Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

PERSIAN TOMB.

(From Sir R. K. Porter's Travels.)

One of the tombs which Sir R. K. Porter examined is conjectured to be that of King Baharam; of whom Sir John Malcolm relates a curious anecdote:--

"The ruling passion of Baharam the chaste; and, proud of his excellence as an archer he wished to exhibit his skill to his most favorite wife. She accordingly accompanied him to the plain; and an antelope was descried at a distance lying asleep. The monarch drew his bow with such precision, that its arrow grazed the animal's ear. The antelope awoke, and put his hind hoof to the spot to strike off the fly by which he appeared to conceive he was annoyed. The monarch shot again, and pinned the hoof to the horn. The exulting Baharam turned to the lady, with a look that demanded her opinion of his skill; but she coolly observed—'Practice makes perfect.' So indifferent a reply, where he expected such warm praises, stung him to the soul with disappointment and jealousy; and in the fury of the moment, he ordered her to be carried to the mountains, and exposed to perish. The minister who was to obey this cruel command, took her hence; but, mercifully sparing her life, allowed her to retire under a deep disguise to an obscure village on the mountain side. She took up her lodging in the upper chamber of a tower, to which she ascended by twenty steps. On her arrival she bought a young calf, which she regularly carried once up and down the flight every day. This exercise she continued for four years; and the improvement in her strength kept pace with the increasing weight of the animal. Baharam, who had supposed his favorite to have been long dead, happened after a fatiguing chase, to stop one evening at this village. He saw a young woman carrying a large cow up a flight of twenty steps. He was astonished, and sent to enquire, how strength so extraordinary had been acquired by a woman of apparently so truly feminine a form. The young person, who had wrapt herself in her veil, said she would communicate her secret to none but the king; and to him only, on his condescending to come to the tower alone. Baharam instantly obeyed the summons; and on his repeating his admiration of what he had seen, she bid him not lavish praises, as if she had performed a miracle, for Practice makes perfect, said the Queen in her natural voice, and at the same time lifting her veil. The King recognised and embraced her. Struck with the lesson she had thus given him, and delighted with a proof of love, which had induced her for four years to pursue so arduous a plan of convincing him of his mistake in doubting its existence, he restored her to his affection and rank as his favorite wife; and had a palace built upon the very spot of their re-union—to commemorate the event."