ner.

These reports, which seemed to be dictated by disinterestedness and
fidelity, again inflamed Bohetzad. He resumed his first resolutions,
and sent for the criminal to his presence.

"I have hesitated too long," said he. "Thy death is essential to the
safety of my kingdom, and thou canst no more hope either for delay or
mercy."

"Sire," said Aladin, "every fault deserves pardon. I have committed
one in indulging myself in a drink which I did not know, and which
deprived me, for a moment, of reason. But I have a right to obtain
your Majesty's pardon. I am incapable of the crime of which I am
accused. Sovereigns, sire, have a noble right which they derive from
Heaven: it is that of exercising mercy when it is proper. Let us
suppose that, after a little delay and deliberate examination, you had
snatched an innocent person from punishment, would not your Majesty
have done an action something like that of raising him from the dead?
An action may often appear agreeable to strict justice, while in
reality it is only the effect of lawless tyranny. And what glory is
there not, even in pardoning an offence? He who is capable of mercy
will, like Baharkan, sooner or later receive his reward."

Aladin, perceiving Bohetzad inclined to listen to him, proceeded thus
in the explanation of what he had advanced:

HISTORY OF BAHARKAN.

Baharkan was an intemperate Prince. He sacrificed everything to his
passions, and, in order to gratify them, he boldly plunged into the
greatest excess of tyranny. He never pardoned even the appearance of a
crime: so that involuntary faults were punished no less than avowed
transgressions.

Being one day at the chase, one of his officers inadvertently
discharged from his bow an arrow which he was holding prepared. It
struck the ear of the King, and unfortunately carried it off.
Baharkan, in his fury, ordered the offender to be brought before him,
and his head to be struck off. As soon as the unhappy young man was in
his presence, having heard the sentence of death pronounced by the
monarch, he spoke to him thus:

"Sire, the fault I have committed was unpremeditated on my part; it
was the effect of the fatality of the stars. I throw myself on your
clemency. I implore your pardon. It will be meritorious in the sight
of God and approved of by men. In the name of the heavenly Power which
hath put the sceptre into your hands, I entreat for pardon, and your
Majesty will one day receive your rewa