er. He ordered
his son to be clothed with the richest robe, and a thousand pieces of
gold to be given to the officer who was entrusted with the message.
Scarcely were they gone out, when the oldest of the Viziers came to
pay his court to the King. The monarch received him with his usual
goodness, made him sit down, and communicated to him the happiness
which he expected to enjoy in the possession of his lovely spouse;
for, though he had gained her by an act of violence, he imagined that
his happiness could be obscured by no cloud.

"The attachment shown me by Asphand," said he, "removes my fears
concerning the resentment which I might suppose him to possess: here
are his letters; read them, and you will see how well he is pleased
with this alliance. Besides, the magnificence of his presents exceeds
even the force of his expressions."

The old minister, after reading the letters, continued thoughtful, and
with downcast eyes.

"Are you not satisfied with what you have read?" said the King.

"A dangerous reptile," replied the minister, "when it means to
introduce itself anywhere, does not try to frighten by its odious
hissings: it creeps in artfully under the folds of its flexible and
thin body; its scales are glittering and smooth; its looks are soft
and fawning, and it takes care to conceal its treacherous and venomous
sting. The letters of Asphand are studied: doubt not that you have
offended; and the pretended softness of his expressions only conceals
a scheme of revenge, the consequences of which you ought to guard
against and prevent."

Bohetzad, entirely occupied with his love, and supposing that the
minister who thus spoke to him was influenced by motives of jealousy,
paid no regard to the advice, which proceeded from attachment, zeal,
and prudence, but allowed himself to be blinded concerning the conduct
of Asphand. The latter, in prosecution of his plan, and under pretence
of appeasing some rumours in certain parts of the kingdom, left the
capital, in a few months after, with his whole retinue. As soon as he
saw himself out of the reach of power, he communicated to the
governors of the provinces the affront which he had received; he
excited them to revolt, by inspiring them with a fear that they would
all meet with a treatment similar to that which he had received; and
to determine them, he calumniated, in every instance, the person and
government of Bohetzad.

On receiving the messengers of the Grand Viz