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diff --git a/old/14013-h.zip b/old/14013-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..fb57c5a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14013-h.zip diff --git a/old/14013-h/14013-h.htm b/old/14013-h/14013-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..62fbfe5 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14013-h/14013-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4512 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Almoran and Hamet, by John Hawkesworth</title> +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + P { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + } + HR { width: 33%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + } + BODY{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .note {margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} /* footnote */ + .blkquot {margin-left: 4em; margin-right: 4em;} /* block indent */ + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .smallcaps { font-variant: small-caps } + UL {list-style-type:none;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smalldiv {text-align:left; margin-left: 25%; margin-right: 25%;} + a:link {color:blue;text-decoration:none;} + link {color:blue; text-decoration:none;} + a:visited {color:blue; text-decoration:none;} + a:hover {color:red;} + + table.center {margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;} + hr.full { width: 100%; } + a:link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:hover {color:red} + pre {font-size: 8pt;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + +</style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Almoran and Hamet, by John Hawkesworth</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Almoran and Hamet</p> +<p>Author: John Hawkesworth</p> +<p>Release Date: November 10, 2004 [eBook #14013]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ALMORAN AND HAMET***</p> +<h4><br /><br />E-text prepared by Jonathan Ingram, Leah Moser,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /><br /></h4> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<div><!-- Page 1 --><a name="Page_1"></a><!-- Page 2 --><a name= +"Page_2"></a> + +<h1>ALMORAN</h1> + +<h3>AND</h3> + +<h1>HAMET:</h1> + +<h4>AN</h4> + +<h3>ORIENTAL TALE.</h3> + +<h4>In TWO VOLUMES.</h4> + +<h5>by</h5> + +<h3>John Hawkesworth</h3> + +<h5>MDCCLXI.</h5> + +<br /> +<br /> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<h4>VOLUME FIRST.</h4> +<br /> +<br /> + + + + + +<!-- Page 3 --><a name="Page_3"></a><!-- Page 4 --><a name="Page_4"></a> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<a name="TO_THE"></a> + +<h3>TO THE</h3> + +<h2>KING.</h2> + +<p class="smallcaps">Sir,</p> + +<p>Amidst the congratulations and praises of a free, a joyful, and now +united people, people, who are ambitious to express their duty and +<!-- Page 5 --><a name="Page_5"></a> their wishes in their various +classes; I think myself happy to have <span class="smallcaps">Your +Majesty's</span> most gracious permission to approach You, and, after the +manner of the people whose character I have assumed, to bring an humble +offering in my hand.</p> + +<p>As some part of my subject led me to consider the advantages of our +<!-- Page 6 --><a name="Page_6"></a> excellent constitution in comparison +of others; my thoughts were naturally turned to <span class="smallcaps"> +Your Majesty,</span> as its warmest friend and most powerful protector: +and as the whole is intended, to recommend the practice of virtue, as the +means of happiness; to whom could I address it with so much propriety, as +to a <span class="smallcaps">Prince</span>, who illustrates and enforces +<!-- Page 7 --><a name="Page_7"></a> the precepts of the moralist by his +life.</p> + +I am,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">May it please Your <span class= +"smallcaps">Majesty</span>,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Your <span class="smallcaps"> +Majesty's</span></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Most faithful, most obliged,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">And most obedient</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Subject and Servant,</span><br /> + + +<p>John Hawkesworth.</p> + +<!-- Page 8 --><a name="Page_8"></a> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<br /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<table class="center" summary="Table of Contents"> +<tr> +<td align="left"> +<ul> +<li><b>Volume First</b></li> + +<li><a href="#CHAP_I"><b>CHAP. I.</b></a></li> + +<li><a href="#CHAP_II"><b>CHAP. II.</b></a></li> + +<li><a href="#CHAP_III"><b>CHAP. III.</b></a></li> + +<li><a href="#CHAP_IV"><b>CHAP. IV.</b></a></li> + +<li><a href="#CHAP_V"><b>CHAP. V.</b></a></li> + +<li><a href="#CHAP_VI"><b>CHAP. VI.</b></a></li> + +<li><a href="#CHAP_VII"><b>CHAP. VII.</b></a></li> + +<li><a href="#CHAP_VIII"><b>CHAP. VIII.</b></a></li> + +<li><a href="#CHAP_IX"><b>CHAP. IX</b></a></li> + +<li><a href="#CHAP_X"><b>CHAP. X.</b></a></li> +</ul> +</td> +<td align="left"> +<ul> +<li><b>Volume Second</b></li> + +<li><a href="#CHAP_XI"><b>CHAP. XI.</b></a></li> + +<li><a href="#CHAP_XII"><b>CHAP. XII.</b></a></li> + +<li><a href="#CHAP_XIII"><b>CHAP. XIII.</b></a></li> + +<li><a href="#CHAP_XIV"><b>CHAP. XIV.</b></a></li> + +<li><a href="#CHAP_XV"><b>CHAP. XV.</b></a></li> + +<li><a href="#CHAP_XVI"><b>CHAP. XVI.</b></a></li> + +<li><a href="#CHAP_XVII"><b>CHAP. XVII.</b></a></li> + +<li><a href="#CHAP_XVIII"><b>CHAP. XVIII.</b></a></li> + +<li><a href="#CHAP_XIX"><b>CHAP. XIX.</b></a></li> + +<li> </li> +</ul> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<br /> +<br /> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ALMORAN</h2> + +<h3>AND</h3> + +<h2>HAMET</h2> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<a name="CHAP_I"></a> + +<h2>CHAP. I.</h2> + +<br /> + + +<p>Who is he among the children of the earth, that repines at the power of +the wicked? and who is he, that would change the lot of the righteous? He, +who has appointed to each his portion, is God; the Omniscient and the +Almighty, who fills eternity, and whose existence is from Himself! +<!-- Page 9 --><a name="Page_9"></a> but he who murmurs, is man; who +yesterday was not, and who to-morrow shall be forgotten: let him listen in +silence to the voice of knowlege, and hide the blushes of confusion in the +dust.</p> + +<p>Solyman, the mighty and the wife, who, in the one hundred and second +year of the Hegyra, sat upon the throne of Persia, had two sons, <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> and <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, +and they were twins. <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> was the first +born, but Solyman divided his affection equally between them: they were +both lodged in the same part of the seraglio, both were attended by the +same servants, and both received instructions from the same teacher.</p> + +<p>One of the first things that <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> +learnt, was the prerogative of his<!-- Page 10 --><a name="Page_10"></a> +birth; and he was taught very early to set a high value upon it, by the +terms in which those about him expressed their sense of the power, the +splendor, and the delights of royalty. As his mind gradually opened, he +naturally considered these as the objects of universal define, and the +means of supreme felicity: he was often reminded, that the time was +coming, when the sole possession of sovereign power would enable him to +fulfil all his wishes, to determine the fate of dependent nations with a +nod, and dispense life and death, and happiness and misery, at his will: +he was flattered by those who hoped to draw wealth and dignity from his +favour; and interest prompted all who approached him, to administer to +<!-- Page 11 --><a name="Page_11"></a> his pleasures with a zeal and +assiduity, which had the appearance of reverence to his merit, and +affection to his person.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, on the contrary, soon became +sensible of a subordinate station: he was not, indeed, neglected; but he +was not much caressed. When the gratification of <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span> came in competition with that of <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>, he was always obliged to give it up, except when Solyman +interposed: his mind was, therefore, naturally led to seek for happiness +in objects very different from those which had fixed the attention of +<span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>. As he knew not to how narrow a +sphere caprice or jealousy might confine him, he <!-- Page 12 --><a name= +"Page_12"></a>considered what pleasures were least dependent upon external +advantages; and as the first popular commotion which mould happen after +his brother's accession to the throne, might probably cost him his life, +he was very inquisitive about the state into which his spirit would be +dismissed by the Angel of Death, and very diligent to do whatever might +secure him a share of the permanent and unchangeable felicity of +Paradise.</p> + +<p>This difference in the situation of <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span> and <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, produced great +dissimilarity in their dispositions, habits, and characters; to which, +perhaps, nature might also in some degree contribute. <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span> was haughty, vain, and voluptuous; <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span> <!-- Page 13 --><a name="Page_13"></a>was gentle, +courteous, and temperate: <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> was +volatile, impetuous, and irascible; <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> +was thoughtful, patient, and forbearing. Upon the heart of <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span> also were written the instructions of the +Prophet; to his mind futurity was present by habitual anticipation; his +pleasure, his pain, his hopes, and his fears, were perpetually referred to +the Invisible and Almighty Father of Life, by sentiments of gratitude or +resignation, complacency or confidence; so that his devotion was not +periodical but constant.</p> + +<p>But the views of <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> were terminated +by nearer objects: his mind was perpetually busied in the anticipation of +pleasures and honours, which <!-- Page 14 --><a name="Page_14"></a>he +supposed to be neither uncertain nor remote; these excited his hopes, with +a power sufficient to fix his attention; he did not look beyond them for +other objects, nor enquire how enjoyments more distant were to be +acquired; and as he supposed these to be already secured to him by his +birth, there was nothing he was solicitous to obtain as the reward of +merit, nor any thing that he considered himself to possess as the bounty +of Heaven. If the sublime and disinterested rectitude that produces and +rewards itself, dwells indeed with man, it dwelt not with <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span>: with respect to God, therefore, he was not +impressed with a sense either of duty or dependence; he felt neither +reverence nor love, gratitude nor resignation: in abstaining from evil, he +was not intentionally <!-- Page 15 --><a name="Page_15"></a>good; he +practised the externals of morality without virtue, and performed the +rituals of devotion without piety.</p> + +<p>Such were <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> and <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>, when Solyman their father, full of days and full +of honour, slept in peace the sleep of death. With this event they were +immediately acquainted. The emotions of <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span> were such as it was impossible to conceal: the joy that he +felt in secret was so great, that the mere dread of disappointment for a +moment suspended his belief of what he heard: when his fears and his +doubts gave way, his cheeks were suffused with sudden blushes, and his +eyes sparkled with exultation and impatience: he looked eagerly about him, +as if in haste to act; yet his looks were embarrassed, and his gestures +irresolute, <!-- Page 16 --><a name="Page_16"></a>because he knew not what +to do: he uttered some incoherent sentences, which discovered at once the +joy that he felt, and his sense of its impropriety; and his whole +deportment expressed the utmost tumult and perturbation of mind.</p> + +<p>Upon <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, the death of his father +produced a very different effect: as soon as he heard it, his lips +trembled and his countenance grew pale; he flood motionless a moment, like +a pilgrim transfixed by lightning in the desert; he then smote his breast, +and looking upward, his eyes by degrees overflowed with tears, and they +fell, like dew distilling from the mountain, in a calm and silent shower. +As his grief was thus mingled with devotion, his <!-- Page 17 --><a name= +"Page_17"></a>mind in a short time recovered its tranquillity, though not +its chearfulness, and he desired to be conducted to his brother.</p> + +<p>He found him surrounded by the lords of his court, his eye still +restless and ardent, and his deportment elate and assuming. <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span> pressed hastily through the circle, and +prostrated himself before him: <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> +received the homage with a tumultuous pleasure; but at length raised him +from the ground, and assured him of his protection, though without any +expressions either of kindness or of sorrow: '<span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>,' says he, 'if I have no cause to complain of you +as a subject, you shall have no cause to complain of me as a king.' <span +class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, whose <!-- Page 18 --><a name= +"Page_18"></a>heart was again pierced by the cold and distant behaviour of +his brother, suppressed the sigh that struggled in his bosom, and secretly +wiped away the tear that started to his eye: he retired, with his looks +fixed upon the ground, to a remote corner of the apartment; and though his +heart yearned to embrace his brother, his modest diffidence restrained him +from intruding upon the king.</p> + +<p>In this situation were <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> and <span +class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, when <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span> +entered the apartment. <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, upon whose +head the hand of time became heavy, had from his youth acquainted himself +with wisdom: to him nature had revealed herself in the silence of the +night, when his lamp was burning alone, and his <!-- Page 19 --><a name= +"Page_19"></a>eyes only were open: to him was known the power of the Seal +of Solomon; and to him the knowlege of things invisible had been revealed. +Nor was the virtue of <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span> inferior to his +knowlege; his heart was a fountain of good, which though it flowed through +innumerable streams was never dry: yet was the virtue of <span class= +"smallcaps">Omar</span> cloathed with humility; and he was still pressing +nearer to perfection, by a devotion which though elevated was rational, +and though regular was warm. From the council of <span class="smallcaps"> +Omar</span>, Solyman had derived glory and strength; and to him he had +committed the education of his children.</p> + +<p>When he entered the apartment, the croud, touched at once with +reverence <!-- Page 20 --><a name="Page_20"></a>and love, drew back; every +eye was cast downward, and every tongue was silent. The full of days +approached the king, and kneeling before him he put into his hand a sealed +paper: the king received it with impatience, seeing it superscribed with +the hand of his father; and <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span> looking +round, and perceiving <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, beckoned him +to come forward. <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, whose obedience to +<span class="smallcaps">Omar</span> had been so long habitual that it was +now almost spontaneous, instantly drew near, though with a flow and +irresolute pace; and <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, having broken +the seal of the paper, began to read it to himself, with a look that +expressed the utmost anxiety and impatience. <span class="smallcaps"> +Omar</span> kept his eye fixed upon him, and soon perceived that his +countenance was disfigured by <!-- Page 21 --><a name= +"Page_21"></a>confusion and trouble, and that he seemed preparing to put +up the paper in his bosom: he then produced another paper from under his +robe, and gave it to <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>: 'This,' says +he, is a copy of the will of Solyman, your father; the original is in the +hand of <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>: read it, and you will find +that he has bequeathed his kingdom between you.'</p> + +<p>The eyes of all present were now turned upon <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>, who stood silent and motionless with amazement, but was soon +roused to attention by the homage that was paid him. In the mean time, +<span class="smallcaps">Almoran's</span> confusion increased every moment: +his disappointment was aggravated by the sudden attention of those who +were present to his brother; <!-- Page 22 --><a name="Page_22"></a>and his +jealousy made him think himself neglected, while those acts of duty were +performed to <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, which were now known to +be his right, and which he had himself received before him.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, however, regarded but little what +so much excited the envy of <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>; his +mind was employed upon superior objects, and agitated by nobler passions: +the coldness of his brother's behaviour, though it had grieved had not +quenched his affection; and as he was now no longer restrained by the +deference due from a subject to his king, he ran to him, and catching him +to his breast attempted to speak; but his heart was too full, and he could +express his affection and joy only by <!-- Page 23 --><a name= +"Page_23"></a>his tears. <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> rather +suffered than received the embrace; and after a few ceremonies, to which +neither of them could much attend, they retired to separate +apartments.</p> + +<!-- Page 24 --><a name="Page_24"></a> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<a name="CHAP_II"></a> + +<h2>CHAP. II.</h2> + +<br /> + + +<p>When <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> was alone, he immediately +locked the door; and throwing himself upon a sofa in an agony of vexation +and disapointment, of which he was unwilling there should be any witness, +he revolved in his mind all the pleasures and honours of supreme dominion +which had now suddenly been snatched from him, with a degree of anguish +and regret, not proportioned to their real, but their imaginary value. Of +future good, that which we obtain is found to be less than our +expectations; but that of which we are disappointed, we suppose would have +been more: thus do the children of hope <!-- Page 25 --><a name= +"Page_25"></a>extract evil, both from what they gain, and from what they +lose. But <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, after the first tumult +of his mind had subsided, began to consider as well what was left him, as +what had been taken away. He was still without a superior, though he had +an equal; he was still a king, though he did not govern alone: and with +respect to every individual in his dominions, except one, his will would +now be a law; though with respect to the public, the concurrence of his +brother would be necessary to give it force. 'Let me then,' says he, 'make +the most of the power that is now put into my hand, and wait till some +favourable opportunity shall offer to increase it. Let me dissemble my +jealousy and disappointment, that I <!-- Page 26 --><a name= +"Page_26"></a>may not alarm suspicion, or put the virtues of <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span> upon their guard against me; and let me contrive +to give our joint administration such a form, as may best favour my +design.'</p> + +<p>Such were the reflections, with which <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span> soothed the anguish of his mind; while <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span> was busied in speculations of a very different +kind. If he was pleased at reflecting, that he was raised from a subject +to a prince; he was pleased still more, when he considered his elevation +as a test of his father's affection to his person, and approbation of his +conduct: he was also delighted with the thought, that his brother was +associated with him in the arduous talk which he was <!-- Page 27 --><a +name="Page_27"></a>now called to perform. 'If I had been appointed to +govern alone,' said he, 'I should have had no equal; and he who has no +equal, though he may have faithful servants, can have no friend: there +cannot be that union of interests, that equal participation of good, that +unrestrained intercourse of mind, and that mutual dependence, which +constitutes the pure and exalted happiness of friendship. With <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, I shall share the supreme delight of +wresting the innocent and the helpless from the iron hand of oppression; +of animating merit by reward, and restraining the unworthy by fear: I +shall share, with <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, the pleasures of +governing a numerous, a powerful, and a happy people; <!-- Page 28 --><a +name="Page_28"></a>pleasures which, however great, are, like all others, +increased by participation.'</p> + +<p>While <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> was thus enjoying the +happiness, which his virtue derived from the same source, from which the +vices of <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> had filled his breast with +anguish and discontent; <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span> was contriving +in what manner their joint government could best be carried into +execution.</p> + +<p>He knew that Solyman, having considered the dispositions of his sons, +was of opinion, that if they had been blended in one person, they would +have produced a character more fit to govern in his stead, than either of +them alone: <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, he thought, was +<!-- Page 29 --><a name="Page_29"></a>too volatile and warm; but he +suspected, that <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> would sink into +inactivity for want of spirit: he feared alike <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran's</span> love of enterprize, and <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet's</span> fondness for retirement: he observed, in <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>, a placid easiness of temper, which might suffer +the reins of government to lie too loose; and, in <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>, a quickness of resentment, and jealousy of command, which +might hold them too tight: he hoped, therefore, that by leaving them a +joint dominion, he should blend their dispositions, at least in their +effects, in every act of government that should take place; or that, +however they should agree to administer their government, the public would +derive benefit from the virtues of both, without danger of suffering from +their imperfections, <!-- Page 30 --><a name="Page_30"></a>as their +imperfections would only operate against each other, while, in whatever +was right, their minds would naturally concur, as the coincidence of +rectitude with rectitude is necessary and eternal. But he did not +consider, that different dispositions operating separately upon two +different wills, would appear in effects very unlike those, which they +would concur to produce in one: that two wills, under the direction of +dispositions so different, would seldom be brought to coincide; and that +more mischiefs would probably arise from the contest, than from the +imperfections of either alone.</p> + +<p>But Solyman had so long applauded himself for his project before he +revealed <!-- Page 31 --><a name="Page_31"></a>it to <span class= +"smallcaps">Omar</span>, that <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span> found +him too much displeased with any objection, to consider its weight: and +knowing that peculiar notions are more rarely given up, than opinions +received from others, and made our own only by adoption, he at length +acquiesced, lest he should by farther opposition lose his influence, which +on other occasions he might still employ to the advantage of the public; +and took a solemn oath, that he would, as far as was in his power, see the +will carried into execution.</p> + +<p>To this, indeed, he consented without much reluctance, as he had little +less reason to fear the sole government of <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>, than a joint administration; and if a struggle for +superiority <!-- Page 32 --><a name="Page_32"></a>should happen, he hoped +the virtues <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> would obtain the +suffrages of the people in his favour, and establish him upon the throne +alone. But as change is itself an evil, and as changes in government are +seldom produced without great confusion and calamity, he applied himself +to consider in what manner the government of <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span> and <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> could be +administered, so as most effectually to blend their characters in their +administration, and prevent the conduct of one from exciting jealousy in +the other.</p> + +<p>After much thought, he determined that a system of laws should be +prepared, which the sons of Solyman should examine and alter till they +perfectly approved, and to which they <!-- Page 33 --><a name= +"Page_33"></a>should then give the sanction of their joint authority: that +when any addition or alteration should be thought necessary, it should be +made in the same manner; and that when any insuperable difference of +sentiment happened, either in this or in any act of prerogative +independent of the laws for regulating the manners of the people, the +kings should refer it to some person of approved integrity and wisdom, and +abide by his determination. <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span> easily +foresaw, that when the opinion of <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> +and <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> should differ, the opinion of +<span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> would be established; for there +were many causes that would render <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> +inflexible, and <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> yielding: <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> was naturally confident and assuming, +<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> diffident and modest; +<!-- Page 34 --><a name="Page_34"></a><span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span> was impatient of contradiction, <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span> was attentive to argument, and felicitous only +for the discovery of truth. <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> also +conceived, that by the will of his father, he had suffered wrong; <span +class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, that he had received a favour: <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, therefore, was disposed to resent the +first appearance of opposition; and <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, +on the contrary, to acquiesce, as in his share of government, whatever it +might be, he had more than was his right by birth, and his brother had +less. Thus, therefore, the will of <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> +would probably predominate in the state: but as the same cause which +conferred this superiority, would often prevent contention, <span class= +"smallcaps">Omar</span> considered <!-- Page 35 --><a name= +"Page_35"></a>it, upon the whole, rather as good than evil.</p> + +<p>When he had prepared his plan, therefore, he sent a copy of it, by +different messengers at the same time, both to <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span> and <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, inclosed in a +letter, in which he exprest his sense of obligation to their father, and +his zeal and affection for them: he mentioned the promise he had made, to +devote himself to their service; and the oath he had taken, to propose +whatever he thought might facilitate the accomplishment of their father's +design, with honour to them and happiness to their people: these motives, +which he could not resist without impiety, he hoped <!-- Page 36 --><a +name="Page_36"></a>would absolve him from presumption; and trusting in the +rectitude of his intentions, he left the issue to God.</p> + +<!-- Page 37 --><a name="Page_37"></a> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<a name="CHAP_III"></a> + +<h2>CHAP. III.</h2> + +<br /> + + +<p>The receipt of this letter threw <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> +into another agony of indignation: he felt again the loss of his +prerogative; the offer of advice he disdained as an insult, to which he +had been injuriously subjected by the will of his father; and he was +disposed to reject whatever was suggested by <span class="smallcaps"> +Omar</span>, even before his proposal was known. With this temper of mind +he began to read, and at every paragraph took new offence; he determined, +however, not to admit <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span> to the honour of +a conference upon the subject, but to settle a plan of government with his +brother, without the least regard to his advice.</p> + +<!-- Page 38 --><a name="Page_38"></a> + +<p>A supercilious attention to minute formalities, is a certain indication +of a little mind, conscious to the want of innate dignity, and felicitous +to derive from others what it cannot supply to itself: as the scrupulous +exaction of every trifling tribute discovers the weakness of the tyrant, +who fears his claim should be disputed; while the prince, who is conscious +of superior and indisputable power, and knows that the states he has +subjugated do not dare to revolt, scarce enquires whether such testimonies +of allegiance are given or not.</p> + +<p>Thus, the jealousy of <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> already +enslaved him to the punctilios of state; and the most trifling +circumstances involved him in perplexity, <!-- Page 39 --><a name= +"Page_39"></a>or fired him with resentment: the friendship and fidelity of +<span class="smallcaps">Omar</span> stung him with rage, as insolent and +intrusive; and though it determined him to an immediate interview with his +brother, yet he was embarrassed how to procure it. At first he rose, and +was about to go to him; but he stopped short with disdain, upon +reflecting, that it was an act of condescension which might be deemed an +acknowledgement of superiority: he then thought of sending for <span +class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> to come to him; but this he feared might +provoke him, as implying a denial of his equality: at length he determined +to propose a meeting in the chamber of council, and was just dispatching +an officer with the message, when <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> +entered the apartment.</p> + +<!-- Page 40 --><a name="Page_40"></a> + +<p>The countenance of <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> was flushed +with joy, and his heart was warmed with the pleasing sensations of +affection and confidence, by the same letter, from which <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span> had extracted the bitterness of jealousy and +resentment, and as he had no idea that an act of courtesy to his brother +could derogate from his own dignity or importance, he indulged the honest +impatience of his heart to communicate the pleasure with which it +overflowed: he was, indeed, somewhat disappointed, to find no traces of +satisfaction in the countenance of <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, +when he saw the same paper in his hand, which had impressed so much upon +his own.</p> + +<!-- Page 41 --><a name="Page_41"></a> + +<p>He waited some time after the first salutations, without mentioning the +scheme of government he was come to concert; because having observed that +<span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> was embarrassed and displeased, he +expected that he would communicate the cause, and pleased himself with the +hope that he might remove it: finding, however, that this expectation was +disappointed, he addressed him to this effect:</p> + +<p>'How happy are we, my dear brother, in the wisdom and fidelity, of +<span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>! how excellent is the system of +government that he has proposed! how easy and honourable will it be to us +that govern, and how advantageous to the people that obey!'</p> + +<!-- Page 42 --><a name="Page_42"></a> + +<p>'The advantages,' said <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, 'which +you seem to have discovered, are not evident to me: tell me, then, what +you imagine they are, and I will afterwards give you my opinion.'</p> + +<p>'By establishing a system of laws as the rule of government,' said +<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, 'many evils will be avoided, and +many benefits procured. If the law is the will only of the sovereign, it +can never certainly be known to the people: many, therefore, may violate +that rule of right, which the hand of the Almighty has written upon the +living tablets of the heart, in the presumptuous hope, that it will not +subject them to punishment; and those, by whom that rule is fulfilled, +will <!-- Page 43 --><a name="Page_43"></a>not enjoy that consciousness of +security, which they would derive from the protection of a prescribed law, +which they have never broken. Neither will those who are inclined to do +evil, be equally restrained by the fear of punishment; if neither the +offence is ascertained, nor the punishment prescribed. One motive to +probity, therefore, will be wanting; which ought to be supplied, as well +for the sake of those who may be tempted to offend, as of those who may +suffer by the offence. Besides, he who governs not by a written and a +public law, must either administer that government in person, or by +others: if in person, he will sink under a labour which no man is able to +sustain; and if by others, the inferiority <!-- Page 44 --><a name= +"Page_44"></a>of their rank must subject them to temptations which it +cannot be hoped they will always resist, and to prejudices which it will +perhaps be impossible for them to surmount. But to administer government +by a law which ascertains the offence, and directs the punishment, +integrity alone will be sufficient; and as the perversion of justice will +in this case be notorious, and depend not upon opinion but fact, it will +seldom be practised, because it will be easily punished.'</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, who had heard the opinions of +<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> with impatience and scorn, now +started from his feat with a proud and contemptuous aspect: he first +glanced his eyes upon his brother; <!-- Page 45 --><a name= +"Page_45"></a>and then looking disdainfully downward, he threw back his +robe, and stretching out his hand from him, 'Shall the son of Solyman,' +said he, 'upon whose will the fate of nations was suspended, whose smiles +and frowns were alone the criterions of right and wrong, before whom the +voice of wisdom itself was silent, and the pride even of virtue humbled in +the dust; shall the son of Solyman be harnessed, like a mule, in the +trammels of law? shall he become a mere instrument to execute what others +have devised? shall he only declare the determinations of a statute, and +shall his ear be affronted by claims of right? It is the glory of a +prince, to punish for what and whom he will; to be the sovereign, not only +of property, <!-- Page 46 --><a name="Page_46"></a>but of life; and to +govern alike without prescription or appeal.'</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, who was struck with astonishment +at this declaration, and the vehemence with which it was uttered, after a +short recollection made this reply: 'It is the glory of a prince, to +govern others, as he is governed by Him, who is alone most merciful and +almighty! It is his glory to prevent crimes, rather than to display his +power in punishment; to diffuse happiness, rather than inforce subjection; +and rather to animate with love, than depress by fear. Has not He that +shall judge us, given us a rule of life by which we shall be judged? is +not our reward and punishment already <!-- Page 47 --><a name= +"Page_47"></a>set before us? are not His promises and threatenings, +motives to obedience? and have we not confidence and joy, when we have +obeyed? To God, His own divine perfections are a law; and these He has +transcribed as a law to us. Let us, then, govern, as we are governed; let +us seek our happiness in the happiness that we bestow, and our honour in +emulating the benevolence of Heaven.'</p> + +<p>As <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> feared, that to proceed +farther in this argument would too far disclose his sentiments, and put +<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> too much upon his guard; he +determined for the present to dissemble: and as he perceived, that <span +class="smallcaps">Hamet's</span> opinion, and an administration founded +upon it, would render him extreamly popular, <!-- Page 48 --><a name= +"Page_48"></a>and at length possibly establish him alone; he was now +felicitous only to withdraw him from public notice, and persuade him to +leave the government, whatever form it should receive, to be administered +by others: returning, therefore, to his seat, and assuming an appearance +of complacence and tranquillity, with which he could not form his language +perfectly to agree; 'Let us then,' said he, 'if a law must be set up in +our stead, leave the law to be executed by our slaves: and as nothing will +be left for us to do, that is worthy of us, let us devote ourselves to the +pleasures of ease; and if there are any enjoyments peculiar to royalty, +let us secure them as our only distinction from the multitude.'</p> + +<!-- Page 49 --><a name="Page_49"></a> + +<p>'Not so,' says <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>; 'for there is yet +much for a prince to do, after the best system of laws has been +established: the government of a nation as a whole, the regulation and +extent of its trade, the establishment of manufactories, the encouragement +of genius, the application of the revenues, and whatever can improve the +arts of peace, and secure superiority in war, is the proper object of a +king's attention.</p> + +<p>'But in these,' said <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, 'it will +be difficult for two minds to concur; let us, then, agree to leave these +also to the care of some other, whom we can continue as long as we +approve, and displace when we <!-- Page 50 --><a name= +"Page_50"></a>approve no longer: we shall, by this expedient, be able to +avert the odium of any unpopular measure; and by the sacrifice of a slave, +we can always satisfy the people, and silence public discontent.'</p> + +<p>'To trust implicitly to another,' says <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>, 'is to give up a prerogative, which is at once our highest +duty and interest to keep; it is to betray our trust, and to sacrifice our +honour to another. The prince, who leaves the government of his people +implicitly to a subject, leaves it to one, who has many more temptations +to betray their interest than himself: a vicegerent is in a subordinate +<!-- Page 51 --><a name="Page_51"></a>station; he has, therefore, much to +rear, and much to hope: he may also acquire the power of obtaining what he +hopes, and averting what he rears, at the public expence; he may stand in +need of dependents, and may be able no otherwise to procure them, than by +conniving at the fraud or the violence which they commit: he may receive, +in bribes, an equivalent for his share, as an individual, in the public +prosperity; for his interest is not essentially connected with that of the +state; he has a separate interest; but the interest of the state, and of +the king, are one: he may even be corrupted to betray the councils, and +give up the interests of the nation, to a foreign power; but this is +impossible to the king; for nothing <!-- Page 52 --><a name= +"Page_52"></a>equivalent to what he would give up, could be offered him. +But as a king has not equal temptations to do wrong, neither is he equally +exposed to opposition, when he does right: the measures of a substitute +are frequently opposed, merely from interest; because the leader of a +faction against him, hopes, that if he can remove him by popular clamour, +he shall succeed to his power; but it can be no man's interest to oppose +the measures of a king, if his measures are good, because no man can hope +to supplant him. Are not these the precepts of the Prophet, whose wisdom +was from above?'—"Let not the eye of expectation be raised to +another, for that which thyself only should bestow: suffer not thy own +<!-- Page 53 --><a name="Page_53"></a>shadow to obscure thee; nor be +content to derive that glory, which it is thy prerogative to impart."</p> + +<p>'But is the prince,' said <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, +always the wisest man in his dominions? Can we not find, in another, +abilities and experience, which we do not possess? and is it not the duty +of him who presides in the ship, to, place the helm in that hand which can +best steer it?'</p> + +<p>'A prince,' said <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, 'who sincerely +intends the good of his people, can scarce fail to effect it; all the +wisdom of the nation will be at once turned to that object: whatever is +his principal aim, will be that of all who are admitted to his council; +for to concur <!-- Page 54 --><a name="Page_54"></a>with his principal +aim, must be the surest recommendation to his favour. Let us, then, hear +others; but let us act ourselves.'</p> + +<p>As <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> now perceived, that the +longer this conversation continued, the more he should be embarrassed; he +put an end to it, by appearing to acquiesce in what <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span> had proposed. <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span> withdrew, charmed with the candour and flexibility which he +imagined he had discovered in his brother; and not without some exultation +in his own rhetoric, which, he supposed had gained no inconsiderable +victory. <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, in the mean time, +applauded himself for having thus far practised the arts of +<!-- Page 55 --><a name="Page_55"></a>dissimulation with success; +fortified himself in the resolutions he had before taken; and conceived +new malevolence and jealousy against <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>.</p> + +<!-- Page 56 --><a name="Page_56"></a> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<a name="CHAP_IV"></a> + +<h2>CHAP. IV.</h2> + +<br /> + + +<p>While <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> was exulting in his +conquest, and his heart was overflowing at once with self-complacency, and +affection to his brother; he was told, that <span class="smallcaps"> +Omar</span> was waiting without, and desired admittance. <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span> ordered that he should be immediately introduced; +and when <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span> entered, and would have +prostrated himself before him, he catched him in his arms in a transport +of affection and esteem; and having ordered that none should interrupt +them, compelled him to sit down on a sofa.</p> + +<p>He then related, with all the joy of a youthful and an ardent mind, the +<!-- Page 57 --><a name="Page_57"></a>conversation he had had with <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, intermixed with expressions of the +highest praise and the most cordial esteem. <span class="smallcaps"> +Omar</span> was not without suspicion, that the sentiments which <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> had first expressed with such vehemence +of passion, were still predominant in his mind: but of these suspicions he +did not give the least hint to <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>; not +only because to communicate suspicions is to accuse without proof, but +because he did not think himself at liberty to make an ill report of +another, though he knew it to be true. He approved the sentiments of <span +class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, as they had indeed been infused by his own +instructions; and some precepts and cautions were now added, which the +accession of <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> <!-- Page 58 --><a name= +"Page_58"></a>to a share of the imperial power made particularly +necessary.</p> + +<p>'Remember,' said <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, 'that the most +effectual way of promoting virtue, is to prevent occasions of vice. There +are, perhaps, particular situations, in which human virtue has always +failed: at least, temptation often repeated, and long continued, has +seldom been finally resisted. In a government so constituted as to leave +the people exposed to perpetual seduction, by opportunities of dissolute +pleasure or iniquitous gain, the multiplication of penal laws will only +tend to depopulate the kingdom, and disgrace the state; to devote to the +scymitar and the bow-string, those who might have been useful to society, +<!-- Page 59 --><a name="Page_59"></a>and to leave the rest dissolute +turbulent and factious. If the streets not only abound with women, who +inflame the passenger by their appearance, their gesture, and their +solicitations; but with houses, in which every desire which they kindle +may be gratified with secrecy and convenience; it is in vain that "the +feet of the prostitute go down to death, and that her steps take hold on +hell:" what then can be hoped from any punishment, which the laws of man +can superadd to disease and want, to rottenness and perdition? If you +permit opium to be publickly sold at a low rate; it will be folly to hope, +that the dread of punishment will render idleness and drunkenness +strangers to the poor. If a tax is so collected, <!-- Page 60 --><a name= +"Page_60"></a>as to leave opportunities to procure the commodity, without +paying it; the hope of gain will always surmount the fear of punishment. +If, when the veteran has served you at the risque of life, you withold his +hire; it will be in vain to threaten usury and extortion with imprisonment +and fines. If, in your armies, you suffer it to be any man's interest, +rather to preserve the life of a horse than a man; be assured, that your +own sword is drawn for your enemy: for there will always be some, in whom +interest is stronger than humanity and honour. Put no man's interest, +therefore, in the ballance against his duty; nor hope that good can often +be produced, but by preventing opportunities of evil.'</p> + +<!-- Page 61 --><a name="Page_61"></a> + +<p>To these precepts of <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span> listened as to the instructions of a father; and +having promised to keep them as the treasure of life, he dismissed him +from his presence. The heart of <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> was +now expanded with the most pleasing expectations; but <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span> was pining with solicitude, jealousy, and +distrust: he took every opportunity to avoid both <span class="smallcaps"> +Omar</span> and <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>; but <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span> still retained his confidence, and <span class= +"smallcaps">Omar</span> his suspicions.</p> + +<!-- Page 62 --><a name="Page_62"></a> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<a name="CHAP_V"></a> + +<h2>CHAP. V.</h2> + +<br /> + + +<p>In the mean time, the system of government was established which had +been proposed by <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, and in which <span +class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> concurred from principle, and <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span> from policy. The views of <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span> terminated in the gratification of his own +appetites and passions; those of <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, in +the discharge of his duty: <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, +therefore, was indefatigable in the business of the state; and as his +sense of honour, and his love of the public, made this the employment of +his choice, it was to him the perpetual source of a generous and sublime +felicity. <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> <!-- Page 63 --><a name= +"Page_63"></a>also was equally diligent, but from another motive: he was +actuated, not by love of the public, but by jealousy of his brother; he +performed his task as the drudge of necessity, with reluctance and ill +will; so that to him it produced pain and anxiety, weariness and +impatience.</p> + +<p>To atone for this waste of time, he determined to crowd all that +remained with delight: his gardens were an epitome of all nature, and on +his palace were exhausted all the treasures of art; his seraglio was +filled with beauties of every nation, and his table supplied with dainties +from the remotest corners of his dominions. In the songs that were +repeated in his presence, he listened <!-- Page 64 --><a name= +"Page_64"></a>at once to the voice of adulation and music; he breathed the +perfumes of Arabia, and he tasted the forbidden pleasure of wine. But as +every appetite is soon satiated by excess, his eagerness to accumulate +pleasure deprived him of enjoyment. Among the variety of beauty that +surrounded him, the passion, which, to be luxurious, must be delicate and +refined, was degraded to a mere instinct, and exhausted in endless +dissipation; the caress was unendeared by a consciousness of reciprocal +delight, and was immediately succeeded by indifference or disgust. By the +dainties that perpetually urged him to intemperance, that appetite, which +alone could make even dainties tasteful, was destroyed. The splendor of +his palace and the beauty of his gardens, <!-- Page 65 --><a name= +"Page_65"></a>became at length so familiar to his eye, that they were +frequently before him, without being seen. Even flattery and music lost +their power, by too frequent a repetition: and the broken slumbers of the +night, and the languor of the morning, were more than equivalent to the +transient hilarity that was inspired by wine. Thus passed the time of +<span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, divided between painful labours +which he did not dare to shun, and the search of pleasure which he could +never find.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, on the contrary, did not seek +pleasure, but pleasure seemed to seek him: he had a perpetual complacence +and serenity of mind, which rendered him constantly susceptible of +pleasing impressions; every thing that <!-- Page 66 --><a name= +"Page_66"></a>was prepared to refresh or entertain him in his seasons of +retirement and relaxation, added something to the delight which was +continually springing in his breast, when he reviewed the past, or looked +forward to the future. Thus, the pleasures of sense were heightened by +those of his mind, and the pleasures of the mind by those of sense: he +had, indeed, as yet no wise; for as yet no woman had fixed his attention, +or determined his choice.</p> + +<p>Among the ambassadors whom the monarchs of Asia sent to congratulate +the sons of Solyman upon their accession to the throne, there was a native +of Circassia, whose name was Abdallah. Abdallah had only one child, a +daughter, in whom all his happiness and affection <!-- Page 67 --><a name= +"Page_67"></a>centered; he was unwilling to leave her behind, and +therefore brought her to the court of Persia. Her mother died while she +was yet an infant; she was now in the sixteenth year of her age, and her +name was <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>. She was beautiful as the +daughters of Paradise, and gentle as the breezes of the spring; her mind +was without stain, and her manners were without art.</p> + +<p>She was lodged with her father in a palace that joined to the gardens +of the seraglio; and it happened that a lamp which had one night been left +burning in a lower apartment, by some accident set fire to the net-work of +cotton that surrounded a sopha, and the whole room was soon after in a +<!-- Page 68 --><a name="Page_68"></a>flame. <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>, who had been passing the afternoon in riot and debauchery, +had been removed from his banquetting room asleep; but <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span> was still in his closet, where he had been +regulating some papers that were to be used the next day. The windows of +this room opened towards the inner apartments of the house in which +Abdallah resided; and <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, having by +accident looked that way, was alarmed by the appearance of an unusual +light, and starting up to see whence it proceeded, he discovered what had +happened.</p> + +<p>Having hastily ordered the guard of the night to assist in quenching +the flame, and removing the furniture, he ran himself into the garden. As +<!-- Page 69 --><a name="Page_69"></a>soon as he was come up to the house, +he was alarmed by the shrieks of a female voice; and the next moment, +<span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> appeared at the window of an +apartment directly over that which was on fire. <span class="smallcaps"> +Almeida</span> he had till now never seen, nor did he so much as know that +Abdallah had a daughter: but though her person was unknown, he was +strongly interested in her danger, and called out to her to throw herself +into his arms. At the sound of his voice she ran back into the room, such +is the force of inviolate modesty, though the smoke was then rising in +curling spires from the windows: she was, however, soon driven back; and +part of the floor at the same instant giving way, she wrapt +<!-- Page 70 --><a name="Page_70"></a>her veil round her, and leaped into +the garden. <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> caught her in his arms; +but though he broke her fall, he sunk down with her weight: he did not, +however, quit his charge, but perceiving she had fainted, he made haste +with her into his apartment, to afford her such assistance as he could +procure.</p> + +<p>She was covered only with the light and loose robe in which she slept, +and her veil had dropped off by the way. The moment he entered his closet, +the light discovered to him such beauty as before he had never seen: she +now began to revive; and before her senses returned, she pressed the +prince with an involuntary embrace, which he returned by straining her +closer to his <!-- Page 71 --><a name="Page_71"></a>breast, in a tumult of +delight, confusion, and anxiety, which he could scarce sustain. As he +still held her in his arms, and gazed silently upon her, she opened her +eyes, and instantly relinquishing her hold, shrieked out, and threw +herself from him. As there were no women nearer than that wing of the +palace in which his brother resided, and as he had many reasons not to +leave her in their charge; he was in the utmost perplexity what to do. He +assured her, in some hasty and incoherent words, of her security; he told +her, that she was in the royal palace, and that he who had conveyed her +thither was <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>. The habitual reverence +of sovereign power, now surmounted all other passions in the bosom of +<span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>: she was instantly +<!