was not the only object of his capricious cruelties: I
saw all his subjects groaning under them.

"The robbers, whom I punished, had carried off my children and reduced
me to the last point of wretchedness.

"In fine, the gentleman whom I caused to be beheaded is he who
violently took away my wife.

"In all these judgments, I have not had the revenge of my own
particular offences in view. King of these dominions by your choice,
the instrument of God upon earth, I did not think myself at liberty to
yield to an arbitrary clemency, which would have weakened your power.
It was my duty to execute the decrees of Providence upon such as were
clearly convicted of guilt, and to cut off from society mortals too
dangerous for it.

"A tyrannical King who respects not the laws, and is only directed by
his passions and caprice, is the scourge of his people. If it is not
lawful to make any attempt upon his life, it is still less so to grant
him such assistance as would authorize him in the perpetual exercise
of revenge, and in the indulgence of the injustice and atrocity of his
disposition. It is even wise to deprive him of the means of it.

"Villains whose sole occupation is to attack caravans, plunder
travellers, and who are accustomed to nothing but disorder, can never
become useful and valuable citizens. They deserve still less to be
admitted to the honour of defending their country. Banishment to them
is only a return to their former life. By increasing their number, the
evils of the world are rendered perpetual.

"The ravisher of a wife is a monster in society from which it ought to
be freed. The man who indulges himself in this crime is capable of
every other.

"Such are the motives of my conduct: severity costs me more than any
one else. But I should have been unworthy of the confidence of my
people, and wanting in the duties of the throne, had I not exercised
it in this situation.

"If I have exceeded the limits of my authority, I am ready to resign
it into your hands. Reunited to my wife and my children, and thus
loaded with the most precious blessings of the Almighty, I should have
nothing left but to wish you happy days under a government wiser than
mine."

When Abosaber had finished this justification of his conduct,
admiration and respect held the whole assembly in silence. Soon,
however, a shout followed by a thousand others resounded through the
divan.

"Long live Abosaber! long live our King! long live