every sort of crime the kingdom, which he
hoped to seize after the death of his father. He lived by rapine and
robbery.

At length Selimansha, sinking under the weight of years, resigned his
soul into the hands of his Creator. No sooner was Balavan informed of
this event than he placed himself at the head of the banditti of whom
he was the chief, stirring them up to revolt, drawing together new
forces--gaining some by magnificent promises, and seducing others by
the allurement of the gold which his crimes had amassed. They
concerted their measures together. He dethroned his nephew, threw him
into a dungeon, and was proclaimed in his stead.

This cruel usurper, not content with his success, determined to put to
death the innocent victim, who had formerly had such a miraculous
escape from his murdering arm. But compassion, which could find no
avenue to his soul, had entered the heart of his wretched accomplices.

"We cannot consent to the death of a young man that hath done no
evil," said they to Balavan: "keep him in close confinement if you are
afraid of his interest, but spare his life."

He was forced to comply with their demand, and shut up his nephew in a
cave.

Chamsada, having heard this afflicting news, was unable to restrain
her excessive grief. But she could not inform her husband of the
misfortunes of her son without exposing the memory of her uncle
Selimansha, without representing him as an impostor, since he had
written that the young Shaseliman had been assassinated. In the
meantime the detestable Balavan completed the conquest of Persia. All
the grandees of the kingdom came to pay him homage. The young
Shaseliman remained shut up four years, scarcely receiving as much
food as was necessary for his subsistence. Loaded with misfortune, his
beauty no longer recalled the image of his mother, of whom he was the
perfect resemblance. At length it pleased Providence, that watched
over him, to relieve him for a time from so many evils.

Balavan, seated in his divan and surrounded by a brilliant Court,
seemed to enjoy in peace an authority which appeared immovable. In
midst of grandees whose confidence he thought he possessed, and of
courtiers whose flattery he received, a voice was heard. This voice,
sacred to truth, and still devoted to the memory of Selimansha, spake
as follows:

"Sire, Heaven has crowned you with prosperity: in giving you, with
this empire, the hearts of your people, your throne appears