obtained it of Mahomet by fasting and prayer. Another said, that this great work had been by a beauty in the seraglio; but an iman, or priest, was bold enough to contradict them both, and boasted, that it was by his that the calif's heart was . Alicaun being then called upon to give his opinion, replied, "The lion, weary of the chase, lies down to a little: but let the traveller be upon his guard; perhaps he is only sleeping to recover his lost strength, that, when he wakes, he may rush with additional fury."
One of the dervises reported this conversation to the calif, and, in consequence thereof, Alicaun was ordered to appear before him.
Alicaun accordingly made his appearance, when the calif, having taken his seat at the tribunal, thus addressed him: "I have been informed of the particulars of your late conversation;117 your having compared me to the noble lion, can have nothing in it that ought reasonably to offend me; but tell me sincerely, in which of these lights you considered the lion; as the generous monarch of the forest, or as the savage tyrant?"
Alicaun bowed down his head to the earth, and replied, "My sovereign, you have ordered me to speak sincerely: I will obey your orders, regardless of the consequences that may follow. When I lately took the liberty to compare you to the lion, I must own I had in my view the ferocity of that animal. I am sensible I deserve to die:—your decree will determine, whether you are the monarch of the forest, or the savage tyrant. Should you be graciously pleased to spare me, it will turn to your own advantage; because if you me to die, my accusers will think I truth; but pardon me, and they will be confounded."
"I forgive you, Alicaun," said the calif; "and I will tell you, and all present, my for doing so. You are not a stranger to the influence my favourite emir, Abdalla, has over me. Like many other , I became jealous of my favourite, on the unbounded acclamations he received on his return home from a war of no great consequence. I therefore resolved on putting him to death, but was at a loss in what manner I should accomplish that purpose.
"To attempt it by open violence would endanger my throne; I therefore resolved to do it by . At the bottom of my palace gardens, you all know, is a tremendous , whose base is washed by the waters of the Tigris. Hither I resolved to take him, under the idea of consulting him on some important matters of state, and, when I found him off his guard, as he could not suspect my intentions, to shove him headlong over the precipice into the river.
"Thought I in myself, this is the last s............