GENTLENESS IS POWER. 131 
forgetfulness in consideration for others. Moreover, he was a man 
in years ; and a self-seeking youth never makes a disinterested old 
man. He had also, through life, been accustomed to the formality 
of council—the coldness of deliberation and the ceremony of delay and 
indecision had encrusted his mind. The limbs of his energy had stif- 
fened and distorted with contraction; he could not decide with promp- 
titude, even in an affair of ceremonious observance : what effect, then, 
the sudden proposal of abdication must have produced on such a mind 
and such a disposition may be conceived. It seemed to deprive him of 
breath and to envelope his faculties in a mist. He talked of degra- 
dation, of bereavement, of faded honour, and departed glory. He 
hoped that the future consort of his daughter had been misrepre- 
sented ; people are seldom so wicked (particularly those in high 
station) as the world described them to be; every body possessed 
some quality ; in short, he wanted no cabinet council where his 
interest was concerned: but the question of abdication was an affair 
of state—the welfare of his people was to be thought of—a sacred 
duty—his future provision was to be arranged—his restoration (if 
feasible) to be guaranteed—every thing, indeed, was rapidly enough 
considered that would touch his own miserable comfort ; while his 
noble-minded daughter was all but overlooked in the struggle of 
self-sheltering from the impendent storm. (Reader, think not this 
picture overcharged : it could be identified to its minutest line and 
feature.) Azum Beg resolved upon three days reflection, after his 
council had been in close debate for « week. Caranza, sighing, 
shook her head and withdrew to her chamber, ruminating sad 
thoughts on poor humanity and her own future prospect. 
In one fortnight from the day of his threat, Aborzuf, with his 
wild horde, were before the city of Azum Beg. The whole of the 
frontier army was driven in like leaves before a hurricane, and the 
conqueror with the news of his approach arrived together. Short 
and uncourtly was his summons, as might be expected. “ For the 
sake of the fair Princess Caranza, King Aborzuf will forbear his 
assault upon the city of King Azum Beg till the morrow’s noon ; 
when the prize of his hopes and present undertaking will be on her 
road from the city to meet her victorious suitor, or the bond of his 
oath will be straitened with an unpitying hand.” 
Now was there hurrying to and fro throughout the city. King 
Azum and his whole court were paralyzed. The streets were 
thronged with anxious groups of faces: women with children 
in their arms, and who seemed wholly unconscious of their 
burthens, hastened with pale faces from crowd to crowd, col- 
