This melancholy News was soon spread over the whole Kingdom. The
_Kofirans_ seem'd quite stupified at it; they fell into an inexpressible
Grief and Consternation at the Thoughts of losing such a Sovereign, and
at such a Juncture. The Queen, who by this Time had seen her Folly, and
heartily repented of the superstitious Credulity, by which she had lost
the Embraces of a real Husband in seeking those of an imaginary one,
left her Palace, and, prompted by Grief and Love, flew to the sick King.
She was still in Hopes, that the Deity meant only to alarm the Nation;
and therefore she was for forwarding by her Presence, and deserving by
her kind Offices, the happy Return of his Affection, which she did not
doubt would be the Effect of this Correction. All the People used to
gather about the Governor of _Kofir_'s House, and flock to the Palace,
where Expresses arriv'd every Hour, shewing such Concern, that their
Fate seem'd to depend on the Death or Recovery of _Zeokinizul_. Never
was there such an universal Affliction; never was a Father more lamented
by affectionate Children. They looked at each other with Tears in their
Eyes, and could not speak for sighing. Paleness and Dejection sat on
every Countenance. The Artificers had no Heart to work. All Diversions
and Shews were suspended, and that vast and splendid City, which seemed
the Center of Gaiety and Pleasure, was now changed into a general Scene
of Silence and Melancholy. Yet it was observed, that the _Imans_ and
_Dervises_ did not in the least sympathize with this publick
Consternation. Some will be apt to imagine, that these pious Men had a
divine Intimation that the King would not die. But whoever knows them,
will much rather conclude, that, like Physicians who are never better
pleased than in Times of general Sickness, they only concealed a selfish
Joy under the Mask of an affected Calmness; and it is really scarce
credible what Advantage they drew from this public Calamity. The King,
being given over by the Physicians, seemed to be lost without miraculous
Relief from Heaven, and as the meanest of his Subjects was not wanting