THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 369 



eel vipon the fame tree with her brother, fifteen days after- 

 wards. 



All that intei-val, the queen and ladies at court employ- 

 ed their utmoft interefl with the king to pardon Adera, for 

 tliey looked upon it as a difgraceful thing, both to their fex 

 and quality, that a woman of her family fhould be thus 

 publicly executed. All the ladies of the court having join- 

 ed, therefore, in a public petition to the king while on his 

 throne, he is faid to have anfwered them by the following 

 fhbrt parable : — 



" There was once an old woman, who being told of the 

 death of an infant, faid, with great indifference. Children 

 are but tender; it is no wonder that they die, for any 

 thing will kill a child. Being told of a youth dying, flic 

 obfei-ved, Young people are forward and ralh ; they are al- 

 ways in the way of fomc difafter ; no wonder they die ; it is 

 impoffible it fliould be otherwife. But being told an old 

 woman was dead, flie began to tear her hair, and lament, 

 crying. Now the world is at an end if old women begin 

 to die, fearing that her turn might be the next. In this man- 

 ner all of you have feen Tecla Georgis die, and alfo fevcral 

 of his companions, and you have not faid a word. But 

 now it is come to the hanging of one woman, you are all 

 alarmed, and the world is at an end. Do not then deceive 

 yoiu'felves, but be affured that the fame cord which tied 

 the feet of Abba Jacob, ftill remains fufiicicnt to hang that 

 fow Adera, and all thofe that fliall be fo wicked as to be- 

 have like her, to the difgrace of your fcx, and their own 

 rank and quality." 



Vol. IL 3 A The 



