THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 51 



« have not been inferior to you in every kind of civility, re- 

 ^' ceiving you and your predeceffors when you came into 

 « our country, finging before you, and rejoicing, becaufc 

 « we knew that you had always among you men of great 

 " worth and bravery. 



« As to the accufation againft us, that we robbed the 

 " Chriftians, you yourfelf fee the riches of our country-, 

 « which we get by our own indullry and commerce, 

 « whilft the AbyfTmians were naked fhephcrds and robbers. 

 " In the days of your predeceflbrs, a handful of us would 

 " have chafed an army of them, and it. would be fo now, 

 " were it not for the perfonal valour and condudl of yon. 

 ** their prince. But you, better than any one, can be the 

 « judge of this ; and I can appeal to you, how often they 

 " have been upon the point of dcferting you, in return tor 

 " all the vidories and riches they have fliarcd with you ; 

 " while there is not a Moor in Adel but would have willing- 

 *' ly died in the prefence of fuch a prince as you. It is then 

 *' you, not }^ur army, that we fear ; we know perfectly the 

 ." value of both. You have already enjoyed all the merit 

 " and profit of conqueft ; but utterly deftroying defencelefs 

 " people is xmworthy of any king, and flill more of a prince 

 " of your character." 



The king, without any fign of dif^leaTure at the freedom 

 of this fpeech, anfwcrcd him calmly: "Words and refolu- 

 " tions like thefe occafioncd your father to lofe his life in 

 " battle. I come not to argue with you what you are to do, 

 " nor did I fend for ydu to preach to you; but if the queen 

 *• your mother, the reft of yotir father's family, and the 

 ** principal people who, after your father s death, are now 



62 "to 