-- Page 72 --><a name="Page_72"></a>covered with new confusion; and +hiding her face with her hands, threw herself at his feet: he raised her +with a trepidation almost equal to her own, and endeavoured to sooth her +into confidence and tranquillity.</p> + +<p>Hitherto her memory had been wholly suspended by violent passions, +which had crowded upon her in a rapid and uninterrupted succession, and +the first gleam of recollection threw her into a new agony; and having +been silent a few moments, she suddenly smote her hands together, and +bursting into tears, cried out, 'Abdallah! my father! my +father!'—<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> not only knew but felt +all the meaning of the exclamation, and immediately ran again into the +garden: he had advanced <!-- Page 73 --><a name="Page_73"></a>but a few +paces, before he discerned an old man sitting upon the ground, and looking +upward in silent anguish, as if he had exhausted the power of complaint. +<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, upon a nearer approach, perceived by +the light of the flame that it was Abdallah; and instantly calling him by +his name, told him, that his daughter was safe. At the name of his +daughter, Abdallah suddenly started up, as if he had been roused by the +voice of an angel from the sleep of death: <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span> again repeated, that his daughter was in safety; and Abdallah +looking wistfully at him, knew him to be the king. He was then struck with +an awe that restrained him from enquiry: but <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span> directing him where he might find her, went forward, that he +<!-- Page 74 --><a name="Page_74"></a>might not lessen the pleasure of +their interview, nor restrain the first transports of duty and affection +by his presence. He soon met with other fugitives from the fire, which had +opened a communication between the gardens and the street; and among them +some women belonging to <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, whom, he +conducted himself to their mistress. He immediately allotted to her and to +her father, an apartment in his division of the palace; and the fire being +now nearly extinguished, he retired to rest.</p> + +<!-- Page 75 --><a name="Page_75"></a> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<a name="CHAP_VI"></a> + +<h2>CHAP. VI.</h2> + +<br /> + + +<p>Though the night was far advanced, yet the eyes of <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span> were strangers to sleep: his fancy incessantly +repeated the events that had just happened; the image of <span class= +"smallcaps">Almeida</span> was ever before him; and his breast throbbed +with a disquietude, which, though it prevented rest, he did not wish to +lose.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, in the mean time, was +slumbering away the effects of his intemperance; and in the morning, when +he was told what had happened, he expressed no passion but curiosity: he +<!-- Page 76 --><a name="Page_76"></a>went hastily into the garden; but +when he had gazed upon the ruins, and enquired how the fire began, and +what it had consumed, he thought of it no more.</p> + +<p>But <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> suffered nothing that regarded +himself, to exclude others from his attention: he went again to the ruins, +not to gratify his curiosity, but to see what might yet be done to +alleviate the misery of the sufferers, and secure for their use what had +been preserved from the flames. He found that no life had been lost, but +that many persons had been hurt; to these he sent the physicians of his +own houshold: and having rewarded those who had assisted them in their +distress, not forgetting even the soldiers who had only fulfilled his own +orders, he <!-- Page 77 --><a name="Page_77"></a>returned, and applied +himself to dispatch the public business in the chamber of council, with +the same patient and diligent attention as if nothing had happened. He +had, indeed, ordered enquiry to be made after <span class="smallcaps"> +Almeida</span>; and when he returned to his apartment, he found Abdallah +waiting to express his gratitude for the obligations he had received.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> accepted his acknowledgements with +a peculiar pleasure, for they had some connexion with <span class= +"smallcaps">Almeida</span>; after whom he again enquired, with an ardour +uncommon even to the benevolence of <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>. +When all his questions had been asked and answered, he appeared still +unwilling to dismiss Abdallah, though he <!-- Page 78 --><a name= +"Page_78"></a>seemed at a loss how to detain him; he wanted to know, +whether his daughter had yet received an offer of marriage, though he was +unwilling to discover his desire by a direct enquiry: but he soon found, +that nothing could be known, which was not directly asked, from a man whom +reverence and humility kept silent before him, except when something was +said which amounted to a command to speak. At length, however, he said, +not without some hesitation, 'Is there no one, Abdallah, who will thank me +for the preservation of thy daughter, with a zeal equal to thy own?' +'Yes,' replied Abdallah, 'that daughter whom thou hast preserved.' This +reply, though it was unexpected was pleasing: for <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span> was not only <!-- Page 79 --><a name="Page_79"></a>gratified +to hear, that <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> had expressed herself +warmly in his behalf, at least as a benefactor; but he judged, that if any +man had been interested in her life as a lover, the answer which Abdallah +had given him would not so readily have occurred to his mind.</p> + +<p>As this reflection kept <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> a few +moments silent, Abdallah withdrew; and <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>, as he observed some marks of haste and confusion in his +countenance, was unwilling longer to continue him in a situation, which he +had now reason to think gave him pain. But Abdallah, who had conceived a +sudden thought that <span class="smallcaps">Hamet's</span> question was an +indirect reproach of <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, for not +having herself solicited admission to his presence; went +<!-- Page 80 --><a name="Page_80"></a>in haste to her apartment, and +ordered her immediately to make ready to attend him to the king.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, from whose mind the image of +<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> had not been absent a moment since +she first saw him, received this order with a mixture of pain and +pleasure; of wishes, hopes, and apprehensions, that filled her bosom with +emotion, and covered her face with blushes. She had not courage to ask the +reason of the command, which she instantly prepared to obey; but the +tenderness of Abdallah, who perceived and pitied her distress, anticipated +her wish. In a short time, therefore, he returned to the chamber of +presence, and having received permission, he entered with <span class= +"smallcaps">Almeida</span> in his <!-- Page 81 --><a name= +"Page_81"></a>hand. <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> rose in haste to +receive her, with a glow of pleasure and impatience in his countenance; +and having raised her from the ground, supported her in his arms, waiting +to hear her voice; but though she made many attempts, she could not speak. +<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, who knew not to what he owed this +sudden and unexpected interview, which, though he wished, he could +contrive no means to obtain; imagined that <span class="smallcaps"> +Almeida</span> had some request, and therefore urged her tenderly to make +it: but as she still remained silent, he looked at Abdallah, as expecting +to hear it from him. 'We have no wish,' said Abdallah, 'but to atone for +our offence; nor any request, but that my lord would now accept the thanks +of <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> for the life <!-- Page 82 --><a +name="Page_82"></a>which he has preserved, and impute the delay, not to +ingratitude, but inadvertence: let me now take her back, as thy gift; and +let the light of thy favour be upon us.' 'Take her then,' said <span +class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>; 'for I would give her only to thee.'</p> + +<p>These words of <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> did not escape the +notice either of Abdallah or <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>; but +neither of them mentioned their conjectures to the other. <span class= +"smallcaps">Almeida</span>, who was inclined to judge of <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet's</span> situation by her own, and who recollected many +little incidents, known only to herself, which favoured her wishes; +indulged the hope, that she should again hear of <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>, with more confidence than her father; nor were her +expectations <!-- Page 83 --><a name="Page_83"></a>disappointed. <span +class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> reflected with pleasure, that he had +prepared the way for a more explicit declaration; and as his impatience +increased with his passion every hour, he sent for Abdallah the next +morning, and told him, that he wished to be more acquainted with his +daughter, with a view to make her his wife: 'As neither you nor your +daughter are my subjects,' says <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, 'I +cannot command you; and if you were, upon this occasion I would not. I do +not want a slave, but a friend; not merely a woman, but a wife. If I find +<span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> such as my fancy has feigned her; +if her mind corresponds with her form; and if I have reason to think, that +she can give her heart to <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, and not +merely her hand to the <!-- Page 84 --><a name="Page_84"></a>king; I shall +be happy.' To this declaration, Abdallah replied with expressions of the +profoundest submission and gratitude; and <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span> dismissed him, to prepare <span class="smallcaps"> +Almeida</span> to receive him in the afternoon of the same day.</p> + +<!-- Page 85 --><a name="Page_85"></a> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<a name="CHAP_VII"></a> + +<h2>CHAP. VII.</h2> + +<br /> + + +<p>As eight moons only had passed since the death of Solyman, and as the +reverence of <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> for the memory of his +father would not suffer him to marry till the year should be completed; he +determined not to mention <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> to his +brother, till the time when he could marry her was near. The fierce and +haughty deportment of <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> had now left +<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> no room to doubt of his character: +and though he had no apprehension that he would make any attempts upon +<span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, after she should be his wife; yet +he did not know how much might justly be feared from his passion, +<!-- Page 86 --><a name="Page_86"></a>if he should see her and become +enamoured of her, while she was yet a virgin in the house of her +father.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> had not only unsullied purity of +mind, but principles of refined and exalted virtue; and as the life of +<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> was an example of all that was either +great or good, Abdallah felt no anxiety upon leaving them together, except +what arose from his fears, that his daughter would not be able to secure +the conquest she had made.</p> + +<p>As it was impossible for <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> to have +such an acquaintance with <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> as he +desired, till he could enter into conversation with her upon terms of +equality; it was his first care to sooth her into confidence and +familiarity, <!-- Page 87 --><a name="Page_87"></a>and by degrees he +succeeded: he soon found, in the free intercourse of mind with mind, which +he established instead of the implicit submission which only ecchoed his +own voice, how little of the pleasure that women were formed to give can +be enjoyed, when they are considered merely as slaves to a tyrant's will, +the passive subjects of transient dalliance and casual enjoyment. The +pleasure which he took in the youthful beauty of <span class="smallcaps"> +Almeida</span>, was now endeared, exalted, and refined, by the tender +sensibility of her heart, and by the reflexion of his own felicity from +her eyes: when he admired the gracefulness of her motion, the elegance of +her figure, the symmetry of her features, and the bloom of her complexion, +he considered them as the decorations only <!-- Page 88 --><a name= +"Page_88"></a>of a mind, capable of mixing with his own in the most +exquisite delight, of reciprocating all his ideas, and catching new +pleasure from his pleasure. Desire was no longer appetite; it was +imagination, it was reason; it included remembrance of the past, and +anticipation of the future; and its object was not the sex, but <span +class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>.</p> + +<p>As <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> never witheld any pleasure that +it was in his power to impart, he soon acquainted Abdallah, that he waited +only for a proper time to place <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> +upon the throne; but that he had some reasons for keeping a resolution, +which he thought himself obliged to communicate to him, concealed from +others.</p> + +<!-- Page 89 --><a name="Page_89"></a> + +<p>It happened, however, that some of the women who attended upon <span +class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, met with some female slaves belonging to +the seraglio of <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, at the public +baths, and related to them all the particulars of <span class="smallcaps"> +Almeida's</span> preservation by <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>; +that he had first conveyed her to his own apartments, and had since been +frequently with her in that which he had assigned her in his palace: they +were also lavish in the praise of her beauty, and free in their +conjectures what might be the issue of her intercourse with <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>.</p> + +<p>Thus the situation of <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> and <span +class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> became the subject of conversation in the +seraglio of <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, who learnt it himself +in a short time from one of his women.</p> + +<!-- Page 90 --><a name="Page_90"></a> + +<p>He had hitherto professed great affection for <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>, and <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> was deceived by his +professions: for notwithstanding the irregularities of his life, he did +not think him capable of concealed malice; or of offering injury to +another, except when he was urged by impetuous passions to immediate +pleasure. As there was, therefore, an appearance of mutual affection +between them, <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, though the report of +<span class="smallcaps">Almeida's</span> beauty had fired his imagination +and fixed him in a resolution to see her, did not think proper to attempt +it without asking <span class="smallcaps">Hamet's</span> consent, and +being introduced by his order; as he made no doubt of there being a +connexion between them which would make him resent a contrary conduct.</p> + +<!-- Page 91 --><a name="Page_91"></a> + +<p>He took an opportunity, therefore, when they were alone in a summer +pavilion that was built on a lake behind the palace, to reproach him, with +an air of mirth, for having concealed a beauty near his apartments, though +he pretended to have no seraglio. <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> +instantly discovered his surprize and emotion by a blush, which the next +moment left his countenance paler than the light clouds that pass by night +over the moon. <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> took no notice of +his confusion; but that he might more effectually conceal his sentiments +and prevent suspicion, he suddenly adverted to another subject, while +<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> was hesitating what to reply. By this +artifice <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> was deceived; and concluded, +that whatever <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> had heard of <span +class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, had passed slightly <!-- Page 92 --><a +name="Page_92"></a>over his mind, and was remembered but by chance; he, +therefore, quickly recovered that ease and chearfulness, which always +distinguished his conversation.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> observing the success of his +artifice, soon after, as if by a sudden and casual recollection, again +mentioned the lady; and told him, he would congratulate Abdallah upon +having resigned her to his bed. As <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> +could not bear to think of <span class="smallcaps">Almoran's</span> +mentioning <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> to her father as his +mistress, he replied, that he had no such intimacy with <span class= +"smallcaps">Almeida</span> as he supposed; and that he had so high an +opinion of her virtue, as to believe, that if he should propose it she +would not consent. The imagination of <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span> <!-- Page 93 --><a name="Page_93"></a>caught new fire from +beauties which he found were yet unenjoyed, and virtue which stamped them +with superior value by rendering them more difficult of access; and as +<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> had renounced a connection with her +as a mistress, he wanted only to know whether he intended her for a +wife.</p> + +<p>This secret he was contriving to discover, when <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>, having reflected, that if he concealed this +particular, <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> might think himself at +liberty to make what attempts he should think fit upon <span class= +"smallcaps">Almeida</span>, without being accountable to him, or giving +him just cause of offence, put an end to his doubts, by telling him, he +had such a design; but that it would be some time before he should carry +it into execution. <!-- Page 94 --><a name="Page_94"></a>This declaration +increased <span class="smallcaps">Almoran's</span> impatience: still, +however, he concealed his interest in the conversation, which he now +suffered to drop.</p> + +<p>He parted from his brother, without any farther mention of <span class= +"smallcaps">Almeida</span> but while he was yet near him, turned hastily +back, and, as if merely to gratify his curiosity, told him with a smile, +that he must indulge him with a fight of his Circassian; and desired he +might accompany him in his next visit, or at some more convenient time: +with this request, <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, as he knew, not +how to refuse it, complied; but it filled his mind with anxiety and +trouble.</p> + +<p>He went immediately to <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, and told +her all that had happened; <!-- Page 95 --><a name="Page_95"></a>and as +she saw that he was net without apprehensions of mischief from his +brother's visit, she gently reproached him for doubting the fidelity of +her affection, as she supposed no power could be exerted by <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span> to injure him, who in power was his equal. +<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, in a transport of tenderness, +assured her that he doubted neither her constancy nor her love: but as to +interrupt the comfort of her mind, would only double his own distress, he +did not tell her whence his apprehensions proceeded; nor indeed had they +any determinate object, but arose in general from the character of his +brother, and the probability of his becoming a competitor, for what was +essential to the happiness of his life.</p> + +<!-- Page 96 --><a name="Page_96"></a> + +<p>But if the happiness of <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> was +lessened, the infelicity of <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> was +increased. All the enjoyments that were in his power he neglected, his +attention being wholly fixed upon that which was beyond his reach; he was +impatient to see the beauty, who had taken intire possession of his mind; +and the probability that he would be obliged to resign her to <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>, tormented him with jealousy, envy, and +indignation.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, however, did not long delay to +fulfil his promise to his brother; but having prepared <span class= +"smallcaps">Almeida</span> to receive him, he conducted him to her +apartment. The idea which <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> had +formed in his imagination, was exceeded by the reality, and his passion +<!-- Page 97 --><a name="Page_97"></a>was proportionably increased; yet he +found means not only to conceal it from <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>, but from <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, by +affecting an air of levity and merriment, which is not less incompatible +with the pleasures than the pains of love. After they had been regaled +with coffee and sherbet, they parted; and <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span> congratulated himself, that his apprehensions of finding in +<span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> a rival for <span class= +"smallcaps">Almeida's</span> love, were now at an end.</p> + +<p>But <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, whose passions were become +more violent by restraint, was in a state of mind little better than +distraction: one moment he determined to seize upon the person of <span +class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> in the night, and secrete her in some +place accessible only to himself; and <!-- Page 98 --><a name= +"Page_98"></a>the next to assassinate his brother, that he might at once +destroy a rival both in empire and in love. But these designs were no +sooner formed by his wishes, than they were rejected by his fears: he was +not ignorant, that in any contest between him and <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>, the voice of the public would be against him; especially in +a contest, in which it would appear, that <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span> had suffered wrong.</p> + +<p>Many other projects, equally rash, violent, and injurious, were by +turns conceived and rejected: and he came at last to no other +determination, than still carefully to conceal his passion, till he should +think of some expedient to gratify it; lest <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span> should have a <!-- Page 99 --><a name="Page_99"></a>just +reason for refusing to let him see the lady again, and remove her to some +place which he might never be able to discover.</p> + +<!-- Page 100 --><a name="Page_100"></a> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<a name="CHAP_VIII"></a> + +<h2>CHAP. VIII.</h2> + +<br /> + + +<p>In the mean time, <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, to whom <span +class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> had from time to time disclosed the +minutest particulars of his situation and design, kept his eye almost +continually upon <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>; and observed him +with an attention and sagacity, which it was difficult either to elude or +deceive. He perceived, that he was more than usual restless and turbulent; +that in the presence of <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> he frequently +changed countenance; that his behaviour was artificial and inconsistent, +frequently shifting from gloomy discontent and furious agitation, to +forced laughter and noisy <!-- Page 101 --><a name= +"Page_101"></a>merriment. He had also remarked, that he seemed most +discomposed after he had been with <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> to +<span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, which happened generally once in a +week; that he was become fond of solitude, and was absent several days +together from the apartment of his women.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, who from this conduct of <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> had begun to suspect his principles, +determined to introduce such topics of discourse, as might lead him to +discover the state of his mind; and enable him to enforce and confirm the +principles he had taught him, by new proofs and illustrations.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, who, since the death of his +father, had nothing to apprehend <!-- Page 102 --><a name= +"Page_102"></a>from the discovery of sentiments which before he had been +careful to conceal; now urged his objections against religion, when <span +class="smallcaps">Omar</span> gave him opportunity, without reserve. 'You +tell me,' says he, 'of beings that are immortal, because they are +immaterial; beings which do not consist of parts, and which, therefore, +can admit no solution, the only natural cause of corruption and decay: but +that which is not material, can have no extension; and what has no +extension, possesses no space; and of such beings, the mind itself, which +you pretend to be such a being, has no conception.'</p> + +<p>'If the mind,' says <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, 'can perceive +that there is in itself any <!-- Page 103 --><a name= +"Page_103"></a>single, property of such a being, it has irrefragable +evidence that it is such a being; though its mode of existence, as +distinct from matter, cannot now be comprehended.' 'And what property of +such a being,' said <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, 'does the mind +of man perceive in itself?' 'That of <i>acting</i>, said <span class= +"smallcaps">Omar</span>, 'without <i>motion</i>. You have no idea, that a +material substance can act, but in proportion as it moves: yet to <i> +think</i>, is to <i>act</i>; and with the idea of thinking, the idea of +motion is never connected: on the contrary, we always conceive the mind to +be fixed, in proportion to the degree of ardour and intenseness with which +the power of thinking is exerted. Now, if that which is material cannot +act without motion; and if man is <!-- Page 104 --><a name= +"Page_104"></a>conscious, that to think, is to act and not to move; it +follows, that there is, in man, somewhat that is not matter; somewhat that +has no extension, and that possesses no space; somewhat which, having no +contexture or parts that can be dissolved or separated, is exempted from +all the natural causes of decay.'</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Omar</span> paused; and <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span> having stood some moments without reply, he +seized this opportunity to impress him with an awful sense of the power +and presence of the Supreme and Eternal Being, from whom his own existence +was derived: 'Let us remember,' said he, 'that to every act of this +immaterial and immortal part, the Father of spirits, from whom it +<!-- Page 105 --><a name="Page_105"></a>proceeds, is present: when I +behold the busy multitudes that crowd the metropolis of Persia, in the +persuit of business and projects infinitely complicated and various; and +consider that every idea which passes over their minds, every conclusion, +and every purpose, with all that they remember of the past, and all that +they imagine of the future, is at once known to the Almighty, who without +labour or confusion weighs every thought of every mind in His balance, and +reserves it to the day of retribution; my follies cover me with confusion, +and my soul is humbled in the dust.'</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, though he appeared to listen +with attention, and offered nothing <!-- Page 106 --><a name= +"Page_106"></a>against the reasoning of <span class="smallcaps"> +Omar</span>, yet secretly despised it as sophistry; which cunning only had +rendered specious; and which he was unable to confute, merely because it +was subtil, and not because it was true: he had been led, by his passions, +first to love, and then to adopt different opinions; and as every man is +inclined to judge of others by himself, he doubted, whether the principles +which <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span> had thus laboured to establish; +were believed even by <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span> himself.</p> + +<p>Thus was the mind of <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> to the +instructions of <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, as a rock slightly +covered with earth, is to the waters of heaven: the craggs are left bare +by the rain that washes them; and the same showers that fertilize the +field <!-- Page 107 --><a name="Page_107"></a>can only discover the +sterility of the rock.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, however, did not yet disclose his +suspicions to <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, because he did not yet +see that it could answer any purpose. To remove <span class="smallcaps"> +Almeida</span> from her apartment, would be to shew a distrust, for which +there would not appear to be any cause; and to refuse <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span> access to her when he desired it, might +precipitate such measures as he might meditate, and engage him in some +desperate attempt: he, therefore, contented himself with advising <span +class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, to conceal the time of his marriage till +the evening before he intended it should take place, without assigning the +reason on which his advice was founded.</p> + +<!-- Page 108 --><a name="Page_108"></a> + +<p>To the council of <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span> was implicitly obedient, as to the revelations of +the Prophet; but, like his instructions, it was neglected by <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span>, who became every moment more wretched. He had +a graceful person, and a vigorous mind; he was in the bloom of youth, and +had a constitution that promised him length of days; he had power which +princes were emulous to obey, and wealth by which whatever could +administer to luxury might be bought, for every passion, and every +appetite, it was easy for him to procure a perpetual succession of new +objects: yet was <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, not only without +enjoyment, but without peace; he was by turns pining with discontent, and +raving with indignation; his vices had extracted <!-- Page 109 --><a name= +"Page_109"></a>bitter from every sweet; and having exhausted nature for +delight in vain, he was repining at the bounds in which he was confined, +and regretting the want of other powers as the cause of his misery.</p> + +<p>Thus the year of mourning for Solyman was compleated, without any act +of violence on the part of <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, or of +caution on the part of <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>: but on the +evening of the last day, <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, having +secretly prepared every thing for performing the solemnity in a private +manner, acquainted <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> by a letter, +which <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, undertook to deliver, that he +should celebrate his marriage on the morrow. <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>, who never doubted but he should have notice of this +<!-- Page 110 --><a name="Page_110"></a>event much longer before it was to +happen, read the letter with a perturbation that it was impossible to +conceal: he was alone in his private apartment, and taking his eye hastily +from the paper, he crushed it together in his hand, and thrusting it into +his bosom, turned from <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span> without +speaking; and <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, thinking himself +dismissed, withdrew.</p> + +<p>The passions which <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> could no +longer suppress, now burst out, in a torrent of exclamation: 'Am I then, +said he, 'blasted for ever with a double curse, divided empire and +disappointed love! What is dominion, if it is not possessed alone? and +what is power, which the dread of rival power perpetually controuls? Is it +for <!-- Page 111 --><a name="Page_111"></a>me to listen in silence to the +wrangling of slaves, that I may at last apportion to them what, with a +clamorous insolence, they demand as their due! as well may the sun linger +in his course, and the world mourn in darkness for the day, that the +glow-worm may still be seen to glimmer upon, the earth, and the owls and +bats that haunt the sepulchres of the dead enjoy a longer night. Yet this +have I done, because this has been done by <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>: and my heart sickens in vain with the desire of beauty, +because my power extends not to <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>. +With dominion undivided and <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, I +should be <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>; but without them, I am +less than nothing.'</p> + +<!-- Page 112 --><a name="Page_112"></a> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, who, before he has passed the +pavilion, heard a sound which he knew to be the voice of <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span>, returned hastily to the chamber in which he +left him, believing he had withdrawn too soon, and that the king, as he +knew no other was present, was speaking to him: he soon drew near enough +to hear what was said; and while he was standing torpid in suspense, +dreading to be discovered, and not knowing how to retire, <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span> turned about.</p> + +<p>At first, both stood motionless with confusion and amazement; bus <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran's</span> pride soon surmounted his other +passions, and his disdain of <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span> gave his +guilt the firmness of virtue.</p> + +<!-- Page 113 --><a name="Page_113"></a> + +<p>'It is true,' said he, 'that thou hast stolen the secret of my heart; +but do not think, that I fear it should be known: though my poignard could +take it back with thy life; I leave it with thee. To reproach, or curse +thee, would do thee honour, and lift thee into an importance which +otherwise thou canst never reach.' <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> +then turned from him with a contemptuous frown: but <span class= +"smallcaps">Omar</span> caught him by the robe; and prostrating himself +upon the ground, intreated to be heard. His importunity at length +prevailed; and he attempted to exculpate himself, from the charge of +having insiduously intruded upon the privacy of his prince, but <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> sternly interrupted him: 'And what art +thou,' said he, 'that I <!-- Page 114 --><a name="Page_114"></a>should +care, whether thou art innocent or guilty?' 'If not for my sake,' said +<span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, 'listen for thy own; and though my +duty is despised, let my affection be heard. That thou art not happy, I +know; and I now know the cause. Let my lord pardon the presumption of his +slave: he that seeks to satisfy all his wishes, must be wretched; he only +can be happy, by whom some are suppressed.' At these words <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span> snatched his robe from the hand of <span class= +"smallcaps">Omar</span>, and spurned him in a transport of rage and +indignation: 'The suppression of desire,' said he, 'is such happiness, as +that of the deaf who do not remember to have heard. If it is virtue, know, +that, as virtue, I despise it; for though it may secure +<!-- Page 115 --><a name="Page_115"></a>the obedience of the slave, it can +only degrade the prerogative of a prince. I cast off all restraint, as I +do thee: begone, therefore, to <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, and +see me no more.'</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Omar</span> obeyed without reply; and <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> being again alone, the conflict in his +mind was renewed with greater violence than before. He felt all that he +had disguised to <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, with the keenest +sensibility; and anticipated the effects of his detection, with +unutterable anguish and regret. He walked backward and forward with a +hasty but interrupted pace; sometimes stopping short, and pressing his +hand hard upon his brow; and sometimes by violent gestures showing the +agitation of his mind: he sometimes <!-- Page 116 --><a name= +"Page_116"></a>stood silent with his eyes, fixed upon, the ground, and his +arms folded together; and sometimes a sudden agony of thought forced him +into loud and tumultuous exclamations: he cursed the impotence of mind +that had suffered his thoughts to escape from him unawares; without +reflecting that he was even then repeating the folly; and while he felt +himself the victim of vice, he could not suppress his contempt of virtue: +'If I must perish,' said he, 'I will at least perish unsubdued: I will +quench no wish that nature kindles in my bosom; nor shall my lips utter +any prayer, but for new powers to feed the flame.'</p> + +<p>As he uttered this expression, he felt the palace shake; he heard a +rushing, <!-- Page 117 --><a name="Page_117"></a>like a blast in the +desart; and a being of more than human appearance stood before him. <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, though he was terrified, was not +humbled; and he stood expecting the event, whether evil or good, rather +with obduracy than courage.</p> + +<p>'Thou seest,' says the Appearance, 'a Genius, whom the daring purpose +of thy mind has convoked from the middle region, where he was appointed to +wait the signal; and who is now permitted to act in concert with thy will. +Is not this the language of thy heart?—"Whatever pleasure I can +snatch from the hand of time, as he passes by me, I will secure for +myself: my passions shall be strong, that my enjoyments may be +<!-- Page 118 --><a name="Page_118"></a>great; for what is the portion +allotted to man, but the joyful madness that prolongs the hours of +festivity, the fierce delight that is extorted from injury by revenge, and +the sweet succession of varied pleasures which the wish that is ever +changing prepares for love?"'</p> + +<p>'Whatever thou art,' said <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, +'whose voice has thus disclosed the secret of my soul, accept my homage; +for I will worship thee: and be thou henceforth my wisdom and my +strength.'</p> + +<p>'Arise,' said the Genius, 'for therefore am I sent. To thy own powers, +mine shall be superadded: and if, as weak only, thou hast been wretched; +<!-- Page 119 --><a name="Page_119"></a>henceforth thou shalt be happy. +Take no thought for to-morrow; to-morrow, my power shall be employed in +thy behalf. Be not affrighted at any prodigy; but put thy confidence in +me.' While he was yet speaking and the eyes of <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span> were fixed upon him, a cloud gathered round him; and the +next moment dissolving again into air, he disappeared.</p> + +<!-- Page 120 --><a name="Page_120"></a> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<a name="CHAP_IX"></a> + +<h2>CHAP. IX</h2> + +<br /> + + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, when he recovered from his +astonishment, and had reflected upon the prodigy, determined to wait the +issue, and refer all his hopes to the interposition of the Genius, without +attempting any thing to retard the marriage; at which he resolved to be +present, that he might improve any supernatural event which might be +produced in his favour.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, in the mean time, was +anticipating the morrow with a mixture of anxiety and pleasure; and though +he had no reason to think any thing <!-- Page 121 --><a name= +"Page_121"></a>could prevent his marriage, yet he wished it was over, with +an impatience that was considerably increased by fear.</p> + +<p>Though the anticipation of the great event that was now so near, kept +him waking the greatest part of the night, yet he rose early in the +morning; and while he waited till <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> +should be ready to see him, he was told that <span class="smallcaps"> +Omar</span> was without, and desired admittance. When he came in, <span +class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, who always watched his countenance as a +mariner the stars of heaven, perceived that it was obscured with +perplexity and grief. 'Tell me,' said <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>, 'whence is the sorrow that I discover in thy face?' 'I am +sorrowful,' said <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, 'not for myself, but +for thee.' At these words <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> stept +backward, <!-- Page 122 --><a name="Page_122"></a>and fixed his eyes upon +<span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, without power to speak. 'Consider, +said <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, 'that thou art not a man only, +but a prince: consider also, that immortality is before thee; and that thy +felicity, during the endless ages of immortality, depends upon thyself: +fear not, therefore, what thou canst suffer from others; the evil and the +good of life are transient as the morning dew, and over these only the +hand of others can prevail.'</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, whose attachment to life was +strong, and whose expectations of immediate enjoyment were high, did not +feel the force of what <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span> had said, +though he assented to its truth. 'Tell me,' said he, 'at once, what thou +fearest for me; deliver me from <!-- Page 123 --><a name= +"Page_123"></a>the torments of suspense, and trust my own fortitude to +save me from despair.' 'Know then,' said <span class="smallcaps"> +Omar</span>, 'that thou art hated by <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>, and that he loves <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>.' +At this declaration, the astonishment of <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span> was equal to his concern; and he was in doubt whether to +believe or disbelieve what he heard: but the moment he recollected the +wisdom and integrity of <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, his doubts +were at an end; and having recovered from his surprize, he was about to +make such enquiries as might gratify the anxious and tumultuous curiosity +which was excited in his breast, when <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, +lifting up his hand, and beginning again to speak, <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span> remained silent.</p> + +<!-- Page 124 --><a name="Page_124"></a> + +<p>'Thou knowest,' said <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, 'that when my +checks were yet ruddy with youth, and my limbs were braced by vigour, that +mine eye was guided to knowledge by the lamp that is kindled at midnight, +and much of what is hidden in the innermost recesses of nature, was +discovered to me: my prayer ascended in secret to Him, with whom there is +wisdom from everlasting to everlasting, and He illuminated my darkness +with His light. I know, by such sensations as the world either feels not +at all, or feels unnoticed without knowledge of their use, when the powers +that are invisible are permitted to mingle in the walks of men; and well I +know, that some being, who is more than mortal, has joined with <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> <!-- Page 125 --><a name= +"Page_125"></a>against thee, since the veil of night was last spread upon +the earth.'</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, whose blood was chilled with +horror, and whose nerves were no longer obedient to his will, after +several ineffectual attempts to speak, looked up at <span class= +"smallcaps">Omar</span>; and striking his hand upon his breast, cried out, +in an earnest, but faultering voice, 'What shall I do?' 'Thou must do,' +said <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, 'that which is RIGHT. Let not +thy foot be drawn by any allurement, or driven by any terror, from the +path of virtue. While thou art there, thou art in safety: and though the +world should unite against thee, by the united world thou canst not be +hurt.'</p> + +<!-- Page 126 --><a name="Page_126"></a> + +<p>'But what friendly power,' said <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, +'shall guard even the path of virtue from grief and pain; from the silent +shaft of disappointed love, or the sounding scourge of outrageous +jealousy? These, surely, have overtaken the foot of perseverance; and by +these, though I should persevere, may my feet be overtaken.' 'What thou +sayest,' replied <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, 'is true; and it is +true also, that the tempest which roots up the forest, is driven over the +mountain with unabated rage: but from the mountain, what can it take more +than the vegetable dust, which the hand of nature has scattered upon the +moss that covers it? As the dust is to the mountain, so is all that the +storms of life can take from virtue, to the <!-- Page 127 --><a name= +"Page_127"></a>sum of good which the Omnipotent has appointed for its +reward.' <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, whose eye now expressed a +kind of doubtful confidence, a hope that was repressed by fear, remained +still silent; and <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, perceiving the +state of his mind, proceeded to fortify it by new precepts: 'If heaven,' +said he, 'should vanish like a vapour, and this firm orb of earth should +crumble into dust, the virtuous mind would stand unmoved amidst the ruins +of nature: for He, who has appointed the heavens and the earth to fail, +has said to virtue, "Fear not; for thou canst neither perish, nor be +wretched." Call up thy strength, therefore, to the fight in which thou art +sure of conquest: do thou only <!-- Page 128 --><a name= +"Page_128"></a>that which is RIGHT, and leave the event to Heaven.'</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, in this conference with <span +class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, having gradually recovered his fortitude; +and the time being now near, when he was to conduct <span class= +"smallcaps">Almeida</span> to the court of the palace, where the marriage +ceremony was to be performed; they parted with mutual benedictions, each +recommending the other to the protection of the Most High.</p> + +<p>At the appointed hour, the princes of the court being assembled, the +mufti and the imans being ready, and <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span> seated upon his throne; <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span> and <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> came forward, and +were placed one on the right hand, <!-- Page 129 --><a name= +"Page_129"></a>and the other on the left. The mufti was then advancing, to +hear and to record the mutual promise which was to unite them; <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> was execrating the appearance of the +Genius, as a delusive dream, in all the tumults of anguish and despair; +and <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> began to hope, that the +suspicions of <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span> had been ill founded; +when a stroke of thunder shook the palace to its foundations, and a cloud +rose from the ground, like a thick smoke, between <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span> and <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, who was inspired with new +confidence and hope, by that which had struck the rest of the assembly +with terror, started from his seat with an ardent and furious look; and at +the same moment, a voice, that issued from <!-- Page 130 --><a name= +"Page_130"></a>the cloud, pronounced with a loud but hollow tone,</p> + +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">'Fate has decreed, to <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span>, <span class="smallcaps"> +Almeida</span>.'</span><br /> + + +<p>At these words, <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> rushed forward, +and placing himself by the side of <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, +the cloud disappeared; and he cried out, 'Let me now proclaim to the world +the secret, which to this moment I have hidden in my bosom: I love <span +class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>. The being who alone knew my love, has +now by miracle approved it. Let his decree be accomplished.' He then +commanded that the ceremony should proceed; and seizing the hand of the +lady, began to repeat that part of it which was to have been repeated by +<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>. But <span class="smallcaps"> +Almeida</span> instantly drew her hand from him in an agony of distress; +<!-- Page 131 --><a name="Page_131"></a>and <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>, who till then had stood motionless with amazement and +horror, started from his trance, and springing forward rushed between +them. <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> turned fiercely upon him; but +<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, who having been warned by <span +class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, knew the prodigy to be effected by some +evil being whom it was virtue to resist, laid his hand upon his scymitar, +and, with a frown of indignation and defiance, commanded him to stand off: +'I now know thee,' said he, 'as a man; and, therefore, as a brother I know +thee not.'</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> reflecting, that the foundation +of this reproach was unknown to all who were present, and that to them he +would therefore appear to be injured; looked round with an affected +<!-- Page 132 --><a name="Page_132"></a>smile of wonder and compassion, as +appealing to them from a charge that was thus fiercely and injuriously +brought against him, and imputing it to the violence of sudden passions by +which truth and reason were overborne. The eye of <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span> at once detected the artifice, which he disdained to expose; +he, therefore, commanded the guard that attended to carry off <span class= +"smallcaps">Almeida</span> to her apartment. The guard was preparing to +obey, when <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, who thought he had now +such an opportunity to get her into his own power as would never return, +ordered them to see her safely lodged in his own seraglio.</p> + +<p>The men, who thus received opposite commands from persons to whom +<!-- Page 133 --><a name="Page_133"></a>they owed equal obedience, stood +still in suspense, not knowing which to prefer: <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span> then reproached them with want of obedience, not to him, +but to God, appealing to the prodigy for the justification of his claim. +<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, on the contrary, repeated his order, +with a look and emphasis scarce less commanding than the thunder and the +voice. But the priests interposing in favour of <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>, upon presumption that his right had been decided by a +superior power; the guard rushed between <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span> and <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, and with looks +that expressed the utmost reluctance and regret, attempted to separate +their hands, which were clasped in each other. She was affrighted at the +violence, but yet more at the apprehension of what was to +<!-- Page 134 --><a name="Page_134"></a>follow; she, therefore, turned her +eyes upon <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, conjuring him not to leave +her, in a tone of tenderness and distress which it is impossible to +describe: he replied with a vehemence that was worthy of his passion, 'I +will not leave thee,' and immediately drew his sabre. At the same moment +they forced her from him; and a party having interposed to cover those +that were carrying her off, <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> lifted up +his weapon to force his passage through them; but was prevented by <span +class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, who, having pressed through the crowd, +presented himself before him. 'Stop me not,' said <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>, 'it is for <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>.' 'If thou +wouldst save <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>,' said <span class= +"smallcaps">Omar</span>, 'and thyself, do that only which is RIGHT. What +have these done who oppose thee, <!-- Page 135 --><a name= +"Page_135"></a>more than they ought? and what end can their destruction +answer, but to stain thy hands with unavailing murder? Thou canst only +take the life of a few faithful slaves, who will not lift up their hands +against thee: thou canst not rescue <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> +from thy brother; but thou canst preserve thyself from guilt.'</p> + +<p>These words of <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span> suspended the rage +of <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, like a charm; and returning his +scymitar into its sheath, 'Let me then,' said he, 'suffer, and be +guiltless. It is true, that against these ranks my single arm must be +ineffectual; but if my wrongs can rouse a nation to repress the tyranny, +that will shortly extend over it the injuries that now reach +<!-- Page 136 --><a name="Page_136"></a>only to me, justice shall be done +to <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>.' Then turning to <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span>, 'Henceforth,' said he, 'the kingdom shall be +mine or thine. To govern in concert with thee, is to associate with the +powers of hell. The beings that are superior to evil, are the friends of +<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>; and if these are thy enemies, what +shall be thy defence?' <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> replied only +by a contemptuous smile; and the assembly being dismissed he retired to +his apartment: and <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> and <span class= +"smallcaps">Omar</span> went out to the people, who had gathered in an +incredible multitude about the palace.</p> + +<!-- Page 137 --><a name="Page_137"></a> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<a name="CHAP_X"></a> + +<h2>CHAP. X.</h2> + +<br /> + + +<p>A rumour of what had happened within had reached them, which some +believed, and some doubted: but when they saw <span class="smallcaps"> +Omar</span> and <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> return together, and +observed that their looks were full of resentment and trouble, they became +silent with attention in a moment; which <span class="smallcaps"> +Omar</span> observing, addressed them with an eloquence of which they had +often acknowledged the force, and of which they never repented the +effect.