’The King, who was a Spectator of all that passed, lying under the Shape of a Lap-Dog, in one Corner of the Room, immediately recovered his own Body, and running to the Cage with the utmost Indignation, twisted off the Neck of the false Nightingale.

’Zemroude was more than ever amazed and concerned at this second Accident, ’till the King entreating her to hear him, related to her his whole Adventure.

’The Body of the Dervis, which was found dead in the Wood, and his Edict for killing all the Deer, left her no Room to doubt of the Truth of it:  But the Story adds, That out of an extream Delicacy (peculiar to the Oriental Ladies) she was so highly afflicted at the innocent Adultery in which she had for some time lived with the Dervis, that no Arguments even from Fadlallah himself could compose her Mind.  She shortly after died with Grief, begging his Pardon with her last Breath for what the most rigid Justice could not have interpreted as a Crime.

’The King was so afflicted with her Death, that he left his Kingdom to one of his nearest Relations, and passed the rest of his Days in Solitude and Retirement.

* * * * *

No. 579.  Wednesday, August 11, 1714.  Addison.

  ‘—­Odora canum vis—­’

  Virg.

In the Reign of King Charles I., the Company of Stationers, into whose Hands the Printing of the Bible is committed by Patent, made a very remarkable Erratum or Blunder in one of their Editions:  For instead of Thou shalt not commit Adultery, they printed off several thousands of Copies with Thou shalt commit Adultery.  Archbishop Laud, to punish this their Negligence, laid a considerable Fine upon that Company in the Star-Chamber.

By the Practice of the World, which prevails in this degenerate Age, I am afraid that very many young Profligates, of both Sexes, are possessed of this spurious Edition of the Bible, and observe the Commandment according to that faulty Reading.

Adulterers, in the first Ages of the Church, were excommunicated for ever, and unqualified all their Lives from bearing a Part in Christian Assemblies, notwithstanding they might seek it with Tears, and all the Appearances of the most unfeigned Repentance.

I might here mention some ancient Laws among the Heathens which punished this Crime with Death:  and others of the same Kind, which are now in Force among several Governments that have embraced the Reformed Religion.  But because a Subject of this Nature may be too serious for my ordinary Readers, who are very apt to throw by my Papers, when they are not enlivened with something that is diverting or uncommon; I shall here publish the Contents of a little Manuscript lately fallen into my Hands, and which pretends to great Antiquity, tho’ by Reason of some modern Phrases and other Particulars in it, I can by no means allow it to be genuine, but rather the Production of a Modern Sophist.