THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 5 t 



K have not been inferior to you in every kind of civility, rc- 

 " ceiving you and your predeceiTors when you came into 

 " our country, iinging before you, and rejoicing, becaufe 

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

 *' worth and bravery. 



" As to the accufation againil us, that We robbed the 

 *' Chriftians, you yourfelf fee the riches of our country, 

 " which we get by our own induftry and commerce, 

 u whilft the Abyilinians were naked fhepherds and robbers. 

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

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

 ** were it not for the perfonal valour and conduct of you 

 <l 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 deferting you, in return for 

 " all the victories and riches they have ffiared 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 your army, that we fear ; we know perfectly the 

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

 u and profit of conquelt ; but utterly deftroying defencelcfs 

 " people is unworthy of any king, and ftill more of a prince 

 *' of your character." 



The king, without any fign of difpleafure at the freedom 

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

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

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

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

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

 " principal people who, after your father's death, are now 



G 2 "to 



