THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 369 



ed upon the fame tree with her brother, fifteen days after- 

 wards. 



All that interval, the queen and ladies at court employ- 

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

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

 and quality, that a woman of her family mould 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 

 ihort 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, fTie 

 obferved, Young people are forward and raftv; they are al- 

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

 impoflible it mould be otherwife. But being told an old 

 v/oman was dead, fhe 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 feveral 

 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 

 yourfelves, but be allured that the fame cord which tied 

 the feet Of Abba Jacob, Mill remains fuflicient to hang that 

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

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

 rank and quality." 



Vol. IL $ A The 



