קכב THE PRINCE OF TUNIS REVOLTS. 371 my transgression according unto the greatness of thy mercy*, for as the man is, so is his strength." And the emperor accepted the person of the duke, and spake kindly unto him, and restored him unto his former station, except that he took the third part of his dukedom from his hand, and the duke went out from him in peace. 1107. And the emperor was content to make war against the cities of King Francis; and he turned his face toward Picardy at that time. And France was exceedingly grieved§; and the king went out against him with much people, and with a strong hand. 1108. And it came to pass, when the king of Tunis was at Naples, that his son exalted himself, saying, "I will be king." And he slew the governor who was in the fortress, whom his father had left there; and the viceroy and two of his father's servants and his brethren fled unto Goletta, where the Spaniards were, who saved their lives. And he spake to the hearts of the men of the city, saying, "My father died for the iniquity of his covetousness|| in Italy? And I am the beginning of his strength, the right of the * Num. xvi. 19. Comp. Gen. xl. 21. + Judg. viii. 21. § Esth. iv. 4. || Is. lvii. 17; i. e. Morally and politically perished. 372 THE PRINCE OF TUNIS IS MADE KING. P kingdom is mine*, therefore, now, be ye not grievedt, for all this is from the Lord; who will say unto him,' What doest thou?' I will be a father unto you§, and ye shall be my sons, only in the throne will I be greater than you; ye shall be called by my name¶: and it shall come to pass, that when we shall have driven out the uncircumcised who are in Goletta, we will serve our God with one consent**, and every one shall go unto his place in peacett." And his words were pleasing in their sight, and they made him king over them, and said, "Let the king live‡‡!" And the decree was given at Tunis§§ by the king's commandment, that there should be no injury done either to man or woman; and the city had rest, and all the people of the country rejoiced greatly. And in the morning-watch they made void the statute, they transgressed the covenant, and fought against Goletta; so Goletta was besieged. And the governor of Goletta wrote unto the king who was at Naples, and unto the viceroy of the emperor the whole matter; and * Deut. xxi. 17. Job. ix. 12. || Gen. xli. 40. ** Zeph. iii. 9. i. e. God save the king. + Gen. xlv. 5. § Jer. xxxi. 9. ¶ Is. iv. 6. ++ Ex. xviii. 23. §§ Est. iii. 19. 2 Sam. vi. 19. 2 Chr. xv. 13. קכב TUNIS. 373 the king trembled much, and his anger burned in him*. 1109. And he wrote unto the great men of the city, saying, "I am yet alive; and as my strength was when I was with you, even so is my strength now to serve my Godt: as I am, so are ye this day. And now, though ye sorely longed for my sont, yet wherefore have ye troubled me, saying, The king has changed his glory in the land of the uncircumcised for that which doth not profit.' I will make supplication unto my God, that he may cut off all flattering lips¶, and he shall reward every man according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings**.' brought back word unto him††, saying, lord, the king, come diligently unto us in peace; and whoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandments, and will not hearken unto thy words, he shall be put to death‡‡. Only take heed that thou bring not any of the uncircumcised hither, for our soul is weary of them; they are our enemies from the birth, from the womb, and from the conception." And they "Let our § i. e. Has changed his religion. Ps. xii. 3. ++ Num. xiii. 26. 374 TUNIS-OCTOBER, A.M. 5304. קכב 1110. And he hearkened not unto them, for he feared for his life, and believed them not. And he hired at Naples about three thousand footmen, and went down to the sea in ships in the month of October, three hundred and four, after the smaller date, and went unto his country. And they went on shore nigh unto Goletta with joyfulness and gladness of heart*, and he pitched his tent beyond the tower of Golettat, and remained there. And the Arabs went out unto him, and bowed down before him unto the ground, and asked of him, Is it well with thee?" and he answered, "It is well." And he related to them all his honor in Naples, and the covenant which he had made with the viceroy of the emperor; so they rejoiced with him there. And they said unto him, The king shall surely come into the cities tomorrow about this time; but thou shalt not bring with thee these uncircumcised, for our soul is embittered against them, because of all the evil which they have done unto us from the day we knew them." And he lodged that night§ in Goletta with the governor of the emperor, and they ate and became drunken with him, and their heart was merry with wine]. * Deut. xxviii. 47. 2 Kings iv. 26. + Gen. xxxv. 21. § Gen. xxx. 21 (Heb. 23). Gen. xliii. 31. קכג PANIC AT TUNIS. 375 1111. When the morning was light, the king did not turn his heart unto the words of the Ishmaelites, but turned his face towards Tunis, he and the uncircumcised who were with him. He brought also in small ships some of the soldiers and some of the battering-rams, who went their way, going on still towards the south. The king and his men and the soldiers went by land, and the small ships alongside upon the sea; and they drew nigh unto the city, and the men of the city feared greatly; fear took hold upon them, and pain as of a woman in travailt. And they said, "We be all dead men§, for he has sold us into the hand of our enemies the second time, and the city of Tunis was perplexed." [p] 1112. And the son of the king spake to their heart the second time, saying, " Are not these the words which I spake unto you yesterday and the day before, My father, this son of Belial, will surely change his glory for that which doth not profit? And also he will take of your sons and of your daughters, and will rule over your treasures, and will subdue your young men¶, and ye shall not be able to stand before him**, for he hath sold |