uced me to
conceal my name and my misfortunes. But your virtues forcibly draw the
secret from me. You see before you the unhappy Bazmant, whom too much
confidence in his own troops could not preserve upon the throne."

Upon this confession, Abadid, seized with astonishment, wished to make
an apology to Bazmant for the reception he had given him.

"How could you know me," replied the dethroned Prince, "since shame
and confusion obliged me to be silent? Could you read upon my forehead
a character which the justice of Heaven had effaced? Great King,"
added he, embracing him, "I owe to your generosity a full account of
my faults: lend me your attention."

At these words Bazmant related his history.

"My dear brother," said Abadid to him, after having heard it, "cease
to humble yourself before a man brought up in your very principles,
and corrected at last by a series of misfortunes similar to yours. I
have not been wiser than you. It appears that we must be instructed by
misery! Formerly I put my confidence in my troops and my own
abilities, and at the head of a numerous army I was conquered by an
enemy who had nothing to oppose me but a handful of men. Forced to
take to flight, I retired to the mountains, with fifty men who would
not abandon me. Providence caused me to fall in with a dervish in his
hermitage, where he was wholly devoted to the exercise and duties of
religion. He showed me the cause of my misfortunes, and told me that
the enemy had put his trust in Allah alone, and was thus enabled to
strike me with unerring blows; while I, depending upon the effort of
my spear and the thickness of my battalions, and full of audacious
pride, neglected my duty, and gave no order which did not lead to an
error. 'Put,' said he to me, 'your confidence in Him who directs
everything here below, and if His arm is engaged in your behalf, fifty
men will be sufficient to regain your kingdom.' These discourses of
the sage made a strong impression upon me. I raised my eyes on high,
and, full of a salutary confidence, I returned to my capital.
Prosperity had blinded my enemy. He had forgotten in the lap of
pleasure the wise maxims to which he was indebted for his victory.
Everything seemed quiet in his dominions. He believed himself secure
in the possession of them, and neglected the maintenance of an army. I
arrived unawares at the beginning of the night. I hastened to the
palace with my small party, which curiosity, however, incre