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⟨by⟩ the habit of lying. He was ſenſible of ⟨his⟩ miſconduct, and began to reflect, upon ⟨it⟩ with ſeriouineſs and contrition. Refolutions ⟨of⟩ amendment ſucceeded to penitence; he ⟨set⟩ a guard upon his words; ſpoke little, ⟨and⟩ always with caution and reſerve; and ⟨he⟩ ſoon found, by ſweet experience, that ⟨truth⟩ is more eaſy and natural than falſhood. ⟨By⟩ degrees the love of it became ⟨predominant⟩ in his mind; and ſo ſacred at length ⟨did⟩ he hold veracity to be, that he ſcrupled ⟨even⟩ the leaſt jocular violation of it. This ⟨happy⟩ change reſtored him to the eſteem of ⟨his⟩ friends; the confidence of the public; ⟨and⟩ the peace of his own conſcience.
Gratitude and Piety.
ARTABANES was diſtinguiſhed with peculiar favour by a wiſe, powerful, ⟨and⟩ good prince. A magnificent palace, ⟨surrounded⟩ with a delightful garden, was ⟨provided⟩ for his reſidence. He partook of ⟨all⟩ the luxuries of his ſovereign's table; was ⟨inveſted⟩ with extenſive authority; and ⟨admitted⟩ to the honour of a free intercourſe ⟨with⟩ his gracious maſter. But Artabanes ⟨was⟩ inſenſible of the advantages which he ⟨enjoyed⟩; his heart glowed not with gratitude ⟨and⟩ reſpect; he avoided the ſociety of his ⟨benefactor⟩, and abuſed his bounty.—I deteſt ⟨such⟩ a character, ſaid Alexis, with generous
