B634 <=> B636 [BTG XXXIV Russia, p. 635]

“’Let us suppose that some Pharaoh or other named “John Geoffrey” lived peacefully and with full satisfaction, and ruled over all the Egyptians.

“’Well, once this same king or Pharaoh John Geoffrey felt a very great “weariness” from this reigning of his, and one sleepless night, having pondered over his “kingly position” first of all constated and realized with all his being that, wish it or not, one grows tired of reigning, and that this occupation, in general, is an extremely trying “job” and could not be said to be, for his personal felicity, either useful or safe.

“’The Pharaoh John Geoffrey became impressed with this realization and, profiting by the experience of his existence in the past, decided to try and find out how to “prevail upon” somebody or other, so that this “other” might deliver him from the said, for him, undesirable weariness.

“’To this end, he probably invited some or other still ordinary John Geoffrey to come to him, and in a very polite way spoke to him, roughly as follows:

“’”My highly honorable and incomparably kind John Geoffrey, I frankly confess to you, as to my only friend and subject worthy of my trust, that this kingdom over which I rule has already grown too wearisome for me and this has happened perhaps because I am already extremely tired.

“’”As regards my dear son and heir, to whom I might now hand over the kingdom, he, speaking between ourselves, is, in spite of his very strong and healthy appearance, in fact neither one nor the other.

“’”You as a father known for his love for his posterity will surely understand if I tell you that I very much love my son and heir, and that I would not like him to reign and get tired as I have; wherefore, I have just decided to propose to you, as a faithful subject and personal friend, to deliver me and my son from reigning and to take this high obligation upon yourself.”