ger seating himself so near his Majesty; but the pleasure of his
melodious and affecting voice excited so agreeable a surprise, that
they soon forgot his assurance. All agreed that they had never heard
anything so exquisite and perfect. The Athib was jealous of him: he
had never supposed that there was a voice in the world superior to his
own, and the despair which he felt deprived him of the use of it--he
felt it die upon his lips. Achib did not give him time to recover it:
he continued the prayer with a force and ease which the efforts of the
Athib, supposing him to have had the courage to attempt it, could not
have surpassed.

When the King had ended his prayer, as he came out of the mosque he
ordered his officers to wait for the new singer, to have a horse ready
for him, and to conduct him to the palace, where his Majesty desired
to see him. Achib received this invitation with respect, and obeyed
the orders of his Sovereign.

The monarch gave him a most gracious reception, bestowing the highest
praise upon his talents, and soon felt himself prejudiced in favour of
this stranger by a sympathy of which he could not discover the
springs; but it seemed to be of the most interesting nature. Achib was
only in his seventeenth year, and was endowed with every personal
grace. Everything seemed to unite in strengthening the liking which
the King showed for this stranger. Thus, whether on this pretence or
to do a beneficent action, he made him lodge in his palace, and gave
him a distinguished preference over the pages and those who composed
his household.

The officers soon conspired the destruction of their rival. In the
meantime the virtuous Achib, after a long residence at Court, became
desirous of seeing his parents and giving them an account of the goods
with which he had been entrusted. Afraid lest he should not obtain the
monarch's permission to return to them, he wrote to them and informed
them of the favour he enjoyed. This motive, and the desire he
expressed of seeing them again, determined the family to go to him
immediately.

Illage and his wife bore in their hearts the letter which they had
just received; and both being flattered with having a son who at so
early an age had been able to gain the good graces of a King, they
instantly determined to hasten their departure, and informed their son
of this resolution. As soon as Achib received this information, he
purchased a house and suitable furniture, and in a