</p> + +<p>He told them the tender connexion between <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span> and <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, and +<!-- Page 138 --><a name="Page_138"></a>disclosed the subtil hypocrisy of +<span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>: he expatiated upon the folly of +supposing, that the power that was supreme in goodness and truth, should +command a violation of vows that had been mutually interchanged, and often +repeated; and devote to <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> the +beauties, which could only be voluntarily surrendered to <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>. They heard him with a vacant countenance of +surprize and wonder; and while he waited for their reply, they agreed +among themselves, that no man could avoid the destiny that was written +upon his head; and that if <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> had thus +been taken from <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, and given to <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, it was an event that by an unchangeable +decree was appointed to happen; and that, therefore, it was their duty to +acquiesce. <!-- Page 139 --><a name="Page_139"></a><span class= +"smallcaps">Omar</span> then beckoned with his hand for audience a second +time, and told them, that <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> had not +only practised the arts of sorcery to deprive <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span> of <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, but that he +meditated a design to usurp the sole dominion, and deprive him of the +share of the government to which he had a right by the will of Solyman his +father. This also they heard with the same sentiments of wonder and +acquiescence: If it is decreed, said they, that <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span> shall be king alone, who can prevent it? and if it is not, +who can bring it to pass? 'But know ye not,' said <span class="smallcaps"> +Omar</span>, 'that when the end is appointed, the means are appointed +also. If it is decreed that one of you shall this night die by +<!-- Page 140 --><a name="Page_140"></a>poison, is it not decreed also +that he shall drink it?'</p> + +<p>The crowd now gazed upon each other, without reply, for some minutes: +and at last they only said, that no effort of theirs could change the +universal appointment of all things; that if <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span> was to be king alone, he would be so notwithstanding all +opposition; and that if he was not to be king alone, no attempt of his +own, however supported, could make him so. 'I will not,' said <span class= +"smallcaps">Omar</span>, 'contradict your opinion; I will only tell you +what I have heard, and leave you to, suffer the calamities which threaten +you, with a fortitude and resignation that are suitable to your +principles; having no consolation to <!-- Page 141 --><a name= +"Page_141"></a>offer you, but that <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, +whose destiny it was not to make you happy, will suffer with you the +evils, that neither he nor you could prevent: the mournful comfort of this +fellowship, he will not be denied; for he loves you too well, to wish even +to be happy alone.' The crowd fixed their eyes upon <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>, for whom their affection was now strongly moved, +with looks of much greater intelligence and sensibility; a confused +murmur, like the fall of the pebbles upon the beach when the surge retires +from the shore, expressed their gratitude to <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>, and their apprehensions for themselves.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Omar</span> waited till they were again silent, +and then improved the advantage he had gained. '<span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span>,' <!-- Page 142 --><a name="Page_142"></a>said +he, 'considers you as the slaves of his power; <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span> as the objects of his benevolence: your lives and your +properties, in the opinion of <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, are +below his notice; but <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> considers his +own interest as connected with yours. When <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>, therefore, shall be unchecked by the influence of <span +class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>; he will leave you to the mercy of some +delegated tyrant, whose whole power will be exerted to oppress you, that +he may enrich himself.'</p> + +<p>A new fire was now kindled in their eyes, and their cheeks glowed with +indignation at the wrongs that threatened them; they were no longer +disposed to act upon the principles of fatality, as they had perversely +understood <!-- Page 143 --><a name="Page_143"></a>them; and they argued +at once like reasonable and free beings, whose actions were in their +choice, and who had no doubt but that their actions would produce adequate +effects. They recollected that <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span> had, in +the reign of Solyman, often rescued them from such oppression, as now +threatened them; and that the power of <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span> had since interposed in their behalf, when <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span> would have stretched his prerogative to their +hurt, or have left them a prey to the farmer of a tax. 'Shall <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>,' said they, 'be deprived of the power, that he +employs only for our benefit; and shall it center in <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span>, who will abuse it to our ruin? Shall we rather +support <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> in the wrong he has done to +<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, than HA<!-- Page 144 --><a name= +"Page_144"></a>MET to obtain justice of <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>? <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> is our king; let him +command us, and we will obey.' This was uttered with a shout that ecchoed +from the mountains beyond the city, and continued near a full hour. In the +mean time, the multitude was increasing every moment; and the troops that +lay in and near the city, having taken arms, fell in with the stream: they +were secretly attached to <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, under +whose eye they had been formed, and of whose bounty they had often +partaken; and their fear being removed by the general cry, which left them +no room to apprehend an opposition in favour of <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>, they were now at full liberty to follow their +inclinations.</p> + +<!-- Page 145 --><a name="Page_145"></a> + +<p>In the mean time, <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, who had +retired to the innermost court of the palace, had heard the tumult, and +was alarmed for his safety: he ran from room to room, confused and +terrified, without attempting or directing any thing either for his +defence or escape, yet he sent every moment to know the state of the +insurrection, and to what end its force would be directed.</p> + +<p>Among those whom accident rather than choice had attached to the +interest of <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, were Osmyn and Caled: +they were both distinguished by his favour; and each had conceived hopes +that, if he should possess the throne alone, he would delegate his +authority to him. <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> now ordered them +<!-- Page 146 --><a name="Page_146"></a>to take the command of the troops, +that were appointed to attend his person as their peculiar duty, with as +many others as had not declared for <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, +and to secure all the avenues that led to his seraglio.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Omar</span> and <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span> were now on horseback, and had begun to form the troops that +had joined them, and as many others as were armed, which were before +mingled together in a confused multitude. An account of this was brought +to <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> by Osmyn; and threw him into a +perturbation and perplexity, that disgraced his character, and confounded +his attendants. He urged Osmyn, in whom he most confided, to dispatch, +without giving him any orders to execute; then turning <!-- Page 147 --><a +name="Page_147"></a>from him, he uttered, in a low and inarticulate voice, +the most passionate exclamations of distress and terror, being struck with +the thought that his guard might betray him: when he recollected himself, +and perceived that Osmyn was still present, he burst into a rage, and +snatching out his poignard, he swore by the soul of the Prophet, that if +he did not instantly attempt something, he would stab him to the heart. +Osmyn drew back trembling and confused; but having yet received no orders, +he would have spoken, but <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> drove him +from his presence with menaces and execrations.</p> + +<p>The moment that Osmyn left him, his rage subsided in his fears, and his +<!-- Page 148 --><a name="Page_148"></a>fears were mingled with remorse: +'Which way soever I turn,' said he, 'I see myself surrounded by +destruction. I have incensed Osmyn by unreasonable displeasure, and +causeless menaces. He must regard me at once with abhorrence and contempt: +and it is impossible, but he should revolt to <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>.'</p> + +<p>In this agony, the terrors of futurity rushed upon his mind with all +their force; and he darted as if at the bite of a scorpion: 'To me,' said +he, 'death, that now approaches, will be but the beginning of sorrow. I +shall be cut off at once from enjoyment, and from hope; and the dreadful +moment is now at hand.' While he was speaking, the palace again shook, +<!-- Page 149 --><a name="Page_149"></a>and he stood again in the presence +of the Genius.</p> + +<p>'<span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>,' said the inhabitant of the +unapparent world, 'the evil which thou fearest, shall not be upon thee. +Make haste, and shew thyself from the gallery to the people, and the +tumult of faction shall be still before thee: tell them, that their +rebellion is not against thee only, but against Him by whom thou reignest: +appeal boldly to that power for a confirmation of thy words, and rely for +the attesting sign upon me.' <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, who +had stooped with his face to the ground, now looked upward, and found +himself alone: he hasted, therefore, to follow the directions he +<!-- Page 150 --><a name="Page_150"></a>had received; and hope was again +kindled in his bosom.</p> + +<p>Osmyn, in the mean time, made a proper disposition of the troops now +under his command; and had directed a select company to remain near the +person of the king, that they might at least make good his retreat. While +he was waiting at his post, and revolving in his mind the total +disappointment of his hopes, and considering what he should do if <span +class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> should establish himself alone, he was +joined by Caled.</p> + +<p>Caled had a secret enmity against Osmyn, as his rival in the favour of +<span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>; but as he had concealed his own +pretensions from Osmyn, Osmyn had no ill will against Caled. As +<!-- Page 151 --><a name="Page_151"></a>they were now likely to be +involved in one common calamity, by the ruin of the prince whose party +they had espoused; Caled's enmity subsided, and the indifference of Osmyn +was warmed into kindness: mutual distress produced mutual confidence; and +Caled, after condoling with Osmyn on their present hopeless situation, +proposed that they should draw off their forces, and revolt to <span +class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>. This proposition Osmyn rejected, not only +from principle, but from interest: 'Now we have accepted of a trust,' said +he, 'we ought not to betray it. If we had gone over to <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>, when he first declared against his brother, he +would have received us with joy, and probably have rewarded our service; +but I know, that his virtue <!-- Page 152 --><a name="Page_152"></a>will +abhor us for treachery, though practised in his favour: treachery, under +the dominion of <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, will not only cover +us with dishonour, but will probably devote us to death.'</p> + +<p>In this reasoning, Caled could not but acquiesce; he felt himself +secretly but forcibly reproved, by the superior virtue of Osmyn: and while +he regretted his having made a proposal, which had been rejected not only +as imprudent but infamous; he concluded, that Osmyn would ever after +suspect and despise him; and he, therefore, from a new cause, conceived +new enmity against him. They parted, however, without any appearance of +suspicion <!-- Page 153 --><a name="Page_153"></a>or disgust; and, in a +short time, they were in circumstances very different from their +expectations.</p> + +<br /> + + +<h4>END OF VOL. I.</h4> + +<!-- Page 154 --><a name="Page_154"></a> <!-- Page 155 --><a name= +"Page_155"></a> <!-- Page 156 --><a name="Page_156"></a> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<h4>VOLUME SECOND.</h4> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<!-- Page 157 --><a name="Page_157"></a><!-- Page 158 --><a name= +"Page_158"></a> +<!-- Page 159 --><a name="Page_159"></a><!-- Page 160 --><a name= +"Page_160"></a> + +<a name="CHAP_XI"></a> + +<h2>CHAP. XI.</h2> + +<br /> + + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> had now reached the gallery; and +when the multitude saw him, they shouted as in triumph, and demanded that +he should surrender. <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, who also +perceived him at a distance, and was unwilling that any violence should be +offered to <!-- Page 161 --><a name="Page_161"></a>his person, pressed +forward, and when he was come near, commanded silence. At this moment +<span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, with a loud voice, reproached them +with impiety and folly; and appealing to the power, whom in his person +they had offended, the air suddenly grew dark, a flood of lightning +descended from the sky, and a peal of thunder was articulated into these +words:</p> + +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Divided sway, the God who reigns +alone</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Abhors; and gives to <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span> the throne.</span><br /> + + +<p>The multitude stood aghast at the prodigy; and hiding their faces with +their hands, every one departed in silence and confusion, and <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span> and <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span> were left +alone. <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span> was taken by some of the +soldiers who had <!-- Page 162 --><a name="Page_162"></a>adhered to <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, but <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> +made his escape.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, whose wishes were thus far +accomplished by the intervention of a power superior to his own, exulted +in the anticipation of that happiness which he now supposed to be secured; +and was fortified in his opinion, that he had been wretched only because +he had been weak, and that to multiply and not to suppress his wishes was +the way to acquire felicity.</p> + +<p>As he was returning from the gallery, he was met by Osmyn and Caled, +who had heard the supernatural declaration in his behalf, and learned its +effects. <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, in that hasty flow of +unbounded but capricious favour, which, <!-- Page 163 --><a name= +"Page_163"></a>in contracted minds, is the effect only of unexpected good +fortune, raised Osmyn from his feet to his bosom: 'As in the trial,' said +he, 'thou hast been faithful, I now invest thee with a superior trust. The +toils of state shall from this moment devolve upon thee; and from this +moment, the delights of empire unallayed shall be mine: I will recline at +ease, remote from every eye but those that reflect my own felicity; the +felicity that I shall taste in secret, surrounded by the smiles of beauty, +and the gaities of youth. Like heaven, I will reign unseen; and like +heaven, though unseen, I will be adored.' Osmyn received this delegation +of power with a tumultuous pleasure, that was expressed only by silence +and confusion. <!-- Page 164 --><a name="Page_164"></a><span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span> remarked it; and exulting in the pride of +power, he suddenly changed his aspect, and regarding Osmyn, who was yet +blushing, and whose eyes were swimming in tears of gratitude, with a stern +and ardent countenance; 'Let me, however,' said he, 'warn thee to be +watchful in thy trust: beware, that no rude commotion violate my peace by +thy fault; lest my anger sweep thee in a moment to destruction.' He then +directed his eye to Caled: 'And thou too,' said he, 'hast been faithful; +be thou next in honour and in power to Osmyn. Guard both of you my +paradise from dread and care; fulfill the duty that I have assigned you, +and live.'</p> + +<!-- Page 165 --><a name="Page_165"></a> + +<p>He was then informed by a messenger, that <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span> had escaped, and that <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span> was +taken. As he now despised the power both of <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span> and <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, he expressed neither +concern nor anger that <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> had fled; but +he ordered <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span> to be brought before +him.</p> + +<p>When <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span> appeared bound and disarmed, +he regarded him with a smile of insult and derision; and asked him, what +he had now to hope. 'I have, indeed,' said <span class="smallcaps"> +Omar</span>, 'much less to hope, than thou hast to fear.' 'Thy insolence,' +said <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, 'is equal to thy folly: what +power on earth is there, that I should fear?' 'Thy own,' said <span class= +"smallcaps">Omar</span>. 'I have not leisure now,' replied <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span>, 'to <!-- Page 166 --><a name= +"Page_166"></a>hear the paradoxes of thy philosophy explained: but to shew +thee, that I fear not thy power, thou shalt live. I will leave thee to +hopeless regret; to wiles that have been scorned and defeated; to the +unheeded petulance of dotage; to the fondness that is repayed with +neglect; to restless wishes, to credulous hopes, and to derided command: +to the slow and complicated torture of despised old age; and that, when +thou shalt long have abhorred thy being, shall destroy it.' 'The misery,' +said <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, 'which thou hast menaced, it is +not in thy power to inflict. As thou hast taken from me all that I +possessed by the bounty of thy father, it is true that I am poor; it is +true also, that my knees are now feeble, and <!-- Page 167 --><a name= +"Page_167"></a>bend with the weight of years that is upon me. I am, as +thou art, a man; and therefore I have erred: but I have still kept the +narrow path in view with a faithful vigilance, and to that I have soon +returned: the past, therefore, I do not regret; and the future I have no +cause to fear. In Him who is most merciful, I have hope; and in that hope +even how I rejoice before thee. My portion in the present hour, is +adversity: but I receive it, not only with humility, but thankfulness; for +I know, that whatever is ordained is best.'</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, in whose heart there were no +traces of <span class="smallcaps">Omar's</span> virtue, and therefore no +foundation for his confidence; sustained himself against their +<!-- Page 168 --><a name="Page_168"></a>force, by treating them as +hypocrisy and affectation: 'I know,' says he, 'that thou hast long learned +to eccho the specious and pompous sounds, by which hypocrites conceal +their wretchedness, and excite the admiration of folly and the contempt of +wisdom: yet thy walk, in this place, shall be still unrestrained. Here the +splendor of my felicity shall fill thy heart with envy, and cover thy face +with confusion; and from thee shall the world be instructed, that the +enemies of <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> can move no passion in +his breast but contempt, and that most to punish them is to permit them to +live.'</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, whose eye had till now been fixed +upon the ground, regarded <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> +<!-- Page 169 --><a name="Page_169"></a>with a calm but steady +countenance: 'Here then,' said he, 'will I follow thee, constant as thy +shadow; tho', as thy shadow, unnoticed or neglected: here shall mine eye +watch those evils, that were appointed from everlasting to attend upon +guilt: and here shall my voice warn thee of their approach. From thy +breast may they be averted by righteousness! for without this, though all +the worlds that roll above thee should, to aid thee, unite all their +power, that power can aid thee only to be wretched.'</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, in all the pride of gratified +ambition, invested with dominion that had no limits, and allied with +powers that were more than mortal; <!-- Page 170 --><a name= +"Page_170"></a>was overawed by this address, and his countenance grew +pale. But the next moment, disdaining to be thus controuled by the voice +of a slave, his cheeks were suffused with the blushes of indignation: he +turned from <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, in scorn, anger, and +confusion, without reply; and <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span> departed +with the calm dignity of a benevolent and superior being, to whom the +smiles and frowns of terrestrial tyranny were alike indifferent, and in +whom abhorrence of the turpitude of vice was mingled with companion for +its folly.</p> + +<!-- Page 171 --><a name="Page_171"></a> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<a name="CHAP_XII"></a> + +<h2>CHAP. XII.</h2> + +<br /> + + +<p>In the mean time, <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, who had been +conveyed to an apartment in <span class="smallcaps">Almoran's</span> +seraglio, and delivered to the care of those who attended upon his women, +suffered all that grief and terror could inflict upon a generous, a +tender, and a delicate mind; yet in this complicated distress, her +attention was principally fixed upon <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>. +The disappointment of his hope, and the violation of his right, were the +chief objects of her regret and her fears, in all that had already +happened, and in all that was still to come; every insult that might be +offered <!-- Page 172 --><a name="Page_172"></a>to herself, she considered +as an injury to him. Yet the thoughts of all that he might suffer in her +person, gave way to her apprehensions of what might befall him in his own: +in his situation, every calamity that her imagination could conceive, was +possible; her thoughts were, therefore, bewildered amidst an endless +variety of dreadful images, which started up before them which way soever +they were turned; and it was impossible that she could gain any certain +intelligence of his fate, as the splendid prison in which she was now +confined, was surrounded by mutes and eunuchs, of whom nothing could be +learned, or in whole report no confidence could be placed.</p> + +<!-- Page 173 --><a name="Page_173"></a> + +<p>While her mind was in this state of agitation and distress, she +perceived the door open, and the next moment <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span> entered the apartment. When she saw him, she turned from +him with a look of unutterable anguish; and hiding her face in her veil, +she burst into tears. The tyrant was moved with her distress; for +unfeeling obduracy is the vice only of the old, whose sensibility has been +worn away by the habitual perpetration of reiterated wrongs.</p> + +<p>He approached her with looks of kindness, and his voice was +involuntarily modulated to pity; she was, however, too much absorbed in +her own sorrows, to reply. He gazed upon her with tenderness and +admiration; <!-- Page 174 --><a name="Page_174"></a>and taking her hand +into his own, he pressed it ardently to his bosom: his compassion soon +kindled into desire, and from soothing her distress, he began to solicit +her love. This instantly roused her attention, and resentment now +suspended her grief: she turned from him with a firm and haughty step, and +instead of answering his professions, reproached him with her wrongs. +<span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, that he might at once address her +virtue and her passions, observed, that though he had loved her from the +first moment he had seen her, yet he had concealed his passion even from +her, till it had received the sanction of an invisible and superior power; +that he came, therefore, the messenger of heaven; and that he offered her +unrivalled empire and everlasting <!-- Page 175 --><a name= +"Page_175"></a>love. To this she answered only by an impatient and fond +enquiry after <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>. 'Think not of <span +class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>,' said <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>; 'for why should he who is rejected of Heaven, be still the +favorite of <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>?' 'If thy hand,' said +<span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, 'could quench in everlasting +darkness, that vital spark of intellectual fire, which the word of the +Almighty has kindled in my breast to burn for ever, then might <span +class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> cease to think of <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>; but while that shall live, whatever form it +shall inhabit, or in whatever world it shall reside, his image shall be +for ever present, and to him shall my love be for ever true.' This glowing +declaration of her love for <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, was +immediately succeeded by a tender anxiety for his safety; and a sudden +<!-- Page 176 --><a name="Page_176"></a>reflection upon the probability of +his death, and the danger of his situation if alive, threw her again into +tears.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, whom the ardour and impetuosity +of her passions kept sometimes silent, and sometimes threw into confusion, +again attempted to sooth and comfort her: she often urged him to tell her +what was become of his brother, and he as often evaded the question. As +she was about to renew her enquiry, and reflected that it had already been +often made, and had not yet been answered, she thought that <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span> had already put him to death: this threw her +into a new agony, of which he did not immediately discover the cause; but +as he soon learned it from <!-- Page 177 --><a name="Page_177"></a>her +reproaches and exclamations, he perceived that he could not hope to be +heard, while she was in doubt about the safety of <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>. In order, therefore, to sooth her mind, and prevent its +being longer possessed with an image that excluded every other; he assumed +a look of concern and astonishment at the imputation of a crime, which was +at once so horrid and so unnecessary. After a solemn deprecation of such +enormous guilt, he observed, that as it was now impossible for <span +class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> to succeed as his rival, either in empire +or in love, without the breach of a command, which he knew his virtue +would implicitly obey; he had no motive either to desire his death, or to +restrain his liberty: 'His walk' says he, 'is still uncircumscribed in +<!-- Page 178 --><a name="Page_178"></a>Persia, and except this chamber, +there is no part of the palace to which he is not admitted.'</p> + +<p>To this declaration <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> listened, as +to the music of paradise; and it suspended for a-while every passion, but +her love: the sudden ease of her mind made her regardless of all about +her, and she had in this interval suffered <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span> to remove her veil, without reflecting upon what he was +doing. The moment she recollected herself, she made a gentle effort to +recover it, with some confusion, but without anger. The pleasure that was +expressed in her eyes, the blush that glowed upon her cheek, and the +contest about the veil, which to an amorous imagination had an air of +dalliance, concurred <!-- Page 179 --><a name="Page_179"></a>to heighten +the passion of <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> almost to phrensy: +she perceived her danger in his looks, and her spirits instantly took the +alarm. He seized her hand, and gazing ardently upon her, he conjured her, +with a tone and emphasis that strongly expressed the tumultuous vehemence +of his wishes, that she would renounce the rites which had been forbidden +above, and that she would receive him to whom by miracle she had been +alloted.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, whom the manner and voice of +<span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> had terrified into silence, +answered him at first only with a look that expressed aversion and +disdain, overawed by fear. 'Wilt thou not,' said <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>, 'fulfill the decrees of Heaven? I conjure thee, +<!-- Page 180 --><a name="Page_180"></a>'by Heaven, to answer.' From this +solemn reference to Heaven, <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> derived +new fortitude: she instantly recollected, that she stood in the presence +of Him, by whose permission only every other power, whether visible or +invisible, can dispense evil or good: 'Urge no more,' said she, 'as the +decree of Heaven, that which is inconsistent with Divine perfection. Can +He in whose hand my heart is, command me to wed the man whom he has not +enabled me to love? Can the Pure, the Just, the Merciful, have ordained +that I should suffer embraces which I loath, and violate vows which His +laws permitted me to make? Can He have ordained a perfidious, a loveless, +and a joyless prostitution? What <!-- Page 181 --><a name= +"Page_181"></a>if a thousand prodigies should concur to enforce it a +thousand times, the deed itself would be a stronger proof that those +prodigies were the works of darkness, than those prodigies that the deed +was commanded by the Father of light.'</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, whose hopes were now blasted to +the root, who perceived that the virtue of <span class="smallcaps"> +Almeida</span> could neither be deceived nor overborne; that she at once +contemned his power, and abhorred his love; gave way to all the furies of +his mind, which now slumbered no more: his countenance expressed at once +anger, indignation, and despair; his gesture became furious, and his voice +was lost in menaces and execrations. <span class="smallcaps"> +Almeida</span> beheld him <!-- Page 182 --><a name="Page_182"></a>with an +earnest yet steady countenance, till he vowed to revenge the indignity he +had suffered, upon <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>. At the name of +<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, her fortitude forsook her; the pride +of virtue gave way to the softness of love; her cheeks became pale, her +lips trembled, and taking hold of the robe of <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>, she threw herself at his feet. His fury was it first +suspended by hope and expectation; but when from her words, which grief +and terror had rendered scarce articulate, he could learn only that she +was pleading for <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, he burst from her +in an extasy of rage, and forcing his robe from her hand, with a violence +that dragged her after it, he rushed out of the chamber, and left her +prostrate upon the ground.</p> + +<!-- Page 183 --><a name="Page_183"></a> + +<p>As he passed through the gallery with a hasty and disordered pace, he +was seen by <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>; who knowing that he was +returned from an interview with <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, +and conjecturing from his appearance what had happened, judged that he +ought not to neglect this opportunity to warn him once more of the +delusive phantoms, which, under the appearance of pleasure, were leading +him to destruction: he, therefore, followed him unperceived, till he had +reached the apartment in which he had been used to retire alone, and heard +again the loud and tumultuous exclamations, which were wrung, from his +heart by the anguish of disappointment: 'What have I gained,' said he, 'by +absolute dominion! The slave who, secluded from the gales of life +<!-- Page 184 --><a name="Page_184"></a>and from the light of heaven toils +without hope in the darkness of the mine, riots in the delights of +paradise compared with me. By the caprice of one woman, I am robbed not +only of enjoyment but of peace, and condemned for ever to the torment of +unsatisfied desire.'</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, who was impatient to apprize him +that he was not alone, and to prevent his disclosing sentiments which he +wished to conceal, now threw himself upon the ground at his feet. +'Presumptuous slave!' said <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, 'from +whence, and wherefore art thou come?' 'I am come,' said <span class= +"smallcaps">Omar</span>, 'to tell thee that not the caprice of a woman, +but the wishes of <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, have made <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> <!-- Page 185 --><a name= +"Page_185"></a>wretched.' The king, slung with the reproach, drew back, +and with a furious look laid his hand upon his poignard; but was +immediately restrained from drawing it, by his pride. 'I am come,' said +<span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, 'to repeat that truth, upon which, +great as thou art, thy fate is suspended. Thy power extends not to the +mind of another; exert it, therefore, upon thy own: suppress the wishes, +which thou canst not fulfill, and secure the happiness that is within thy +reach.'</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, who could bear no longer to +hear the precepts which he disdained to practice, sternly commanded <span +class="smallcaps">Omar</span> to depart: 'Be gone,' said he, 'lest I crush +thee like a noisome reptile, which men cannot but abhor, +<!-- Page 186 --><a name="Page_186"></a>though it is too contemptible to +be feared.' 'I go,' said <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, 'that my +warning voice may yet again recall thee to the path of wisdom and of +peace, if yet again I shall behold thee while it is to be found.'</p> + +<!-- Page 187 --><a name="Page_187"></a> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<a name="CHAP_XIII"></a> + +<h2>CHAP. XIII.</h2> + +<br /> + + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> was now left alone; and throwing +himself upon a sofa, he sat some time motionless and silent, as if all his +faculties had been suspended in the stupefaction of despair. He revolved +in his mind the wishes that had been gratified, and the happiness of which +he had been disappointed: 'I desired,' said he, 'the pomp and power of +undivided dominion; and <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> was driven +from the throne which he shared with me, by a voice from heaven: I desired +to break off his marriage with <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>; and +it was broken off by a prodigy, <!-- Page 188 --><a name= +"Page_188"></a>when no human power could have accomplished my desire. It +was my wish also to have the person of <span class="smallcaps"> +Almeida</span> in my power, and this wish also has been gratified; yet I +am still wretched. But I am wretched, only because the means have not been +adequate to the end: what I have hitherto obtained, I have not desired for +itself; and of that, for which I desired it, I am not possessed: I am, +therefore, still wretched, because I am weak. With the soul of <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, I should have the form of <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>: then my wishes would indeed be filled; then +would <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> bless me with consenting +beauty, and the splendor of my power should distinguish only the intervals +of my love; my enjoyments would then be certain <!-- Page 189 --><a name= +"Page_189"></a>and permanent, neither blasted by disappointment, nor +withered by satiety.' When he had uttered these reflections with the +utmost vehemence and agitation, his face was again obscured by gloom and +despair; his posture was again fixed; and he was falling back into his +former state of silent abstraction, when he was suddenly roused by the +appearance of the Genius, the sincerity of whose friendship he began to +distrust.</p> + +<p>'<span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>,' said the Genius, 'if thou art +not yet happy, know that my powers are not yet exhausted: fear me not, but +let thine ear be attentive to my voice.' The Genius then stretched out his +hand towards him, in which there was an emerald of <!-- Page 190 --><a +name="Page_190"></a>great lustre, cut into a figure that had four and +twenty sides, on each of which was engraven a different letter. 'Thou +seest,' said he, 'this talisman: on each side of it is engraven one of +those mysterious characters, of which are formed all the words of all the +languages that are spoken by angels, genii, and men. This shall enable +thee to change thy figure: and what, under the form of <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span>, thou canst not accomplish; thou shalt still be +able to effect, if it can be effected by thee, in the form of any other. +Point only to the letters that compose the name of him whose appearance +thou wouldst assume, and it is done. Remember only, that upon him, whose +appearance thou shalt assume, thine shall be imprest, till thou +<!-- Page 191 --><a name="Page_191"></a>restorest his own. Hide the charm +in thy bosom, and avail thyself of its power.' <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span> received the talisman in a transport of gratitude and joy, +and the Genius immediately disappeared.</p> + +<p>The use of this talisman was so obvious, that it was impossible to +overlook it. <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> instantly conceived +the design with which it was given, and determined instantly to put it in +execution: 'I will now,' said he, 'assume the figure of <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>; and my love, in all its ardour, shall be +returned by <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>.' As his fancy kindled +at the anticipation of his happiness, he stood musing in a pleasing +suspense, and indulged himself in the contemplation of the several +gradations, by <!-- Page 192 --><a name="Page_192"></a>which he would +ascend to the summit of his wishes.</p> + +<p>Just at this moment, Osmyn, whom he had commanded to attend him at this +hour, approached his apartment: <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> was +roused by the sound of his foot, and supposed it to be <span class= +"smallcaps">Omar</span>, who had again intruded upon his privacy; he was +enraged at the interruption which had broken a series of imaginations so +flattering and luxurious; he snatched out his poignard, and lifting up his +arm for the stroke, hastily turned round to have stabbed him; but seeing +Osmyn, he discovered his mistake just in time to prevent the blow.</p> + +<p>Osmyn, who was not conscious of any crime, nor indeed of any act that +<!-- Page 193 --><a name="Page_193"></a>could have given occasion of +offence; started back terrified and amazed, and stood trembling in +suspense whether to remain or to withdraw. <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>, in the mean time, sheathed the instrument of death, and +bid him fear nothing, for he should not be hurt. He then turned about; and +putting, his hand to his forehead, stood again, silent in a musing +posture: he recollected, that if he assumed the figure of <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>, it was necessary he should give orders for <span +class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> to be admitted to <span class="smallcaps"> +Almeida</span>, as he would otherwise be excluded by the delegates of his +own authority; turning, therefore, to Osmyn, 'Remember,' said he, 'that +whenever <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> shall return, it is my +command, that he be admitted to <span class="smallcaps"> +Almeida</span>.'</p> + +<!-- Page 194 --><a name="Page_194"></a> + +<p>Osmyn; who was pleased with an opportunity of recommending himself to +<span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, by praising an act of generous +virtue which he supposed him now to exert in favour of his brother, +received the command with a look, that expressed not only approbation but +joy: 'Let the sword of destruction,' said he, 'be the guard of the tyrant; +the strength of my lord shall be the bonds of love: those, who honour thee +as <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, shall rejoice in thee as the +friend of <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>.' To <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span>, who was conscious to no kindness for his +brother, the praise of Osmyn was a reproach: he was offended at the joy +which he saw kindled in his countenance, by a command to shew favour to +<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>; and was fired <!-- Page 195 --><a +name="Page_195"></a>with sudden rage at that condemnation of his real +conduct, which was implied by an encomium on the generosity of which he +assumed the appearance for a malevolent and perfidious purpose: his brow +was contracted, his lip quivered, and the hilt of his dagger was again +grasped in his hand. Osmyn was again overwhelmed with terror and +confusion; he had again offended, but knew not his offence. In the mean +time, <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> recollecting that to express +displeasure against Osmyn was to betray his own secret, endeavoured to +suppress his anger; but his anger was succeeded by remorse, regret, and +disappointment. The anguish of his mind broke out in imperfect murmurs: +'What I am, said, he, 'is, to this wretch, the object not only of hatred +but of scorn; and <!-- Page 196 --><a name="Page_196"></a>he commends only +what I am not, in what to him I would seem to be.</p> + +<p>These sounds, which, tho' not articulate, were yet uttered with great +emotion, were still mistaken by Osmyn for the overflowings of capricious +and causeless anger: 'My life,' says he to himself, 'is even now suspended +in a doubtful balance. Whenever I approach this tyrant, I tread the +borders of destruction: like a hood-winked wretch, who is left to wander +near the brink of a precipice, I know my danger; but which way soever I +turn, I know not whether I shall incur or avoid it.'</p> + +<p>In these reflections, did the reign and the slave pass those moments +<!-- Page 197 --><a name="Page_197"></a>in which the sovereign intended to +render the slave subservient to his pleasure or his security, and the +slave intended to express a zeal which he really felt, and a homage which +his heart had already paid. Osmyn was at length, however, dismissed with +an assurance, that all was well; and <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span> was again left to reflect with anguish upon the past, to +regret the present, and to anticipate the future with solicitude, anxiety, +and perturbation.</p> + +<p>He was, however, determined to assume the figure of his brother, by the +talisman which had been put into his power by the Genius: but just as he +was about to form the spell, he recollected, that by the same act he would +impress his own likeness upon <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> +<!-- Page 198 --><a name="Page_198"></a>who would consequently be invested +with his power, and might use it to his destruction. This held him some +time in suspense: but reflecting that <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> +might not, perhaps, be apprized of his advantage, till it was too late to +improve it; that he was now a fugitive, and probably alone, leaving Persia +behind him with all the speed he could make; and that, at the worst, if he +should be still near, if he should know the transformation as soon as it +should be made, and should instantly take the most effectual measures to +improve it; yet as he could dissolve the charm in a moment, whenever it +should be necessary for his safety, no formidable danger could be incurred +by the experiment, to which he, therefore, proceeded without delay.</p> + +<!-- Page 199 --><a name="Page_199"></a> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<a name="CHAP_XIV"></a> + +<h2>CHAP. XIV.</h2> + +<br /> + + +<p>In the mean time, <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, to whom his own +safety was of no importance but for the sake of <span class="smallcaps"> +Almeida</span>, resolved, if possible, to conceal himself near the city. +Having, therefore, reached the confines of the desert, by which it was +bounded on the east, he quitted his horse, and determined to remain there +till the multitude was dispersed; and the darkness of the evening might +conceal his return, when in less than an hour he could reach the +palace.</p> + +<p>He sat down at the foot of the mountain Kabessed, without considering, +<!-- Page 200 --><a name="Page_200"></a>that in this place he was most +likely to be found, as those who travel the desert seldom fail to enter +the cave that winds its way under the mountain, to drink of the water that +issues there from a clear and copious spring.</p> + +<p>He reviewed the scenes of the day that was now nearly passed, with a +mixture of astonishment and distress, to which no description can be equal +The sudden and amazing change that a few hours had made in his situation, +appeared like a wild and distressful dream, from which he almost doubted +whether he should not wake to the power and the felicity that he had lost. +He sat some time bewildered in the hurry and multiplicity of his thoughts, +and at length burst out into passionate <!-- Page 201 --><a name= +"Page_201"></a>exclamations: 'What,' says he, 'and where am I? Am I, +indeed, <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>; that son of Solyman who +divided the dominion of Persia with his brother, and who possessed the +love of <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> alone? Dreadful +vicissitude! I am now an outcast, friendless and forlorn; without an +associate, and without a dwelling: for me the cup of adversity overflows, +and the last dregs of sorrow have been wrung out for my portion: the +powers not only of the earth, but of the air, have combined against me; +and how can I stand alone before them? But is there no power that will +interpose in my behalf? If He, who is supreme, is good, I shall not +perish. But wherefore am I thus? Why should the desires of vice be +<!-- Page 202 --><a name="Page_202"></a>accomplished by superior powers; +and why should superior powers be permitted to disappoint the expectations +of virtue? Yet let me not rashly question the ways of Him, in whose +balance the world is weighed: by Him, every evil is rendered subservient +to good; and by His wisdom, the happiness of the whole is secured. Yet I +am but a part only, and for a part only I can feel. To me, what is that +goodness of which I do not partake? In my cup the gall is unmixed; and +have I not, therefore, a right to complain? But what have I said? Let not +the gloom that surrounds me, hide from me the prospect of immortality. +Shall not eternity atone for time? Eternity, to which the duration of ages +is but <!-- Page 203 --><a name="Page_203"></a>as an atom to a world! +Shall I not, when this momentary separation is past, again meet <span +class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> to part no more? and shall not a purer +flame than burns upon the earth, unite us? Even at this moment, her mind, +which not the frauds of sorcery can taint or alienate, is mine: that +pleasure which she reserved for me, cannot be taken by force; it is in the +consent alone that it subsists; and from the joy that she feels, and from +that only, proceeds the joy she can bestow.'</p> + +<p>With these reflections he soothed the anguish of his mind, till the +dreadful moment arrived, in which the power of the talisman took place, +and the figure of <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> was changed into +<!-- Page 204 --><a name="Page_204"></a>that of <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>, and the figure of <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> into +that of <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>.</p> + +<p>At the moment of transformation, <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> +was seized with a sudden languor, and his faculties were suspended as by +the stroke of death. When he recovered, his limbs still trembled, and his +lips were parched with thirst: he rose, therefore, and entering the +cavern, at the mouth of which he had been sitting, he stooped over the +well to drink; but glancing his eyes upon the water, he saw, with +astonishment and horror, that it reflected, not his own countenance, but +that of his brother. He started back from the prodigy; and supporting +himself against the side of the rock, he stood some time like a statue, +without the power <!-- Page 205 --><a name="Page_205"></a>of recollection: +but at length the thought suddenly rushed into his mind, that the same +sorcery which had suspended his marriage, and driven him from the throne +was still practised against him; and that the change of his figure to that +of <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, was the effect of <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran's</span> having assumed his likeness, to obtain, in +this disguise, whatever <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> could +bestow. This thought, like a whirlwind of the desert, totally subverted +his mind; his fortitude was borne down, and his hopes were rooted up; no +principles remained to regulate his conduct, but all was phrensy, +confusion, and despair. He rushed out of the cave with a furious and +distracted look; and went in haste towards the city, without having formed +any design, <!-- Page 206 --><a name="Page_206"></a>or considered any +consequence that might follow.</p> + +<p>The shadows of the mountains were now lengthened by the declining sun; +and the approach of evening had invited <span class="smallcaps"> +Omar</span> to meditate in a grove, that was adjacent to the gardens of +the palace. From this place he was seen at some distance by <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>, who came up to him with a hasty and disordered +pace; and <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span> drew back with a cold and +distant reverence, which the power and the character of <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span> concurred to excite. <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>, not reflecting upon the cause of this behaviour, was +offended, and reproached him with the want of that friendship he had so +often professed: the vehemence, of his expression and demeanor, suited +well with <!-- Page 207 --><a name="Page_207"></a>the appearance of <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>; and <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, +as the best proof of that friendship which had been impeached, took this +opportunity to repeat his admonitions in the behalf of <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>: 'What ever evil,' said he, 'thou canst bring +upon <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, will be doubled to thyself: to +his virtues, the Power that fills infinitude is a friend, and he can be +afflicted only till they are perfect; but thy sufferings will be the +punishment of vice, and as long as thou are vicious they must +increase.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, who instantly recollected for +whom he was mistaken, and the anguish of whose mind was for a moment +suspended by this testimony of esteem and kindness, which could not +possibly be feigned, and which was <!-- Page 208 --><a name= +"Page_208"></a>paid him at the risque of life, when it could not be known +that he received it; ran forward to embrace the hoary sage, who had been +the guide of his youth, and cried out, in a voice that was broken by +contending passions, 'The face is the face of <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>, but the heart is the heart of <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>.'</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Omar</span> was struck dumb with astonishment; +and <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, who was impatient to be longer +mistaken, related all the circumstances of his transformation, and +reminded him of some particulars which could be known only to themselves: +'Canst thou not yet believe,' said he, 'that I am <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>? when thou hast this day seen me banished from my kingdom; +when thou hast now met me a fugitive <!-- Page 209 --><a name= +"Page_209"></a>returning from the desert; and when I learnt from thee, +since the sun was risen which is not yet set, that more than mortal powers +were combined against me.' 'I now believe,' said <span class="smallcaps"> +Omar</span>, 'that thou, indeed, art <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>.' 'Stay me not then,' said <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>; 'but come with me to revenge.' 'Beware,' said <span class= +"smallcaps">Omar</span>, 'lest thou endanger the loss of more than empire +and <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>.' 'If not to revenge,' said +<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>,' I may at least be permitted to +punish.' 'Thy mind,' says <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, 'is now in +such a state, that to punish the crimes by which thou hast been wronged, +will dip thee in the guilt of blood. Why else are we forbidden to take +vengeance for ourselves? and why is it reserved as the prerogative of the +<!-- Page 210 --><a name="Page_210"></a>Most High? In Him, and in Him +alone, it is goodness guided by wisdom: He approves the means, only as +necessary to the end; He wounds only to heal, and destroys only to save; +He has complacence, not in the evil, but in the good only which it is +appointed to produce. Remember, therefore, that he, to whom the punishment +of another is sweet; though his act may be just with respect to others, +with respect to himself it is a deed of darkness, and abhorred by the +Almighty.' <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, who had stood abstracted +in the contemplation of the new injury he had suffered, while <span class= +"smallcaps">Omar</span> was persuading him not to revenge it, started from +his posture in all the wildness of distraction; <!-- Page 211 --><a name= +"Page_211"></a>and bursting away from <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, +with an ardent and furious look hasted toward the palace, and was soon out +of sight.