1826. Haroun, the Lonely Man of Shiraz. 173 
«whatever is was to be,” deterred him, and so he let the shrieking and 
struggling wretch drown under his very nose, and like a good Mussul- 
man gave Mahomet praise, that so much of his riches had escaped the 
robber’s hand. 
Now it happened, unluckily for the lucky Haroun, that the whole of 
his encounter with the robber had been observed from the opposite shore 
by some of the myrmidons of the law, who, having crossed the river by 
the first’ bridge, had come round to the spot where Haroun was still 
employed, partly in thanksgivings to Mahomet for his marvellous escape, 
and partly in contrivances how he might best convey away his treasures. 
He had just resolved to carry off as much of them as he could safely 
secrete about him, and then, after sealing up the jar, to roll it back into 
the river again, and daily to visit it till he had emptied it; he had 
filled his pockets, and was about to seal up the jar, when he was seized 
on the sudden by two of the hardest hands he had ever felt, and looking 
round, he saw that he was in the iron gripe of the law. His heart sunk 
within him, and his knees rattled together like dry bones. “ Come, 
come, my honest friend,” said one of them, “as you have just murdered 
aman, and cannot spend these riches between this hour and that when 
the bowstring will be your necklace, we will carry you and your treasures, 
in the King’s name, to the palace of the Cadi, where you will find 
justice, and an executioner of excellent skill in his art, and be thoroughly 
satisfied that every thing is as it should be.” 
There were six of these officers—it was in vain, therefore, for 
Haroun to think of remonstrating with them as he had done with the 
robber, so he submitted himself without a blow. Having bound his 
hands behind him, they ordered him to march on before them, which 
he did, casting, however, many a wishful look at the jar, as two or three 
of the stoutest of his guard haled it along. Poor Haroun’s present 
situation contrasted so miserably with the extravagant expectations he 
had indulged in, in his late reverie, that he could not help exclaiming, 
in that tone of melancholy humour which was characteristic of him, 
«Where are the kings my sons, that they suffer Haroun Aboulim the 
Sublime to endure these insults?” The officers hearing this, thought 
him mad from the extreme love of wealth : then they looked at him, and 
thought him too young for a miser: however, they respected his jar and 
its contents very honestly, although Haroun, continually turning round 
to the three lusty fellows who bore it slowly along, seemed to hint at a 
silent suspicion which he entertained, that they had itching palms. 
At length they reached the palace of the Cadi; and there the medley 
mob of curious citizens who had followed at the heels of the unfortunate 
Haroun became numerous and more numerous. He was proverbial 
among them for his discontented disposition, and for his sullen scorn of 
his poor estate, and the poor companions which poverty makes a man 
intimate with, as if to reconcile him to his own lot, by shewing him the 
lot of others as much neglected by fortune as himself; and now, learning 
that he'was seized as a murderer, and that great treasures had been 
found in his keeping, they took care to testify how well they remembered 
his few faults ; and some spat at him, and some threw dirt in his face, and 
others dirtier execrations, till he had reached the very threshold of the 
palace: but honest Haroun heeded not their scoffs, nor did he care 
much for their spittle ; he contented himself with recommending to them 
that they had mucli better preserve the latter to wet their fingers withal 
