( 60 )
Then the Conrtiers who were preſent, being mov’d with Compaſſion, begg’d the King to pardon him, afſſuring his Majeſty that he was not guilty of the Crime laid to his Charge, and that they would anſwer for his Innocence: But the King was inflexible, and anſwer’d them ſo, as they dar’d not to ſay any more of the Matter.
The Phyſician being on his Knees, his Eyes ty’dup, and ready to receive the fatal Blow, addreſſed himſelf once more to the King. Sir, ſays he, fince your Majeſty will not revoke the Sentence of Death; I beg, at leaſt, that you would give me leave to return to my Houſe, to give order about my Burial, to bid ſarewel to my Family, to give Alms, and to bequeath my Books to thoſe who are capable of making good uſe of them. I have one particularly I would preſent to your Majeſty, it’s a very precious Book, and worthy to be laid up very carefully in your Treaſury, Well, replies the King, why is that Book ſo precious as you talk of? Sir, ſays the Phyſician, becauſe it contains an infinite Number of curious Things; of which the chief is, that when you have cut off my Head, if your Majeſty will give your ſelf the Trouble to open the Book at the ſixth Leaf, and read the third Line of the left Page, my Head will anſwer all the Queſtions you ask it. The King being curious to ſee ſuch a wonderful Thing, deferr’d his Death till next Day, and ſent him home under a ſtrong Guard.
The Phyſician, during that time, pus his Afſairs in order; and the Report being ſpread, that an unheard of Prodigy was to happen after his Death, the Viſiers, Emirs, Officers of the Guard, and, in a word, the whole Court, repair’d next Day to the Hall of Audience, that they might be Witneſſes of it.
The Phyſician Douban was ſoon brought in, and advanc’d to the Foot of the Throne, with a great Book in his Hand; there he call’d for a Baſon, upon which he laid the Cover that the Book was wrapp’d in, and preſenting the Book to the King: Sir, ſays he, take that Book, if you pleaſe, and as ſoon as my Head is cut off, order that it be put into the Baſon upon the Cover of the Book; as ſoon as it is put there, the Blood will ſtop; then open the Book, and my Head will anſwer your Queſtions, But, Sir, ſayshe,
