At this Rate the _Kofirans_ used to talk, and _Jeflur_ was no stranger
to it. But a clearer Insight into human Nature, made him conclude, that
tho' their Wishes were answered, it would be so far from producing the
desired Effect, that he laid it down as a Certainty, that a new Amour
would more and more indispose _Zeokinizul_ to State Affairs, and he
would quickly lay them aside as Embarasments, in order the more freely
to indulge his Passion. With this View, so far from censuring this
popular Desire, tho' it had neither Religion nor Laws on its Side, he
bent all his Thoughts to accomplish it.

It was not any Beauty in the Queen which had attach'd her Consort to
her. For tho' she had not been one third older than himself, there was
nothing in her Face to strike the Affections of a Prince constantly
encircled with numberless Beauties, and whose Love they would have
accounted the highest Honour. The exact Return which he made to her Duty
and Tenderness, entirely flowed from this Prince's generous and grateful
Temper, and from his good and religious Heart. He had such a delicate
Sense of conjugal Duty, that he never fail'd shewing his Displeasure to
any Courtiers, who presumed to expatiate on the Charms of some _Houris_
in his Capital, and once when _Kigenpi_, one of the _Methers_, or Lords
of his Bed-Chamber began to talk to him of a Person of incomparable
Beauty, he gave him no Answer, only asking him in a dry and scornful
Manner, whether she was handsomer than the Queen?

This Coldness rendered it no easy Matter for the _Mollak_ to alienate
the Affections of _Zeokinizul_ from the Queen. But what are Churchmen
uncapable of? He changed his Measures, and determined to make the Queen
an Instrument to remove from herself a Spouse who loved her most
tenderly. He managed it in the following Manner.