FLATTERY REBUKED.
English historical stories for children tell of king Canute who reproved his flattering courtiers on the sea-shore to teach them a sound moral lesson against flattery. The abashed noblemen were, no doubt, edified and, being edified, flattered him the more in many highflown accounts of the event. All this, however, is believed by many to be pure myth. But the story of the reproof administered by Auranzebe to the servile and selfish tutor of his boyhood, as told by the French traveller, Bernier, is no myth at all.
The tutor after inflicting on the prince a highly adulatory speech ended by shamelessly praying to be raised to a high station in the empire in recognition of his past services. Aurauzebe said, "Should not you, instead of your flattery, have taught me something of that point so important to a king, which is, what are the duties of a sovereign to his subjects and of the subjects to their sovereign? Go, go, withdraw to your native village. Henceforth let no man know either who you are or what is become of you!"
The pedagogue retired from court and was no more heard of.