</p> + +<!-- Page 212 --><a name="Page_212"></a> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<a name="CHAP_XV"></a> + +<h2>CHAP. XV.</h2> + +<br /> + + +<p>In the mean time, <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, after having +effected the transformation, was met, as he was going to the apartment of +<span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, by Osmyn. Osmyn had already +experienced the misery of dependent greatness, that kept him continually +under the eye of a capricious tyrant, whose temper was various as the +gales of summer, and whose anger was sudden as the bolt of heaven; whose +purpose and passions were dark and impetuous as the midnight storm, and at +whose command death was inevitable as the approach of time. When +<!-- Page 213 --><a name="Page_213"></a>he saw <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>, therefore, in the likeness of <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>, he felt a secret desire to apprize him of his situation, and +offer him his friendship.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, who with the form assumed the +manners of <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, addressed Osmyn with a +mild though mournful countenance: 'At length,' said he, 'the will of <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> alone is law; does it permit me to hold a +private rank in this place, without molestation?' 'It permits,' said +Osmyn, 'yet more; he has commanded, that you should have admittance to +<span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>.' <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>, whose vanity betrayed him to flatter his own power in the +person of <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, replied with a smile: 'I +know, that <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, who presides like a God +in silent <!-- Page 214 --><a name="Page_214"></a>and distant state, +reveals the secrets of his will to thee; I know that thou art'—'I +am,' said Osmyn, 'of all thou seest, most wretched.' At this declaration, +<span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> turned short, and fixed his eyes +upon Osmyn with a look of surprize and anger: 'Does not the favour of +<span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>,' said he, 'whose smile is power, +and wealth, and honour, shine upon thee?' 'My lord,' said Osmyn, 'I know +so well the severity of thy virtue, that if I should, even for thy sake, +become perfidious to thy brother'—<span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span>, who was unable to preserve the character of +<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> with propriety, interrupted him with +a fierce and haughty tone: 'How!' said he, 'perfidious to +<!-- Page 215 --><a name="Page_215"></a>my brother! to <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span> perfidious!'</p> + +<p>Osmyn, who had now gone too far to recede, and who still saw before him +the figure of <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, proceeded in his +purpose: 'I knew,' said he, 'that in thy judgment I should be condemned; +and yet, the preservation of life is the strongest principle of nature, +and the love of virtue is her proudest boast.' 'Explain thyself,' said +<span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, 'for I cannot comprehend thee.' 'I +mean,' said Osmyn, 'that he, whose life depends upon the caprice of a +tyrant, is like the wretch whose sentence is already pronounced; and who, +if the wind does but rush by his dungeon, imagines that it is the +bow-string and the <!-- Page 216 --><a name="Page_216"></a>mute.' 'Fear +not,' said <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, who now affected to be +again calm; 'be still faithful, and thou shalt still be safe.' 'Alas!' +said Osmyn, there is no diligence, no toil, no faith, that can secure the +slave from the sudden phrensy of passion, from, the causeless rage either +of drunkenness or lust. I am that slave; the slave of a tyrant whom I +hate.' The confusion of <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> was now too +great to be concealed, and he stood silent with rage, fear, and +indignation. Osmyn, supposing that his wonder suspended his belief of what +he had heard, confirmed his declaration by an oath.</p> + +<p>Whoever thou art, to whose mind <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, +the mighty and the proud, <!-- Page 217 --><a name="Page_217"></a>is +present; before whom, the lord of absolute dominion stands trembling and +rebuked; who seest the possessor of power by which nature is controuled, +pale and silent with anguish and disappointment: if, in the fury of thy +wrath, thou hast aggravated weakness into guilt; if thou hast chilled the +glow of affection, when it flushed the cheek in thy presence, with the +frown of displeasure, or repressed the ardour of friendship with +indifference or neglect; now, let thy heart smite thee: for, in thy folly, +thou hast cast away that gem, which is the light of life; which power can +never seize, and which gold can never buy!</p> + +<p>The tyrant fell at once from his pride, like a star from Heaven; and +<!-- Page 218 --><a name="Page_218"></a>Osmyn, still addressing him as +<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, at once increased his misery and his +fears: 'O,' said he, 'that the throne of Persia was thine! then should +innocence enjoy her birth-right of peace, and hope should bid honest +industry look upward. There is not one to whom <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span> has delegated power, nor one on whom his transient favour +has bestowed any gift, who does not already feel his heart throb with the +pangs of boding terror. Nor is there one who, if he did not fear the +displeasure of the invisible power by whom the throne has been given to +thy brother, would not immediately revolt to thee.'</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, who had hitherto remained +silent, now burst into a passionate <!-- Page 219 --><a name= +"Page_219"></a>exclamation of self pity: 'What can I do?' said he; 'and +whither can I turn?' Osmyn, who mistook the cause of his distress, and +supposed that he deplored only his want of power to avail himself of the +general disposition in his favour, endeavoured to fortify his mind against +despair: 'Your state,' said he, 'indeed is distressful, but not hopeless.' +The king who, though addressed as, <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, +was still betrayed by his confusion to answer as <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>, smote his breast, and replied in an agony, 'It is +hopeless!' Osmyn remarked his emotion and despair, with, a concern and +astonishment that <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> observed, and at +once recollected his situation. He endeavoured to retract such expressions +of trouble and despondency, <!-- Page 220 --><a name="Page_220"></a>as did +not suit the character he hid assumed; and telling Osmyn that he thanked +him for his friendship; and would improve the advantages it offered him, +he directed him to acquaint the eunuchs that they were to admit him to +<span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>. When he was left alone; his doubts +and perplexity held him long in suspense; a thousand expedients occurred +to his mind by turns, and by turns were rejected.</p> + +<p>His first thought was to put Osmyn to death: but he considered; that by +this he would gain no advantage, as he would be in equal danger from +whoever should succeed him: he considered also, that against Osmyn he was +upon his guard; and that he might at any time learn, from him, whatever +<!-- Page 221 --><a name="Page_221"></a>design might be formed in favour +of <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, by assuming <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet's</span> appearance: that he would thus be the confident +of every secret, in which his own safety was concerned; and might +disconcert the best contrived project at the very moment of its execution, +when it would be too late for other measures to be taken: he determined, +therefore, to let Osmyn live; at least, till it became more necessary to +cut him off. Having in some degree soothed and fortified his mind by these +reflections, he entered the apartment of <span class="smallcaps"> +Almeida</span>.</p> + +<p>His hope was not founded upon a design to marry her under the +appearance of <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>; for that would be +impossible, as the ceremony must have been performed by the priests who +supposed <!-- Page 222 --><a name="Page_222"></a>the marriage with <span +class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> to have been forbidden by a divine command; +and who, therefore, would not have consented, even supposing they would +otherwise have ventured, at the request of <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>, to perform a ceremony which they knew would be displeasing +to <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>: but he hoped to take advantage +of her tenderness for his brother, and the particular circumstances of her +situation, which made the solemnities of marriage impossible, to seduce +her to gratify his desires, without the sanction which alone rendered the +gratification of them lawful: if he succeeded in this design, he had +reason to expert, either that his love would be extinguished by enjoyment; +or that, if he should still desire to marry <span class="smallcaps"> +Almeida</span>, he might, by disclosing to her the artifice by which he +had <!-- Page 223 --><a name="Page_223"></a>effected his purpose, prevail +upon her to consent, as her connexion with <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>, the chief obstacle to her marriage with him, would then be +broken for ever; and as she might, perhaps, wish to sanctify the pleasure +which she might be not unwilling to repeat, or at least to make that +lawful which it would not be in her power to prevent.</p> + +<p>In this disposition, and with this design, he was admitted to <span +class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>; who, without suspicion of her danger, +was exposed to the severest trial, in which every passion concurred to +oppose her virtue: she was solicited by all the powers of subtilty and +desire, under the appearance of a lover whose tenderness and fidelity had +been long tried, and whose passion she returned with <!-- Page 224 --><a +name="Page_224"></a>equal constancy and ardour; and she was thus +solicited, when the rites which alone could consecrate their union, were +impossible, and were rendered impossible by the guilty designs of a rival, +in whose power she was, and from whom no other expedient offered her a +deliverance. Thus deceived and betrayed, she received him with an excess +of tenderness and joy, which flattered all his hopes, and for a moment +suspended his misery. She enquired, with a fond and gentle solicitude, by +what means he had gained admittance, and how he had provided for his +retreat. He received and returned her caresses with a vehemence, in which, +to less partial eyes, desire would have been more apparent than love; and +in the tumult of his passion, he almost neglected her <!-- Page 225 --><a +name="Page_225"></a>enquiries: finding, however, that she would be +answered, he told her, that being by the permission of <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span> admitted to every part of the palace, except +that of the women, he had found means to bribe the eunuch who kept the +door; who was not in danger of detection, because <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>, wearied with the tumult and fatigue of the day, had +retired to sleep, and given order to be called at a certain hour. She then +complained of the felicitations to which she was exposed, expressed her +dread of the consequences she had reason to expect from some sudden sally +of the tyrant's rage, and related with tears the brutal outrage she had +suffered when he last left her. 'Though I abhorred him,' said she, 'I yet +kneeled before him for thee. <!-- Page 226 --><a name="Page_226"></a>Let +me bend in reverence to that Power, at whose look the whirlwinds are +silent, and the seas are calm, that his fury has hitherto been restrained +from hurting thee!'</p> + +<p>At these words, the face of <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> was +again covered with the blushes of confusion: to be still beloved only as +<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, and as <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span> to be still hated; to be thus reproached without anger, and +wounded by those who knew not that they struck him; was a species of +misery peculiar to himself, and had been incurred only by the acquisition +of new powers, which he had requested and received as necessary to obtain +that felicity, which the parsimony of nature had placed beyond his reach. +His emotions, however, as by <!-- Page 227 --><a name="Page_227"></a><span +class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> they were supposed to be the emotions of +<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, she imputed to a different cause: +'As Heaven,' says she, 'has preserved thee from death; so has it, for thy +sake, preserved me from violation.' <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>, whose passion had in this interval again surmounted his +remorse, gazed eagerly upon her, and catching her to his bosom; 'Let us at +least,' says he, 'secure the happiness that is now offered; let not these +inestimable moments pass by us unimproved; but to shew that we deserve +them, let them be devoted to love.' 'Let us then,' said <span class= +"smallcaps">Almeida</span>, 'escape together.' 'To escape with thee,' +said: <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, 'is impossible. I shall +retire, and, like the shaft of Arabia, leave no mark behind, me; but the +<!-- Page 228 --><a name="Page_228"></a>flight of <span class="smallcaps"> +Almeida</span> will at once be traced to him by whom I was admitted, and I +shall thus retaliate his friendship with destruction.' 'Let him then,' +said <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, 'be the partner of our +flight.' 'Urge it not now,' said <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>; +'but trust to my prudence and my love, to select some hour that will be +more favourable to our purpose. And yet,' said he, 'even then, we shall, +as now, sigh in vain for the completion of our wishes: by whom shall our +hands be joined, when in the opinion of the priests it has been forbidden +from above?' 'Save thyself then,' said <span class="smallcaps"> +Almeida</span>, and leave me to my fate.' 'Not so,' said <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span>. 'What else,' replied <span class="smallcaps"> +Almeida</span>, 'is in our power?' 'It is in our power,' said +<!-- Page 229 --><a name="Page_229"></a><span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span>, 'to seize that joy, to which a public form can +give us no new claim; for the public form can only declare that right by +which I claim it now.'</p> + +<p>As they were now reclining upon a sofa, he threw his arm round her; but +she suddenly sprung up, and burst from him: the tear started to her eye, +and she gazed upon him with an earnest but yet tender look: 'Is it?' says +she—'No sure, it is not the voice of <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>!' 'O! yes,' said <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, +'what other voice should call thee to cancel at once the wrongs of <span +class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> and <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>; +to secure the treasures of thy love from the hand of the robber; to hide, +the joys, which if now we lose we may lose for ever, in the +<!-- Page 230 --><a name="Page_230"></a>sacred and inviolable stores of +the past, and place them beyond the power not of <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span> only but of fate?' With this wild effusion of desire, he +caught her again to his breast, and finding no resistance his heart +exulted in his success; but the next moment, to the total disappointment +of his hopes, he perceived that she had fainted in his arms. When she +recovered, she once more disengaged herself from him, and turning away her +face, she burst into tears. When her voice could be heard, she covered +herself with her veil, and turning again towards him, 'All but this,' said +she, 'I had learnt to bear; and how has this been deserved by <span class= +"smallcaps">Almeida</span> of <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>? You +was my only solace in distress; and when the tears have stolen from my +eyes in silence <!-- Page 231 --><a name="Page_231"></a>and in solitude, I +thought on thee; I thought upon the chaste ardour of thy sacred +friendship, which was softened, refined, and exalted into love. This was +my hoarded treasure; and the thoughts of possessing this; soothed all my +anguish with a miser's happiness, who, blest in the consciousness of +hidden wealth, despises cold and hunger, and rejoices in the midst of all +the miseries that make poverty dreadful: this was my last retreat; but I +am now desolate and forlorn, and my soul looks round, with terror, for +that refuge which it can never find.' 'Find that refuge,' said <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, 'in me.' 'Alas!' said <span class= +"smallcaps">Almeida</span>, 'can he afford me refuge from my sorrows, who, +for the guilty pleasures of a transient moment, <!-- Page 232 --><a name= +"Page_232"></a>would forever sully the purity of my mind, and aggravate +misfortune by the consciousness of guilt?'</p> + +<p>As <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> now perceived, that it was +impossible, by any importunity, to induce her to violate her principles; +he had nothing more to attempt, but to subvert them. 'When,' said he, +'shall <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> awake, and these dreams of +folly and superstition vanish? That only is virtue, by which happiness is +produced; and whatever produces happiness, is therefore virtue; and the +forms, and words and rites, which priests have pretended to be required by +Heaven, are the fraudful arts only by which they govern mankind.'</p> + +<p><!-- Page 233 --><a name="Page_233"></a><span class= +"smallcaps">Almeida</span>, by this impious insult, was roused from grief +to indignation: 'As thou hast now dared,' said she, 'to deride the laws, +which thou wouldst first have broken; so hast thou broken for ever the +tender bonds, by which my soul was united to thine. Such as I fondly +believed thee, thou art not; and what thou art, I have never loved. I have +loved a delusive phantom only, which, while I strove to grasp it, has +vanished from me.' <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> attempted to +reply; but on such a subject, neither her virtue nor her wisdom would +permit debate. 'That prodigy,' said she, 'which I thought was the sleight +of cunning, or the work of sorcery, I now revere as the voice of Heaven; +which, as it knew thy heart, <!-- Page 234 --><a name="Page_234"></a>has +in mercy saved me from thy arms. To the will of Heaven shall my will be +obedient; and my voice also shall pronounce, to <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span> <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>.'</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, whose whole soul was now +suspended in attention, conceived new hopes of success; and foresaw the +certain accomplishment of his purpose, though by an effect directly +contrary to that which he had laboured to produce. Thus to have incurred +the hatred of <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> in the form of <span +class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, was more fortunate than to have taken +advantage of her love; the path that led to his wishes was now clear and +open; and his marriage with <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> in his +own person, waited only till he could resume it. He, therefore, +<!-- Page 235 --><a name="Page_235"></a>instead of soothing, provoked her +resentment: 'If thou hast loved a phantom,' said he, 'which existed only +in imagination; on such a phantom my love also has been fixed: thou hast, +indeed, only the form of what I called <span class="smallcaps"> +Almeida</span>; my love thou hast rejected, because thou hast never loved; +the object of thy passion was not <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, +but a throne; and thou hast made the observance of rituals, in which folly +only can suppose there is good or ill, a pretence to violate thy faith, +that thou mayst still gratify thy ambition.'</p> + +<p>To this injurious reproach, <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> made +no reply; and <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> immediately quitted +her apartment, that he might reassume his own figure, <!-- Page 236 --><a +name="Page_236"></a>take advantage of the disposition which, under the +appearance of <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, he had produced in +favour of himself: But Osmyn, who supposing him to be <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>, had intercepted and detained him as he was going +to <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, now intercepted him a second +time at his return, having placed himself near the door of the apartment +for that purpose.</p> + +<p>Osmyn was by no means satisfied with the issue of their last interview: +he had perceived a perturbation in the mind of <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>, for which, imagining him to be <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>, he could not account; and which seemed more extraordinary +upon a review, than when it happened; he, therefore, again entered into +conversation with him, in which he <!-- Page 237 --><a name= +"Page_237"></a>farther disclosed his sentiments and designs. <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span>, notwithstanding the impatience natural to his +temper and situation, was thus long detained listening to Osmyn, by the +united influence of his curiosity and his fears; his enquiries still +alarmed him with new terrors, by discovering new objects of distrust, and +new instances of disaffection: still, however, he resolved, not yet to +remove Osmyn from his post, that he might give no alarm by any appearance +of suspicion, and consequently learn with more ease; and detect with more +certainty, any project that might be formed against him.</p> + +<!-- Page 238 --><a name="Page_238"></a> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<a name="CHAP_XVI"></a> + +<h2>CHAP. XVI.</h2> + +<br /> + + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, as soon as she was left alone, +began to review the scene that had just past; and was every moment +affected with new wonder, grief, and resentment. She now deplored her own +misfortune; and now conceived a design to punish the author of it, from +whose face she supposed the hand of adversity had torn the mask under +which he had deceived her: it appeared to her very easy, to take a severe +revenge upon <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> for the indignity which +she supposed he had offered her, by complaining of it <!-- Page 239 --><a +name="Page_239"></a>to <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>; and telling +him, that he had gained admittance to her by bribing the eunuch who kept +the door. The thought of thus giving him up, was one moment rejected, as +arising from a vindictive spirit; and the next indulged, as an act of +justice to <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, and a punishment due to +the hypocrisy of <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>: to the first she +inclined, when her grief, which was still mingled with a tender +remembrance of the man she loved, was predominant; and to the last, when +her grief gave way to indignation.</p> + +<p>Thus are we inclined to consider the same action, either as a virtue, +or a vice, by the influence of different passions, which prompt us either +to perform or to avoid it. <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, from +deliberating <!-- Page 240 --><a name="Page_240"></a>whether she should +accuse <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> to <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>, or conceal his fault, was led to consider what punishment +he would either incur or escape in consequence of her determination; and +the images that rushed into her mind, the moment this became the object of +her thoughts, at once determined her to be silent: 'Could I bear to see,' +said she, 'that hand, which has so often trembled with delight when it +enfolded mine, convulsed and black! those eyes, that as often as they +gazed upon me were dissolved in tears of tenderness and love, start from +the sockets! and those lips that breathed the softest sighs of elegant +desire, distorted and gasping in the convulsions of death!'</p> + +<p><!-- Page 241 --><a name="Page_241"></a>From this image, her mind +recoiled in an agony of terror and pity; her heart sunk within her; her +limbs trembled she sunk down upon the sofa, and burst into tears.</p> + +<p>By this time, <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, on whose form the +likeness of <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> was still impressed, +had reached the palace. He went instantly towards the apartment of the +women. Instead of that chearful alacrity, that mixture of zeal and +reverence and affection, which his eye had been used to find where-ever it +was turned, he now observed confusion, anxiety and terror; whoever he met, +made haste to prostrate themselves before him, and feared to look up till +he was past. He went on, however, with a hasty pace; and coming up +<!-- Page 242 --><a name="Page_242"></a>to the eunuch's guard, he said +with an impatient tone; 'To <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>.' The +slave immediately made way before him, and conducted him to the door of +the apartment, which he would not otherwise have been able to find, and +for which he could not directly enquire.</p> + +<p>When he entered, his countenance expressed all the passions that his +situation had roused in his mind. He first looked sternly round him, to +see whether <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> was not present; and +then fetching a deep sigh he turned his eyes, with a look of mournful +tenderness, upon <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>. His first view +was to discover, whether <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> had +already supplanted him; and for this purpose he collected the whole +strength <!-- Page 243 --><a name="Page_243"></a>of his mind: he +considered that he appeared now, not as <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>, but as <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>; and that he +was to question <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> concerning <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, while she had mistaken him for <span +class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>; he was therefore to maintain the +character, at whatever expence, till his doubts were resolved, and his +fears either removed or confirmed: he was so firmly persuaded, that <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> had been there before him, that he did +not ask the question, but supposed the fact; he restrained alike both his +tenderness and his fears; and looking earnestly upon <span class= +"smallcaps">Almeida</span>, who had risen up in his presence with blushes +and confusion, 'To me,' says he, 'is <span class="smallcaps"> +Almeida</span> still cold? and has she lavished all her love upon <span +class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>?'</p> + +<p><!-- Page 244 --><a name="Page_244"></a>At the name of <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>, the blushes and confusion of <span class= +"smallcaps">Almeida</span> increased: her mind was still full of the +images, which had risen from the thought of what <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span> might suffer, if <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> +should know that he had been with her; and though she feared that their +interview was discovered, yet she hoped it might be only suspected, and in +that case the removal or confirmation of the suspicions, on which the fate +of <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> depended, would devolve upon +her.</p> + +<p>In this situation, she, who a few moments before doubted, whether she +should not voluntarily give him up, when nothing more was necessary for +his safety than to be silent; now determined, with whatever reluctance, +<!-- Page 245 --><a name="Page_245"></a>to secure him, though it could not +he done without dissimulation, and though it was probable that in this +dissimulation she would be detected. Instead, therefore, of answering the +question, she repeated it: 'On whom said my lord, on <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>?' <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, whose +suspicions were increased by the evasion, replied with great emotion, +'Aye, on <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>; did he not this moment +leave you?' 'Leave me this moment?' said <span class="smallcaps"> +Almeida</span>, with yet greater confusion, and deeper blushes. <span +class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, in the impatience of his jealousy, +concluded, that the passions which he saw expressed in her countenance, +and which arose from the struggle between her regard to truth and her +tenderness for <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, proceeded +<!-- Page 246 --><a name="Page_246"></a>from the consciousness of what he +had most reason to dread, and she to conceal, a breach of virtue, to which +she had been betrayed by his own appearance united with the vices of his +brother: he, therefore, drew back from her with a look of inexpressible +anguish, and stood some time silent. She observed, that in his countenance +there was more expression of trouble, than rage; she, therefore, hoped to +divert him from persuing his enquiries, by at once removing his jealousy; +which she supposed would be at an end, as soon as she should disclose the +resolution she had taken in his favour. Addressing him, therefore, as +<span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, with a voice which though it was +gentle and soothing, was yet mournful and tremulous; 'Do not turn from +me,' said she, <!-- Page 247 --><a name="Page_247"></a>with those +unfriendly and frowning looks; give me now that love which so lately you +offered, and with all the future I will atone the past.'</p> + +<p>Upon <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, whose heart involuntarily +answered to the voice of <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, these +words had irresistible and instantaneous force; but recollecting, in a +moment, whose form he bore, and to whom they were addressed, they struck +him with new astonishment, and increased the torments of his mind. +Supposing what he at first feared had happened, and that <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span> had seduced her as <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>; he could not account for her now addressing him, as <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, with words of favour and compliance: he, +therefore, renewed his enquiries concerning himself, with apprehensions +<!-- Page 248 --><a name="Page_248"></a>of a different kind. She, who was +still solicitous to put an end to the enquiry, as well for the sake of +<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, as to prevent her own embarrassment, +replied with a sigh, 'Let not thy peace be interrupted by one thought of +<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>; for of <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span> <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> shall think no more.' +<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, who, though he had fortified himself +against whatever might have happened to her person, could not bear the +alienation of her mind, cried our, with looks of distraction and a voice +scarcely human, 'Not think of <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>!' <span +class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, whose astonishment was every moment +increasing, replied, with a tender and interesting enquiry, 'Is <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> then offended, that <span class= +"smallcaps">Almeida</span> mould think of <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span> no more?' <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, being thus +<!-- Page 249 --><a name="Page_249"></a>addressed by the name of his +brother, again recollected his situation; and now first conceived the +idea, that the alteration of <span class="smallcaps">Almeida's</span> +sentiments with respect to himself, might be the effect of some violence +offered her by <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> in his likeness; he, +therefore, recurred to his first purpose, and determined, by a direct +enquiry, to discover whether she had seen him under that appearance. This +enquiry he urged with the utmost solemnity and ardour, in terms suitable +to his present appearance and situation: 'Tell me,' said he, 'have these +doors been open to <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>? Has he obtained +possession of that treasure, which, by the voice of Heaven, has been +allotted to me?'</p> + +<p><!-- Page 250 --><a name="Page_250"></a>To this double question, <span +class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> answered by a single negative; and her +answer, therefore, was both false and true: it was true that her person +was still inviolate, and it was true also that <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span> had not been admitted to her; yet her denial of it was false, +for she believed the contrary; <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> only +had been admitted, but she had received him as his brother. <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>, however, was satisfied with the answer, and did +not discover its fallacy. He looked up to Heaven, with an expression of +gratitude and joy; and then turning to <span class="smallcaps"> +Almeida</span>, 'Swear then,' said he, 'that thou hast granted to <span +class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, no pledge of thy love which should be +reserved for me.' <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, who now thought +nothing more than the asseveration necessary to quiet <!-- Page 251 --><a +name="Page_251"></a>his mind, immediately complied: 'I swear,' said she, +'that to <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> I have given nothing, which +thou wouldst wish me to with-hold: the power that has devoted my person to +thee, has disunited my heart from <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, +whom I renounce in thy presence for ever.'</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, whose fortitude and recollection +were again overborne, was thrown into an agitation of mind, which +discovered itself by looks and gestures very different from those which +<span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> had expected, and overwhelmed her +with new confusion and disappointment: that he, who had so lately +solicited her love with all the vehemence of a desire impatient to be +gratified, should now receive a declaration <!-- Page 252 --><a name= +"Page_252"></a>that she was ready to comply with marks of distress and +anger, was a mystery which she could not solve. In the mean time, the +struggle in his breast became every moment more violent: 'Where then,' +said he, 'is the constancy which you vowed to <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>; and for what instance of his love is he now forsaken?'</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> was now more embarrassed than +before; she felt all the force of the reproof, supposing it to have been +given by <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>; and she could be +justified only by relating the particular, which at the expence of her +sincerity she had determined to conceal. <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span> was now exalted in her opinion, while his form was animated +by the spirit of <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>; as much as +<!-- Page 253 --><a name="Page_253"></a><span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span> had been degraded, while his form was animated by +the spirit of <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>. In his resentment of +her perfidy to his rival, though it favoured his fondest and most ardent +wishes, there was an abhorrence of vice, and a generosity of mind, which +she supposed to have been incompatible with his character. To his +reproach, she could reply only by complaint; and could no otherwise evade +his question, than by observing the inconsistency of his own behaviour: +'Your words,' said she, 'are daggers to my heart. You condemn me for a +compliance with your own wishes; and for obedience to that voice, which +you supposed to have revealed the will of Heaven. Has the caprice of +desire already wandered to a new object? and do you <!-- Page 254 --><a +name="Page_254"></a>now seek a pretence to refuse, when it is freely +offered, what so lately you would have taken by force?'</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, who was now fired with resentment +against <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, whom yet he could not +behold without desire; and who, at the same moment, was impatient to +revenge his wrongs upon <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>; was +suddenly prompted to satisfy all his passions, by taking advantage of the +wiles of <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, and the perfidy of <span +class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, to defeat the one and to punish the +other. It was now in his power instantly to consummate his marriage, as a +priest might be procured without a moment's delay, and as <span class= +"smallcaps">Almeida's</span> consent was already given; he would then +obtain the possession of her person, by the very act <!-- Page 255 --><a +name="Page_255"></a>in which she perfidiously resigned it to his rival; to +whom he would then leave the beauties he had already possessed, and cast +from him in disdain, as united with a mind that he could never love. As +his imagination was fired with the first conception of this design, he +caught her to his breast with a fury, in which all the passions in all +their rage were at once concentered: 'Let the priest,' said he, 'instantly +unite us. Let us comprize, in one moment, in this instant, NOW, our whole +of being, and exclude alike the future and the past!' Then grasping her +still in his arms, he looked up to heaven: 'Ye powers,' said he, +'invisible but yet present, who mould my changing and unresisting form; +prolong, but for one hour, that <!-- Page 256 --><a name= +"Page_256"></a>mysterious charm, that is now upon me, and I will be ever +after subservient to your will!'</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, who was terrified at the +furious ardor of this unintelligible address, shrunk from his embrace, +pale and trembling, without power to reply. <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span> gazed tenderly upon her; and recollecting the purity and +tenderness with which he had loved her, his virtues suddenly recovered +their force; he dismissed her from his embrace; and turning from her, he +dropped in silence the tear that started to his eye, and expressed, in a +low and faultering voice, the thoughts that rushed upon his mind: 'No,' +said he; <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> shall still disdain the joy, +which is at once sordid and transient: <!-- Page 257 --><a name= +"Page_257"></a>in the breast of <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, lust +shall not be the pander of revenge. Shall I, who have languished for the +pure delight which can arise only from the interchange of soul with soul, +and is endeared by mutual confidence and complacency; shall I snatch under +this disguise, which belies my features and degrades my virtue, a casual +possession of faithless beauty, which I despise and hate? Let this be the +portion of those, that hate me without a cause; but let this be far from +me!' At this thought, he felt a sudden elation of mind; and the conscious +dignity of virtue, that in such a conflict was victorious, rendered him, +in this glorious moment, superior to misfortune: his gesture became calm, +and his countenance sedate; he <!-- Page 258 --><a name= +"Page_258"></a>considered the wrongs he suffered, not as a sufferer, but +as a judge; and he determined at once to discover himself to <span class= +"smallcaps">Almeida</span>, and to reproach her with her crime. He +remarked her confusion without pity, as the effect not of grief but of +guilt; and fixing his eyes upon her, with the calm severity of a superior +and offended being, 'Such,' said he, 'is the benevolence of the Almighty +to the children of the dust, that our misfortunes are, like poisons, +antidotes to each other.'</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, whose faculties were now +suspended by wonder and expectation, looked earnestly at him, but +continued silent. 'Thy looks,' said <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, +are full of wonder; but as yet thy wonder has no cause, in comparison +<!-- Page 259 --><a name="Page_259"></a>of that which shall be revealed. +Thou knowest the prodigy, which so lately parted <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span> and <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>: I am that <span +class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, thou art that <span class="smallcaps"> +Almeida</span>.' <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> would now have +interrupted him; but <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> raised his +voice, and demanded to be heard: 'At that moment,' said he, 'wretched as I +am, the child of error and disobedience, my heart repined in secret at the +destiny which had been written upon my head; for I then thought thee +faithful and constant: but if our hands had been then united, I should +have been more wretched than I am; for I now know that thou art fickle and +false. To know thee, though it has pierced my soul with sorrow, has yet +healed the wound which was inflicted when I lost thee: <!-- Page 260 --><a +name="Page_260"></a>and though I am now compelled to wear the form of +<span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, whose vices are this moment +disgracing mine, yet in the balance I shall be weighed as <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>, and I shall suffer only as I am found +wanting.'</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, whose mind was now in a tumult +that bordered upon distraction, bewildered in a labyrinth of doubt and +wonder, and alike dreading the consequence of what she heard, whether it +was false or true, was yet impatient to confute or confirm it; and as soon +as she had recovered her speech, urged him for some token of the prodigy +he asserted, which he might easily have given, by relating any of the +incidents which themselves only could know. But just at this moment, <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, <!-- Page 261 --><a name= +"Page_261"></a>having at last disengaged himself from Osmyn, by whom he +had been long detained, resumed his own figure: and while the eyes of +<span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> were fixed upon <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>, his powers were suddenly taken from him, and +restored in an instant; and she beheld the features of <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span> vanish, and gazed with astonishment upon his +own: 'Thy features change!' said she, 'and thou indeed art <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>.' 'The sudden trance,' said he, 'has restored me +to myself; and from my wrongs where shalt thou be hidden?' This reproach +was more than she could sustain, but he caught her as she was falling, and +supported her in his arms. This incident renewed in a moment all the +tenderness of his love: while he beheld her distress, and pressed her by +<!-- Page 262 --><a name="Page_262"></a>the embrace that sustained her to +his bosom, he forgot every injury which he supposed she had done him; and +perceived her recover with a pleasure, that for a moment suspended the +sense of his misfortunes.</p> + +<p>Her first reflection was upon the snare, in which she had been taken; +and her first sensation was joy that she had escaped: she saw at once the +whole complication of events that had deceived and distressed her; and +nothing more was now necessary, than to explain them to <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>; which, however, she could not do, without +discovering the insincerity of her answers to the enquiries which he had +made, while she mistook him for his brother: 'If in my heart,' says she, +'thou hast <!-- Page 263 --><a name="Page_263"></a>found any virtue, let +it incline thee to pity the vice that is mingled with it: by the vice I +have been ensnared, but I have been delivered by the virtue. <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span>, for now I know that it was not thee, <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, when he possessed thy form, was with me: +he prophaned thy love, by attempts to supplant my virtue; I resisted his +importunity, and escaped perdition; but the guilt of <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span> drew my resentment upon <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>. I thought the vices which, under thy form, I +discovered in his bosom, were thine; and in the anguish of grief, +indignation, and disappointment, my heart renounced thee: yet, as I could +not give thee up to death, I could not discover to <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span> the attempt which I imputed <!-- Page 264 --><a +name="Page_264"></a>to thee; when you questioned me, therefore, as <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, I was betrayed to dissimulation, by the +tenderness which still melted my heart for <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>.' 'I believe thee,' said <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>, catching her in a transport to his breast: 'I love thee for +thy virtue; and may the pure and exalted beings, who are superior to the +passions that now throb in my heart, forgive me, if I love thee also for +thy fault. Yet, let the danger to which it betrayed thee, teach us still +to walk in the strait path, and commit the keeping of our peace to the +Almighty; for he that wanders in the maze of falsehood, shall pass by the +good that he would meet, and shall meet the evil that he would shun. I +also was tempted; but I was strengthened <!-- Page 265 --><a name= +"Page_265"></a>to resist: if I had used the power, which I derived from +the arts that have been practised against me, to return evil for evil; if +I had not disdained a secret and unavowed revenge, and the unhallowed +pleasures of a brutal appetite; I might have possessed thee in the form of +<span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, and have wronged irreparably +myself and thee: for how could I have been admitted, as <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>, to the beauties which I had enjoyed as <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>? and how couldst thou have given, to +<span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, what in reality had been +appropriated by <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>?'</p> + +<!-- Page 266 --><a name="Page_266"></a> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<a name="CHAP_XVII"></a> + +<h2>CHAP. XVII.</h2> + +<br /> + + +<p>But while <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> and <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span> were thus congratulating each other upon the +evils which they had escaped, they were threatened by others, which, +however obvious, they had overlooked.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, who was now exulting in the +prospect of success that had exceeded his hopes, and who supposed the +possession of <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> before the end of the +next hour, was as certain as that the next hour would arrive, suddenly +entered the apartment; but upon discovering <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>, he started <!-- Page 267 --><a name="Page_267"></a>back +astonished and disappointed. <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> stood +unmoved; and regarded him with a fixed and steady look, that at once +reproached and confounded him. 'What treachery,' said <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span>, 'has been practised against me? What has +brought thee to this place; and how hast thou gained admittance?' 'Against +thy peace,' said <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, 'no treachery has +been practised, but by thyself. By those arts in which thy vices have +employed the powers of darkness, I have been brought hither; and by those +arts I have gained admittance: thy form which they have imposed upon me, +was my passport; and by the restoration of my own, I have detected and +disappointed the fraud, which the double change was produced to execute. +<!-- Page 268 --><a name="Page_268"></a><span class= +"smallcaps">Almeida</span>, whom, as <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, +thou couldst teach to hate thee, it is now impossible that, as <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, thou shouldst teach to love.'</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>, who perceived the storm to be +gathering which the next moment would burst upon the head of <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>, interposed between them, and addressed each of +them by turns; urging <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> to be silent, +and conjuring <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> to be merciful. <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, however, without regarding <span class= +"smallcaps">Almeida</span>, or making any reply to <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>, struck the ground with his foot, and the +messengers of death, to whom the signal was familiar, appeared at the +door. <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> then commanded them to seize +his brother, with a countenance pale and livid, and a <!-- Page 269 --><a +name="Page_269"></a>voice that was broken by rage. <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span> was still unmoved; but <span class="smallcaps"> +Almeida</span> threw herself at the feet of <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>, and embracing his knees was about to speak, but he broke +from her with sudden fury: 'If the world should sue,' said he, 'I would +spurn it off. There is no pang that cunning can invent, which he shall not +suffer: and when death at length shall disappoint my vengeance, his +mangled limbs shall be cast out unburied, to feed the beasts of the desert +and the fowls of heaven.' During this menace, <span class="smallcaps"> +Almeida</span> sunk down without signs of life; and <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span> struggling in vain for liberty to raise her from +the ground, she was carried off by some women who were called to her +assistance.</p> + +<!-- Page 270 --><a name="Page_270"></a> + +<p>In this awful crisis, <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, who felt +his own fortitude give way, looked up, and though he conceived no words, a +prayer ascended from his heart to heaven, and was accepted by Him, to whom +our thoughts are known while they are yet afar off. For <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>, the fountain of strength was opened from above; +his eye sparkled with confidence, and his breast was dilated by hope. He +commanded the guard that were leading him away to stop, and they +implicitly obeyed; he then stretched out his hand towards <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span>, whose spirit was rebuked before him: 'Hear +me,' said he, 'thou tyrant! for it is thy genius that speaks by my voice. +What has been the fruit of all thy guilt, but accumulated misery? What joy +hast thou <!-- Page 271 --><a name="Page_271"></a>derived from undivided +empire? what joy from the prohibition of my marriage with <span class= +"smallcaps">Almeida</span>? what good from that power, which some evil +daemon has added to thy own? what, at this moment, is thy portion, but +rage and anguish, disappointment, and despair? Even I, whom thou seest the +captive of thy power, whom thou hast wronged of empire, and yet more of +love; even I am happy, in comparison of thee. I know that my sufferings, +however multiplied, are short, for they shall end with life, and no life +is long: then shall the everlasting ages commence; and through everlasting +ages thy sufferings shall increase. The moment is now near, when thou +shalt tread that line which alone is the path to <!-- Page 272 --><a name= +"Page_272"></a>heaven, the narrow path that is stretched over the pit, +which smokes for ever, and for ever! When thine aking eye shall look +forward to the end that is far distant, and when behind thou shalt find no +retreat; when thy steps shall faulter, and thou shalt tremble at the depth +beneath, which thought itself is not able to fathom; then shall the angel +of distribution lift his inexorable hand against thee: from the irremeable +way shall thy feet be smitten; thou shalt plunge in the burning flood; and +though thou shalt live for ever, thou shalt rise no more.'</p> + +<p>As the words of <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> struck <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> with terror, and over-awed him by an +influence which he could not surmount; <!-- Page 273 --><a name= +"Page_273"></a><span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> was forced from his +presence, before any other orders had been given about him, than were +implied in the menace that was addressed to <span class="smallcaps"> +Almeida</span>: no violence, therefore, was yet offered him; but he was +secured, till the king's pleasure should be known, in a dungeon not far +from the palace, to which he was conducted by a subterraneous passage; and +the door being closed upon him, he was left in silence, darkness, and +solitude, such as may be imagined before the voice of the Almighty +produced light and life.</p> + +<p>When <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> was sufficiently +recollected to consider his situation, he despaired of prevailing upon +<span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span> to gratify his wishes, till her +attachment to <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> was irreparably broken; +<!-- Page 274 --><a name="Page_274"></a>and he, therefore, resolved to put +him to death. With this view, he repeated the signal, which convened the +ministers of death to his presence; but the sound was lost in a peal of +thunder that instantly followed it, and the Genius, from whom he received +the talisman, again stood before him.</p> + +<p>'<span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>,' said the Genius, 'I am now +compelled into thy presence by the command of a superior power; whom, if I +should dare to disobey, the energy of his will might drive me, in a +moment, beyond the limits of nature and the reach of thought, to spend +eternity alone, without comfort, and without hope.' 'And what,' said <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, 'is the will of this mighty and +tremendous being?' 'His <!