The Amours of Zeokinizul, King of the Kofirans

The Amours of Zeokinizul, King
of the Kofirans

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Kofirans, by Claude Prosper Jolyot de Crébillon
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Title: The Amours of Zeokinizul, King of the Kofirans Translated from
the Arabic of the famous Traveller Krinelbol
Author: Claude Prosper Jolyot de Crébillon

Release Date: May 30, 2006 [eBook #18472]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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THE AMOURS OF ZEOKINIZUL, KING OF THE KOFIRANS.
Translated from the Arabic of the famous Traveller Krinelbol.
With a Key.

London: Printed for G. Smith, near Temple-Bar. 1749. [Price One
Shilling and Sixpence.]

PREFACE.
The Bookseller, who has taken upon him to print this little Work,
having absolutely insisted upon my introducing it with a Preface,I was
unwilling to refuse him so easy a Matter; and the rather as the
Omission might greatly prejudice it. He urged his Request, by saying,
that a Preface was no less essential to a Book, than an Exordium to a
Sermon. As few read the one, as listen to the other; however, if either
be wanting, the Performance is defective, and, is not so much as
thought worthy to be read in order to be censured. Nevertheless, what
can be said with Regard to a useless Discourse? Why, really, I think, it
is best to say nothing at all. This little Work places Truth in so just a
Light, that no Characters are wanting to point it out. But perhaps, the
real Truth may be amplified in it, and there may be Applications made
of it as false as injurious. This is what ought strongly to be guarded
against; and to this Purpose I sincerely declare, that I have intermix'd
nothing of my own in the Amours of Zeokinizul: But, like a faithful
Translator, I have constantly kept close to Krinelbol'sManuscript. I
have related the Facts just as he himself says they were told him by the
Kofiran Nobility. This sincere Protestation, is all that I can do, In order
to remove any Suspicion of Interpolations. The Arabian Manuscript is
still in my Possession, and if desired, shall be printed. But I own, with
Concern, that it is quite beyond my Power, to procure such a Number
of Types as will be requisite to give this Satisfaction; therefore, let
those who are willing and equal to such an Expence, set the Printer to

work. I promise to deliver him the Manuscript on Demand. I cannot
help thinking, but that the Malice of the World is at its highest Pitch.
Formerly People were overjoy'd at the Certainty of the Antipodes; and
to hear that the Inhabitants of those Climates came nearest to us in
Industry, and the Love of Arts and Sciences; and that the Sun
approached to, and receded from them, as it does with Regard to us. In
fine, that their Temperature, their Seasons, their Manners, and
Inclinations, were the same as our own. Yet, in this my Endeavour to
verify such a Resemblance, by Proofs extracted from their own History,
demonstrating by notorious and certain Facts that they think and act
just like ourselves, I shall be branded for an Imposture; or some, who
affect to be more sharp-sighted, will suspect that under fictitious
Names, I have represented Persons for whom my Heart is filled with
the most respectful Sentiments. Let this suffice, as the shorter a Preface
is the better it is liked.

THE AMOURS OF ZEOKINIZUL,
King of the Kofirans.
After all the Labours and Attention of our best Academicians to form
just Plans, and draw complete Maps of the whole Terraqueous Globe,
there are many large Empires and powerful Nations, which their
Enquiries have not reached; so that they are not only ignorant of their
Position, but even of their Existence. Of this Number are the vast
Dominions of the King of the Kofirans, of which hitherto we have had
not the least Idea; and which probably would ever have continued
unknown to us had not an Arabic Manuscript of the famous Traveller
Krinelbol luckily fallen into my Hands.
This illustrious Enquirer, of whom we have several Works, which
ostentatious Translators, on Account of their Excellency, have
published as their own, that he might not be misled by the various
geographical Descriptions of the Globe, determined to ground his
Knowledge upon his own Experience. With this rational