OF SEVERITY.
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TALE LVIII.
OF SEVERITY; WHICH AVAILS LESS THAN KINDNESS.
A certain king had an only son named Medrus, whom he constituted his heir. The son was ungrateful to his father, who punished him by immediate disinherison. The son, thus circumstanced, fled to the king of the Persians, the rival and enemy of his parent. He stated that he was ready to serve him to the death; and excited him to make war upon the author of his being. War was accordingly declared, and they fought together for some time with equal fortune. It happened that Medrus grievously wounded the king, his father, and the blood flowed very copiously. No sooner had he perceived this,
