146 GENTLENESS IS POWER. 
before him, scrutinizing his features, with her hands upon each 
shoulder ; laughing, weeping, singing ; undertaking a thousand little 
domestic offices of kindness and attention, and leaving all unfinished 
to return and embrace the object of them. When, of his own accord, 
he kissed her lips, she felt that her heart was there too. Hitherto 
she had known the happiness of conscious rectitude and benevolence ; 
she now, for the first time, tasted the happiness of pure wedded love 
—that was her bridal night. Aborzuf’s deportment was, as may be 
supposed, less demonstrative, less tumultuous than that of his inesti- 
mable partner ; it was not, however, in many respects, less enviable. 
If there be so great “joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth,” 
the joy of the sinner himself is a foretaste of that heaven. It is a joy 
to throw aside a burthen of sorrow; and no sorrow can compare with 
the one arising from heavy self-conviction for injustice and unkind- 
ness. Of all sufferers bad men are the greatest objects of pity, for 
they have no city of refuge ; they have no consolation ; they have no 
“ small still voice” whispering peace. Aborzuf’s life had been one 
series of horrid errors arising from a diabolical education, of which 
he was brought to the knowledge by a few weeks of remorse and re- 
flection, forced upon him by observing the sweet and cheerful con- 
stancy of that womanly heart which shone brightest in his adversity. 
He felt the folly of injustice, and he imbibed that “wisdom which is 
truly fair’—the wisdom of gentleness and forbearance. 
Events like those which have been related could not have occurred 
unblazoned in a hovel ; in a palace they must infallibly be known, 
and quickly. The news of the king’s metamorphosis, therefore, both 
in appearance and conduct, had become the subject of universal con- 
versation and astonishment : very few, however, allowed themselves 
even to hope for such a fortune, and none believed it. Aborzuf 
himself confirmed the report ; for, with wise dignity, he adopted the 
only course to secure the respect and confidence of his people. He 
put forth a proclamation avowing the error of his former government, 
which he attributed to its just cause—that of having had a bad tutor 
and a bad minister, whom he had banished ; concluding with a deter- 
mination to devote his best energies, for the future, towards promot- 
ing the happiness of his people, more especially of those families that 
had suffered by his misguided judgment. 
Shortly after, a public festival was appointed, when Aborzuf, lead- 
ing by her hand the author of his new-found peace of mind, came 
forward to preside at the solemnity, first presenting her to his people 
as their guardian angel, and the one to whom they were indebted for 
