_Birth of Mangogul._
Hiaouf Zeles Tanzai had already reigned long in great Chechianea,
and this voluptuous prince still continued to be the delight of his
subjects. Acajou king of Minutia had undergone the fate predicted by
his father: Zulmis was no more: the Count De ---- was still living:
Splendidus, Angola, Misapouf and some other potentates of the Indies
and Asia were carried off by sudden deaths. The people tired of
obeying weak sovereigns, had shaken off the yoke of their posterity;
and the descendants of those unfortunate monarchs rambled unknown, or
not regarded, in the provinces of their empires. The grandson of the
illustrious Scheherazad was the only one who maintain'd his throne: and
he was obeyed in Indostan by the name of Schach Baam, at the time when
Mangogul was born in Congo. Thus it appears, that the death of several
sovereigns was the mournful epoch of his birth.
His father Erguebzed did not summon the Fairies round the cradle of
his son; because he had observed, that most of the princes of his
time, who had been educated by these female intelligences, were no
better than fools. He contented himself with ordering his nativity to
be calculated by one Codindo, a person fitter for a portrait than an
acquaintance.
Codindo, was head of the college of Soothsayers at Banza, the ancient
capital of the empire. Erguebzed had settled a large pension on him,
and had granted to him and his descendants, on account of the merit of
their great uncle, who was an excellent cook, a magnificent castle on
the frontiers of Congo. Codindo was appointed to observe the flight of
birds, and the state of the heavens, and to make a report thereof at
court: which office he executed very indifferently. If it be true, that
they had at Banza the best theatrical pieces, and the worst play-houses
in all Africa; in return they had the most beautiful college in the
world, and the most wretched predictions.
Codindo, informed of the business for which he was summoned to
Erguebzed's palace, set out much embarrassed; for the poor man could
no more read the stars than you or I. He was expected with impatience.
The principal lords of the court were assembled in the appartment of
the great Sultana. The ladies, magnificently dress'd, stood round the
infant's cradle. The courtiers were hurrying to congratulate with
Erguebzed on the great things, which he was undoubtedly on the point
of hearing concerning his son. Erguebzed was a father, and thought it
quite natural, to discern in the unform'd lines of an infant, what he
was to be. In fine, Codindo arrived. "Draw near," says Erguebzed to
him: "as soon as heaven had granted me the prince before you, I ordered
the instant of his birth to be exactly registered, and without doubt
you have been informed of it. Speak sincerely to your Master, and tell
him boldly the destiny which heaven has reserved for his Son."
"Most magnanimous Sultan," answered Codindo, "the prince, born of
parents equally illustrious and happy, can have no other than a great
and fortunate destiny: but I should impose on your highness, if I
plumed myself with a science which I do not possess. The stars rise and
set for me as for the rest of mankind; and I am not more enlightened in
futurity by their means, than the most ignorant of your subjects."
"But," replied the Sultan, "are you not an astrologer?" "Magnanimous
prince," answered Codindo, "I have not that honour."
"What the devil are you then?" says the old, but passionate Erguebzed.
"An Aruspex! By the heavens I did not imagine, that you had so much as
thought of it. Believe me, Seigneur Codindo, suffer your poultry to
feed in quiet, and pronounce on the fate of my son, as you lately did
on the cold of my wife's parrot."
Codindo immediately drew a glass out of his pocket, took the infant's
left ear, rubb'd his eyes, turn'd his spectacles again and again,
peep'd at that ear, did the like to the right ear, and pronounced,
"that the young prince's reign would be happy, if it proved long."
"I understand you," replied Erguebzed: "my son will do the finest
things in the world, if he has time. But, zounds! what I want to have
told me is, that he will have time. What matter is it to me, after he
is dead, that he would have been the greatest prince upon earth, had he
lived. I have sent for you to cast my son's horoscope, and you make me
his funeral oration."
Codindo assured the prince, that he was sorry he was not more knowing;
but beseeched his highness to consider, that his knowledge was
sufficient for the little time he had been a conjurer. In effect, the
moment before, what was Codindo?