THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 271 



ly, refufed in Perfia to ftrangers. Conon * the Athe- 

 nian, had occafion for an interview with Artaxerxes-, 

 king of Perfia, upon matters of great concern to both 

 flates ; " You mall be introduced to the king by me, fays 

 the Perfian minifter to Conon, without any delay ; do 

 you only firfl confider with yourfelf, whether it is real- 

 ly of any confequence that you mould fpeak with the 

 king yourfelf, or whether it would not be as well for you 

 to convey to him, by letter, any thing you have to fay ; for 

 it is abfolutely neceffary, if you are introduced into the 

 king's prefence, that you fall down upon your face and 

 worfhip him. If this is difagreeable or offenfive to you, 

 your bufinefs fliall nevertheless be equally well and quick- 

 ly done by me." To which Conon very fenlibly replied^ 

 " For my part, it never can be offenfive to me to fhew every 

 degree of refpetf: poflible to the perfon of a king. I only 

 am afraid that this falutation maybe mifinterpreted by my 

 citizens, who, being themfelves a fovereign ftate, may look 

 upon this fub minion of their ambaffador as a reproach to 

 themfelves,andinconfiftent with their independency." Conon j 

 therefore, defired to wave his introduction, and that his bu- 

 finefs might be done by letters, which was complied witl* 

 accordingly. 



I have already mentioned tranfiently the circumnance of 

 the king not being feen when fitting in council. The man- 

 ner of it is this : When he had bufinefs formerly, he fat 

 conftantly in a room of his palace, which communicated 

 with the audience and. council by two folding doors or 



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a 



« *Min,Iib.vi.Omil.P«b. 