-- Page 275 --><a name="Page_275"></a>will,' +said the Genius, 'I will reveal to thee. Hitherto, thou hast been enabled +to lift the rod of adversity against thy brother, by powers which nature +has not entrusted to man: as these powers, and these only, have put him +into thy hand, thou art forbidden to lift it against his life; if thou +hadst prevailed against him by thy own power, thy own power would not have +been restrained: to afflict him thou art still free; but thou art not +permitted to destroy. At the moment, in which thou shalt conceive a +thought to cut him off by violence, the punishment of thy disobedience +shall commence, and the pangs of death shall be upon thee.' 'If then,' +said <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, 'this awful power is the +friend of <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>; what yet +<!-- Page 276 --><a name="Page_276"></a>remains, in the stores of thy +wisdom, for me? 'Till he dies, I am at once precluded from peace, and +safety, and enjoyment.' 'Look up,' said the Genius, 'for the iron hand of +despair is not yet upon thee. Thou canst be happy, only by his death; and +his life thou art forbidden to take away: yet mayst thou still arm him +against himself; and if he dies by his own hand, thy wishes will be full.' +'O name,' said <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, 'but the means, and +it shall this moment be accomplished!' 'Select,' said the Genius, 'some +friend—'</p> + +<p>At the name of friend, <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> started +and looked round in despair. He recollected the perfidy of Osmyn; and he +suspected that, from the same <!-- Page 277 --><a name= +"Page_277"></a>cause, all were perfidious: 'While <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span> has yet life,' said he, 'I fear the face of man, as of a +savage that is prowling for his prey.' 'Relinquish not yet thy hopes,' +said the Genius; 'for one, in whom thou wilt joyfully confide, may be +found. Let him secretly obtain admittance to <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>, as if by stealth; let him profess an abhorrence of thy +reign, and compassion for his misfortunes; let him pretend that the rack +is even now preparing for him; that death is inevitable, but that torment +may be avoided: let him then give him a poignard, as the instrument of +deliverance; and, perhaps, his own hand may strike the blow, that shall +give thee peace.' 'But who,' said <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, +shall go upon this important <!-- Page 278 --><a name= +"Page_278"></a>errand?' 'Who,' replied the Genius, but thyself? Hast thou +not the power to assume the form of whomsoever thou wouldst have sent?' 'I +would have sent Osmyn,' said <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, 'but +that I know him to be a traitor.' 'Let the form of Osmyn then,' said the +Genius, 'be thine. The shadows of the evening have now stretched +themselves upon the earth: command Osmyn to attend thee alone in the +grove, where Solyman, thy father, was used to meditate by night; and when +thy form shall be impressed upon him, I will there seal his eyes in sleep, +till the charm shall be broken; so shall no evil be attempted against +thee, and the transformation shall be known only to thyself.'</p> + +<p><!-- Page 279 --><a name="Page_279"></a><span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span>, whose breast was again illuminated by hope, +was about to express his gratitude and joy; but the Genius suddenly +disappeared. He began, therefore, immediately to follow the instructions +that he had received: he commanded Osmyn to attend him in the grove, and +forbad every other to approach; by the power of the talisman he assumed +his appearance, and saw him sink down in the supernatural slumber before +him: he then quitted the place, and prepared to visit <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span> in the prison.</p> + +<!-- Page 280 --><a name="Page_280"></a> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<a name="CHAP_XVIII"></a> + +<h2>CHAP. XVIII.</h2> + +<br /> + + +<p>The officer who commanded the guard that kept the gate of the prison, +was Caled. He was now next in trust and power to Osmyn: but as he had +proposed a revolt to <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, in which Osmyn +had refused to concur, he knew that his life was now in his power; he +dreaded lest, for some slight offence, or in some fit of causeless +displeasure, he should disclose the secret to <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>, who would then certainly condemn him to death. To secure +this fatal secret, and put an end to his inquietude, he resolved, +<!-- Page 281 --><a name="Page_281"></a>from the moment that <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span> was established upon the throne, to find some +opportunity secretly to destroy Osmyn: in this resolution, he was +confirmed by the enmity, which inferior minds never fail to conceive +against that merit, which they cannot but envy without spirit to emulate, +and by which they feel themselves disgraced without an effort to acquire +equal honour; it was confirmed also by the hope which Caled had conceived, +that, upon the death of Osmyn, he should succeed to his post: his +apprehensions likewise were increased, by the gloom which he remarked in +the countenance of Osmyn; and which not knowing that it arose from fear, +he imputed to jealousy and malevolence.</p> + +<p><!-- Page 282 --><a name="Page_282"></a>When <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>, who had now assumed the appearance of Osmyn, had passed +the subterranean avenue to the dungeon in which <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span> was confined, he was met by Caled; of whom he demanded +admittance to the prince, and produced his own signet, as a testimony that +he came with the authority of the king. As it was Caled's interest to +secure the favour of Osmyn till an opportunity should offer to cut him +off, he received him with every possible mark of respect and reverence; +and when he was gone into the dungeon, he commanded a beverage to be +prepared for him against he should return, in which such spices were +infused, as might expel the malignity which, in that place, might be +received with the breath of life; and taking himself the +<!-- Page 283 --><a name="Page_283"></a>key of the prison, he waited at +the door.</p> + +<p>When <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> entered the dungeon, with a +lamp which he had received from Caled, he found <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span> sitting upon the ground: his countenance was impressed with +the characters of grief; but it retained no marks either of anger or fear. +When he looked up, and saw the features of Osmyn, he judged that the mutes +were behind him; and, therefore, rose up, to prepare himself for death. +<span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> beheld his calmness and fortitude +with the involuntary praise of admiration; yet persisted in his purpose +without remorse. 'I am come,' said he, by the command of <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span>, to denounce that fate, the bitterness of +<!-- Page 284 --><a name="Page_284"></a>which I will enable thee to +avoid.' 'And what is there,' said <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, +'in my fortunes, that has prompted thee to the danger of this attempt?' +'The utmost that I can give thee,' said <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>, 'I can give thee without danger to myself: but though I +have been placed, by the hand of fortune, near the person of the tyrant, +yet has my heart in secret been thy friend. If I am the messenger of evil, +impute it to him only by whom it is devised. The rack is now preparing to +receive thee; and every art of ingenious cruelty will be exhausted to +protract and to increase the agonies of death.' 'And what,' said <span +class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, 'can thy friendship offer me?' 'I can +offer thee,' said <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, 'that which will +at once dismiss <!-- Page 285 --><a name="Page_285"></a>thee to those +regions, where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary rest for +ever.' He then produced the poignard from his bosom; and presenting it to +<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, 'Take this,' said he, 'and sleep in +peace.'</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, whose heart was touched with +sudden joy at the sight of so unexpected a remedy for every evil, did not +immediately reflect, that he was not at liberty to apply it: he snatched +it in a transport from the hand of <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, +and expressed his sense of the obligation by clasping him in his arms, and +shedding the tears of gratitude in his breast. 'Be quick,' said <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>: this moment I must leave thee; and in +the next, perhaps, the messengers of destruction may bind thee to the +<!-- Page 286 --><a name="Page_286"></a>rack. 'I will be quick,' said +<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>; 'and the sigh that shall last linger +upon my lips, shall bless thee.' They then bid each other farewel: <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> retired from the dungeon, and the door +was again closed upon <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>.</p> + +<p>Caled, who waited at the door till the supposed Osmyn should return, +presented him with the beverage which he had prepared, of which he +recounted the virtues; and <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> received +it with pleasure, and having eagerly drank it off, returned to the palace. +As soon as he was alone, he resumed his own figure, and fate, with a +confident and impatient expectation, that in a short time a messenger +would be dispatched to acquaint him with the death <!-- Page 287 --><a +name="Page_287"></a>of <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>. <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>, in the mean time, having grasped the dagger in +his hand, and raised his arm for the blow, 'This,' said he, 'is my +passport to the realms of peace, the immediate and only object of my +hope!' But at these words, his mind instantly took the alarm: 'Let me +reflect,' said he, 'a moment: from what can I derive hope in +death?—from that patient and persevering virtue, and from that +alone, by which we fulfill the task that is assigned us upon the earth. Is +it not our duty, to suffer, as well as to act? If my own hand consigns me +to the grave, what can it do but perpetuate that misery, which, by +disobedience, I would shun? what can it do, but cut off my life and hope +together?' With this reflection <!-- Page 288 --><a name="Page_288"></a>he +threw the dagger from him; and stretching himself again upon the ground, +resigned himself to the disposal of the Father of man, most Merciful and +Almighty.</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, who had now resolved to send +for the intelligence which he longed to hear, was dispatching a messenger +to the prison, when he was told that Caled desired admittance to his +presence. At the name of Caled, he started up in an extasy of joy; and not +doubting but that <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> was dead, he +ordered him to be instantly admitted. When he came in, <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span> made no enquiry about <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>, because he would not appear to expect the event, which yet +he supposed he had brought about; he, therefore, <!-- Page 289 --><a name= +"Page_289"></a>asked him only upon what business he came. 'I come, my +lord,' said he, 'to apprize thee of the treachery of Osmyn.' 'I know,' +said <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, 'that Osmyn is a traitor; but +of what dost thou accuse him? 'As I was but now,' said he, 'changing the +guard which is set upon <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, Osmyn came +up to the door of the prison, and producing the royal signet demanded +admittance. As the command which I received, when he was delivered to my +custody, was absolute, that no foot should enter, I doubted whether the +token had not been obtained, by fraud, for some other purpose; yet, as he +required admittance only, I complied: but that if any treachery had been +contrived, I might detect it; and that no artifice <!-- Page 290 --><a +name="Page_290"></a>might be practised to favour an escape; I waited +myself at the door, and listening to their discourse I overheard the +treason that I suspected.' 'What then,' said <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>, 'didst thou hear?' 'A part of what was said,' replied +Caled, 'escaped me: but I heard Osmyn, like a perfidious and presumptuous +slave, call <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> a tyrant; I heard him +profess an inviolable friendship for <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, +and assure him of deliverance. What were the means, I know not; but he +talked of speed, and supposed that the effect was certain.'</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, though he was still impatient +to hear of <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>; and discovered, that if +he was dead, his death was unknown to Caled; was yet <!-- Page 291 --><a +name="Page_291"></a>notwithstanding rejoiced at what he heard: and as he +knew what Caled told him to be true, as the conversation he related had +passed between himself and <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, he +exulted in the pleasing confidence that he had yet a friend; the glooms of +suspicion, which had involved his mind, were dissipated, and his +countenance brightened with complacency and joy. He had delayed to put +Osmyn to death, only because he could appoint no man to succeed him, of +whom his fears did not render him equally suspicious: but having now +found, in Caled, a friend, whose fidelity had been approved when there had +been no intention to try it; and being impatient to reward his zeal, and +to invest his fidelity with that power, which would render his services +most <!-- Page 292 --><a name="Page_292"></a>important; he took a ring +from his own finger, and putting it upon that of Caled, 'Take this,' said +he, 'as a pledge, that to-morrow Osmyn shall lose his head; and that, from +this moment, thou art invested with his power.'</p> + +<p>Caled having, in the conversation between <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span> and <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, discerned +indubitable treachery, which he imputed to Osmyn whose appearance <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> had then assumed, eagerly seized the +opportunity to destroy him; he, therefore, not trusting to the event of +his accusation, had mingled poison in the bowl which he presented to <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> when he came out from <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>: this, however, at first he had resolved to +conceal.</p> + +<p><!-- Page 293 --><a name="Page_293"></a>In consequence of his +accusation, he supposed Osmyn would be questioned upon the rack; he +supposed also, that the accusation, as it was true, would be confirmed by +his confession; that what ever he should then say to the prejudice of his +accuser, would be disbelieved; and that when after a few hours the poison +should take effect, no inquisition would be made into the death of a +criminal, whom the bow-string or the scimitar would otherwise have been +employed to destroy. But he now hoped to derive new merit from an act of +zeal, which <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> had approved before it +was known, by condemning his rival to die, whose death he had already +insured: 'May the wishes of my lord,' said he, 'be always anticipated; and +may it be <!-- Page 294 --><a name="Page_294"></a>found, that whatever he +ordains is already done: may he accept the zeal of his servant, whom he +has delighted to honour; for, before the light of the morning shall +return, the eyes of Osmyn shall close in everlasting darkness.'</p> + +<p>At these words, the countenance of <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span> changed; his cheeks became pale, and his lips trembled: +'What then,' said he, 'hast thou done?' Caled, who was terrified and +astonished, threw himself upon the ground, and was unable to reply. <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, who now, by the utmost effort of his +mind, restrained his confusion and his fear, that he might learn the truth +from Caled without dissimulation or disguise, raised him from the +<!-- Page 295 --><a name="Page_295"></a>ground and repeated his enquiry. +'If I have erred,' said Caled, 'impute it not: when I had detected the +treachery of Osmyn, I was transported by my zeal for thee. For proof that +he is guilty, I appeal now to himself; for he yet lives: but that he might +not escape the hand of justice, I mingled, in the bowl I give him, the +drugs of death.'</p> + +<p>At these words, <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, striking his +hands together, looked upward in an agony of despair and horror, and fell +back upon a sofa that was behind him. Caled, whose astonishment was equal +to his disappointment and his fears, approached him with a trembling +though hasty pace; but as he stooped to support him, <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span> <!-- Page 296 --><a name= +"Page_296"></a>suddenly drew his dagger and stabbed him to the heart; and +repeated the blow with reproaches and execrations, till his strength +failed him.</p> + +<p>In this dreadful moment, the Genius once more appeared before him; at +the sight of whom he waved his hand, but was unable to speak. 'Nothing,' +said the Genius, 'that has happened to <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>, is hidden from me. Thy peace has been destroyed alike by +the defection of Osmyn, and by the zeal of Caled: thy life may yet be +preserved; but it can be preserved only by a charm, which <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span> must apply.' <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>, who had raised his eyes, and conceived some languid hope, +when he heard that he might yet <!-- Page 297 --><a name= +"Page_297"></a>live; cast them again down in despair, when he heard that +he could receive life only from <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>. +'From <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>,' said he, 'I have already +taken the power to save me; I have, by thy counsel, given him the +instrument of death, which, by thy counsel also, I urged him to use: he +received it with joy, and he is now doubtless numbered with the dead.' +'<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>,' said the Genius, 'is not dead; but +from the fountain of virtue he drinks life and peace. If what I shall +propose, he refuses to perform, not all the powers of earth, and sea, and +air, if they should combine, can give thee life: but if he complies, the +death, that is now suspended over thee, shall fall upon his head; and thy +life shall be again delivered <!-- Page 298 --><a name="Page_298"></a>to +the hand of time.' 'Make haste then,' said <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>, 'and I will here wait the event.' 'The event,' said the +Genius, 'is not distant; and it is the last experiment which my power can +make, either upon him or thee: when the star of the night, that is now +near the horizon, shall set, I will be with him.'</p> + +<p>When <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> was alone, he reflected, +that every act of supernatural power which the Genius had enabled him to +perform, had brought upon him some new calamity, though it always promised +him some new advantage. As he would not impute this disappointment to the +purposes for which he employed the power that he had received, he indulged +a suspicion, that it proceeded <!-- Page 299 --><a name= +"Page_299"></a>from the perfidy of the Being by whom it was bestowed; in +his mind, therefore, he thus reasoned with himself: 'The Genius, who has +pretended to be the friend of <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, has +been secretly in confederacy with <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>: +why else do I yet sigh in vain for <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>? +and why else did not <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> perish, when his +life was in my power? By his counsel, I persuaded <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span> to destroy himself; and, in the very act, I was betrayed to +drink the potion, by which I shall be destroyed: I have been led on, from +misery to misery, by ineffectual expedients, and fallacious hopes. In this +crisis of my fate, I will not trust, with implicit confidence, in another: +I will be present at the interview of this powerful, but suspected Being, +<!-- Page 300 --><a name="Page_300"></a>with <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>; and who can tell, but that if I detect a fraud, I may be +able to disappoint it: however powerful, he is not omniscient; I may, +therefore, be present, unknown and unsuspected even by him, in a form that +I can chuse by a thought, to which he cannot be conscious.'</p> + +<!-- Page 301 --><a name="Page_301"></a> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<a name="CHAP_XIX"></a> + +<h2>CHAP. XIX.</h2> + +<br /> + + +<p>In consequence of this resolution, <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>, having commanded one of the soldiers of the guard that +attended upon <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> into an inner room of +the palace, he ordered him to wait there till his return: then making fast +the door, he assumed his figure, and went immediately to the dungeon; +where producing his signet, he said, he had received orders from the king +to remain with the prisoner, till the watch expired.</p> + +<!-- Page 302 --><a name="Page_302"></a> + +<p>As he entered without speaking, and without a light, <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span> continued stretched upon the ground, with his +face towards the earth; and <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, having +silently retired to a remote corner of the place, waited for the +appearance of the Genius.</p> + +<p>The dawn of the morning now broke; and, in a few minutes, the prison +shook, and the Genius appeared. He was visible by a lambent light that +played around him; and <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> starting from +the ground, turned to the vision with reverence and wonder: but as the +Omnipotent was ever present to his mind, to whom all beings in all worlds +are obedient, and on whom alone he relied for protection, he was neither +confused nor afraid. '<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>,' said +<!-- Page 303 --><a name="Page_303"></a>the Genius, 'the crisis of thy +fate is near.' 'Who art thou,' said <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, +and for what purpose art thou come?' 'I am,' replied the Genius, 'an +inhabitant of the world above thee; and to the will of thy brother, my +powers have been obedient: upon him they have not conferred happiness, but +they have brought evil upon thee. It was my voice, that forbad thy +marriage with <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>; and my voice, that +decreed the throne to <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>: I gave him +the power to assume thy form; and, by me, the hand of oppression is now +heavy upon thee. Yet I have not decreed, that he should be happy, nor that +thou shouldst be wretched: darkness as yet rests upon my purpose; but my +heart in secret is thy friend.' 'If <!-- Page 304 --><a name= +"Page_304"></a>thou art, indeed my friend,' said <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>, 'deliver me from this prison; and preserve <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span> for <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>.' Thy +deliverance,' said the Genius, must depend upon thyself. There is a charm, +of which the power is great; but it is by thy will only, that this power +can be exerted.'</p> + +<p>The Genius then held out towards him a scroll, on which the seal of +seven powers was impressed. 'Take, said he, 'this scroll, in which the +mysterious name of Orosmades is written. Invoke the spirits, that reside +westward from the rising of the sun; and northward, in the regions of cold +and darkness: then stretch out thy hand, and a lamp of sulphur, self +kindled, shall burn before thee. In the fire of this lamp, consume that +<!-- Page 305 --><a name="Page_305"></a>which I now give thee; and as the +smoke, into which it changes, shall mix with the air, a mighty charm shall +be formed, which shall defend thee from all mischief: from that instant no +poison, however potent, can hurt thee; nor shall any prison confine: in +one moment, thou shalt be restored to the throne, and to <span class= +"smallcaps">Almeida</span>; and the Angel of death, shall lay his hand +upon thy brother; to whom, if I had confided this last best effort of my +power, he would have secured the good to himself, and have transferred the +evil to thee.'</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, who had listened unseen to this +address of the Genius to <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, was now +confirmed in his suspicions, that evil had been ultimately intended +against him; and that he had <!-- Page 306 --><a name="Page_306"></a>been +entangled in the toils of perfidy, while he believed himself to be +assisted by the efforts of friendship: he was also convinced, that by the +Genius he was not known to be present. <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>, however, flood still doubtful, and <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span> was kept silent by his fears. 'Whoever thou art,' said +<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, the condition of the advantages +which thou hast offered me, is such as it is not lawful to fulfill: these +horrid rites, and this commerce with unholy powers, are prohibited to +mortals in the Law of life.' 'See thou to that,' said the Genius: 'Good +and evil are before thee; that which I now offer thee, I will offer no +more.'</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, who had not fortitude to give up +at once the possibility of securing <!-- Page 307 --><a name= +"Page_307"></a>the advantages that had been offered, and who was seduced +by human frailty to deliberate at least upon the choice; stretched out his +hand, and receiving the scroll, the Genius instantly disappeared. That +which had been proposed as a trial of his virtue, <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span> believed indeed to be an offer of advantage; he had no +hope, therefore, but that <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> would +refuse the conditions, and that he should be able to obtain the talisman, +and fulfill them himself: he judged that the mind of <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span> was in suspense, and was doubtful to which side +it might finally incline; he, therefore, instantly assumed the voice and +the person of <span class="smallcaps">Omar</span>, that by the influence +of his council he might be able to turn the scale.</p> + +<p><!-- Page 308 --><a name="Page_308"></a>When the change was effected, +he called <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> by his name; and <span +class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, who knew the voice, answered him in a +transport of joy and wonder: 'My friend,' said he, 'my father! in this +dreary solitude, in this hour of trial, thou art welcome to my soul as +liberty and life! Guide me to thee by thy voice; and tell while I hold +thee to my bosom, how and wherefore thou art come?' 'Do not now ask me,' +said <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>: 'it is enough that I am here; +and that I am permitted to warn thee of the precipice, on which thou +standest. It is enough, that concealed in this darkness, I have overheard +the specious guile, which some evil demon has practised upon thee.' 'Is it +then certain,' said <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, 'that +<!-- Page 309 --><a name="Page_309"></a>this being is evil?' 'Is not that +being evil, said <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>,' 'who proposes +evil, as the condition of good?' 'Shall I then,' said <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>, 'renounce my liberty and life? The rack is now +ready; and, perhaps, the next moment, its tortures will be inevitable.' +'Let me ask thee then,' said <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, 'to +preserve thy life, wilt thou destroy thy soul?' 'O! stay,' said <span +class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>—'Let me not be tried too far! Let the +strength of Him who is Almighty, be manifest in my weakness!' <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span> then paused a few moments; but he was no longer +in doubt: and <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, who disbelieved and +despised the arguments, by which he intended to persuade him to renounce +what, upon the same condition, he was impatient to secure for +<!-- Page 310 --><a name="Page_310"></a>himself, conceived hopes that he +should succeed; and those hopes were instantly confirmed.' 'Take then,' +said <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, this unholy charm; and remove +it far from me, as the sands of Alai from the trees of Oman; lest, in some +dreadful hour, my virtue may fail me, and thy counsel may be wanting!' +'Give it me then,' said <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>; and +feeling for the hands of each other, he snatched it from him in an extasy +of joy, and instantly resuming his own voice and figure, he cried out, 'At +length I have prevailed: and life and love, dominion and revenge, are now +at once in my hand!'</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span> heard and knew the voice of his +brother, with astonishment; but it was too late to wish that he had +withheld <!-- Page 311 --><a name="Page_311"></a>the charm, which his +virtue would not permit him to use. 'Yet a few moments pass,' said <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, and thou art nothing.' <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>, who doubted not of the power of the talisman, +and knew that <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> had no principles +which would restrain him from using it to his destruction, resigned +himself to death, with a sacred joy that he had escaped from guilt. <span +class="smallcaps">Almoran</span> then, with an elation of mind that +sparkled in his eyes, and glowed upon his cheek, stretched out his hand, +in which he held the scroll; and a lamp of burning sulphur was immediately +suspended in the air before him: he held the mysterious writing in the +flame; and as it began to burn, the place shook with reiterated thunder, +of which every peal was more terrible and more <!-- Page 312 --><a name= +"Page_312"></a>loud. <span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, wrapping his +robe round him, cried out, 'In the Fountain of Life that flows for ever, +let my life be mingled! Let me not be, as if I had never been; but still +conscious of my being, let me still glorify Him from whom it is derived, +and be still happy in his love!'</p> + +<p><span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, who was absorbed in the +anticipation of his own felicity, heard the thunder without dread, as the +proclamation of his triumph: 'Let thy hopes,' said he, 'be thy portion; +and the pleasures that I have secured, shall be mine.' As he pronounced +these words, he started as at a sudden pang; his eyes became fixed, and +his posture immoveable; yet his senses still remained, and he perceived +<!-- Page 313 --><a name="Page_313"></a>the Genius once more to stand +before him. '<span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>,' said he, 'to the +last sounds which thou shalt hear, let thine ear be attentive! Of the +spirits that rejoice to fulfill the purpose of the Almighty, I am one. To +<span class="smallcaps">Hamet</span>, and to <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>, I have been commissioned from above: I have been appointed +to perfect virtue, by adversity; and in the folly of her own projects, to +entangle vice. The charm, which could be formed only by guilt, has power +only to produce misery: of every good, which thou, <span class= +"smallcaps">Almoran</span>, wouldst have secured by disobedience, the +opposite evil is thy portion; and of every evil, which thou, <span class= +"smallcaps">Hamet</span>, wast, by Obedience, willing to incur, the +opposite good is bestowed upon thee. To thee, <span class="smallcaps"> +Hamet</span>, <!-- Page 314 --><a name="Page_314"></a>are now given the +throne of thy father, and <span class="smallcaps">Almeida</span>. And +thou, <span class="smallcaps">Almoran</span>, who, while I speak, art +incorporating with the earth, shalt remain, through all generations, a +memorial of the truths which thy life has taught!'</p> + +<p>At the words of the Genius, the earth trembled beneath, and above the +walls of the prison disappeared: the figure of <span class="smallcaps"> +Almoran</span>, which was hardened into stone, expanded by degrees; and a +rock, by which his form and attitude are still rudely expressed, became at +once a monument of his punishment and his guilt.</p> + +<p>Such are the events recorded by <span class="smallcaps">Acmet</span>, +the descendant of the Prophet, <!-- Page 315 --><a name="Page_315"></a>and +the preacher of righteousness! for, to <span class="smallcaps"> +Acmet</span>, that which passed in secret was revealed by the Angel of +instruction, that the world might know, that, to the wicked, increase of +power is increase of wretchedness; and that those who condemn the folly of +an attempt to defeat the purpose of a Genius, might no longer hope to +elude the appointment of the Most High.</p> + +<p> </p> +</div> + +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ALMORAN AND HAMET***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 14013-h.txt or 14013-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/0/1/14013">https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/0/1/14013</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Almoran and Hamet + +Author: John Hawkesworth + +Release Date: November 10, 2004 [eBook #14013] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ALMORAN AND HAMET*** + + +E-text prepared by Jonathan Ingram, Leah Moser, and the Project Gutenberg +Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +ALMORAN AND HAMET + +An Oriental Tale in Two Volumes + +by + +JOHN HAWKESWORTH + +MDCCLXI + + + + + + + +VOLUME FIRST + + + + +TO THE KING + + +SIR, + +Amidst the congratulations and praises of a free, a joyful, and now +united people, people, who are ambitious to express their duty and +their wishes in their various classes; I think myself happy to have YOUR +MAJESTY'S most gracious permission to approach You, and, after the +manner of the people whose character I have assumed, to bring an humble +offering in my hand. + +As some part of my subject led me to consider the advantages of our +excellent constitution in comparison of others; my thoughts were +naturally turned to YOUR MAJESTY, as its warmest friend and most +powerful protector: and as the whole is intended, to recommend the +practice of virtue, as the means of happiness; to whom could I address +it with so much propriety, as to a PRINCE, who illustrates and enforces +the precepts of the moralist by his life. + +I am, + May it please Your MAJESTY, + Your MAJESTY'S + Most faithful, most obliged, + And most obedient + Subject and Servant, + +John Hawkesworth. + + + + +CHAP. I. + + +Who is he among the children of the earth, that repines at the power of +the wicked? and who is he, that would change the lot of the righteous? +He, who has appointed to each his portion, is God; the Omniscient and +the Almighty, who fills eternity, and whose existence is from Himself! +but he who murmurs, is man; who yesterday was not, and who to-morrow +shall be forgotten: let him listen in silence to the voice of knowlege, +and hide the blushes of confusion in the dust. + +Solyman, the mighty and the wife, who, in the one hundred and second +year of the Hegyra, sat upon the throne of Persia, had two sons, ALMORAN +and HAMET, and they were twins. ALMORAN was the first born, but Solyman +divided his affection equally between them: they were both lodged in the +same part of the seraglio, both were attended by the same servants, and +both received instructions from the same teacher. + +One of the first things that ALMORAN learnt, was the prerogative of his +birth; and he was taught very early to set a high value upon it, by the +terms in which those about him expressed their sense of the power, the +splendor, and the delights of royalty. As his mind gradually opened, he +naturally considered these as the objects of universal define, and the +means of supreme felicity: he was often reminded, that the time was +coming, when the sole possession of sovereign power would enable him to +fulfil all his wishes, to determine the fate of dependent nations with a +nod, and dispense life and death, and happiness and misery, at his will: +he was flattered by those who hoped to draw wealth and dignity from his +favour; and interest prompted all who approached him, to administer to +his pleasures with a zeal and assiduity, which had the appearance of +reverence to his merit, and affection to his person. + +HAMET, on the contrary, soon became sensible of a subordinate station: +he was not, indeed, neglected; but he was not much caressed. When the +gratification of HAMET came in competition with that of ALMORAN, he was +always obliged to give it up, except when Solyman interposed: his mind +was, therefore, naturally led to seek for happiness in objects very +different from those which had fixed the attention of ALMORAN. As he +knew not to how narrow a sphere caprice or jealousy might confine him, +he considered what pleasures were least dependent upon external +advantages; and as the first popular commotion which mould happen after +his brother's accession to the throne, might probably cost him his life, +he was very inquisitive about the state into which his spirit would be +dismissed by the Angel of Death, and very diligent to do whatever might +secure him a share of the permanent and unchangeable felicity of +Paradise. + +This difference in the situation of ALMORAN and HAMET, produced great +dissimilarity in their dispositions, habits, and characters; to which, +perhaps, nature might also in some degree contribute. ALMORAN was +haughty, vain, and voluptuous; HAMET was gentle, courteous, and +temperate: ALMORAN was volatile, impetuous, and irascible; HAMET was +thoughtful, patient, and forbearing. Upon the heart of HAMET also were +written the instructions of the Prophet; to his mind futurity was +present by habitual anticipation; his pleasure, his pain, his hopes, and +his fears, were perpetually referred to the Invisible and Almighty +Father of Life, by sentiments of gratitude or resignation, complacency +or confidence; so that his devotion was not periodical but constant. + +But the views of ALMORAN were terminated by nearer objects: his mind was +perpetually busied in the anticipation of pleasures and honours, which +he supposed to be neither uncertain nor remote; these excited his +hopes, with a power sufficient to fix his attention; he did not look +beyond them for other objects, nor enquire how enjoyments more distant +were to be acquired; and as he supposed these to be already secured to +him by his birth, there was nothing he was solicitous to obtain as the +reward of merit, nor any thing that he considered himself to possess as +the bounty of Heaven. If the sublime and disinterested rectitude that +produces and rewards itself, dwells indeed with man, it dwelt not with +ALMORAN: with respect to God, therefore, he was not impressed with a +sense either of duty or dependence; he felt neither reverence nor love, +gratitude nor resignation: in abstaining from evil, he was not +intentionally good; he practised the externals of morality without +virtue, and performed the rituals of devotion without piety. + +Such were ALMORAN and HAMET, when Solyman their father, full of days and +full of honour, slept in peace the sleep of death. With this event they +were immediately acquainted. The emotions of ALMORAN were such as it was +impossible to conceal: the joy that he felt in secret was so great, that +the mere dread of disappointment for a moment suspended his belief of +what he heard: when his fears and his doubts gave way, his cheeks were +suffused with sudden blushes, and his eyes sparkled with exultation and +impatience: he looked eagerly about him, as if in haste to act; yet his +looks were embarrassed, and his gestures irresolute, because he knew +not what to do: he uttered some incoherent sentences, which discovered +at once the joy that he felt, and his sense of its impropriety; and his +whole deportment expressed the utmost tumult and perturbation of mind. + +Upon HAMET, the death of his father produced a very different effect: as +soon as he heard it, his lips trembled and his countenance grew pale; he +flood motionless a moment, like a pilgrim transfixed by lightning in the +desert; he then smote his breast, and looking upward, his eyes by +degrees overflowed with tears, and they fell, like dew distilling from +the mountain, in a calm and silent shower. As his grief was thus mingled +with devotion, his mind in a short time recovered its tranquillity, +though not its chearfulness, and he desired to be conducted to his +brother. + +He found him surrounded by the lords of his court, his eye still +restless and ardent, and his deportment elate and assuming. HAMET +pressed hastily through the circle, and prostrated himself before him: +ALMORAN received the homage with a tumultuous pleasure; but at length +raised him from the ground, and assured him of his protection, though +without any expressions either of kindness or of sorrow: 'HAMET,' says +he, 'if I have no cause to complain of you as a subject, you shall have +no cause to complain of me as a king.' HAMET, whose heart was again +pierced by the cold and distant behaviour of his brother, suppressed the +sigh that struggled in his bosom, and secretly wiped away the tear that +started to his eye: he retired, with his looks fixed upon the ground, to +a remote corner of the apartment; and though his heart yearned to +embrace his brother, his modest diffidence restrained him from intruding +upon the king. + +In this situation were ALMORAN and HAMET, when OMAR entered the +apartment. OMAR, upon whose head the hand of time became heavy, had from +his youth acquainted himself with wisdom: to him nature had revealed +herself in the silence of the night, when his lamp was burning alone, +and his eyes only were open: to him was known the power of the Seal of +Solomon; and to him the knowlege of things invisible had been revealed. +Nor was the virtue of OMAR inferior to his knowlege; his heart was a +fountain of good, which though it flowed through innumerable streams was +never dry: yet was the virtue of OMAR cloathed with humility; and he was +still pressing nearer to perfection, by a devotion which though elevated +was rational, and though regular was warm. From the council of OMAR, +Solyman had derived glory and strength; and to him he had committed the +education of his children. + +When he entered the apartment, the croud, touched at once with reverence +and love, drew back; every eye was cast downward, and every tongue was +silent. The full of days approached the king, and kneeling before him he +put into his hand a sealed paper: the king received it with impatience, +seeing it superscribed with the hand of his father; and OMAR looking +round, and perceiving HAMET, beckoned him to come forward. HAMET, whose +obedience to OMAR had been so long habitual that it was now almost +spontaneous, instantly drew near, though with a flow and irresolute +pace; and ALMORAN, having broken the seal of the paper, began to read it +to himself, with a look that expressed the utmost anxiety and +impatience. OMAR kept his eye fixed upon him, and soon perceived that +his countenance was disfigured by confusion and trouble, and that he +seemed preparing to put up the paper in his bosom: he then produced +another paper from under his robe, and gave it to HAMET: 'This,' says +he, is a copy of the will of Solyman, your father; the original is in +the hand of ALMORAN: read it, and you will find that he has bequeathed +his kingdom between you.' + +The eyes of all present were now turned upon HAMET, who stood silent and +motionless with amazement, but was soon roused to attention by the +homage that was paid him. In the mean time, ALMORAN'S confusion +increased every moment: his disappointment was aggravated by the sudden +attention of those who were present to his brother; and his jealousy +made him think himself neglected, while those acts of duty were +performed to HAMET, which were now known to be his right, and which he +had himself received before him. + +HAMET, however, regarded but little what so much excited the envy of +ALMORAN; his mind was employed upon superior objects, and agitated by +nobler passions: the coldness of his brother's behaviour, though it had +grieved had not quenched his affection; and as he was now no longer +restrained by the deference due from a subject to his king, he ran to +him, and catching him to his breast attempted to speak; but his heart +was too full, and he could express his affection and joy only by his +tears. ALMORAN rather suffered than received the embrace; and after a +few ceremonies, to which neither of them could much attend, they retired +to separate apartments. + + + + +CHAP. II. + + +When ALMORAN was alone, he immediately locked the door; and throwing +himself upon a sofa in an agony of vexation and disapointment, of which +he was unwilling there should be any witness, he revolved in his mind +all the pleasures and honours of supreme dominion which had now suddenly +been snatched from him, with a degree of anguish and regret, not +proportioned to their real, but their imaginary value. Of future good, +that which we obtain is found to be less than our expectations; but that +of which we are disappointed, we suppose would have been more: thus do +the children of hope extract evil, both from what they gain, and from +what they lose. But ALMORAN, after the first tumult of his mind had +subsided, began to consider as well what was left him, as what had been +taken away. He was still without a superior, though he had an equal; he +was still a king, though he did not govern alone: and with respect to +every individual in his dominions, except one, his will would now be a +law; though with respect to the public, the concurrence of his brother +would be necessary to give it force. 'Let me then,' says he, 'make the +most of the power that is now put into my hand, and wait till some +favourable opportunity shall offer to increase it. Let me dissemble my +jealousy and disappointment, that I may not alarm suspicion, or put the +virtues of HAMET upon their guard against me; and let me contrive to +give our joint administration such a form, as may best favour my +design.' + +Such were the reflections, with which ALMORAN soothed the anguish of his +mind; while HAMET was busied in speculations of a very different kind. +If he was pleased at reflecting, that he was raised from a subject to a +prince; he was pleased still more, when he considered his elevation as a +test of his father's affection to his person, and approbation of his +conduct: he was also delighted with the thought, that his brother was +associated with him in the arduous talk which he was now called to +perform. 'If I had been appointed to govern alone,' said he, 'I should +have had no equal; and he who has no equal, though he may have faithful +servants, can have no friend: there cannot be that union of interests, +that equal participation of good, that unrestrained intercourse of mind, +and that mutual dependence, which constitutes the pure and exalted +happiness of friendship. With ALMORAN, I shall share the supreme delight +of wresting the innocent and the helpless from the iron hand of +oppression; of animating merit by reward, and restraining the unworthy +by fear: I shall share, with ALMORAN, the pleasures of governing a +numerous, a powerful, and a happy people; pleasures which, however +great, are, like all others, increased by participation.' + +While HAMET was thus enjoying the happiness, which his virtue derived +from the same source, from which the vices of ALMORAN had filled his +breast with anguish and discontent; OMAR was contriving in what manner +their joint government could best be carried into execution. + +He knew that Solyman, having considered the dispositions of his sons, +was of opinion, that if they had been blended in one person, they would +have produced a character more fit to govern in his stead, than either +of them alone: ALMORAN, he thought, was too volatile and warm; but he +suspected, that HAMET would sink into inactivity for want of spirit: he +feared alike ALMORAN'S love of enterprize, and HAMET'S fondness for +retirement: he observed, in HAMET, a placid easiness of temper, which +might suffer the reins of government to lie too loose; and, in ALMORAN, +a quickness of resentment, and jealousy of command, which might hold +them too tight: he hoped, therefore, that by leaving them a joint +dominion, he should blend their dispositions, at least in their effects, +in every act of government that should take place; or that, however they +should agree to administer their government, the public would derive +benefit from the virtues of both, without danger of suffering from their +imperfections, as their imperfections would only operate against each +other, while, in whatever was right, their minds would naturally concur, +as the coincidence of rectitude with rectitude is necessary and eternal. +But he did not consider, that different dispositions operating +separately upon two different wills, would appear in effects very unlike +those, which they would concur to produce in one: that two wills, under +the direction of dispositions so different, would seldom be brought to +coincide; and that more mischiefs would probably arise from the contest, +than from the imperfections of either alone. + +But Solyman had so long applauded himself for his project before he +revealed it to OMAR, that OMAR found him too much displeased with any +objection, to consider its weight: and knowing that peculiar notions are +more rarely given up, than opinions received from others, and made our +own only by adoption, he at length acquiesced, lest he should by farther +opposition lose his influence, which on other occasions he might still +employ to the advantage of the public; and took a solemn oath, that he +would, as far as was in his power, see the will carried into execution. + +To this, indeed, he consented without much reluctance, as he had little +less reason to fear the sole government of ALMORAN, than a joint +administration; and if a struggle for superiority should happen, he +hoped the virtues HAMET would obtain the suffrages of the people in his +favour, and establish him upon the throne alone. But as change is itself +an evil, and as changes in government are seldom produced without great +confusion and calamity, he applied himself to consider in what manner +the government of ALMORAN and HAMET could be administered, so as most +effectually to blend their characters in their administration, and +prevent the conduct of one from exciting jealousy in the other. + +After much thought, he determined that a system of laws should be +prepared, which the sons of Solyman should examine and alter till they +perfectly approved, and to which they should then give the sanction of +their joint authority: that when any addition or alteration should be +thought necessary, it should be made in the same manner; and that when +any insuperable difference of sentiment happened, either in this or in +any act of prerogative independent of the laws for regulating the +manners of the people, the kings should refer it to some person of +approved integrity and wisdom, and abide by his determination. OMAR +easily foresaw, that when the opinion of ALMORAN and HAMET should +differ, the opinion of ALMORAN would be established; for there were many +causes that would render ALMORAN inflexible, and HAMET yielding: ALMORAN +was naturally confident and assuming, HAMET diffident and modest; +ALMORAN was impatient of contradiction, HAMET was attentive to +argument, and felicitous only for the discovery of truth. ALMORAN also +conceived, that by the will of his father, he had suffered wrong; HAMET, +that he had received a favour: ALMORAN, therefore, was disposed to +resent the first appearance of opposition; and HAMET, on the contrary, +to acquiesce, as in his share of government, whatever it might be, he +had more than was his right by birth, and his brother had less. Thus, +therefore, the will of ALMORAN would probably predominate in the state: +but as the same cause which conferred this superiority, would often +prevent contention, OMAR considered it, upon the whole, rather as good +than evil. + +When he had prepared his plan, therefore, he sent a copy of it, by +different messengers at the same time, both to ALMORAN and HAMET, +inclosed in a letter, in which he exprest his sense of obligation to +their father, and his zeal and affection for them: he mentioned the +promise he had made, to devote himself to their service; and the oath he +had taken, to propose whatever he thought might facilitate the +accomplishment of their father's design, with honour to them and +happiness to their people: these motives, which he could not resist +without impiety, he hoped would absolve him from presumption; and +trusting in the rectitude of his intentions, he left the issue to God. + + + + +CHAP. III. + + +The receipt of this letter threw ALMORAN into another agony of +indignation: he felt again the loss of his prerogative; the offer of +advice he disdained as an insult, to which he had been injuriously +subjected by the will of his father; and he was disposed to reject +whatever was suggested by OMAR, even before his proposal was known. With +this temper of mind he began to read, and at every paragraph took new +offence; he determined, however, not to admit OMAR to the honour of a +conference upon the subject, but to settle a plan of government with his +brother, without the least regard to his advice. + +A supercilious attention to minute formalities, is a certain indication +of a little mind, conscious to the want of innate dignity, and +felicitous to derive from others what it cannot supply to itself: as the +scrupulous exaction of every trifling tribute discovers the weakness of +the tyrant, who fears his claim should be disputed; while the prince, +who is conscious of superior and indisputable power, and knows that the +states he has subjugated do not dare to revolt, scarce enquires whether +such testimonies of allegiance are given or not. + +Thus, the jealousy of ALMORAN already enslaved him to the punctilios of +state; and the most trifling circumstances involved him in perplexity, +or fired him with resentment: the friendship and fidelity of OMAR stung +him with rage, as insolent and intrusive; and though it determined him +to an immediate interview with his brother, yet he was embarrassed how +to procure it. At first he rose, and was about to go to him; but he +stopped short with disdain, upon reflecting, that it was an act of +condescension which might be deemed an acknowledgement of superiority: +he then thought of sending for HAMET to come to him; but this he feared +might provoke him, as implying a denial of his equality: at length he +determined to propose a meeting in the chamber of council, and was just +dispatching an officer with the message, when HAMET entered the +apartment. + +The countenance of HAMET was flushed with joy, and his heart was warmed +with the pleasing sensations of affection and confidence, by the same +letter, from which ALMORAN had extracted the bitterness of jealousy and +resentment, and as he had no idea that an act of courtesy to his brother +could derogate from his own dignity or importance, he indulged the +honest impatience of his heart to communicate the pleasure with which it +overflowed: he was, indeed, somewhat disappointed, to find no traces of +satisfaction in the countenance of ALMORAN, when he saw the same paper +in his hand, which had impressed so much upon his own. + +He waited some time after the first salutations, without mentioning the +scheme of government he was come to concert; because having observed +that ALMORAN was embarrassed and displeased, he expected that he would +communicate the cause, and pleased himself with the hope that he might +remove it: finding, however, that this expectation was disappointed, he +addressed him to this effect: + +'How happy are we, my dear brother, in the wisdom and fidelity, of OMAR! +how excellent is the system of government that he has proposed! how easy +and honourable will it be to us that govern, and how advantageous to the +people that obey!' + +'The advantages,' said ALMORAN, 'which you seem to have discovered, are +not evident to me: tell me, then, what you imagine they are, and I will +afterwards give you my opinion.' + +'By establishing a system of laws as the rule of government,' said +HAMET, 'many evils will be avoided, and many benefits procured. If the +law is the will only of the sovereign, it can never certainly be known +to the people: many, therefore, may violate that rule of right, which +the hand of the Almighty has written upon the living tablets of the +heart, in the presumptuous hope, that it will not subject them to +punishment; and those, by whom that rule is fulfilled, will not enjoy +that consciousness of security, which they would derive from the +protection of a prescribed law, which they have never broken. Neither +will those who are inclined to do evil, be equally restrained by the +fear of punishment; if neither the offence is ascertained, nor the +punishment prescribed. One motive to probity, therefore, will be +wanting; which ought to be supplied, as well for the sake of those who +may be tempted to offend, as of those who may suffer by the offence. +Besides, he who governs not by a written and a public law, must either +administer that government in person, or by others: if in person, he +will sink under a labour which no man is able to sustain; and if by +others, the inferiority of their rank must subject them to temptations +which it cannot be hoped they will always resist, and to prejudices +which it will perhaps be impossible for them to surmount. But to +administer government by a law which ascertains the offence, and directs +the punishment, integrity alone will be sufficient; and as the +perversion of justice will in this case be notorious, and depend not +upon opinion but fact, it will seldom be practised, because it will be +easily punished.' + +ALMORAN, who had heard the opinions of HAMET with impatience and scorn, +now started from his feat with a proud and contemptuous aspect: he first +glanced his eyes upon his brother; and then looking disdainfully +downward, he threw back his robe, and stretching out his hand from him, +'Shall the son of Solyman,' said he, 'upon whose will the fate of +nations was suspended, whose smiles and frowns were alone the criterions +of right and wrong, before whom the voice of wisdom itself was silent, +and the pride even of virtue humbled in the dust; shall the son of +Solyman be harnessed, like a mule, in the trammels of law? shall he +become a mere instrument to execute what others have devised? shall he +only declare the determinations of a statute, and shall his ear be +affronted by claims of right? It is the glory of a prince, to punish for +what and whom he will; to be the sovereign, not only of property, but +of life; and to govern alike without prescription or appeal.' + +HAMET, who was struck with astonishment at this declaration, and the +vehemence with which it was uttered, after a short recollection made +this reply: 'It is the glory of a prince, to govern others, as he is +governed by Him, who is alone most merciful and almighty! It is his +glory to prevent crimes, rather than to display his power in punishment; +to diffuse happiness, rather than inforce subjection; and rather to +animate with love, than depress by fear. Has not He that shall judge us, +given us a rule of life by which we shall be judged? is not our reward +and punishment already set before us? are not His promises and +threatenings, motives to obedience? and have we not confidence and joy, +when we have obeyed? To God, His own divine perfections are a law; and +these He has transcribed as a law to us. Let us, then, govern, as we are +governed; let us seek our happiness in the happiness that we bestow, and +our honour in emulating the benevolence of Heaven.' + +As ALMORAN feared, that to proceed farther in this argument would too +far disclose his sentiments, and put HAMET too much upon his guard; he +determined for the present to dissemble: and as he perceived, that +HAMET'S opinion, and an administration founded upon it, would render him +extreamly popular, and at length possibly establish him alone; he was +now felicitous only to withdraw him from public notice, and persuade him +to leave the government, whatever form it should receive, to be +administered by others: returning, therefore, to his seat, and assuming +an appearance of complacence and tranquillity, with which he could not +form his language perfectly to agree; 'Let us then,' said he, 'if a law +must be set up in our stead, leave the law to be executed by our slaves: +and as nothing will be left for us to do, that is worthy of us, let us +devote ourselves to the pleasures of ease; and if there are any +enjoyments peculiar to royalty, let us secure them as our only +distinction from the multitude.' + +'Not so,' says HAMET; 'for there is yet much for a prince to do, after +the best system of laws has been established: the government of a nation +as a whole, the regulation and extent of its trade, the establishment of +manufactories, the encouragement of genius, the application of the +revenues, and whatever can improve the arts of peace, and secure +superiority in war, is the proper object of a king's attention. + +'But in these,' said ALMORAN, 'it will be difficult for two minds to +concur; let us, then, agree to leave these also to the care of some +other, whom we can continue as long as we approve, and displace when we +approve no longer: we shall, by this expedient, be able to avert the +odium of any unpopular measure; and by the sacrifice of a slave, we can +always satisfy the people, and silence public discontent.' + +'To trust implicitly to another,' says HAMET, 'is to give up a +prerogative, which is at once our highest duty and interest to keep; it +is to betray our trust, and to sacrifice our honour to another. The +prince, who leaves the government of his people implicitly to a subject, +leaves it to one, who has many more temptations to betray their interest +than himself: a vicegerent is in a subordinate station; he has, +therefore, much to rear, and much to hope: he may also acquire the power +of obtaining what he hopes, and averting what he rears, at the public +expence; he may stand in need of dependents, and may be able no +otherwise to procure them, than by conniving at the fraud or the +violence which they commit: he may receive, in bribes, an equivalent for +his share, as an individual, in the public prosperity; for his interest +is not essentially connected with that of the state; he has a separate +interest; but the interest of the state, and of the king, are one: he +may even be corrupted to betray the councils, and give up the interests +of the nation, to a foreign power; but this is impossible to the king; +for nothing equivalent to what he would give up, could be offered him. +But as a king has not equal temptations to do wrong, neither is he +equally exposed to opposition, when he does right: the measures of a +substitute are frequently opposed, merely from interest; because the +leader of a faction against him, hopes, that if he can remove him by +popular clamour, he shall succeed to his power; but it can be no man's +interest to oppose the measures of a king, if his measures are good, +because no man can hope to supplant him. Are not these the precepts of +the Prophet, whose wisdom was from above?'