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Literary
December 9, 1785
Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A Persian king sentences a slave to death. The slave curses him bitterly, but his favorite lies, claiming the slave begs for mercy. The king forgives the slave. When a rival courtier reveals the truth, the king calls the lie humane and the truth cruel, affirming the forgiveness.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
PERSIAN APOLOGUE.
A King had condemned one of his slaves to death. The slave, in the anguish of his despair, knew no bounds, but abused the Prince his master with the most bitter reproaches. "What doth he say?" said the monarch to his favourite, who stood near the slave. "Sir," answered the favourite, "he says that the golden gates of Paradise open themselves to the merciful; and he entreats your forgiveness with the most prostrate supplication." "I grant him forgiveness," said the King.
A courtier, who had been a long time the enemy of the favourite, had heard the real words of the slave. "You are grossly deceived, Sir," said he to the Monarch: "that wretch reviles you in the most bitter terms." The King answered, "the lie is the lie of humanity; thy truth is the truth of cruelty." Then, turning to his favourite, he said, "Oh my best friend, thy words SHALL be the truth!"
A King had condemned one of his slaves to death. The slave, in the anguish of his despair, knew no bounds, but abused the Prince his master with the most bitter reproaches. "What doth he say?" said the monarch to his favourite, who stood near the slave. "Sir," answered the favourite, "he says that the golden gates of Paradise open themselves to the merciful; and he entreats your forgiveness with the most prostrate supplication." "I grant him forgiveness," said the King.
A courtier, who had been a long time the enemy of the favourite, had heard the real words of the slave. "You are grossly deceived, Sir," said he to the Monarch: "that wretch reviles you in the most bitter terms." The King answered, "the lie is the lie of humanity; thy truth is the truth of cruelty." Then, turning to his favourite, he said, "Oh my best friend, thy words SHALL be the truth!"
What sub-type of article is it?
Fable
Prose Fiction
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Persian Apologue
King And Slave
Mercy And Forgiveness
Humane Lie
Cruel Truth
Moral Instruction
Literary Details
Title
Persian Apologue.
Key Lines
"The Lie Is The Lie Of Humanity; Thy Truth Is The Truth Of Cruelty."
"Oh My Best Friend, Thy Words Shall Be The Truth!"