Nothing can equal the pleasure arising from the glow of a generous heart, which is prompted to a noble action from the love of , and who wishes not to make of it a worldly parade. Fame is often purchased by generous donations, which would never have been given, had not popular idolatry been the ; while others, like the generous man in the following tale, consult only the of their own honest feelings.
One of the califs of Egypt, being in the field of battle, was unexpectedly surrounded by a great number of rebels, who were preparing to give that fatal blow, which would at once have finished his life and put an end to his mortal career. Fortunately for him an Arab happened to be near the spot with other soldiers of his party, who, seeing the situation of the calif, rushed upon the rebels, and soon put them to flight.
The name of this Arab was , who had for some months lived a wandering life in the most and unfrequented places, in order to escape the of the calif, against whom he had joined the people in a late insurrection.
This generous conduct of Nadir was so much admired by all the Arabians, that the sires still tell it their children among their evening tales. This adventure had the happy effect of reconciling Nadir to the calif, who, charmed with the generosity of a man who had saved his life, at the very instant he might have destroyed it, promised to place in him an confidence.106 "But," said the calif, "let me hear how you have passed your time, during your ."
"I have been a wandering fugitive," replied Nadir, "ever since your family were elevated to the throne of this empire; conscious that the sword of vengeance was at all times hanging over my head, it became natural for me to seek security in . I found refuge for some time in the house of a friend at Basra; but fearing that my stay in that city might be dangerous, I one night quitted it under the favour of a disguise, and pursued my journey towards the desert.
"I had escaped the vigilance of the guards, and thought myself out of all danger, when a man of a suspicious seized my camel's , and expressed his suspicions that I was the man the calif was in search of, and for the
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