--"Let not the eye of +expectation be raised to another, for that which thyself only should +bestow: suffer not thy own shadow to obscure thee; nor be content to +derive that glory, which it is thy prerogative to impart." + +'But is the prince,' said ALMORAN, always the wisest man in his +dominions? Can we not find, in another, abilities and experience, which +we do not possess? and is it not the duty of him who presides in the +ship, to, place the helm in that hand which can best steer it?' + +'A prince,' said HAMET, 'who sincerely intends the good of his people, +can scarce fail to effect it; all the wisdom of the nation will be at +once turned to that object: whatever is his principal aim, will be that +of all who are admitted to his council; for to concur with his +principal aim, must be the surest recommendation to his favour. Let us, +then, hear others; but let us act ourselves.' + +As ALMORAN now perceived, that the longer this conversation continued, +the more he should be embarrassed; he put an end to it, by appearing to +acquiesce in what HAMET had proposed. HAMET withdrew, charmed with the +candour and flexibility which he imagined he had discovered in his +brother; and not without some exultation in his own rhetoric, which, he +supposed had gained no inconsiderable victory. ALMORAN, in the mean +time, applauded himself for having thus far practised the arts of +dissimulation with success; fortified himself in the resolutions he had +before taken; and conceived new malevolence and jealousy against HAMET. + + + + +CHAP. IV. + + +While HAMET was exulting in his conquest, and his heart was overflowing +at once with self-complacency, and affection to his brother; he was +told, that OMAR was waiting without, and desired admittance. HAMET +ordered that he should be immediately introduced; and when OMAR entered, +and would have prostrated himself before him, he catched him in his arms +in a transport of affection and esteem; and having ordered that none +should interrupt them, compelled him to sit down on a sofa. + +He then related, with all the joy of a youthful and an ardent mind, the +conversation he had had with ALMORAN, intermixed with expressions of +the highest praise and the most cordial esteem. OMAR was not without +suspicion, that the sentiments which ALMORAN had first expressed with +such vehemence of passion, were still predominant in his mind: but of +these suspicions he did not give the least hint to HAMET; not only +because to communicate suspicions is to accuse without proof, but +because he did not think himself at liberty to make an ill report of +another, though he knew it to be true. He approved the sentiments of +HAMET, as they had indeed been infused by his own instructions; and some +precepts and cautions were now added, which the accession of HAMET to a +share of the imperial power made particularly necessary. + +'Remember,' said OMAR, 'that the most effectual way of promoting virtue, +is to prevent occasions of vice. There are, perhaps, particular +situations, in which human virtue has always failed: at least, +temptation often repeated, and long continued, has seldom been finally +resisted. In a government so constituted as to leave the people exposed +to perpetual seduction, by opportunities of dissolute pleasure or +iniquitous gain, the multiplication of penal laws will only tend to +depopulate the kingdom, and disgrace the state; to devote to the +scymitar and the bow-string, those who might have been useful to +society, and to leave the rest dissolute turbulent and factious. If the +streets not only abound with women, who inflame the passenger by their +appearance, their gesture, and their solicitations; but with houses, in +which every desire which they kindle may be gratified with secrecy and +convenience; it is in vain that "the feet of the prostitute go down to +death, and that her steps take hold on hell:" what then can be hoped +from any punishment, which the laws of man can superadd to disease and +want, to rottenness and perdition? If you permit opium to be publickly +sold at a low rate; it will be folly to hope, that the dread of +punishment will render idleness and drunkenness strangers to the poor. +If a tax is so collected, as to leave opportunities to procure the +commodity, without paying it; the hope of gain will always surmount the +fear of punishment. If, when the veteran has served you at the risque of +life, you withold his hire; it will be in vain to threaten usury and +extortion with imprisonment and fines. If, in your armies, you suffer it +to be any man's interest, rather to preserve the life of a horse than a +man; be assured, that your own sword is drawn for your enemy: for there +will always be some, in whom interest is stronger than humanity and +honour. Put no man's interest, therefore, in the ballance against his +duty; nor hope that good can often be produced, but by preventing +opportunities of evil.' + +To these precepts of OMAR, HAMET listened as to the instructions of a +father; and having promised to keep them as the treasure of life, he +dismissed him from his presence. The heart of HAMET was now expanded +with the most pleasing expectations; but ALMORAN was pining with +solicitude, jealousy, and distrust: he took every opportunity to avoid +both OMAR and HAMET; but HAMET still retained his confidence, and OMAR +his suspicions. + + + + +CHAP. V. + + +In the mean time, the system of government was established which had +been proposed by OMAR, and in which HAMET concurred from principle, and +ALMORAN from policy. The views of ALMORAN terminated in the +gratification of his own appetites and passions; those of HAMET, in the +discharge of his duty: HAMET, therefore, was indefatigable in the +business of the state; and as his sense of honour, and his love of the +public, made this the employment of his choice, it was to him the +perpetual source of a generous and sublime felicity. ALMORAN also was +equally diligent, but from another motive: he was actuated, not by love +of the public, but by jealousy of his brother; he performed his task as +the drudge of necessity, with reluctance and ill will; so that to him it +produced pain and anxiety, weariness and impatience. + +To atone for this waste of time, he determined to crowd all that +remained with delight: his gardens were an epitome of all nature, and on +his palace were exhausted all the treasures of art; his seraglio was +filled with beauties of every nation, and his table supplied with +dainties from the remotest corners of his dominions. In the songs that +were repeated in his presence, he listened at once to the voice of +adulation and music; he breathed the perfumes of Arabia, and he tasted +the forbidden pleasure of wine. But as every appetite is soon satiated +by excess, his eagerness to accumulate pleasure deprived him of +enjoyment. Among the variety of beauty that surrounded him, the passion, +which, to be luxurious, must be delicate and refined, was degraded to a +mere instinct, and exhausted in endless dissipation; the caress was +unendeared by a consciousness of reciprocal delight, and was immediately +succeeded by indifference or disgust. By the dainties that perpetually +urged him to intemperance, that appetite, which alone could make even +dainties tasteful, was destroyed. The splendor of his palace and the +beauty of his gardens, became at length so familiar to his eye, that +they were frequently before him, without being seen. Even flattery and +music lost their power, by too frequent a repetition: and the broken +slumbers of the night, and the languor of the morning, were more than +equivalent to the transient hilarity that was inspired by wine. Thus +passed the time of ALMORAN, divided between painful labours which he did +not dare to shun, and the search of pleasure which he could never find. + +HAMET, on the contrary, did not seek pleasure, but pleasure seemed to +seek him: he had a perpetual complacence and serenity of mind, which +rendered him constantly susceptible of pleasing impressions; every thing +that was prepared to refresh or entertain him in his seasons of +retirement and relaxation, added something to the delight which was +continually springing in his breast, when he reviewed the past, or +looked forward to the future. Thus, the pleasures of sense were +heightened by those of his mind, and the pleasures of the mind by those +of sense: he had, indeed, as yet no wise; for as yet no woman had fixed +his attention, or determined his choice. + +Among the ambassadors whom the monarchs of Asia sent to congratulate the +sons of Solyman upon their accession to the throne, there was a native +of Circassia, whose name was Abdallah. Abdallah had only one child, a +daughter, in whom all his happiness and affection centered; he was +unwilling to leave her behind, and therefore brought her to the court of +Persia. Her mother died while she was yet an infant; she was now in the +sixteenth year of her age, and her name was ALMEIDA. She was beautiful +as the daughters of Paradise, and gentle as the breezes of the spring; +her mind was without stain, and her manners were without art. + +She was lodged with her father in a palace that joined to the gardens of +the seraglio; and it happened that a lamp which had one night been left +burning in a lower apartment, by some accident set fire to the net-work +of cotton that surrounded a sopha, and the whole room was soon after in +a flame. ALMORAN, who had been passing the afternoon in riot and +debauchery, had been removed from his banquetting room asleep; but HAMET +was still in his closet, where he had been regulating some papers that +were to be used the next day. The windows of this room opened towards +the inner apartments of the house in which Abdallah resided; and HAMET, +having by accident looked that way, was alarmed by the appearance of an +unusual light, and starting up to see whence it proceeded, he discovered +what had happened. + +Having hastily ordered the guard of the night to assist in quenching the +flame, and removing the furniture, he ran himself into the garden. As +soon as he was come up to the house, he was alarmed by the shrieks of a +female voice; and the next moment, ALMEIDA appeared at the window of an +apartment directly over that which was on fire. ALMEIDA he had till now +never seen, nor did he so much as know that Abdallah had a daughter: but +though her person was unknown, he was strongly interested in her danger, +and called out to her to throw herself into his arms. At the sound of +his voice she ran back into the room, such is the force of inviolate +modesty, though the smoke was then rising in curling spires from the +windows: she was, however, soon driven back; and part of the floor at +the same instant giving way, she wrapt her veil round her, and leaped +into the garden. HAMET caught her in his arms; but though he broke her +fall, he sunk down with her weight: he did not, however, quit his +charge, but perceiving she had fainted, he made haste with her into his +apartment, to afford her such assistance as he could procure. + +She was covered only with the light and loose robe in which she slept, +and her veil had dropped off by the way. The moment he entered his +closet, the light discovered to him such beauty as before he had never +seen: she now began to revive; and before her senses returned, she +pressed the prince with an involuntary embrace, which he returned by +straining her closer to his breast, in a tumult of delight, confusion, +and anxiety, which he could scarce sustain. As he still held her in his +arms, and gazed silently upon her, she opened her eyes, and instantly +relinquishing her hold, shrieked out, and threw herself from him. As +there were no women nearer than that wing of the palace in which his +brother resided, and as he had many reasons not to leave her in their +charge; he was in the utmost perplexity what to do. He assured her, in +some hasty and incoherent words, of her security; he told her, that she +was in the royal palace, and that he who had conveyed her thither was +HAMET. The habitual reverence of sovereign power, now surmounted all +other passions in the bosom of ALMEIDA: she was instantly covered with +new confusion; and hiding her face with her hands, threw herself at his +feet: he raised her with a trepidation almost equal to her own, and +endeavoured to sooth her into confidence and tranquillity. + +Hitherto her memory had been wholly suspended by violent passions, which +had crowded upon her in a rapid and uninterrupted succession, and the +first gleam of recollection threw her into a new agony; and having been +silent a few moments, she suddenly smote her hands together, and +bursting into tears, cried out, 'Abdallah! my father! my father!'--HAMET +not only knew but felt all the meaning of the exclamation, and +immediately ran again into the garden: he had advanced but a few paces, +before he discerned an old man sitting upon the ground, and looking +upward in silent anguish, as if he had exhausted the power of complaint. +HAMET, upon a nearer approach, perceived by the light of the flame that +it was Abdallah; and instantly calling him by his name, told him, that +his daughter was safe. At the name of his daughter, Abdallah suddenly +started up, as if he had been roused by the voice of an angel from the +sleep of death: HAMET again repeated, that his daughter was in safety; +and Abdallah looking wistfully at him, knew him to be the king. He was +then struck with an awe that restrained him from enquiry: but HAMET +directing him where he might find her, went forward, that he might not +lessen the pleasure of their interview, nor restrain the first +transports of duty and affection by his presence. He soon met with other +fugitives from the fire, which had opened a communication between the +gardens and the street; and among them some women belonging to ALMEIDA, +whom, he conducted himself to their mistress. He immediately allotted to +her and to her father, an apartment in his division of the palace; and +the fire being now nearly extinguished, he retired to rest. + + + + +CHAP. VI. + + +Though the night was far advanced, yet the eyes of HAMET were strangers +to sleep: his fancy incessantly repeated the events that had just +happened; the image of ALMEIDA was ever before him; and his breast +throbbed with a disquietude, which, though it prevented rest, he did not +wish to lose. + +ALMORAN, in the mean time, was slumbering away the effects of his +intemperance; and in the morning, when he was told what had happened, he +expressed no passion but curiosity: he went hastily into the garden; +but when he had gazed upon the ruins, and enquired how the fire began, +and what it had consumed, he thought of it no more. + +But HAMET suffered nothing that regarded himself, to exclude others from +his attention: he went again to the ruins, not to gratify his curiosity, +but to see what might yet be done to alleviate the misery of the +sufferers, and secure for their use what had been preserved from the +flames. He found that no life had been lost, but that many persons had +been hurt; to these he sent the physicians of his own houshold: and +having rewarded those who had assisted them in their distress, not +forgetting even the soldiers who had only fulfilled his own orders, he +returned, and applied himself to dispatch the public business in the +chamber of council, with the same patient and diligent attention as if +nothing had happened. He had, indeed, ordered enquiry to be made after +ALMEIDA; and when he returned to his apartment, he found Abdallah +waiting to express his gratitude for the obligations he had received. + +HAMET accepted his acknowledgements with a peculiar pleasure, for they +had some connexion with ALMEIDA; after whom he again enquired, with an +ardour uncommon even to the benevolence of HAMET. When all his questions +had been asked and answered, he appeared still unwilling to dismiss +Abdallah, though he seemed at a loss how to detain him; he wanted to +know, whether his daughter had yet received an offer of marriage, though +he was unwilling to discover his desire by a direct enquiry: but he soon +found, that nothing could be known, which was not directly asked, from a +man whom reverence and humility kept silent before him, except when +something was said which amounted to a command to speak. At length, +however, he said, not without some hesitation, 'Is there no one, +Abdallah, who will thank me for the preservation of thy daughter, with a +zeal equal to thy own?' 'Yes,' replied Abdallah, 'that daughter whom +thou hast preserved.' This reply, though it was unexpected was pleasing: +for HAMET was not only gratified to hear, that ALMEIDA had expressed +herself warmly in his behalf, at least as a benefactor; but he judged, +that if any man had been interested in her life as a lover, the answer +which Abdallah had given him would not so readily have occurred to his +mind. + +As this reflection kept HAMET a few moments silent, Abdallah withdrew; +and HAMET, as he observed some marks of haste and confusion in his +countenance, was unwilling longer to continue him in a situation, which +he had now reason to think gave him pain. But Abdallah, who had +conceived a sudden thought that HAMET'S question was an indirect +reproach of ALMEIDA, for not having herself solicited admission to his +presence; went in haste to her apartment, and ordered her immediately +to make ready to attend him to the king. + +ALMEIDA, from whose mind the image of HAMET had not been absent a moment +since she first saw him, received this order with a mixture of pain and +pleasure; of wishes, hopes, and apprehensions, that filled her bosom +with emotion, and covered her face with blushes. She had not courage to +ask the reason of the command, which she instantly prepared to obey; but +the tenderness of Abdallah, who perceived and pitied her distress, +anticipated her wish. In a short time, therefore, he returned to the +chamber of presence, and having received permission, he entered with +ALMEIDA in his hand. HAMET rose in haste to receive her, with a glow of +pleasure and impatience in his countenance; and having raised her from +the ground, supported her in his arms, waiting to hear her voice; but +though she made many attempts, she could not speak. HAMET, who knew not +to what he owed this sudden and unexpected interview, which, though he +wished, he could contrive no means to obtain; imagined that ALMEIDA had +some request, and therefore urged her tenderly to make it: but as she +still remained silent, he looked at Abdallah, as expecting to hear it +from him. 'We have no wish,' said Abdallah, 'but to atone for our +offence; nor any request, but that my lord would now accept the thanks +of ALMEIDA for the life which he has preserved, and impute the delay, +not to ingratitude, but inadvertence: let me now take her back, as thy +gift; and let the light of thy favour be upon us.' 'Take her then,' said +HAMET; 'for I would give her only to thee.' + +These words of HAMET did not escape the notice either of Abdallah or +ALMEIDA; but neither of them mentioned their conjectures to the other. +ALMEIDA, who was inclined to judge of HAMET'S situation by her own, and +who recollected many little incidents, known only to herself, which +favoured her wishes; indulged the hope, that she should again hear of +HAMET, with more confidence than her father; nor were her expectations +disappointed. HAMET reflected with pleasure, that he had prepared the +way for a more explicit declaration; and as his impatience increased +with his passion every hour, he sent for Abdallah the next morning, and +told him, that he wished to be more acquainted with his daughter, with a +view to make her his wife: 'As neither you nor your daughter are my +subjects,' says HAMET, 'I cannot command you; and if you were, upon this +occasion I would not. I do not want a slave, but a friend; not merely a +woman, but a wife. If I find ALMEIDA such as my fancy has feigned her; +if her mind corresponds with her form; and if I have reason to think, +that she can give her heart to HAMET, and not merely her hand to the +king; I shall be happy.' To this declaration, Abdallah replied with +expressions of the profoundest submission and gratitude; and HAMET +dismissed him, to prepare ALMEIDA to receive him in the afternoon of the +same day. + + + + +CHAP. VII. + + +As eight moons only had passed since the death of Solyman, and as the +reverence of HAMET for the memory of his father would not suffer him to +marry till the year should be completed; he determined not to mention +ALMEIDA to his brother, till the time when he could marry her was near. +The fierce and haughty deportment of ALMORAN had now left HAMET no room +to doubt of his character: and though he had no apprehension that he +would make any attempts upon ALMEIDA, after she should be his wife; yet +he did not know how much might justly be feared from his passion, if he +should see her and become enamoured of her, while she was yet a virgin +in the house of her father. + +ALMEIDA had not only unsullied purity of mind, but principles of refined +and exalted virtue; and as the life of HAMET was an example of all that +was either great or good, Abdallah felt no anxiety upon leaving them +together, except what arose from his fears, that his daughter would not +be able to secure the conquest she had made. + +As it was impossible for HAMET to have such an acquaintance with ALMEIDA +as he desired, till he could enter into conversation with her upon terms +of equality; it was his first care to sooth her into confidence and +familiarity, and by degrees he succeeded: he soon found, in the free +intercourse of mind with mind, which he established instead of the +implicit submission which only ecchoed his own voice, how little of the +pleasure that women were formed to give can be enjoyed, when they are +considered merely as slaves to a tyrant's will, the passive subjects of +transient dalliance and casual enjoyment. The pleasure which he took in +the youthful beauty of ALMEIDA, was now endeared, exalted, and refined, +by the tender sensibility of her heart, and by the reflexion of his own +felicity from her eyes: when he admired the gracefulness of her motion, +the elegance of her figure, the symmetry of her features, and the bloom +of her complexion, he considered them as the decorations only of a +mind, capable of mixing with his own in the most exquisite delight, of +reciprocating all his ideas, and catching new pleasure from his +pleasure. Desire was no longer appetite; it was imagination, it was +reason; it included remembrance of the past, and anticipation of the +future; and its object was not the sex, but ALMEIDA. + +As HAMET never witheld any pleasure that it was in his power to impart, +he soon acquainted Abdallah, that he waited only for a proper time to +place ALMEIDA upon the throne; but that he had some reasons for keeping +a resolution, which he thought himself obliged to communicate to him, +concealed from others. + +It happened, however, that some of the women who attended upon ALMEIDA, +met with some female slaves belonging to the seraglio of ALMORAN, at the +public baths, and related to them all the particulars of ALMEIDA'S +preservation by HAMET; that he had first conveyed her to his own +apartments, and had since been frequently with her in that which he had +assigned her in his palace: they were also lavish in the praise of her +beauty, and free in their conjectures what might be the issue of her +intercourse with HAMET. + +Thus the situation of HAMET and ALMEIDA became the subject of +conversation in the seraglio of ALMORAN, who learnt it himself in a +short time from one of his women. + +He had hitherto professed great affection for HAMET, and HAMET was +deceived by his professions: for notwithstanding the irregularities of +his life, he did not think him capable of concealed malice; or of +offering injury to another, except when he was urged by impetuous +passions to immediate pleasure. As there was, therefore, an appearance +of mutual affection between them, ALMORAN, though the report of +ALMEIDA'S beauty had fired his imagination and fixed him in a resolution +to see her, did not think proper to attempt it without asking HAMET'S +consent, and being introduced by his order; as he made no doubt of there +being a connexion between them which would make him resent a contrary +conduct. + +He took an opportunity, therefore, when they were alone in a summer +pavilion that was built on a lake behind the palace, to reproach him, +with an air of mirth, for having concealed a beauty near his apartments, +though he pretended to have no seraglio. HAMET instantly discovered his +surprize and emotion by a blush, which the next moment left his +countenance paler than the light clouds that pass by night over the +moon. ALMORAN took no notice of his confusion; but that he might more +effectually conceal his sentiments and prevent suspicion, he suddenly +adverted to another subject, while HAMET was hesitating what to reply. +By this artifice HAMET was deceived; and concluded, that whatever +ALMORAN had heard of ALMEIDA, had passed slightly over his mind, and +was remembered but by chance; he, therefore, quickly recovered that ease +and chearfulness, which always distinguished his conversation. + +ALMORAN observing the success of his artifice, soon after, as if by a +sudden and casual recollection, again mentioned the lady; and told him, +he would congratulate Abdallah upon having resigned her to his bed. As +HAMET could not bear to think of ALMORAN'S mentioning ALMEIDA to her +father as his mistress, he replied, that he had no such intimacy with +ALMEIDA as he supposed; and that he had so high an opinion of her +virtue, as to believe, that if he should propose it she would not +consent. The imagination of ALMORAN caught new fire from beauties which +he found were yet unenjoyed, and virtue which stamped them with superior +value by rendering them more difficult of access; and as HAMET had +renounced a connection with her as a mistress, he wanted only to know +whether he intended her for a wife. + +This secret he was contriving to discover, when HAMET, having reflected, +that if he concealed this particular, ALMORAN might think himself at +liberty to make what attempts he should think fit upon ALMEIDA, without +being accountable to him, or giving him just cause of offence, put an +end to his doubts, by telling him, he had such a design; but that it +would be some time before he should carry it into execution. This +declaration increased ALMORAN'S impatience: still, however, he concealed +his interest in the conversation, which he now suffered to drop. + +He parted from his brother, without any farther mention of ALMEIDA but +while he was yet near him, turned hastily back, and, as if merely to +gratify his curiosity, told him with a smile, that he must indulge him +with a fight of his Circassian; and desired he might accompany him in +his next visit, or at some more convenient time: with this request, +HAMET, as he knew, not how to refuse it, complied; but it filled his +mind with anxiety and trouble. + +He went immediately to ALMEIDA, and told her all that had happened; and +as she saw that he was net without apprehensions of mischief from his +brother's visit, she gently reproached him for doubting the fidelity of +her affection, as she supposed no power could be exerted by ALMORAN to +injure him, who in power was his equal. HAMET, in a transport of +tenderness, assured her that he doubted neither her constancy nor her +love: but as to interrupt the comfort of her mind, would only double his +own distress, he did not tell her whence his apprehensions proceeded; +nor indeed had they any determinate object, but arose in general from +the character of his brother, and the probability of his becoming a +competitor, for what was essential to the happiness of his life. + +But if the happiness of HAMET was lessened, the infelicity of ALMORAN +was increased. All the enjoyments that were in his power he neglected, +his attention being wholly fixed upon that which was beyond his reach; +he was impatient to see the beauty, who had taken intire possession of +his mind; and the probability that he would be obliged to resign her to +HAMET, tormented him with jealousy, envy, and indignation. + +HAMET, however, did not long delay to fulfil his promise to his brother; +but having prepared ALMEIDA to receive him, he conducted him to her +apartment. The idea which ALMORAN had formed in his imagination, was +exceeded by the reality, and his passion was proportionably increased; +yet he found means not only to conceal it from HAMET, but from ALMEIDA, +by affecting an air of levity and merriment, which is not less +incompatible with the pleasures than the pains of love. After they had +been regaled with coffee and sherbet, they parted; and HAMET +congratulated himself, that his apprehensions of finding in ALMORAN a +rival for ALMEIDA'S love, were now at an end. + +But ALMORAN, whose passions were become more violent by restraint, was +in a state of mind little better than distraction: one moment he +determined to seize upon the person of ALMEIDA in the night, and secrete +her in some place accessible only to himself; and the next to +assassinate his brother, that he might at once destroy a rival both in +empire and in love. But these designs were no sooner formed by his +wishes, than they were rejected by his fears: he was not ignorant, that +in any contest between him and HAMET, the voice of the public would be +against him; especially in a contest, in which it would appear, that +HAMET had suffered wrong. + +Many other projects, equally rash, violent, and injurious, were by turns +conceived and rejected: and he came at last to no other determination, +than still carefully to conceal his passion, till he should think of +some expedient to gratify it; lest HAMET should have a just reason for +refusing to let him see the lady again, and remove her to some place +which he might never be able to discover. + + + + +CHAP. VIII. + + +In the mean time, OMAR, to whom HAMET had from time to time disclosed +the minutest particulars of his situation and design, kept his eye +almost continually upon ALMORAN; and observed him with an attention and +sagacity, which it was difficult either to elude or deceive. He +perceived, that he was more than usual restless and turbulent; that in +the presence of HAMET he frequently changed countenance; that his +behaviour was artificial and inconsistent, frequently shifting from +gloomy discontent and furious agitation, to forced laughter and noisy +merriment. He had also remarked, that he seemed most discomposed after +he had been with HAMET to ALMEIDA, which happened generally once in a +week; that he was become fond of solitude, and was absent several days +together from the apartment of his women. + +OMAR, who from this conduct of ALMORAN had begun to suspect his +principles, determined to introduce such topics of discourse, as might +lead him to discover the state of his mind; and enable him to enforce +and confirm the principles he had taught him, by new proofs and +illustrations. + +ALMORAN, who, since the death of his father, had nothing to apprehend +from the discovery of sentiments which before he had been careful to +conceal; now urged his objections against religion, when OMAR gave him +opportunity, without reserve. 'You tell me,' says he, 'of beings that +are immortal, because they are immaterial; beings which do not consist +of parts, and which, therefore, can admit no solution, the only natural +cause of corruption and decay: but that which is not material, can have +no extension; and what has no extension, possesses no space; and of such +beings, the mind itself, which you pretend to be such a being, has no +conception.' + +'If the mind,' says OMAR, 'can perceive that there is in itself any +single, property of such a being, it has irrefragable evidence that it +is such a being; though its mode of existence, as distinct from matter, +cannot now be comprehended.' 'And what property of such a being,' said +ALMORAN, 'does the mind of man perceive in itself?' 'That of _acting_, +said OMAR, 'without _motion_. You have no idea, that a material +substance can act, but in proportion as it moves: yet to _think_, is to +_act_; and with the idea of thinking, the idea of motion is never +connected: on the contrary, we always conceive the mind to be fixed, in +proportion to the degree of ardour and intenseness with which the power +of thinking is exerted. Now, if that which is material cannot act +without motion; and if man is conscious, that to think, is to act and +not to move; it follows, that there is, in man, somewhat that is not +matter; somewhat that has no extension, and that possesses no space; +somewhat which, having no contexture or parts that can be dissolved or +separated, is exempted from all the natural causes of decay.' + +OMAR paused; and ALMORAN having stood some moments without reply, he +seized this opportunity to impress him with an awful sense of the power +and presence of the Supreme and Eternal Being, from whom his own +existence was derived: 'Let us remember,' said he, 'that to every act of +this immaterial and immortal part, the Father of spirits, from whom it +proceeds, is present: when I behold the busy multitudes that crowd the +metropolis of Persia, in the persuit of business and projects infinitely +complicated and various; and consider that every idea which passes over +their minds, every conclusion, and every purpose, with all that they +remember of the past, and all that they imagine of the future, is at +once known to the Almighty, who without labour or confusion weighs every +thought of every mind in His balance, and reserves it to the day of +retribution; my follies cover me with confusion, and my soul is humbled +in the dust.' + +ALMORAN, though he appeared to listen with attention, and offered +nothing against the reasoning of OMAR, yet secretly despised it as +sophistry; which cunning only had rendered specious; and which he was +unable to confute, merely because it was subtil, and not because it was +true: he had been led, by his passions, first to love, and then to adopt +different opinions; and as every man is inclined to judge of others by +himself, he doubted, whether the principles which OMAR had thus laboured +to establish; were believed even by OMAR himself. + +Thus was the mind of ALMORAN to the instructions of OMAR, as a rock +slightly covered with earth, is to the waters of heaven: the craggs are +left bare by the rain that washes them; and the same showers that +fertilize the field can only discover the sterility of the rock. + +OMAR, however, did not yet disclose his suspicions to HAMET, because he +did not yet see that it could answer any purpose. To remove ALMEIDA from +her apartment, would be to shew a distrust, for which there would not +appear to be any cause; and to refuse ALMORAN access to her when he +desired it, might precipitate such measures as he might meditate, and +engage him in some desperate attempt: he, therefore, contented himself +with advising HAMET, to conceal the time of his marriage till the +evening before he intended it should take place, without assigning the +reason on which his advice was founded. + +To the council of OMAR, HAMET was implicitly obedient, as to the +revelations of the Prophet; but, like his instructions, it was neglected +by ALMORAN, who became every moment more wretched. He had a graceful +person, and a vigorous mind; he was in the bloom of youth, and had a +constitution that promised him length of days; he had power which +princes were emulous to obey, and wealth by which whatever could +administer to luxury might be bought, for every passion, and every +appetite, it was easy for him to procure a perpetual succession of new +objects: yet was ALMORAN, not only without enjoyment, but without peace; +he was by turns pining with discontent, and raving with indignation; his +vices had extracted bitter from every sweet; and having exhausted +nature for delight in vain, he was repining at the bounds in which he +was confined, and regretting the want of other powers as the cause of +his misery. + +Thus the year of mourning for Solyman was compleated, without any act of +violence on the part of ALMORAN, or of caution on the part of HAMET: but +on the evening of the last day, HAMET, having secretly prepared every +thing for performing the solemnity in a private manner, acquainted +ALMORAN by a letter, which OMAR, undertook to deliver, that he should +celebrate his marriage on the morrow. ALMORAN, who never doubted but he +should have notice of this event much longer before it was to happen, +read the letter with a perturbation that it was impossible to conceal: +he was alone in his private apartment, and taking his eye hastily from +the paper, he crushed it together in his hand, and thrusting it into his +bosom, turned from OMAR without speaking; and OMAR, thinking himself +dismissed, withdrew. + +The passions which ALMORAN could no longer suppress, now burst out, in a +torrent of exclamation: 'Am I then, said he, 'blasted for ever with a +double curse, divided empire and disappointed love! What is dominion, if +it is not possessed alone? and what is power, which the dread of rival +power perpetually controuls? Is it for me to listen in silence to the +wrangling of slaves, that I may at last apportion to them what, with a +clamorous insolence, they demand as their due! as well may the sun +linger in his course, and the world mourn in darkness for the day, that +the glow-worm may still be seen to glimmer upon, the earth, and the +owls and bats that haunt the sepulchres of the dead enjoy a longer +night. Yet this have I done, because this has been done by HAMET: and my +heart sickens in vain with the desire of beauty, because my power +extends not to ALMEIDA. With dominion undivided and ALMEIDA, I should be +ALMORAN; but without them, I am less than nothing.' + +OMAR, who, before he has passed the pavilion, heard a sound which he +knew to be the voice of ALMORAN, returned hastily to the chamber in +which he left him, believing he had withdrawn too soon, and that the +king, as he knew no other was present, was speaking to him: he soon drew +near enough to hear what was said; and while he was standing torpid in +suspense, dreading to be discovered, and not knowing how to retire, +ALMORAN turned about. + +At first, both stood motionless with confusion and amazement; bus +ALMORAN'S pride soon surmounted his other passions, and his disdain of +OMAR gave his guilt the firmness of virtue. + +'It is true,' said he, 'that thou hast stolen the secret of my heart; +but do not think, that I fear it should be known: though my poignard +could take it back with thy life; I leave it with thee. To reproach, or +curse thee, would do thee honour, and lift thee into an importance which +otherwise thou canst never reach.' ALMORAN then turned from him with a +contemptuous frown: but OMAR caught him by the robe; and prostrating +himself upon the ground, intreated to be heard. His importunity at +length prevailed; and he attempted to exculpate himself, from the charge +of having insiduously intruded upon the privacy of his prince, but +ALMORAN sternly interrupted him: 'And what art thou,' said he, 'that I +should care, whether thou art innocent or guilty?' 'If not for my +sake,' said OMAR, 'listen for thy own; and though my duty is despised, +let my affection be heard. That thou art not happy, I know; and I now +know the cause. Let my lord pardon the presumption of his slave: he that +seeks to satisfy all his wishes, must be wretched; he only can be happy, +by whom some are suppressed.' At these words ALMORAN snatched his robe +from the hand of OMAR, and spurned him in a transport of rage and +indignation: 'The suppression of desire,' said he, 'is such happiness, +as that of the deaf who do not remember to have heard. If it is virtue, +know, that, as virtue, I despise it; for though it may secure the +obedience of the slave, it can only degrade the prerogative of a prince. +I cast off all restraint, as I do thee: begone, therefore, to HAMET, and +see me no more.' + +OMAR obeyed without reply; and ALMORAN being again alone, the conflict +in his mind was renewed with greater violence than before. He felt all +that he had disguised to OMAR, with the keenest sensibility; and +anticipated the effects of his detection, with unutterable anguish and +regret. He walked backward and forward with a hasty but interrupted +pace; sometimes stopping short, and pressing his hand hard upon his +brow; and sometimes by violent gestures showing the agitation of his +mind: he sometimes stood silent with his eyes, fixed upon, the ground, +and his arms folded together; and sometimes a sudden agony of thought +forced him into loud and tumultuous exclamations: he cursed the +impotence of mind that had suffered his thoughts to escape from him +unawares; without reflecting that he was even then repeating the folly; +and while he felt himself the victim of vice, he could not suppress his +contempt of virtue: 'If I must perish,' said he, 'I will at least perish +unsubdued: I will quench no wish that nature kindles in my bosom; nor +shall my lips utter any prayer, but for new powers to feed the flame.' + +As he uttered this expression, he felt the palace shake; he heard a +rushing, like a blast in the desart; and a being of more than human +appearance stood before him. ALMORAN, though he was terrified, was not +humbled; and he stood expecting the event, whether evil or good, rather +with obduracy than courage. + +'Thou seest,' says the Appearance, 'a Genius, whom the daring purpose of +thy mind has convoked from the middle region, where he was appointed to +wait the signal; and who is now permitted to act in concert with thy +will. Is not this the language of thy heart?--"Whatever pleasure I can +snatch from the hand of time, as he passes by me, I will secure for +myself: my passions shall be strong, that my enjoyments may be great; +for what is the portion allotted to man, but the joyful madness that +prolongs the hours of festivity, the fierce delight that is extorted +from injury by revenge, and the sweet succession of varied pleasures +which the wish that is ever changing prepares for love?"' + +'Whatever thou art,' said ALMORAN, 'whose voice has thus disclosed the +secret of my soul, accept my homage; for I will worship thee: and be +thou henceforth my wisdom and my strength.' + +'Arise,' said the Genius, 'for therefore am I sent. To thy own powers, +mine shall be superadded: and if, as weak only, thou hast been wretched; +henceforth thou shalt be happy. Take no thought for to-morrow; +to-morrow, my power shall be employed in thy behalf. Be not affrighted +at any prodigy; but put thy confidence in me.' While he was yet speaking +and the eyes of ALMORAN were fixed upon him, a cloud gathered round him; +and the next moment dissolving again into air, he disappeared. + + + + +CHAP. IX + + +ALMORAN, when he recovered from his astonishment, and had reflected upon +the prodigy, determined to wait the issue, and refer all his hopes to +the interposition of the Genius, without attempting any thing to retard +the marriage; at which he resolved to be present, that he might improve +any supernatural event which might be produced in his favour. + +HAMET, in the mean time, was anticipating the morrow with a mixture of +anxiety and pleasure; and though he had no reason to think any thing +could prevent his marriage, yet he wished it was over, with an +impatience that was considerably increased by fear. + +Though the anticipation of the great event that was now so near, kept +him waking the greatest part of the night, yet he rose early in the +morning; and while he waited till ALMEIDA should be ready to see him, he +was told that OMAR was without, and desired admittance. When he came in, +HAMET, who always watched his countenance as a mariner the stars of +heaven, perceived that it was obscured with perplexity and grief. 'Tell +me,' said HAMET, 'whence is the sorrow that I discover in thy face?' 'I +am sorrowful,' said OMAR, 'not for myself, but for thee.' At these words +HAMET stept backward, and fixed his eyes upon OMAR, without power to +speak. 'Consider, said OMAR, 'that thou art not a man only, but a +prince: consider also, that immortality is before thee; and that thy +felicity, during the endless ages of immortality, depends upon thyself: +fear not, therefore, what thou canst suffer from others; the evil and +the good of life are transient as the morning dew, and over these only +the hand of others can prevail.' + +HAMET, whose attachment to life was strong, and whose expectations of +immediate enjoyment were high, did not feel the force of what OMAR had +said, though he assented to its truth. 'Tell me,' said he, 'at once, +what thou fearest for me; deliver me from the torments of suspense, and +trust my own fortitude to save me from despair.' 'Know then,' said OMAR, +'that thou art hated by ALMORAN, and that he loves ALMEIDA.' At this +declaration, the astonishment of HAMET was equal to his concern; and he +was in doubt whether to believe or disbelieve what he heard: but the +moment he recollected the wisdom and integrity of OMAR, his doubts were +at an end; and having recovered from his surprize, he was about to make +such enquiries as might gratify the anxious and tumultuous curiosity +which was excited in his breast, when OMAR, lifting up his hand, and +beginning again to speak, HAMET remained silent. + +'Thou knowest,' said OMAR, 'that when my checks were yet ruddy with +youth, and my limbs were braced by vigour, that mine eye was guided to +knowledge by the lamp that is kindled at midnight, and much of what is +hidden in the innermost recesses of nature, was discovered to me: my +prayer ascended in secret to Him, with whom there is wisdom from +everlasting to everlasting, and He illuminated my darkness with His +light. I know, by such sensations as the world either feels not at all, +or feels unnoticed without knowledge of their use, when the powers that +are invisible are permitted to mingle in the walks of men; and well I +know, that some being, who is more than mortal, has joined with ALMORAN +against thee, since the veil of night was last spread upon the earth.' + +HAMET, whose blood was chilled with horror, and whose nerves were no +longer obedient to his will, after several ineffectual attempts to +speak, looked up at OMAR; and striking his hand upon his breast, cried +out, in an earnest, but faultering voice, 'What shall I do?' 'Thou must +do,' said OMAR, 'that which is RIGHT. Let not thy foot be drawn by any +allurement, or driven by any terror, from the path of virtue. While thou +art there, thou art in safety: and though the world should unite against +thee, by the united world thou canst not be hurt.' + +'But what friendly power,' said HAMET, 'shall guard even the path of +virtue from grief and pain; from the silent shaft of disappointed love, +or the sounding scourge of outrageous jealousy? These, surely, have +overtaken the foot of perseverance; and by these, though I should +persevere, may my feet be overtaken.' 