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Arabick and the Book ſhe gave me to exerciſe upon was the Alcoran. As ſoon as I was capable of underſtanding it, ſhe cxplain’d to me all the Heads of this excellent Book, and infuſed into my Mind unknown to my Father, or any body elſe. She happened to die, but not before ſhe had perfectly inſtructed me in all that was neceſſary to convince me of the Muſſulman Religion. After her Death I perſiſted with conſtancy in the Belief I was in; and I abhor the falſe God Nardoun, and the Adoration of Fire.
’Tis about three Years and ſome Months ago, that a thundring Voice was heard all on a ſudden, ſo diſtinctly, through the whole City, that no body could miſs hearing it. The Words were theſe: Inhabitants, abandon the Worſhip of Nardoun, and of Fire, and worſhip the only God that ſhews Mercy.
This Voice was heard three Years ſucceſſively, but no body was converted: So the laſt Day of the Year, at four a Clock in the Morning, all the Inhabitants in general were chang’d in an Inſtant into Stone, every one in the ſame Condition and Poſture they happened then to be in. The King, my Father, had the ſame Fate, for he was metamorphos’d into a black Stone, as he is to be ſeen in this Palace; and the Queen my Mother had the like Deſtiny.
I am the only Perſon that did not ſuffer under that heavy Judgment, and ever ſince I have continued to ſerve him with more Fervency than before. I am perſuaded, dear Lady, that he has ſent you hither for my Comfort, for which I render him infinite Thanks, for I muſt own that this ſolitary Life is very uneaſy.
All theſe Expreſſions, and particularly the laſt, increaſed my Love to him extreamly: Prince, ſaid I, there is no doubt but Providence hath brought me into your Port, to preſent you with an Opportunity of withdrawing from this diſmal Place, the Ship that I am come in, may in ſome meaſure perſuade you that I am in ſome Eſteem at Bagdad, where I have left alſo a conſiderable Eſtate, and I dare engage to promiſe you ſanctuary there, until the mighty Commander of the Faithful, who is Vicegerent to our Prophet whom you acknowledge, do you the Honour that is due to your Merit. This renown’d Prince lives at Bagdad, and as ſoon as he is informed of your Arrival in his Capital, you will find that ’tis not in vain to implore hisAſſi-