'What thou sayest,' replied OMAR, +'is true; and it is true also, that the tempest which roots up the +forest, is driven over the mountain with unabated rage: but from the +mountain, what can it take more than the vegetable dust, which the hand +of nature has scattered upon the moss that covers it? As the dust is to +the mountain, so is all that the storms of life can take from virtue, to +the sum of good which the Omnipotent has appointed for its reward.' +HAMET, whose eye now expressed a kind of doubtful confidence, a hope +that was repressed by fear, remained still silent; and OMAR, perceiving +the state of his mind, proceeded to fortify it by new precepts: 'If +heaven,' said he, 'should vanish like a vapour, and this firm orb of +earth should crumble into dust, the virtuous mind would stand unmoved +amidst the ruins of nature: for He, who has appointed the heavens and +the earth to fail, has said to virtue, "Fear not; for thou canst neither +perish, nor be wretched." Call up thy strength, therefore, to the fight +in which thou art sure of conquest: do thou only that which is RIGHT, +and leave the event to Heaven.' + +HAMET, in this conference with OMAR, having gradually recovered his +fortitude; and the time being now near, when he was to conduct ALMEIDA +to the court of the palace, where the marriage ceremony was to be +performed; they parted with mutual benedictions, each recommending the +other to the protection of the Most High. + +At the appointed hour, the princes of the court being assembled, the +mufti and the imans being ready, and ALMORAN seated upon his throne; +HAMET and ALMEIDA came forward, and were placed one on the right hand, +and the other on the left. The mufti was then advancing, to hear and to +record the mutual promise which was to unite them; ALMORAN was +execrating the appearance of the Genius, as a delusive dream, in all the +tumults of anguish and despair; and HAMET began to hope, that the +suspicions of OMAR had been ill founded; when a stroke of thunder shook +the palace to its foundations, and a cloud rose from the ground, like a +thick smoke, between HAMET and ALMEIDA. + +ALMORAN, who was inspired with new confidence and hope, by that which +had struck the rest of the assembly with terror, started from his seat +with an ardent and furious look; and at the same moment, a voice, that +issued from the cloud, pronounced with a loud but hollow tone, + + 'Fate has decreed, to ALMORAN, ALMEIDA.' + +At these words, ALMORAN rushed forward, and placing himself by the side +of ALMEIDA, the cloud disappeared; and he cried out, 'Let me now +proclaim to the world the secret, which to this moment I have hidden in +my bosom: I love ALMEIDA. The being who alone knew my love, has now by +miracle approved it. Let his decree be accomplished.' He then commanded +that the ceremony should proceed; and seizing the hand of the lady, +began to repeat that part of it which was to have been repeated by +HAMET. But ALMEIDA instantly drew her hand from him in an agony of +distress; and HAMET, who till then had stood motionless with amazement +and horror, started from his trance, and springing forward rushed +between them. ALMORAN turned fiercely upon him; but HAMET, who having +been warned by OMAR, knew the prodigy to be effected by some evil being +whom it was virtue to resist, laid his hand upon his scymitar, and, with +a frown of indignation and defiance, commanded him to stand off: 'I now +know thee,' said he, 'as a man; and, therefore, as a brother I know thee +not.' + +ALMORAN reflecting, that the foundation of this reproach was unknown to +all who were present, and that to them he would therefore appear to be +injured; looked round with an affected smile of wonder and compassion, +as appealing to them from a charge that was thus fiercely and +injuriously brought against him, and imputing it to the violence of +sudden passions by which truth and reason were overborne. The eye of +HAMET at once detected the artifice, which he disdained to expose; he, +therefore, commanded the guard that attended to carry off ALMEIDA to her +apartment. The guard was preparing to obey, when ALMORAN, who thought he +had now such an opportunity to get her into his own power as would never +return, ordered them to see her safely lodged in his own seraglio. + +The men, who thus received opposite commands from persons to whom they +owed equal obedience, stood still in suspense, not knowing which to +prefer: ALMORAN then reproached them with want of obedience, not to him, +but to God, appealing to the prodigy for the justification of his claim. +HAMET, on the contrary, repeated his order, with a look and emphasis +scarce less commanding than the thunder and the voice. But the priests +interposing in favour of ALMORAN, upon presumption that his right had +been decided by a superior power; the guard rushed between HAMET and +ALMEIDA, and with looks that expressed the utmost reluctance and regret, +attempted to separate their hands, which were clasped in each other. She +was affrighted at the violence, but yet more at the apprehension of what +was to follow; she, therefore, turned her eyes upon HAMET, conjuring +him not to leave her, in a tone of tenderness and distress which it is +impossible to describe: he replied with a vehemence that was worthy of +his passion, 'I will not leave thee,' and immediately drew his sabre. At +the same moment they forced her from him; and a party having interposed +to cover those that were carrying her off, HAMET lifted up his weapon to +force his passage through them; but was prevented by OMAR, who, having +pressed through the crowd, presented himself before him. 'Stop me not,' +said HAMET, 'it is for ALMEIDA.' 'If thou wouldst save ALMEIDA,' said +OMAR, 'and thyself, do that only which is RIGHT. What have these done +who oppose thee, more than they ought? and what end can their +destruction answer, but to stain thy hands with unavailing murder? Thou +canst only take the life of a few faithful slaves, who will not lift up +their hands against thee: thou canst not rescue ALMEIDA from thy +brother; but thou canst preserve thyself from guilt.' + +These words of OMAR suspended the rage of HAMET, like a charm; and +returning his scymitar into its sheath, 'Let me then,' said he, 'suffer, +and be guiltless. It is true, that against these ranks my single arm +must be ineffectual; but if my wrongs can rouse a nation to repress the +tyranny, that will shortly extend over it the injuries that now reach +only to me, justice shall be done to HAMET.' Then turning to ALMORAN, +'Henceforth,' said he, 'the kingdom shall be mine or thine. To govern in +concert with thee, is to associate with the powers of hell. The beings +that are superior to evil, are the friends of HAMET; and if these are +thy enemies, what shall be thy defence?' ALMORAN replied only by a +contemptuous smile; and the assembly being dismissed he retired to his +apartment: and HAMET and OMAR went out to the people, who had gathered +in an incredible multitude about the palace. + + + + +CHAP. X. + + +A rumour of what had happened within had reached them, which some +believed, and some doubted: but when they saw OMAR and HAMET return +together, and observed that their looks were full of resentment and +trouble, they became silent with attention in a moment; which OMAR +observing, addressed them with an eloquence of which they had often +acknowledged the force, and of which they never repented the effect. + +He told them the tender connexion between HAMET and ALMEIDA, and +disclosed the subtil hypocrisy of ALMORAN: he expatiated upon the folly +of supposing, that the power that was supreme in goodness and truth, +should command a violation of vows that had been mutually interchanged, +and often repeated; and devote to ALMORAN the beauties, which could only +be voluntarily surrendered to HAMET. They heard him with a vacant +countenance of surprize and wonder; and while he waited for their reply, +they agreed among themselves, that no man could avoid the destiny that +was written upon his head; and that if ALMEIDA had thus been taken from +HAMET, and given to ALMORAN, it was an event that by an unchangeable +decree was appointed to happen; and that, therefore, it was their duty +to acquiesce. OMAR then beckoned with his hand for audience a second +time, and told them, that ALMORAN had not only practised the arts of +sorcery to deprive HAMET of ALMEIDA, but that he meditated a design to +usurp the sole dominion, and deprive him of the share of the government +to which he had a right by the will of Solyman his father. This also +they heard with the same sentiments of wonder and acquiescence: If it is +decreed, said they, that ALMORAN shall be king alone, who can prevent +it? and if it is not, who can bring it to pass? 'But know ye not,' said +OMAR, 'that when the end is appointed, the means are appointed also. If +it is decreed that one of you shall this night die by poison, is it not +decreed also that he shall drink it?' + +The crowd now gazed upon each other, without reply, for some minutes: +and at last they only said, that no effort of theirs could change the +universal appointment of all things; that if ALMORAN was to be king +alone, he would be so notwithstanding all opposition; and that if he was +not to be king alone, no attempt of his own, however supported, could +make him so. 'I will not,' said OMAR, 'contradict your opinion; I will +only tell you what I have heard, and leave you to, suffer the calamities +which threaten you, with a fortitude and resignation that are suitable +to your principles; having no consolation to offer you, but that HAMET, +whose destiny it was not to make you happy, will suffer with you the +evils, that neither he nor you could prevent: the mournful comfort of +this fellowship, he will not be denied; for he loves you too well, to +wish even to be happy alone.' The crowd fixed their eyes upon HAMET, for +whom their affection was now strongly moved, with looks of much greater +intelligence and sensibility; a confused murmur, like the fall of the +pebbles upon the beach when the surge retires from the shore, expressed +their gratitude to HAMET, and their apprehensions for themselves. + +OMAR waited till they were again silent, and then improved the advantage +he had gained. 'ALMORAN,' said he, 'considers you as the slaves of his +power; HAMET as the objects of his benevolence: your lives and your +properties, in the opinion of ALMORAN, are below his notice; but HAMET +considers his own interest as connected with yours. When ALMORAN, +therefore, shall be unchecked by the influence of HAMET; he will leave +you to the mercy of some delegated tyrant, whose whole power will be +exerted to oppress you, that he may enrich himself.' + +A new fire was now kindled in their eyes, and their cheeks glowed with +indignation at the wrongs that threatened them; they were no longer +disposed to act upon the principles of fatality, as they had perversely +understood them; and they argued at once like reasonable and free +beings, whose actions were in their choice, and who had no doubt but +that their actions would produce adequate effects. They recollected that +OMAR had, in the reign of Solyman, often rescued them from such +oppression, as now threatened them; and that the power of HAMET had +since interposed in their behalf, when ALMORAN would have stretched his +prerogative to their hurt, or have left them a prey to the farmer of a +tax. 'Shall HAMET,' said they, 'be deprived of the power, that he +employs only for our benefit; and shall it center in ALMORAN, who will +abuse it to our ruin? Shall we rather support ALMORAN in the wrong he +has done to HAMET, than HAMET to obtain justice of ALMORAN? HAMET is +our king; let him command us, and we will obey.' This was uttered with a +shout that ecchoed from the mountains beyond the city, and continued +near a full hour. In the mean time, the multitude was increasing every +moment; and the troops that lay in and near the city, having taken arms, +fell in with the stream: they were secretly attached to HAMET, under +whose eye they had been formed, and of whose bounty they had often +partaken; and their fear being removed by the general cry, which left +them no room to apprehend an opposition in favour of ALMORAN, they were +now at full liberty to follow their inclinations. + +In the mean time, ALMORAN, who had retired to the innermost court of the +palace, had heard the tumult, and was alarmed for his safety: he ran +from room to room, confused and terrified, without attempting or +directing any thing either for his defence or escape, yet he sent every +moment to know the state of the insurrection, and to what end its force +would be directed. + +Among those whom accident rather than choice had attached to the +interest of ALMORAN, were Osmyn and Caled: they were both distinguished +by his favour; and each had conceived hopes that, if he should possess +the throne alone, he would delegate his authority to him. ALMORAN now +ordered them to take the command of the troops, that were appointed to +attend his person as their peculiar duty, with as many others as had not +declared for HAMET, and to secure all the avenues that led to his +seraglio. + +OMAR and HAMET were now on horseback, and had begun to form the troops +that had joined them, and as many others as were armed, which were +before mingled together in a confused multitude. An account of this was +brought to ALMORAN by Osmyn; and threw him into a perturbation and +perplexity, that disgraced his character, and confounded his attendants. +He urged Osmyn, in whom he most confided, to dispatch, without giving +him any orders to execute; then turning from him, he uttered, in a low +and inarticulate voice, the most passionate exclamations of distress and +terror, being struck with the thought that his guard might betray him: +when he recollected himself, and perceived that Osmyn was still present, +he burst into a rage, and snatching out his poignard, he swore by the +soul of the Prophet, that if he did not instantly attempt something, he +would stab him to the heart. Osmyn drew back trembling and confused; but +having yet received no orders, he would have spoken, but ALMORAN drove +him from his presence with menaces and execrations. + +The moment that Osmyn left him, his rage subsided in his fears, and his +fears were mingled with remorse: 'Which way soever I turn,' said he, 'I +see myself surrounded by destruction. I have incensed Osmyn by +unreasonable displeasure, and causeless menaces. He must regard me at +once with abhorrence and contempt: and it is impossible, but he should +revolt to HAMET.' + +In this agony, the terrors of futurity rushed upon his mind with all +their force; and he darted as if at the bite of a scorpion: 'To me,' +said he, 'death, that now approaches, will be but the beginning of +sorrow. I shall be cut off at once from enjoyment, and from hope; and +the dreadful moment is now at hand.' While he was speaking, the palace +again shook, and he stood again in the presence of the Genius. + +'ALMORAN,' said the inhabitant of the unapparent world, 'the evil which +thou fearest, shall not be upon thee. Make haste, and shew thyself from +the gallery to the people, and the tumult of faction shall be still +before thee: tell them, that their rebellion is not against thee only, +but against Him by whom thou reignest: appeal boldly to that power for a +confirmation of thy words, and rely for the attesting sign upon me.' +ALMORAN, who had stooped with his face to the ground, now looked upward, +and found himself alone: he hasted, therefore, to follow the directions +he had received; and hope was again kindled in his bosom. + +Osmyn, in the mean time, made a proper disposition of the troops now +under his command; and had directed a select company to remain near the +person of the king, that they might at least make good his retreat. +While he was waiting at his post, and revolving in his mind the total +disappointment of his hopes, and considering what he should do if HAMET +should establish himself alone, he was joined by Caled. + +Caled had a secret enmity against Osmyn, as his rival in the favour of +ALMORAN; but as he had concealed his own pretensions from Osmyn, Osmyn +had no ill will against Caled. As they were now likely to be involved +in one common calamity, by the ruin of the prince whose party they had +espoused; Caled's enmity subsided, and the indifference of Osmyn was +warmed into kindness: mutual distress produced mutual confidence; and +Caled, after condoling with Osmyn on their present hopeless situation, +proposed that they should draw off their forces, and revolt to HAMET. +This proposition Osmyn rejected, not only from principle, but from +interest: 'Now we have accepted of a trust,' said he, 'we ought not to +betray it. If we had gone over to HAMET, when he first declared against +his brother, he would have received us with joy, and probably have +rewarded our service; but I know, that his virtue will abhor us for +treachery, though practised in his favour: treachery, under the dominion +of HAMET, will not only cover us with dishonour, but will probably +devote us to death.' + +In this reasoning, Caled could not but acquiesce; he felt himself +secretly but forcibly reproved, by the superior virtue of Osmyn: and +while he regretted his having made a proposal, which had been rejected +not only as imprudent but infamous; he concluded, that Osmyn would ever +after suspect and despise him; and he, therefore, from a new cause, +conceived new enmity against him. They parted, however, without any +appearance of suspicion or disgust; and, in a short time, they were in +circumstances very different from their expectations. + + + + + +VOLUME SECOND + + + +CHAP. XI. + + +ALMORAN had now reached the gallery; and when the multitude saw him, +they shouted as in triumph, and demanded that he should surrender. +HAMET, who also perceived him at a distance, and was unwilling that any +violence should be offered to his person, pressed forward, and when he +was come near, commanded silence. At this moment ALMORAN, with a loud +voice, reproached them with impiety and folly; and appealing to the +power, whom in his person they had offended, the air suddenly grew dark, +a flood of lightning descended from the sky, and a peal of thunder was +articulated into these words: + + Divided sway, the God who reigns alone + Abhors; and gives to ALMORAN the throne. + +The multitude stood aghast at the prodigy; and hiding their faces with +their hands, every one departed in silence and confusion, and HAMET and +OMAR were left alone. OMAR was taken by some of the soldiers who had +adhered to ALMORAN, but HAMET made his escape. + +ALMORAN, whose wishes were thus far accomplished by the intervention of +a power superior to his own, exulted in the anticipation of that +happiness which he now supposed to be secured; and was fortified in his +opinion, that he had been wretched only because he had been weak, and +that to multiply and not to suppress his wishes was the way to acquire +felicity. + +As he was returning from the gallery, he was met by Osmyn and Caled, who +had heard the supernatural declaration in his behalf, and learned its +effects. ALMORAN, in that hasty flow of unbounded but capricious favour, +which, in contracted minds, is the effect only of unexpected good +fortune, raised Osmyn from his feet to his bosom: 'As in the trial,' +said he, 'thou hast been faithful, I now invest thee with a superior +trust. The toils of state shall from this moment devolve upon thee; and +from this moment, the delights of empire unallayed shall be mine: I will +recline at ease, remote from every eye but those that reflect my own +felicity; the felicity that I shall taste in secret, surrounded by the +smiles of beauty, and the gaities of youth. Like heaven, I will reign +unseen; and like heaven, though unseen, I will be adored.' Osmyn +received this delegation of power with a tumultuous pleasure, that was +expressed only by silence and confusion. ALMORAN remarked it; and +exulting in the pride of power, he suddenly changed his aspect, and +regarding Osmyn, who was yet blushing, and whose eyes were swimming in +tears of gratitude, with a stern and ardent countenance; 'Let me, +however,' said he, 'warn thee to be watchful in thy trust: beware, that +no rude commotion violate my peace by thy fault; lest my anger sweep +thee in a moment to destruction.' He then directed his eye to Caled: +'And thou too,' said he, 'hast been faithful; be thou next in honour and +in power to Osmyn. Guard both of you my paradise from dread and care; +fulfill the duty that I have assigned you, and live.' + +He was then informed by a messenger, that HAMET had escaped, and that +OMAR was taken. As he now despised the power both of HAMET and OMAR, he +expressed neither concern nor anger that HAMET had fled; but he ordered +OMAR to be brought before him. + +When OMAR appeared bound and disarmed, he regarded him with a smile of +insult and derision; and asked him, what he had now to hope. 'I have, +indeed,' said OMAR, 'much less to hope, than thou hast to fear.' 'Thy +insolence,' said ALMORAN, 'is equal to thy folly: what power on earth is +there, that I should fear?' 'Thy own,' said OMAR. 'I have not leisure +now,' replied ALMORAN, 'to hear the paradoxes of thy philosophy +explained: but to shew thee, that I fear not thy power, thou shalt live. +I will leave thee to hopeless regret; to wiles that have been scorned +and defeated; to the unheeded petulance of dotage; to the fondness that +is repayed with neglect; to restless wishes, to credulous hopes, and to +derided command: to the slow and complicated torture of despised old +age; and that, when thou shalt long have abhorred thy being, shall +destroy it.' 'The misery,' said OMAR, 'which thou hast menaced, it is +not in thy power to inflict. As thou hast taken from me all that I +possessed by the bounty of thy father, it is true that I am poor; it is +true also, that my knees are now feeble, and bend with the weight of +years that is upon me. I am, as thou art, a man; and therefore I have +erred: but I have still kept the narrow path in view with a faithful +vigilance, and to that I have soon returned: the past, therefore, I do +not regret; and the future I have no cause to fear. In Him who is most +merciful, I have hope; and in that hope even how I rejoice before thee. +My portion in the present hour, is adversity: but I receive it, not only +with humility, but thankfulness; for I know, that whatever is ordained +is best.' + +ALMORAN, in whose heart there were no traces of OMAR'S virtue, and +therefore no foundation for his confidence; sustained himself against +their force, by treating them as hypocrisy and affectation: 'I know,' +says he, 'that thou hast long learned to eccho the specious and pompous +sounds, by which hypocrites conceal their wretchedness, and excite the +admiration of folly and the contempt of wisdom: yet thy walk, in this +place, shall be still unrestrained. Here the splendor of my felicity +shall fill thy heart with envy, and cover thy face with confusion; and +from thee shall the world be instructed, that the enemies of ALMORAN can +move no passion in his breast but contempt, and that most to punish them +is to permit them to live.' + +OMAR, whose eye had till now been fixed upon the ground, regarded +ALMORAN with a calm but steady countenance: 'Here then,' said he, 'will +I follow thee, constant as thy shadow; tho', as thy shadow, unnoticed or +neglected: here shall mine eye watch those evils, that were appointed +from everlasting to attend upon guilt: and here shall my voice warn thee +of their approach. From thy breast may they be averted by righteousness! +for without this, though all the worlds that roll above thee should, to +aid thee, unite all their power, that power can aid thee only to be +wretched.' + +ALMORAN, in all the pride of gratified ambition, invested with dominion +that had no limits, and allied with powers that were more than mortal; +was overawed by this address, and his countenance grew pale. But the +next moment, disdaining to be thus controuled by the voice of a slave, +his cheeks were suffused with the blushes of indignation: he turned from +OMAR, in scorn, anger, and confusion, without reply; and OMAR departed +with the calm dignity of a benevolent and superior being, to whom the +smiles and frowns of terrestrial tyranny were alike indifferent, and in +whom abhorrence of the turpitude of vice was mingled with companion for +its folly. + + + + +CHAP. XII. + + +In the mean time, ALMEIDA, who had been conveyed to an apartment in +ALMORAN'S seraglio, and delivered to the care of those who attended upon +his women, suffered all that grief and terror could inflict upon a +generous, a tender, and a delicate mind; yet in this complicated +distress, her attention was principally fixed upon HAMET. The +disappointment of his hope, and the violation of his right, were the +chief objects of her regret and her fears, in all that had already +happened, and in all that was still to come; every insult that might be +offered to herself, she considered as an injury to him. Yet the +thoughts of all that he might suffer in her person, gave way to her +apprehensions of what might befall him in his own: in his situation, +every calamity that her imagination could conceive, was possible; her +thoughts were, therefore, bewildered amidst an endless variety of +dreadful images, which started up before them which way soever they were +turned; and it was impossible that she could gain any certain +intelligence of his fate, as the splendid prison in which she was now +confined, was surrounded by mutes and eunuchs, of whom nothing could be +learned, or in whole report no confidence could be placed. + +While her mind was in this state of agitation and distress, she +perceived the door open, and the next moment ALMORAN entered the +apartment. When she saw him, she turned from him with a look of +unutterable anguish; and hiding her face in her veil, she burst into +tears. The tyrant was moved with her distress; for unfeeling obduracy is +the vice only of the old, whose sensibility has been worn away by the +habitual perpetration of reiterated wrongs. + +He approached her with looks of kindness, and his voice was +involuntarily modulated to pity; she was, however, too much absorbed in +her own sorrows, to reply. He gazed upon her with tenderness and +admiration; and taking her hand into his own, he pressed it ardently to +his bosom: his compassion soon kindled into desire, and from soothing +her distress, he began to solicit her love. This instantly roused her +attention, and resentment now suspended her grief: she turned from him +with a firm and haughty step, and instead of answering his professions, +reproached him with her wrongs. ALMORAN, that he might at once address +her virtue and her passions, observed, that though he had loved her from +the first moment he had seen her, yet he had concealed his passion even +from her, till it had received the sanction of an invisible and superior +power; that he came, therefore, the messenger of heaven; and that he +offered her unrivalled empire and everlasting love. To this she +answered only by an impatient and fond enquiry after HAMET. 'Think not +of HAMET,' said ALMORAN; 'for why should he who is rejected of Heaven, +be still the favorite of ALMEIDA?' 'If thy hand,' said ALMEIDA, 'could +quench in everlasting darkness, that vital spark of intellectual fire, +which the word of the Almighty has kindled in my breast to burn for +ever, then might ALMEIDA cease to think of HAMET; but while that shall +live, whatever form it shall inhabit, or in whatever world it shall +reside, his image shall be for ever present, and to him shall my love be +for ever true.' This glowing declaration of her love for HAMET, was +immediately succeeded by a tender anxiety for his safety; and a sudden +reflection upon the probability of his death, and the danger of his +situation if alive, threw her again into tears. + +ALMORAN, whom the ardour and impetuosity of her passions kept sometimes +silent, and sometimes threw into confusion, again attempted to sooth and +comfort her: she often urged him to tell her what was become of his +brother, and he as often evaded the question. As she was about to renew +her enquiry, and reflected that it had already been often made, and had +not yet been answered, she thought that ALMORAN had already put him to +death: this threw her into a new agony, of which he did not immediately +discover the cause; but as he soon learned it from her reproaches and +exclamations, he perceived that he could not hope to be heard, while she +was in doubt about the safety of HAMET. In order, therefore, to sooth +her mind, and prevent its being longer possessed with an image that +excluded every other; he assumed a look of concern and astonishment at +the imputation of a crime, which was at once so horrid and so +unnecessary. After a solemn deprecation of such enormous guilt, he +observed, that as it was now impossible for HAMET to succeed as his +rival, either in empire or in love, without the breach of a command, +which he knew his virtue would implicitly obey; he had no motive either +to desire his death, or to restrain his liberty: 'His walk' says he, 'is +still uncircumscribed in Persia, and except this chamber, there is no +part of the palace to which he is not admitted.' + +To this declaration ALMEIDA listened, as to the music of paradise; and +it suspended for a-while every passion, but her love: the sudden ease of +her mind made her regardless of all about her, and she had in this +interval suffered ALMORAN to remove her veil, without reflecting upon +what he was doing. The moment she recollected herself, she made a gentle +effort to recover it, with some confusion, but without anger. The +pleasure that was expressed in her eyes, the blush that glowed upon her +cheek, and the contest about the veil, which to an amorous imagination +had an air of dalliance, concurred to heighten the passion of ALMORAN +almost to phrensy: she perceived her danger in his looks, and her +spirits instantly took the alarm. He seized her hand, and gazing +ardently upon her, he conjured her, with a tone and emphasis that +strongly expressed the tumultuous vehemence of his wishes, that she +would renounce the rites which had been forbidden above, and that she +would receive him to whom by miracle she had been alloted. + +ALMEIDA, whom the manner and voice of ALMORAN had terrified into +silence, answered him at first only with a look that expressed aversion +and disdain, overawed by fear. 'Wilt thou not,' said ALMORAN, 'fulfill +the decrees of Heaven? I conjure thee, 'by Heaven, to answer.' From +this solemn reference to Heaven, ALMEIDA derived new fortitude: she +instantly recollected, that she stood in the presence of Him, by whose +permission only every other power, whether visible or invisible, can +dispense evil or good: 'Urge no more,' said she, 'as the decree of +Heaven, that which is inconsistent with Divine perfection. Can He in +whose hand my heart is, command me to wed the man whom he has not +enabled me to love? Can the Pure, the Just, the Merciful, have ordained +that I should suffer embraces which I loath, and violate vows which His +laws permitted me to make? Can He have ordained a perfidious, a +loveless, and a joyless prostitution? What if a thousand prodigies +should concur to enforce it a thousand times, the deed itself would be a +stronger proof that those prodigies were the works of darkness, than +those prodigies that the deed was commanded by the Father of light.' + +ALMORAN, whose hopes were now blasted to the root, who perceived that +the virtue of ALMEIDA could neither be deceived nor overborne; that she +at once contemned his power, and abhorred his love; gave way to all the +furies of his mind, which now slumbered no more: his countenance +expressed at once anger, indignation, and despair; his gesture became +furious, and his voice was lost in menaces and execrations. ALMEIDA +beheld him with an earnest yet steady countenance, till he vowed to +revenge the indignity he had suffered, upon HAMET. At the name of HAMET, +her fortitude forsook her; the pride of virtue gave way to the softness +of love; her cheeks became pale, her lips trembled, and taking hold of +the robe of ALMORAN, she threw herself at his feet. His fury was it +first suspended by hope and expectation; but when from her words, which +grief and terror had rendered scarce articulate, he could learn only +that she was pleading for HAMET, he burst from her in an extasy of rage, +and forcing his robe from her hand, with a violence that dragged her +after it, he rushed out of the chamber, and left her prostrate upon the +ground. + +As he passed through the gallery with a hasty and disordered pace, he +was seen by OMAR; who knowing that he was returned from an interview +with ALMEIDA, and conjecturing from his appearance what had happened, +judged that he ought not to neglect this opportunity to warn him once +more of the delusive phantoms, which, under the appearance of pleasure, +were leading him to destruction: he, therefore, followed him +unperceived, till he had reached the apartment in which he had been used +to retire alone, and heard again the loud and tumultuous exclamations, +which were wrung, from his heart by the anguish of disappointment: 'What +have I gained,' said he, 'by absolute dominion! The slave who, secluded +from the gales of life and from the light of heaven toils without hope +in the darkness of the mine, riots in the delights of paradise compared +with me. By the caprice of one woman, I am robbed not only of enjoyment +but of peace, and condemned for ever to the torment of unsatisfied +desire.' + +OMAR, who was impatient to apprize him that he was not alone, and to +prevent his disclosing sentiments which he wished to conceal, now threw +himself upon the ground at his feet. 'Presumptuous slave!' said ALMORAN, +'from whence, and wherefore art thou come?' 'I am come,' said OMAR, 'to +tell thee that not the caprice of a woman, but the wishes of ALMORAN, +have made ALMORAN wretched.' The king, slung with the reproach, drew +back, and with a furious look laid his hand upon his poignard; but was +immediately restrained from drawing it, by his pride. 'I am come,' said +OMAR, 'to repeat that truth, upon which, great as thou art, thy fate is +suspended. Thy power extends not to the mind of another; exert it, +therefore, upon thy own: suppress the wishes, which thou canst not +fulfill, and secure the happiness that is within thy reach.' + +ALMORAN, who could bear no longer to hear the precepts which he +disdained to practice, sternly commanded OMAR to depart: 'Be gone,' said +he, 'lest I crush thee like a noisome reptile, which men cannot but +abhor, though it is too contemptible to be feared.' 'I go,' said OMAR, +'that my warning voice may yet again recall thee to the path of wisdom +and of peace, if yet again I shall behold thee while it is to be found.' + + + + +CHAP. XIII. + + +ALMORAN was now left alone; and throwing himself upon a sofa, he sat +some time motionless and silent, as if all his faculties had been +suspended in the stupefaction of despair. He revolved in his mind the +wishes that had been gratified, and the happiness of which he had been +disappointed: 'I desired,' said he, 'the pomp and power of undivided +dominion; and HAMET was driven from the throne which he shared with me, +by a voice from heaven: I desired to break off his marriage with +ALMEIDA; and it was broken off by a prodigy, when no human power could +have accomplished my desire. It was my wish also to have the person of +ALMEIDA in my power, and this wish also has been gratified; yet I am +still wretched. But I am wretched, only because the means have not been +adequate to the end: what I have hitherto obtained, I have not desired +for itself; and of that, for which I desired it, I am not possessed: I +am, therefore, still wretched, because I am weak. With the soul of +ALMORAN, I should have the form of HAMET: then my wishes would indeed be +filled; then would ALMEIDA bless me with consenting beauty, and the +splendor of my power should distinguish only the intervals of my love; +my enjoyments would then be certain and permanent, neither blasted by +disappointment, nor withered by satiety.' When he had uttered these +reflections with the utmost vehemence and agitation, his face was again +obscured by gloom and despair; his posture was again fixed; and he was +falling back into his former state of silent abstraction, when he was +suddenly roused by the appearance of the Genius, the sincerity of whose +friendship he began to distrust. + +'ALMORAN,' said the Genius, 'if thou art not yet happy, know that my +powers are not yet exhausted: fear me not, but let thine ear be +attentive to my voice.' The Genius then stretched out his hand towards +him, in which there was an emerald of great lustre, cut into a figure +that had four and twenty sides, on each of which was engraven a +different letter. 'Thou seest,' said he, 'this talisman: on each side of +it is engraven one of those mysterious characters, of which are formed +all the words of all the languages that are spoken by angels, genii, and +men. This shall enable thee to change thy figure: and what, under the +form of ALMORAN, thou canst not accomplish; thou shalt still be able to +effect, if it can be effected by thee, in the form of any other. Point +only to the letters that compose the name of him whose appearance thou +wouldst assume, and it is done. Remember only, that upon him, whose +appearance thou shalt assume, thine shall be imprest, till thou +restorest his own. Hide the charm in thy bosom, and avail thyself of +its power.' ALMORAN received the talisman in a transport of gratitude +and joy, and the Genius immediately disappeared. + +The use of this talisman was so obvious, that it was impossible to +overlook it. ALMORAN instantly conceived the design with which it was +given, and determined instantly to put it in execution: 'I will now,' +said he, 'assume the figure of HAMET; and my love, in all its ardour, +shall be returned by ALMEIDA.' As his fancy kindled at the anticipation +of his happiness, he stood musing in a pleasing suspense, and indulged +himself in the contemplation of the several gradations, by which he +would ascend to the summit of his wishes. + +Just at this moment, Osmyn, whom he had commanded to attend him at this +hour, approached his apartment: ALMORAN was roused by the sound of his +foot, and supposed it to be OMAR, who had again intruded upon his +privacy; he was enraged at the interruption which had broken a series of +imaginations so flattering and luxurious; he snatched out his poignard, +and lifting up his arm for the stroke, hastily turned round to have +stabbed him; but seeing Osmyn, he discovered his mistake just in time to +prevent the blow. + +Osmyn, who was not conscious of any crime, nor indeed of any act that +could have given occasion of offence; started back terrified and +amazed, and stood trembling in suspense whether to remain or to +withdraw. ALMORAN, in the mean time, sheathed the instrument of death, +and bid him fear nothing, for he should not be hurt. He then turned +about; and putting, his hand to his forehead, stood again, silent in a +musing posture: he recollected, that if he assumed the figure of HAMET, +it was necessary he should give orders for HAMET to be admitted to +ALMEIDA, as he would otherwise be excluded by the delegates of his own +authority; turning, therefore, to Osmyn, 'Remember,' said he, 'that +whenever HAMET shall return, it is my command, that he be admitted to +ALMEIDA.' + +Osmyn; who was pleased with an opportunity of recommending himself to +ALMORAN, by praising an act of generous virtue which he supposed him now +to exert in favour of his brother, received the command with a look, +that expressed not only approbation but joy: 'Let the sword of +destruction,' said he, 'be the guard of the tyrant; the strength of my +lord shall be the bonds of love: those, who honour thee as ALMORAN, +shall rejoice in thee as the friend of HAMET.' To ALMORAN, who was +conscious to no kindness for his brother, the praise of Osmyn was a +reproach: he was offended at the joy which he saw kindled in his +countenance, by a command to shew favour to HAMET; and was fired with +sudden rage at that condemnation of his real conduct, which was implied +by an encomium on the generosity of which he assumed the appearance for +a malevolent and perfidious purpose: his brow was contracted, his lip +quivered, and the hilt of his dagger was again grasped in his hand. +Osmyn was again overwhelmed with terror and confusion; he had again +offended, but knew not his offence. In the mean time, ALMORAN +recollecting that to express displeasure against Osmyn was to betray his +own secret, endeavoured to suppress his anger; but his anger was +succeeded by remorse, regret, and disappointment. The anguish of his +mind broke out in imperfect murmurs: 'What I am, said, he, 'is, to this +wretch, the object not only of hatred but of scorn; and he commends +only what I am not, in what to him I would seem to be. + +These sounds, which, tho' not articulate, were yet uttered with great +emotion, were still mistaken by Osmyn for the overflowings of capricious +and causeless anger: 'My life,' says he to himself, 'is even now +suspended in a doubtful balance. Whenever I approach this tyrant, I +tread the borders of destruction: like a hood-winked wretch, who is left +to wander near the brink of a precipice, I know my danger; but which way +soever I turn, I know not whether I shall incur or avoid it.' + +In these reflections, did the reign and the slave pass those moments in +which the sovereign intended to render the slave subservient to his +pleasure or his security, and the slave intended to express a zeal which +he really felt, and a homage which his heart had already paid. Osmyn was +at length, however, dismissed with an assurance, that all was well; and +ALMORAN was again left to reflect with anguish upon the past, to regret +the present, and to anticipate the future with solicitude, anxiety, and +perturbation. + +He was, however, determined to assume the figure of his brother, by the +talisman which had been put into his power by the Genius: but just as he +was about to form the spell, he recollected, that by the same act he +would impress his own likeness upon HAMET who would consequently be +invested with his power, and might use it to his destruction. This held +him some time in suspense: but reflecting that HAMET might not, perhaps, +be apprized of his advantage, till it was too late to improve it; that +he was now a fugitive, and probably alone, leaving Persia behind him +with all the speed he could make; and that, at the worst, if he should +be still near, if he should know the transformation as soon as it should +be made, and should instantly take the most effectual measures to +improve it; yet as he could dissolve the charm in a moment, whenever it +should be necessary for his safety, no formidable danger could be +incurred by the experiment, to which he, therefore, proceeded without +delay. + + + + +CHAP. XIV. + + +In the mean time, HAMET, to whom his own safety was of no importance but +for the sake of ALMEIDA, resolved, if possible, to conceal himself near +the city. Having, therefore, reached the confines of the desert, by +which it was bounded on the east, he quitted his horse, and determined +to remain there till the multitude was dispersed; and the darkness of +the evening might conceal his return, when in less than an hour he could +reach the palace. + +He sat down at the foot of the mountain Kabessed, without considering, +that in this place he was most likely to be found, as those who travel +the desert seldom fail to enter the cave that winds its way under the +mountain, to drink of the water that issues there from a clear and +copious spring. + +He reviewed the scenes of the day that was now nearly passed, with a +mixture of astonishment and distress, to which no description can be +equal The sudden and amazing change that a few hours had made in his +situation, appeared like a wild and distressful dream, from which he +almost doubted whether he should not wake to the power and the felicity +that he had lost. He sat some time bewildered in the hurry and +multiplicity of his thoughts, and at length burst out into passionate +exclamations: 'What,' says he, 'and where am I? Am I, indeed, HAMET; +that son of Solyman who divided the dominion of Persia with his brother, +and who possessed the love of ALMEIDA alone? Dreadful vicissitude! I am +now an outcast, friendless and forlorn; without an associate, and +without a dwelling: for me the cup of adversity overflows, and the last +dregs of sorrow have been wrung out for my portion: the powers not only +of the earth, but of the air, have combined against me; and how can I +stand alone before them? But is there no power that will interpose in my +behalf? If He, who is supreme, is good, I shall not perish. But +wherefore am I thus? Why should the desires of vice be accomplished by +superior powers; and why should superior powers be permitted to +disappoint the expectations of virtue? Yet let me not rashly question +the ways of Him, in whose balance the world is weighed: by Him, every +evil is rendered subservient to good; and by His wisdom, the happiness +of the whole is secured. Yet I am but a part only, and for a part only I +can feel. To me, what is that goodness of which I do not partake? In my +cup the gall is unmixed; and have I not, therefore, a right to complain? +But what have I said? Let not the gloom that surrounds me, hide from me +the prospect of immortality. Shall not eternity atone for time? +Eternity, to which the duration of ages is but as an atom to a world! +Shall I not, when this momentary separation is past, again meet ALMEIDA +to part no more? and shall not a purer flame than burns upon the earth, +unite us? Even at this moment, her mind, which not the frauds of sorcery +can taint or alienate, is mine: that pleasure which she reserved for me, +cannot be taken by force; it is in the consent alone that it subsists; +and from the joy that she feels, and from that only, proceeds the joy +she can bestow.' + +With these reflections he soothed the anguish of his mind, till the +dreadful moment arrived, in which the power of the talisman took place, +and the figure of ALMORAN was changed into that of HAMET, and the +figure of HAMET into that of ALMORAN. + +At the moment of transformation, HAMET was seized with a sudden languor, +and his faculties were suspended as by the stroke of death. When he +recovered, his limbs still trembled, and his lips were parched with +thirst: he rose, therefore, and entering the cavern, at the mouth of +which he had been sitting, he stooped over the well to drink; but +glancing his eyes upon the water, he saw, with astonishment and horror, +that it reflected, not his own countenance, but that of his brother. He +started back from the prodigy; and supporting himself against the side +of the rock, he stood some time like a statue, without the power of +recollection: but at length the thought suddenly rushed into his mind, +that the same sorcery which had suspended his marriage, and driven him +from the throne was still practised against him; and that the change of +his figure to that of ALMORAN, was the effect of ALMORAN'S having +assumed his likeness, to obtain, in this disguise, whatever ALMEIDA +could bestow. This thought, like a whirlwind of the desert, totally +subverted his mind; his fortitude was borne down, and his hopes were +rooted up; no principles remained to regulate his conduct, but all was +phrensy, confusion, and despair. He rushed out of the cave with a +furious and distracted look; and went in haste towards the city, without +having formed any design, or considered any consequence that might +follow. + +The shadows of the mountains were now lengthened by the declining sun; +and the approach of evening had invited OMAR to meditate in a grove, +that was adjacent to the gardens of the palace. From this place he was +seen at some distance by HAMET, who came up to him with a hasty and +disordered pace; and OMAR drew back with a cold and distant reverence, +which the power and the character of ALMORAN concurred to excite. HAMET, +not reflecting upon the cause of this behaviour, was offended, and +reproached him with the want of that friendship he had so often +professed: the vehemence, of his expression and demeanor, suited well +with the appearance of ALMORAN; and OMAR, as the best proof of that +friendship which had been impeached, took this opportunity to repeat his +admonitions in the behalf of HAMET: 'What ever evil,' said he, 'thou +canst bring upon HAMET, will be doubled to thyself: to his virtues, the +Power that fills infinitude is a friend, and he can be afflicted only +till they are perfect; but thy sufferings will be the punishment of +vice, and as long as thou are vicious they must increase. + +HAMET, who instantly recollected for whom he was mistaken, and the +anguish of whose mind was for a moment suspended by this testimony of +esteem and kindness, which could not possibly be feigned, and which was +paid him at the risque of life, when it could not be known that he +received it; ran forward to embrace the hoary sage, who had been the +guide of his youth, and cried out, in a voice that was broken by +contending passions, 'The face is the face of ALMORAN, but the heart is +the heart of HAMET.' + +OMAR was struck dumb with astonishment; and HAMET, who was impatient to +be longer mistaken, related all the circumstances of his transformation, +and reminded him of some particulars which could be known only to +themselves: 'Canst thou not yet believe,' said he, 'that I am HAMET? +when thou hast this day seen me banished from my kingdom; when thou hast +now met me a fugitive returning from the desert; and when I learnt from +thee, since the sun was risen which is not yet set, that more than +mortal powers were combined against me.' 'I now believe,' said OMAR, +'that thou, indeed, art HAMET.' 'Stay me not then,' said HAMET; 'but +come with me to revenge.' 'Beware,' said OMAR, 'lest thou endanger the +loss of more than empire and ALMEIDA.' 'If not to revenge,' said HAMET,' +I may at least be permitted to punish.' 'Thy mind,' says OMAR, 'is now +in such a state, that to punish the crimes by which thou hast been +wronged, will dip thee in the guilt of blood. Why else are we forbidden +to take vengeance for ourselves? and why is it reserved as the +prerogative of the Most High? In Him, and in Him alone, it is goodness +guided by wisdom: He approves the means, only as necessary to the end; +He wounds only to heal, and destroys only to save; He has complacence, +not in the evil, but in the good only which it is appointed to produce. +Remember, therefore, that he, to whom the punishment of another is +sweet; though his act may be just with respect to others, with respect +to himself it is a deed of darkness, and abhorred by the Almighty.' +HAMET, who had stood abstracted in the contemplation of the new injury +he had suffered, while OMAR was persuading him not to revenge it, +started from his posture in all the wildness of distraction; and +bursting away from OMAR, with an ardent and furious look hasted toward +the palace, and was soon out of sight. + + + + +CHAP. XV. + + +In the mean time, ALMORAN, after having effected the transformation, was +met, as he was going to the apartment of ALMEIDA, by Osmyn. Osmyn had +already experienced the misery of dependent greatness, that kept him +continually under the eye of a capricious tyrant, whose temper was +various as the gales of summer, and whose anger was sudden as the bolt +of heaven; whose purpose and passions were dark and impetuous as the +midnight storm, and at whose command death was inevitable as the +approach of time. When he saw ALMORAN, therefore, in the likeness of +HAMET, he felt a secret desire to apprize him of his situation, and +offer him his friendship. + +ALMORAN, who with the form assumed the manners of HAMET, addressed Osmyn +with a mild though mournful countenance: 'At length,' said he, 'the will +of ALMORAN alone is law; does it permit me to hold a private rank in +this place, without molestation?' 'It permits,' said Osmyn, 'yet more; +he has commanded, that you should have admittance to ALMEIDA.' ALMORAN, +whose vanity betrayed him to flatter his own power in the person of +HAMET, replied with a smile: 'I know, that ALMORAN, who presides like a +God in silent and distant state, reveals the secrets of his will to +thee; I know that thou art'--'I am,' said Osmyn, 'of all thou seest, +most wretched.' At this declaration, ALMORAN turned short, and fixed his +eyes upon Osmyn with a look of surprize and anger: 'Does not the favour +of ALMORAN,' said he, 'whose smile is power, and wealth, and honour, +shine upon thee?' 'My lord,' said Osmyn, 'I know so well the severity of +thy virtue, that if I should, even for thy sake, become perfidious to +thy brother'--ALMORAN, who was unable to preserve the character of HAMET +with propriety, interrupted him with a fierce and haughty tone: 'How!' +said he, 'perfidious to my brother! to ALMORAN perfidious!' + +Osmyn, who had now gone too far to recede, and who still saw before him +the figure of HAMET, proceeded in his purpose: 'I knew,' said he, 'that +in thy judgment I should be condemned; and yet, the preservation of life +is the strongest principle of nature, and the love of virtue is her +proudest boast.' 'Explain thyself,' said ALMORAN, 'for I cannot +comprehend thee.' 'I mean,' said Osmyn, 'that he, whose life depends +upon the caprice of a tyrant, is like the wretch whose sentence is +already pronounced; and who, if the wind does but rush by his dungeon, +imagines that it is the bow-string and the mute.' 'Fear not,' said +ALMORAN, who now affected to be again calm; 'be still faithful, and thou +shalt still be safe.' 'Alas!' said Osmyn, there is no diligence, no +toil, no faith, that can secure the slave from the sudden phrensy of +passion, from, the causeless rage either of drunkenness or lust. I am +that slave; the slave of a tyrant whom I hate.' The confusion of ALMORAN +was now too great to be concealed, and he stood silent with rage, fear, +and indignation. Osmyn, supposing that his wonder suspended his belief +of what he had heard, confirmed his declaration by an oath. + +Whoever thou art, to whose mind ALMORAN, the mighty and the proud, is +present; before whom, the lord of absolute dominion stands trembling and +rebuked; who seest the possessor of power by which nature is controuled, +pale and silent with anguish and disappointment: if, in the fury of thy +wrath, thou hast aggravated weakness into guilt; if thou hast chilled +the glow of affection, when it flushed the cheek in thy presence, with +the frown of displeasure, or repressed the ardour of friendship with +indifference or neglect; now, let thy heart smite thee: for, in thy +folly, thou hast cast away that gem, which is the light of life; which +power can never seize, and which gold can never buy! + +The tyrant fell at once from his pride, like a star from Heaven; and +Osmyn, still addressing him as HAMET, at once increased his misery and +his fears: 'O,' said he, 'that the throne of Persia was thine! then +should innocence enjoy her birth-right of peace, and hope should bid +honest industry look upward. There is not one to whom ALMORAN has +delegated power, nor one on whom his transient favour has bestowed any +gift, who does not already feel his heart throb with the pangs of boding +terror. Nor is there one who, if he did not fear the displeasure of the +invisible power by whom the throne has been given to thy brother, would +not immediately revolt to thee.' + +ALMORAN, who had hitherto remained silent, now burst into a passionate +exclamation of self pity: 'What can I do?' said he; 'and whither can I +turn?' Osmyn, who mistook the cause of his distress, and supposed that +he deplored only his want of power to avail himself of the general +disposition in his favour, endeavoured to fortify his mind against +despair: 'Your state,' said he, 'indeed is distressful, but not +hopeless.' The king who, though addressed as, HAMET, was still betrayed +by his confusion to answer as ALMORAN, smote his breast, and replied in +an agony, 'It is hopeless!' Osmyn remarked his emotion and despair, +with, a concern and astonishment that ALMORAN observed, and at once +recollected his situation. He endeavoured to retract such expressions of +trouble and despondency, as did not suit the character he hid assumed; +and telling Osmyn that he thanked him for his friendship; and would +improve the advantages it offered him, he directed him to acquaint the +eunuchs that they were to admit him to ALMEIDA. When he was left alone; +his doubts and perplexity held him long in suspense; a thousand +expedients occurred to his mind by turns, and by turns were rejected. + +His first thought was to put Osmyn to death: but he considered; that by +this he would gain no advantage, as he would be in equal danger from +whoever should succeed him: he considered also, that against Osmyn he +was upon his guard; and that he might at any time learn, from him, +whatever design might be formed in favour of HAMET, by assuming HAMET'S +appearance: that he would thus be the confident of every secret, in +which his own safety was concerned; and might disconcert the best +contrived project at the very moment of its execution, when it would be +too late for other measures to be taken: he determined, therefore, to +let Osmyn live; at least, till it became more necessary to cut him off. +Having in some degree soothed and fortified his mind by these +reflections, he entered the apartment of ALMEIDA. + +His hope was not founded upon a design to marry her under the appearance +of HAMET; for that would be impossible, as the ceremony must have been +performed by the priests who supposed the marriage with HAMET to have +been forbidden by a divine command; and who, therefore, would not have +consented, even supposing they would otherwise have ventured, at the +request of HAMET, to perform a ceremony which they knew would be +displeasing to ALMORAN: but he hoped to take advantage of her tenderness +for his brother, and the particular circumstances of her situation, +which made the solemnities of marriage impossible, to seduce her to +gratify his desires, without the sanction which alone rendered the +gratification of them lawful: if he succeeded in this design, he had +reason to expert, either that his love would be extinguished by +enjoyment; or that, if he should still desire to marry ALMEIDA, he +might, by disclosing to her the artifice by which he had effected his +purpose, prevail upon her to consent, as her connexion with HAMET, the +chief obstacle to her marriage with him, would then be broken for ever; +and as she might, perhaps, wish to sanctify the pleasure which she might +be not unwilling to repeat, or at least to make that lawful which it +would not be in her power to prevent. + +In this disposition, and with this design, he was admitted to ALMEIDA; +who, without suspicion of her danger, was exposed to the severest trial, +in which every passion concurred to oppose her virtue: she was solicited +by all the powers of subtilty and desire, under the appearance of a +lover whose tenderness and fidelity had been long tried, and whose +passion she returned with equal constancy and ardour; and she was thus +solicited, when the rites which alone could consecrate their union, were +impossible, and were rendered impossible by the guilty designs of a +rival, in whose power she was, and from whom no other expedient offered +her a deliverance. Thus deceived and betrayed, she received him with an +excess of tenderness and joy, which flattered all his hopes, and for a +moment suspended his misery. She enquired, with a fond and gentle +solicitude, by what means he had gained admittance, and how he had +provided for his retreat. He received and returned her caresses with a +vehemence, in which, to less partial eyes, desire would have been more +apparent than love; and in the tumult of his passion, he almost +neglected her enquiries: finding, however, that she would be answered, +he told her, that being by the permission of ALMORAN admitted to every +part of the palace, except that of the women, he had found means to +bribe the eunuch who kept the door; who was not in danger of detection, +because ALMORAN, wearied with the tumult and fatigue of the day, had +retired to sleep, and given order to be called at a certain hour. She +then complained of the felicitations to which she was exposed, expressed +her dread of the consequences she had reason to expect from some sudden +sally of the tyrant's rage, and related with tears the brutal outrage +she had suffered when he last left her. 'Though I abhorred him,' said +she, 'I yet kneeled before him for thee. Let me bend in reverence to +that Power, at whose look the whirlwinds are silent, and the seas are +calm, that his fury has hitherto been restrained from hurting thee!' + +At these words, the face of ALMORAN was again covered with the blushes +of confusion: to be still beloved only as HAMET, and as ALMORAN to be +still hated; to be thus reproached without anger, and wounded by those +who knew not that they struck him; was a species of misery peculiar to +himself, and had been incurred only by the acquisition of new powers, +which he had requested and received as necessary to obtain that +felicity, which the parsimony of nature had placed beyond his reach. His +emotions, however, as by ALMEIDA they were supposed to be the emotions +of HAMET, she imputed to a different cause: 'As Heaven,' says she, 'has +preserved thee from death; so has it, for thy sake, preserved me from +violation.' ALMORAN, whose passion had in this interval again surmounted +his remorse, gazed eagerly upon her, and catching her to his bosom; 'Let +us at least,' says he, 'secure the happiness that is now offered; let +not these inestimable moments pass by us unimproved; but to shew that we +deserve them, let them be devoted to love.' 'Let us then,' said ALMEIDA, +'escape together.' 'To escape with thee,' said: ALMORAN, 'is impossible. +I shall retire, and, like the shaft of Arabia, leave no mark behind, me; +but the flight of ALMEIDA will at once be traced to him by whom I was +admitted, and I shall thus retaliate his friendship with destruction.' +'Let him then,' said ALMEIDA, 'be the partner of our flight.' 'Urge it +not now,' said ALMORAN; 'but trust to my prudence and my love, to select +some hour that will be more favourable to our purpose. And yet,' said +he, 'even then, we shall, as now, sigh in vain for the completion of our +wishes: by whom shall our hands be joined, when in the opinion of the +priests it has been forbidden from above?' 'Save thyself then,' said +ALMEIDA, and leave me to my fate.' 'Not so,' said ALMORAN. 'What else,' +replied ALMEIDA, 'is in our power?' 'It is in our power,' said ALMORAN, +'to seize that joy, to which a public form can give us no new claim; for +the public form can only declare that right by which I claim it now.' + +As they were now reclining upon a sofa, he threw his arm round her; but +she suddenly sprung up, and burst from him: the tear started to her eye, +and she gazed upon him with an earnest but yet tender look: 'Is it?' +says she--'No sure, it is not the voice of HAMET!' 'O! yes,' said +ALMORAN, 'what other voice should call thee to cancel at once the wrongs +of HAMET and ALMEIDA; to secure the treasures of thy love from the hand +of the robber; to hide, the joys, which if now we lose we may lose for +ever, in the sacred and inviolable stores of the past, and place them +beyond the power not of ALMORAN only but of fate?' With this wild +effusion of desire, he caught her again to his breast, and finding no +resistance his heart exulted in his success; but the next moment, to the +total disappointment of his hopes, he perceived that she had fainted in +his arms. When she recovered, she once more disengaged herself from him, +and turning away her face, she burst into tears. When her voice could be +heard, she covered herself with her veil, and turning again towards him, +'All but this,' said she, 'I had learnt to bear; and how has this been +deserved by ALMEIDA of HAMET? You was my only solace in distress; and +when the tears have stolen from my eyes in silence and in solitude, I +thought on thee; I thought upon the chaste ardour of thy sacred +friendship, which was softened, refined, and exalted into love. This was +my hoarded treasure; and the thoughts of possessing this; soothed all my +anguish with a miser's happiness, who, blest in the consciousness of +hidden wealth, despises cold and hunger, and rejoices in the midst of +all the miseries that make poverty dreadful: this was my last retreat; +but I am now desolate and forlorn, and my soul looks round, with terror, +for that refuge which it can never find.' 'Find that refuge,' said +ALMORAN, 'in me.' 'Alas!' said ALMEIDA, 'can he afford me refuge from my +sorrows, who, for the guilty pleasures of a transient moment, would +forever sully the purity of my mind, and aggravate misfortune by the +consciousness of guilt?' + +As ALMORAN now perceived, that it was impossible, by any importunity, to +induce her to violate her principles; he had nothing more to attempt, +but to subvert them. 'When,' said he, 'shall ALMEIDA awake, and these +dreams of folly and superstition vanish? That only is virtue, by which +happiness is produced; and whatever produces happiness, is therefore +virtue; and the forms, and words and rites, which priests have pretended +to be required by Heaven, are the fraudful arts only by which they +govern mankind.' + +ALMEIDA, by this impious insult, was roused from grief to indignation: +'As thou hast now dared,' said she, 'to deride the laws, which thou +wouldst first have broken; so hast thou broken for ever the tender +bonds, by which my soul was united to thine. Such as I fondly believed +thee, thou art not; and what thou art, I have never loved. I have loved +a delusive phantom only, which, while I strove to grasp it, has vanished +from me.' ALMORAN attempted to reply; but on such a subject, neither her +virtue nor her wisdom would permit debate. 'That prodigy,' said she, +'which I thought was the sleight of cunning, or the work of sorcery, I +now revere as the voice of Heaven; which, as it knew thy heart, has in +mercy saved me from thy arms. To the will of Heaven shall my will be +obedient; and my voice also shall pronounce, to ALMORAN ALMEIDA.' + +ALMORAN, whose whole soul was now suspended in attention, conceived new +hopes of success; and foresaw the certain accomplishment of his purpose, +though by an effect directly contrary to that which he had laboured to +produce. Thus to have incurred the hatred of ALMEIDA in the form of +HAMET, was more fortunate than to have taken advantage of her love; the +path that led to his wishes was now clear and open; and his marriage +with ALMEIDA in his own person, waited only till he could resume it. He, +therefore, instead of soothing, provoked her resentment: 'If thou hast +loved a phantom,' said he, 'which existed only in imagination; on such a +phantom my love also has been fixed: thou hast, indeed, only the form of +what I called ALMEIDA; my love thou hast rejected, because thou hast +never loved; the object of thy passion was not HAMET, but a throne; and +thou hast made the observance of rituals, in which folly only can +suppose there is good or ill, a pretence to violate thy faith, that thou +mayst still gratify thy ambition.' + +To this injurious reproach, ALMEIDA made no reply; and ALMORAN +immediately quitted her apartment, that he might reassume his own +figure, take advantage of the disposition which, under the appearance +of HAMET, he had produced in favour of himself: But Osmyn, who supposing +him to be HAMET, had intercepted and detained him as he was going to +ALMEIDA, now intercepted him a second time at his return, having placed +himself near the door of the apartment for that purpose. + +Osmyn was by no means satisfied with the issue of their last interview: +he had perceived a perturbation in the mind of ALMORAN, for which, +imagining him to be HAMET, he could not account; and which seemed more +extraordinary upon a review, than when it happened; he, therefore, again +entered into conversation with him, in which he farther disclosed his +sentiments and designs. ALMORAN, notwithstanding the impatience natural +to his temper and situation, was thus long detained listening to Osmyn, +by the united influence of his curiosity and his fears; his enquiries +still alarmed him with new terrors, by discovering new objects of +distrust, and new instances of disaffection: still, however, he +resolved, not yet to remove Osmyn from his post, that he might give no +alarm by any appearance of suspicion, and consequently learn with more +ease; and detect with more certainty, any project that might be formed +against him. + + + + +CHAP. XVI. + + +ALMEIDA, as soon as she was left alone, began to review the scene that +had just past; and was every moment affected with new wonder, grief, and +resentment. She now deplored her own misfortune; and now conceived a +design to punish the author of it, from whose face she supposed the hand +of adversity had torn the mask under which he had deceived her: it +appeared to her very easy, to take a severe revenge upon HAMET for the +indignity which she supposed he had offered her, by complaining of it +to ALMORAN; and telling him, that he had gained admittance to her by +bribing the eunuch who kept the door. The thought of thus giving him up, +was one moment rejected, as arising from a vindictive spirit; and the +next indulged, as an act of justice to ALMORAN, and a punishment due to +the hypocrisy of HAMET: to the first she inclined, when her grief, which +was still mingled with a tender remembrance of the man she loved, was +predominant; and to the last, when her grief gave way to indignation. + +Thus are we inclined to consider the same action, either as a virtue, or +a vice, by the influence of different passions, which prompt us either +to perform or to avoid it. ALMEIDA, from deliberating whether she +should accuse HAMET to ALMORAN, or conceal his fault, was led to +consider what punishment he would either incur or escape in consequence +of her determination; and the images that rushed into her mind, the +moment this became the object of her thoughts, at once determined her to +be silent: 'Could I bear to see,' said she, 'that hand, which has so +often trembled with delight when it enfolded mine, convulsed and black! +those eyes, that as often as they gazed upon me were dissolved in tears +of tenderness and love, start from the sockets! and those lips that +breathed the softest sighs of elegant desire, distorted and gasping in +the convulsions of death!' + +From this image, her mind recoiled in an agony of terror and pity; her +heart sunk within her; her limbs trembled she sunk down upon the sofa, +and burst into tears. + +By this time, HAMET, on whose form the likeness of ALMORAN was still +impressed, had reached the palace. He went instantly towards the +apartment of the women. Instead of that chearful alacrity, that mixture +of zeal and reverence and affection, which his eye had been used to find +where-ever it was turned, he now observed confusion, anxiety and terror; +whoever he met, made haste to prostrate themselves before him, and +feared to look up till he was past. He went on, however, with a hasty +pace; and coming up to the eunuch's guard, he said with an impatient +tone; 'To ALMEIDA.' The slave immediately made way before him, and +conducted him to the door of the apartment, which he would not otherwise +have been able to find, and for which he could not directly enquire. + +When he entered, his countenance expressed all the passions that his +situation had roused in his mind. He first looked sternly round him, to +see whether ALMORAN was not present; and then fetching a deep sigh he +turned his eyes, with a look of mournful tenderness, upon ALMEIDA. His +first view was to discover, whether ALMORAN had already supplanted him; +and for this purpose he collected the whole strength of his mind: he +considered that he appeared now, not as HAMET, but as ALMORAN; and that +he was to question ALMEIDA concerning ALMORAN, while she had mistaken +him for HAMET; he was therefore to maintain the character, at whatever +expence, till his doubts were resolved, and his fears either removed or +confirmed: he was so firmly persuaded, that ALMORAN had been there +before him, that he did not ask the question, but supposed the fact; he +restrained alike both his tenderness and his fears; and looking +earnestly upon ALMEIDA, who had risen up in his presence with blushes +and confusion, 'To me,' says he, 'is ALMEIDA still cold? and has she +lavished all her love upon HAMET?' + +At the name of HAMET, the blushes and confusion of ALMEIDA increased: +her mind was still full of the images, which had risen from the thought +of what HAMET might suffer, if ALMORAN should know that he had been with +her; and though she feared that their interview was discovered, yet she +hoped it might be only suspected, and in that case the removal or +confirmation of the suspicions, on which the fate of HAMET depended, +would devolve upon her. + +In this situation, she, who a few moments before doubted, whether she +should not voluntarily give him up, when nothing more was necessary for +his safety than to be silent; now determined, with whatever reluctance, +to secure him, though it could not he done without dissimulation, and +though it was probable that in this dissimulation she would be detected. +Instead, therefore, of answering the question, she repeated it: 'On whom +said my lord, on HAMET?' HAMET, whose suspicions were increased by the +evasion, replied with great emotion, 'Aye, on HAMET; did he not this +moment leave you?' 'Leave me this moment?' said ALMEIDA, with yet +greater confusion, and deeper blushes. HAMET, in the impatience of his +jealousy, concluded, that the passions which he saw expressed in her +countenance, and which arose from the struggle between her regard to +truth and her tenderness for HAMET, proceeded from the consciousness of +what he had most reason to dread, and she to conceal, a breach of +virtue, to which she had been betrayed by his own appearance united with +the vices of his brother: he, therefore, drew back from her with a look +of inexpressible anguish, and stood some time silent. She observed, that +in his countenance there was more expression of trouble, than rage; she, +therefore, hoped to divert him from persuing his enquiries, by at once +removing his jealousy; which she supposed would be at an end, as soon as +she should disclose the resolution she had taken in his favour. +Addressing him, therefore, as ALMORAN, with a voice which though it was +gentle and soothing, was yet mournful and tremulous; 'Do not turn from +me,' said she, with those unfriendly and frowning looks; give me now +that love which so lately you offered, and with all the future I will +atone the past.' + +Upon HAMET, whose heart involuntarily answered to the voice of ALMEIDA, +these words had irresistible and instantaneous force; but recollecting, +in a moment, whose form he bore, and to whom they were addressed, they +struck him with new astonishment, and increased the torments of his +mind. Supposing what he at first feared had happened, and that ALMORAN +had seduced her as HAMET; he could not account for her now addressing +him, as ALMORAN, with words of favour and compliance: he, therefore, +renewed his enquiries concerning himself, with apprehensions of a +different kind. She, who was still solicitous to put an end to the +enquiry, as well for the sake of HAMET, as to prevent her own +embarrassment, replied with a sigh, 'Let not thy peace be interrupted by +one thought of HAMET; for of HAMET ALMEIDA shall think no more.' HAMET, +who, though he had fortified himself against whatever might have +happened to her person, could not bear the alienation of her mind, cried +our, with looks of distraction and a voice scarcely human, 'Not think of +HAMET!' ALMEIDA, whose astonishment was every moment increasing, +replied, with a tender and interesting enquiry, 'Is ALMORAN then +offended, that ALMEIDA mould think of HAMET no more?' HAMET, being thus +addressed by the name of his brother, again recollected his situation; +and now first conceived the idea, that the alteration of ALMEIDA'S +sentiments with respect to himself, might be the effect of some violence +offered her by ALMORAN in his likeness; he, therefore, recurred to his +first purpose, and determined, by a direct enquiry, to discover whether +she had seen him under that appearance. This enquiry he urged with the +utmost solemnity and ardour, in terms suitable to his present appearance +and situation: 'Tell me,' said he, 'have these doors been open to HAMET? +Has he obtained possession of that treasure, which, by the voice of +Heaven, has been allotted to me?' + +To this double question, ALMEIDA answered by a single negative; and her +answer, therefore, was both false and true: it was true that her person +was still inviolate, and it was true also that HAMET had not been +admitted to her; yet her denial of it was false, for she believed the +contrary; ALMORAN only had been admitted, but she had received him as +his brother. HAMET, however, was satisfied with the answer, and did not +discover its fallacy. He looked up to Heaven, with an expression of +gratitude and joy; and then turning to ALMEIDA, 'Swear then,' said he, +'that thou hast granted to HAMET, no pledge of thy love which should be +reserved for me.' ALMEIDA, who now thought nothing more than the +asseveration necessary to quiet his mind, immediately complied: 'I +swear,' said she, 'that to HAMET I have given nothing, which thou +wouldst wish me to with-hold: the power that has devoted my person to +thee, has disunited my heart from HAMET, whom I renounce in thy presence +for ever.' + +HAMET, whose fortitude and recollection were again overborne, was thrown +into an agitation of mind, which discovered itself by looks and gestures +very different from those which ALMEIDA had expected, and overwhelmed +her with new confusion and disappointment: that he, who had so lately +solicited her love with all the vehemence of a desire impatient to be +gratified, should now receive a declaration that she was ready to +comply with marks of distress and anger, was a mystery which she could +not solve. In the mean time, the struggle in his breast became every +moment more violent: 'Where then,' said he, 'is the constancy which you +vowed to HAMET; and for what instance of his love is he now forsaken?' + +ALMEIDA was now more embarrassed than before; she felt all the force of +the reproof, supposing it to have been given by ALMORAN; and she could +be justified only by relating the particular, which at the expence of +her sincerity she had determined to conceal. ALMORAN was now exalted in +her opinion, while his form was animated by the spirit of HAMET; as much +as HAMET had been degraded, while his form was animated by the spirit +of ALMORAN. In his resentment of her perfidy to his rival, though it +favoured his fondest and most ardent wishes, there was an abhorrence of +vice, and a generosity of mind, which she supposed to have been +incompatible with his character. To his reproach, she could reply only +by complaint; and could no otherwise evade his question, than by +observing the inconsistency of his own behaviour: 'Your words,' said +she, 'are daggers to my heart. You condemn me for a compliance with your +own wishes; and for obedience to that voice, which you supposed to have +revealed the will of Heaven. Has the caprice of desire already wandered +to a new object? and do you now seek a pretence to refuse, when it is +freely offered, what so lately you would have taken by force?' + +HAMET, who was now fired with resentment against ALMEIDA, whom yet he +could not behold without desire; and who, at the same moment, was +impatient to revenge his wrongs upon ALMORAN; was suddenly prompted to +satisfy all his passions, by taking advantage of the wiles of ALMORAN, +and the perfidy of ALMEIDA, to defeat the one and to punish the other. +It was now in his power instantly to consummate his marriage, as a +priest might be procured without a moment's delay, and as ALMEIDA'S +consent was already given; he would then obtain the possession of her +person, by the very act in which she perfidiously resigned it to his +rival; to whom he would then leave the beauties he had already +possessed, and cast from him in disdain, as united with a mind that he +could never love. As his imagination was fired with the first conception +of this design, he caught her to his breast with a fury, in which all +the passions in all their rage were at once concentered: 'Let the +priest,' said he, 'instantly unite us. Let us comprize, in one moment, +in this instant, NOW, our whole of being, and exclude alike the future +and the past!' Then grasping her still in his arms, he looked up to +heaven: 'Ye powers,' said he, 'invisible but yet present, who mould my +changing and unresisting form; prolong, but for one hour, that +mysterious charm, that is now upon me, and I will be ever after +subservient to your will!' + +ALMEIDA, who was terrified at the furious ardor of this unintelligible +address, shrunk from his embrace, pale and trembling, without power to +reply. HAMET gazed tenderly upon her; and recollecting the purity and +tenderness with which he had loved her, his virtues suddenly recovered +their force; he dismissed her from his embrace; and turning from her, he +dropped in silence the tear that started to his eye, and expressed, in a +low and faultering voice, the thoughts that rushed upon his mind: 'No,' +said he; HAMET shall still disdain the joy, which is at once sordid and +transient: in the breast of HAMET, lust shall not be the pander of +revenge. Shall I, who have languished for the pure delight which can +arise only from the interchange of soul with soul, and is endeared by +mutual confidence and complacency; shall I snatch under this disguise, +which belies my features and degrades my virtue, a casual possession of +faithless beauty, which I despise and hate? Let this be the portion of +those, that hate me without a cause; but let this be far from me!' At +this thought, he felt a sudden elation of mind; and the conscious +dignity of virtue, that in such a conflict was victorious, rendered him, +in this glorious moment, superior to misfortune: his gesture became +calm, and his countenance sedate; he considered the wrongs he suffered, +not as a sufferer, but as a judge; and he determined at once to discover +himself to ALMEIDA, and to reproach her with her crime. He remarked her +confusion without pity, as the effect not of grief but of guilt; and +fixing his eyes upon her, with the calm severity of a superior and +offended being, 'Such,' said he, 'is the benevolence of the Almighty to +the children of the dust, that our misfortunes are, like poisons, +antidotes to each other.' + +ALMEIDA, whose faculties were now suspended by wonder and expectation, +looked earnestly at him, but continued silent. 'Thy looks,' said HAMET, +are full of wonder; but as yet thy wonder has no cause, in comparison +of that which shall be revealed. Thou knowest the prodigy, which so +lately parted HAMET and ALMEIDA: I am that HAMET, thou art that +ALMEIDA.' ALMEIDA would now have interrupted him; but HAMET raised his +voice, and demanded to be heard: 'At that moment,' said he, 'wretched as +I am, the child of error and disobedience, my heart repined in secret at +the destiny which had been written upon my head; for I then thought thee +faithful and constant: but if our hands had been then united, I should +have been more wretched than I am; for I now know that thou art fickle +and false. To know thee, though it has pierced my soul with sorrow, has +yet healed the wound which was inflicted when I lost thee: and though I +am now compelled to wear the form of ALMORAN, whose vices are this +moment disgracing mine, yet in the balance I shall be weighed as HAMET, +and I shall suffer only as I am found wanting.' + +ALMEIDA, whose mind was now in a tumult that bordered upon distraction, +bewildered in a labyrinth of doubt and wonder, and alike dreading the +consequence of what she heard, whether it was false or true, was yet +impatient to confute or confirm it; and as soon as she had recovered her +speech, urged him for some token of the prodigy he asserted, which he +might easily have given, by relating any of the incidents which +themselves only could know. But just at this moment, ALMORAN, having at +last disengaged himself from Osmyn, by whom he had been long detained, +resumed his own figure: and while the eyes of ALMEIDA were fixed upon +HAMET, his powers were suddenly taken from him, and restored in an +instant; and she beheld the features of ALMORAN vanish, and gazed with +astonishment upon his own: 'Thy features change!' said she, 'and thou +indeed art HAMET.' 'The sudden trance,' said he, 'has restored me to +myself; and from my wrongs where shalt thou be hidden?' This reproach +was more than she could sustain, but he caught her as she was falling, +and supported her in his arms. This incident renewed in a moment all the +tenderness of his love: while he beheld her distress, and pressed her by +the embrace that sustained her to his bosom, he forgot every injury +which he supposed she had done him; and perceived her recover with a +pleasure, that for a moment suspended the sense of his misfortunes. + +Her first reflection was upon the snare, in which she had been taken; +and her first sensation was joy that she had escaped: she saw at once +the whole complication of events that had deceived and distressed her; +and nothing more was now necessary, than to explain them to HAMET; +which, however, she could not do, without discovering the insincerity of +her answers to the enquiries which he had made, while she mistook him +for his brother: 'If in my heart,' says she, 'thou hast found any +virtue, let it incline thee to pity the vice that is mingled with it: by +the vice I have been ensnared, but I have been delivered by the virtue. +ALMORAN, for now I know that it was not thee, ALMORAN, when he possessed +thy form, was with me: he prophaned thy love, by attempts to supplant my +virtue; I resisted his importunity, and escaped perdition; but the guilt +of ALMORAN drew my resentment upon HAMET. I thought the vices which, +under thy form, I discovered in his bosom, were thine; and in the +anguish of grief, indignation, and disappointment, my heart renounced +thee: yet, as I could not give thee up to death, I could not discover to +ALMORAN the attempt which I imputed to thee; when you questioned me, +therefore, as ALMORAN, I was betrayed to dissimulation, by the +tenderness which still melted my heart for HAMET.' 'I believe thee,' +said HAMET, catching her in a transport to his breast: 'I love thee for +thy virtue; and may the pure and exalted beings, who are superior to the +passions that now throb in my heart, forgive me, if I love thee also for +thy fault. Yet, let the danger to which it betrayed thee, teach us still +to walk in the strait path, and commit the keeping of our peace to the +Almighty; for he that wanders in the maze of falsehood, shall pass by +the good that he would meet, and shall meet the evil that he would shun. +I also was tempted; but I was strengthened to resist: if I had used the +power, which I derived from the arts that have been practised against +me, to return evil for evil; if I had not disdained a secret and +unavowed revenge, and the unhallowed pleasures of a brutal appetite; I +might have possessed thee in the form of ALMORAN, and have wronged +irreparably myself and thee: for how could I have been admitted, as +HAMET, to the beauties which I had enjoyed as ALMORAN? and how couldst +thou have given, to ALMORAN, what in reality had been appropriated by +HAMET?' + + + + +CHAP. XVII. + + +But while ALMEIDA and HAMET were thus congratulating each other upon the +evils which they had escaped, they were threatened by others, which, +however obvious, they had overlooked. + +ALMORAN, who was now exulting in the prospect of success that had +exceeded his hopes, and who supposed the possession of ALMEIDA before +the end of the next hour, was as certain as that the next hour would +arrive, suddenly entered the apartment; but upon discovering HAMET, he +started back astonished and disappointed. HAMET stood unmoved; and +regarded him with a fixed and steady look, that at once reproached and +confounded him. 'What treachery,' said ALMORAN, 'has been practised +against me? What has brought thee to this place; and how hast thou +gained admittance?' 'Against thy peace,' said HAMET, 'no treachery has +been practised, but by thyself. By those arts in which thy vices have +employed the powers of darkness, I have been brought hither; and by +those arts I have gained admittance: thy form which they have imposed +upon me, was my passport; and by the restoration of my own, I have +detected and disappointed the fraud, which the double change was +produced to execute. ALMEIDA, whom, as HAMET, thou couldst teach to +hate thee, it is now impossible that, as ALMORAN, thou shouldst teach to +love.' + +ALMEIDA, who perceived the storm to be gathering which the next moment +would burst upon the head of HAMET, interposed between them, and +addressed each of them by turns; urging HAMET to be silent, and +conjuring ALMORAN to be merciful. ALMORAN, however, without regarding +ALMEIDA, or making any reply to HAMET, struck the ground with his foot, +and the messengers of death, to whom the signal was familiar, appeared +at the door. ALMORAN then commanded them to seize his brother, with a +countenance pale and livid, and a voice that was broken by rage. HAMET +was still unmoved; but ALMEIDA threw herself at the feet of ALMORAN, and +embracing his knees was about to speak, but he broke from her with +sudden fury: 'If the world should sue,' said he, 'I would spurn it off. +There is no pang that cunning can invent, which he shall not suffer: and +when death at length shall disappoint my vengeance, his mangled limbs +shall be cast out unburied, to feed the beasts of the desert and the +fowls of heaven.' During this menace, ALMEIDA sunk down without signs of +life; and HAMET struggling in vain for liberty to raise her from the +ground, she was carried off by some women who were called to her +assistance. + +In this awful crisis, HAMET, who felt his own fortitude give way, looked +up, and though he conceived no words, a prayer ascended from his heart +to heaven, and was accepted by Him, to whom our thoughts are known while +they are yet afar off. For HAMET, the fountain of strength was opened +from above; his eye sparkled with confidence, and his breast was dilated +by hope. He commanded the guard that were leading him away to stop, and +they implicitly obeyed; he then stretched out his hand towards ALMORAN, +whose spirit was rebuked before him: 'Hear me,' said he, 'thou tyrant! +for it is thy genius that speaks by my voice. What has been the fruit of +all thy guilt, but accumulated misery? What joy hast thou derived from +undivided empire? what joy from the prohibition of my marriage with +ALMEIDA? what good from that power, which some evil daemon has added to +thy own? what, at this moment, is thy portion, but rage and anguish, +disappointment, and despair? Even I, whom thou seest the captive of thy +power, whom thou hast wronged of empire, and yet more of love; even I am +happy, in comparison of thee. I know that my sufferings, however +multiplied, are short, for they shall end with life, and no life is +long: then shall the everlasting ages commence; and through everlasting +ages thy sufferings shall increase. The moment is now near, when thou +shalt tread that line which alone is the path to heaven, the narrow +path that is stretched over the pit, which smokes for ever, and for +ever! When thine aking eye shall look forward to the end that is far +distant, and when behind thou shalt find no retreat; when thy steps +shall faulter, and thou shalt tremble at the depth beneath, which +thought itself is not able to fathom; then shall the angel of +distribution lift his inexorable hand against thee: from the irremeable +way shall thy feet be smitten; thou shalt plunge in the burning flood; +and though thou shalt live for ever, thou shalt rise no more.' + +As the words of HAMET struck ALMORAN with terror, and over-awed him by +an influence which he could not surmount; HAMET was forced from his +presence, before any other orders had been given about him, than were +implied in the menace that was addressed to ALMEIDA: no violence, +therefore, was yet offered him; but he was secured, till the king's +pleasure should be known, in a dungeon not far from the palace, to which +he was conducted by a subterraneous passage; and the door being closed +upon him, he was left in silence, darkness, and solitude, such as may be +imagined before the voice of the Almighty produced light and life. + +When ALMORAN was sufficiently recollected to consider his situation, he +despaired of prevailing upon ALMEIDA to gratify his wishes, till her +attachment to HAMET was irreparably broken; and he, therefore, resolved +to put him to death. With this view, he repeated the signal, which +convened the ministers of death to his presence; but the sound was lost +in a peal of thunder that instantly followed it, and the Genius, from +whom he received the talisman, again stood before him. + +'ALMORAN,' said the Genius, 'I am now compelled into thy presence by the +command of a superior power; whom, if I should dare to disobey, the +energy of his will might drive me, in a moment, beyond the limits of +nature and the reach of thought, to spend eternity alone, without +comfort, and without hope.' 'And what,' said ALMORAN, 'is the will of +this mighty and tremendous being?' 'His will,' said the Genius, 'I will +reveal to thee. Hitherto, thou hast been enabled to lift the rod of +adversity against thy brother, by powers which nature has not entrusted +to man: as these powers, and these only, have put him into thy hand, +thou art forbidden to lift it against his life; if thou hadst prevailed +against him by thy own power, thy own power would not have been +restrained: to afflict him thou art still free; but thou art not +permitted to destroy. At the moment, in which thou shalt conceive a +thought to cut him off by violence, the punishment of thy disobedience +shall commence, and the pangs of death shall be upon thee.' 'If then,' +said ALMORAN, 'this awful power is the friend of HAMET; what yet +remains, in the stores of thy wisdom, for me? 'Till he dies, I am at +once precluded from peace, and safety, and enjoyment.' 'Look up,' said +the Genius, 'for the iron hand of despair is not yet upon thee. Thou +canst be happy, only by his death; and his life thou art forbidden to +take away: yet mayst thou still arm him against himself; and if he dies +by his own hand, thy wishes will be full.' 'O name,' said ALMORAN, 'but +the means, and it shall this moment be accomplished!' 'Select,' said the +Genius, 'some friend--' + +At the name of friend, ALMORAN started and looked round in despair. He +recollected the perfidy of Osmyn; and he suspected that, from the same +cause, all were perfidious: 'While HAMET has yet life,' said he, 'I +fear the face of man, as of a savage that is prowling for his prey.' +'Relinquish not yet thy hopes,' said the Genius; 'for one, in whom thou +wilt joyfully confide, may be found. Let him secretly obtain admittance +to HAMET, as if by stealth; let him profess an abhorrence of thy reign, +and compassion for his misfortunes; let him pretend that the rack is +even now preparing for him; that death is inevitable, but that torment +may be avoided: let him then give him a poignard, as the instrument of +deliverance; and, perhaps, his own hand may strike the blow, that shall +give thee peace.' 'But who,' said ALMORAN, shall go upon this important +errand?' 'Who,' replied the Genius, but thyself? Hast thou not the +power to assume the form of whomsoever thou wouldst have sent?' 'I would +have sent Osmyn,' said ALMORAN, 'but that I know him to be a traitor.' +'Let the form of Osmyn then,' said the Genius, 'be thine. The shadows of +the evening have now stretched themselves upon the earth: command Osmyn +to attend thee alone in the grove, where Solyman, thy father, was used +to meditate by night; and when thy form shall be impressed upon him, I +will there seal his eyes in sleep, till the charm shall be broken; so +shall no evil be attempted against thee, and the transformation shall be +known only to thyself.' + +ALMORAN, whose breast was again illuminated by hope, was about to +express his gratitude and joy; but the Genius suddenly disappeared. He +began, therefore, immediately to follow the instructions that he had +received: he commanded Osmyn to attend him in the grove, and forbad +every other to approach; by the power of the talisman he assumed his +appearance, and saw him sink down in the supernatural slumber before +him: he then quitted the place, and prepared to visit HAMET in the +prison. + + + + +CHAP. XVIII. + + +The officer who commanded the guard that kept the gate of the prison, +was Caled. He was now next in trust and power to Osmyn: but as he had +proposed a revolt to HAMET, in which Osmyn had refused to concur, he +knew that his life was now in his power; he dreaded lest, for some +slight offence, or in some fit of causeless displeasure, he should +disclose the secret to ALMORAN, who would then certainly condemn him to +death. To secure this fatal secret, and put an end to his inquietude, he +resolved, from the moment that ALMORAN was established upon the throne, +to find some opportunity secretly to destroy Osmyn: in this resolution, +he was confirmed by the enmity, which inferior minds never fail to +conceive against that merit, which they cannot but envy without spirit +to emulate, and by which they feel themselves disgraced without an +effort to acquire equal honour; it was confirmed also by the hope which +Caled had conceived, that, upon the death of Osmyn, he should succeed to +his post: his apprehensions likewise were increased, by the gloom which +he remarked in the countenance of Osmyn; and which not knowing that it +arose from fear, he imputed to jealousy and malevolence. + +When ALMORAN, who had now assumed the appearance of Osmyn, had passed +the subterranean avenue to the dungeon in which HAMET was confined, he +was met by Caled; of whom he demanded admittance to the prince, and +produced his own signet, as a testimony that he came with the authority +of the king. As it was Caled's interest to secure the favour of Osmyn +till an opportunity should offer to cut him off, he received him with +every possible mark of respect and reverence; and when he was gone into +the dungeon, he commanded a beverage to be prepared for him against he +should return, in which such spices were infused, as might expel the +malignity which, in that place, might be received with the breath of +life; and taking himself the key of the prison, he waited at the door. + +When ALMORAN entered the dungeon, with a lamp which he had received from +Caled, he found HAMET sitting upon the ground: his countenance was +impressed with the characters of grief; but it retained no marks either +of anger or fear. When he looked up, and saw the features of Osmyn, he +judged that the mutes were behind him; and, therefore, rose up, to +prepare himself for death. ALMORAN beheld his calmness and fortitude +with the involuntary praise of admiration; yet persisted in his purpose +without remorse. 'I am come,' said he, by the command of ALMORAN, to +denounce that fate, the bitterness of which I will enable thee to +avoid.' 'And what is there,' said HAMET, 'in my fortunes, that has +prompted thee to the danger of this attempt?' 'The utmost that I can +give thee,' said ALMORAN, 'I can give thee without danger to myself: but +though I have been placed, by the hand of fortune, near the person of +the tyrant, yet has my heart in secret been thy friend. If I am the +messenger of evil, impute it to him only by whom it is devised. The rack +is now preparing to receive thee; and every art of ingenious cruelty +will be exhausted to protract and to increase the agonies of death.' +'And what,' said HAMET, 'can thy friendship offer me?' 'I can offer +thee,' said ALMORAN, 'that which will at once dismiss thee to those +regions, where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary rest for +ever.' He then produced the poignard from his bosom; and presenting it +to HAMET, 'Take this,' said he, 'and sleep in peace.' + +HAMET, whose heart was touched with sudden joy at the sight of so +unexpected a remedy for every evil, did not immediately reflect, that he +was not at liberty to apply it: he snatched it in a transport from the +hand of ALMORAN, and expressed his sense of the obligation by clasping +him in his arms, and shedding the tears of gratitude in his breast. 'Be +quick,' said ALMORAN: this moment I must leave thee; and in the next, +perhaps, the messengers of destruction may bind thee to the rack. 'I +will be quick,' said HAMET; 'and the sigh that shall last linger upon my +lips, shall bless thee.' They then bid each other farewel: ALMORAN +retired from the dungeon, and the door was again closed upon HAMET. + +Caled, who waited at the door till the supposed Osmyn should return, +presented him with the beverage which he had prepared, of which he +recounted the virtues; and ALMORAN received it with pleasure, and having +eagerly drank it off, returned to the palace. As soon as he was alone, +he resumed his own figure, and fate, with a confident and impatient +expectation, that in a short time a messenger would be dispatched to +acquaint him with the death of HAMET. HAMET, in the mean time, having +grasped the dagger in his hand, and raised his arm for the blow, 'This,' +said he, 'is my passport to the realms of peace, the immediate and only +object of my hope!' But at these words, his mind instantly took the +alarm: 'Let me reflect,' said he, 'a moment: from what can I derive hope +in death?--from that patient and persevering virtue, and from that +alone, by which we fulfill the task that is assigned us upon the earth. +Is it not our duty, to suffer, as well as to act? If my own hand +consigns me to the grave, what can it do but perpetuate that misery, +which, by disobedience, I would shun? what can it do, but cut off my +life and hope together?' With this reflection he threw the dagger from +him; and stretching himself again upon the ground, resigned himself to +the disposal of the Father of man, most Merciful and Almighty. + +ALMORAN, who had now resolved to send for the intelligence which he +longed to hear, was dispatching a messenger to the prison, when he was +told that Caled desired admittance to his presence. At the name of +Caled, he started up in an extasy of joy; and not doubting but that +HAMET was dead, he ordered him to be instantly admitted. When he came +in, ALMORAN made no enquiry about HAMET, because he would not appear to +expect the event, which yet he supposed he had brought about; he, +therefore, asked him only upon what business he came. 'I come, my +lord,' said he, 'to apprize thee of the treachery of Osmyn.' 'I know,' +said ALMORAN, 'that Osmyn is a traitor; but of what dost thou accuse +him? 'As I was but now,' said he, 'changing the guard which is set upon +HAMET, Osmyn came up to the door of the prison, and producing the royal +signet demanded admittance. As the command which I received, when he was +delivered to my custody, was absolute, that no foot should enter, I +doubted whether the token had not been obtained, by fraud, for some +other purpose; yet, as he required admittance only, I complied: but that +if any treachery had been contrived, I might detect it; and that no +artifice might be practised to favour an escape; I waited myself at the +door, and listening to their discourse I overheard the treason that I +suspected.' 'What then,' said ALMORAN, 'didst thou hear?' 'A part of +what was said,' replied Caled, 'escaped me: but I heard Osmyn, like a +perfidious and presumptuous slave, call ALMORAN a tyrant; I heard him +profess an inviolable friendship for HAMET, and assure him of +deliverance. What were the means, I know not; but he talked of speed, +and supposed that the effect was certain.' + +ALMORAN, though he was still impatient to hear of HAMET; and discovered, +that if he was dead, his death was unknown to Caled; was yet +notwithstanding rejoiced at what he heard: and as he knew what Caled +told him to be true, as the conversation he related had passed between +himself and HAMET, he exulted in the pleasing confidence that he had yet +a friend; the glooms of suspicion, which had involved his mind, were +dissipated, and his countenance brightened with complacency and joy. He +had delayed to put Osmyn to death, only because he could appoint no man +to succeed him, of whom his fears did not render him equally suspicious: +but having now found, in Caled, a friend, whose fidelity had been +approved when there had been no intention to try it; and being impatient +to reward his zeal, and to invest his fidelity with that power, which +would render his services most important; he took a ring from his own +finger, and putting it upon that of Caled, 'Take this,' said he, 'as a +pledge, that to-morrow Osmyn shall lose his head; and that, from this +moment, thou art invested with his power.' + +Caled having, in the conversation between ALMORAN and HAMET, discerned +indubitable treachery, which he imputed to Osmyn whose appearance +ALMORAN had then assumed, eagerly seized the opportunity to destroy him; +he, therefore, not trusting to the event of his accusation, had mingled +poison in the bowl which he presented to ALMORAN when he came out from +HAMET: this, however, at first he had resolved to conceal. + +In consequence of his accusation, he supposed Osmyn would be questioned +upon the rack; he supposed also, that the accusation, as it was true, +would be confirmed by his confession; that what ever he should then say +to the prejudice of his accuser, would be disbelieved; and that when +after a few hours the poison should take effect, no inquisition would be +made into the death of a criminal, whom the bow-string or the scimitar +would otherwise have been employed to destroy. But he now hoped to +derive new merit from an act of zeal, which ALMORAN had approved before +it was known, by condemning his rival to die, whose death he had already +insured: 'May the wishes of my lord,' said he, 'be always anticipated; +and may it be found, that whatever he ordains is already done: may he +accept the zeal of his servant, whom he has delighted to honour; for, +before the light of the morning shall return, the eyes of Osmyn shall +close in everlasting darkness.' + +At these words, the countenance of ALMORAN changed; his cheeks became +pale, and his lips trembled: 'What then,' said he, 'hast thou done?' +Caled, who was terrified and astonished, threw himself upon the ground, +and was unable to reply. ALMORAN, who now, by the utmost effort of his +mind, restrained his confusion and his fear, that he might learn the +truth from Caled without dissimulation or disguise, raised him from the +ground and repeated his enquiry. 'If I have erred,' said Caled, 'impute +it not: when I had detected the treachery of Osmyn, I was transported by +my zeal for thee. For proof that he is guilty, I appeal now to himself; +for he yet lives: but that he might not escape the hand of justice, I +mingled, in the bowl I give him, the drugs of death.' + +At these words, ALMORAN, striking his hands together, looked upward in +an agony of despair and horror, and fell back upon a sofa that was +behind him. Caled, whose astonishment was equal to his disappointment +and his fears, approached him with a trembling though hasty pace; but as +he stooped to support him, ALMORAN suddenly drew his dagger and stabbed +him to the heart; and repeated the blow with reproaches and execrations, +till his strength failed him. + +In this dreadful moment, the Genius once more appeared before him; at +the sight of whom he waved his hand, but was unable to speak. 'Nothing,' +said the Genius, 'that has happened to ALMORAN, is hidden from me. Thy +peace has been destroyed alike by the defection of Osmyn, and by the +zeal of Caled: thy life may yet be preserved; but it can be preserved +only by a charm, which HAMET must apply.' ALMORAN, who had raised his +eyes, and conceived some languid hope, when he heard that he might yet +live; cast them again down in despair, when he heard that he could +receive life only from HAMET. 'From HAMET,' said he, 'I have already +taken the power to save me; I have, by thy counsel, given him the +instrument of death, which, by thy counsel also, I urged him to use: he +received it with joy, and he is now doubtless numbered with the dead.' +'HAMET,' said the Genius, 'is not dead; but from the fountain of virtue +he drinks life and peace. If what I shall propose, he refuses to +perform, not all the powers of earth, and sea, and air, if they should +combine, can give thee life: but if he complies, the death, that is now +suspended over thee, shall fall upon his head; and thy life shall be +again delivered to the hand of time.' 'Make haste then,' said ALMORAN, +'and I will here wait the event.' 'The event,' said the Genius, 'is not +distant; and it is the last experiment which my power can make, either +upon him or thee: when the star of the night, that is now near the +horizon, shall set, I will be with him.' + +When ALMORAN was alone, he reflected, that every act of supernatural +power which the Genius had enabled him to perform, had brought upon him +some new calamity, though it always promised him some new advantage. As +he would not impute this disappointment to the purposes for which he +employed the power that he had received, he indulged a suspicion, that +it proceeded from the perfidy of the Being by whom it was bestowed; in +his mind, therefore, he thus reasoned with himself: 'The Genius, who has +pretended to be the friend of ALMORAN, has been secretly in confederacy +with HAMET: why else do I yet sigh in vain for ALMEIDA? and why else did +not HAMET perish, when his life was in my power? By his counsel, I +persuaded HAMET to destroy himself; and, in the very act, I was betrayed +to drink the potion, by which I shall be destroyed: I have been led on, +from misery to misery, by ineffectual expedients, and fallacious hopes. +In this crisis of my fate, I will not trust, with implicit confidence, +in another: I will be present at the interview of this powerful, but +suspected Being, with HAMET; and who can tell, but that if I detect a +fraud, I may be able to disappoint it: however powerful, he is not +omniscient; I may, therefore, be present, unknown and unsuspected even +by him, in a form that I can chuse by a thought, to which he cannot be +conscious.' + + + + +CHAP. XIX. + + +In consequence of this resolution, ALMORAN, having commanded one of the +soldiers of the guard that attended upon HAMET into an inner room of the +palace, he ordered him to wait there till his return: then making fast +the door, he assumed his figure, and went immediately to the dungeon; +where producing his signet, he said, he had received orders from the +king to remain with the prisoner, till the watch expired. + +As he entered without speaking, and without a light, HAMET continued +stretched upon the ground, with his face towards the earth; and ALMORAN, +having silently retired to a remote corner of the place, waited for the +appearance of the Genius. + +The dawn of the morning now broke; and, in a few minutes, the prison +shook, and the Genius appeared. He was visible by a lambent light that +played around him; and HAMET starting from the ground, turned to the +vision with reverence and wonder: but as the Omnipotent was ever present +to his mind, to whom all beings in all worlds are obedient, and on whom +alone he relied for protection, he was neither confused nor afraid. +'HAMET,' said the Genius, 'the crisis of thy fate is near.' 'Who art +thou,' said HAMET, and for what purpose art thou come?' 'I am,' replied +the Genius, 'an inhabitant of the world above thee; and to the will of +thy brother, my powers have been obedient: upon him they have not +conferred happiness, but they have brought evil upon thee. It was my +voice, that forbad thy marriage with ALMEIDA; and my voice, that decreed +the throne to ALMORAN: I gave him the power to assume thy form; and, by +me, the hand of oppression is now heavy upon thee. Yet I have not +decreed, that he should be happy, nor that thou shouldst be wretched: +darkness as yet rests upon my purpose; but my heart in secret is thy +friend.' 'If thou art, indeed my friend,' said HAMET, 'deliver me from +this prison; and preserve HAMET for ALMEIDA.' Thy deliverance,' said the +Genius, must depend upon thyself. There is a charm, of which the power +is great; but it is by thy will only, that this power can be exerted.' + +The Genius then held out towards him a scroll, on which the seal of +seven powers was impressed. 'Take, said he, 'this scroll, in which the +mysterious name of Orosmades is written. Invoke the spirits, that reside +westward from the rising of the sun; and northward, in the regions of +cold and darkness: then stretch out thy hand, and a lamp of sulphur, +self kindled, shall burn before thee. In the fire of this lamp, consume +that which I now give thee; and as the smoke, into which it changes, +shall mix with the air, a mighty charm shall be formed, which shall +defend thee from all mischief: from that instant no poison, however +potent, can hurt thee; nor shall any prison confine: in one moment, thou +shalt be restored to the throne, and to ALMEIDA; and the Angel of death, +shall lay his hand upon thy brother; to whom, if I had confided this +last best effort of my power, he would have secured the good to himself, +and have transferred the evil to thee.' + +ALMORAN, who had listened unseen to this address of the Genius to HAMET, +was now confirmed in his suspicions, that evil had been ultimately +intended against him; and that he had been entangled in the toils of +perfidy, while he believed himself to be assisted by the efforts of +friendship: he was also convinced, that by the Genius he was not known +to be present. HAMET, however, flood still doubtful, and ALMORAN was +kept silent by his fears. 'Whoever thou art,' said HAMET, the condition +of the advantages which thou hast offered me, is such as it is not +lawful to fulfill: these horrid rites, and this commerce with unholy +powers, are prohibited to mortals in the Law of life.' 'See thou to +that,' said the Genius: 'Good and evil are before thee; that which I now +offer thee, I will offer no more.' + +HAMET, who had not fortitude to give up at once the possibility of +securing the advantages that had been offered, and who was seduced by +human frailty to deliberate at least upon the choice; stretched out his +hand, and receiving the scroll, the Genius instantly disappeared. That +which had been proposed as a trial of his virtue, ALMORAN believed +indeed to be an offer of advantage; he had no hope, therefore, but that +HAMET would refuse the conditions, and that he should be able to obtain +the talisman, and fulfill them himself: he judged that the mind of HAMET +was in suspense, and was doubtful to which side it might finally +incline; he, therefore, instantly assumed the voice and the person of +OMAR, that by the influence of his council he might be able to turn the +scale. + +When the change was effected, he called HAMET by his name; and HAMET, +who knew the voice, answered him in a transport of joy and wonder: 'My +friend,' said he, 'my father! in this dreary solitude, in this hour of +trial, thou art welcome to my soul as liberty and life! Guide me to thee +by thy voice; and tell while I hold thee to my bosom, how and wherefore +thou art come?' 'Do not now ask me,' said ALMORAN: 'it is enough that I +am here; and that I am permitted to warn thee of the precipice, on which +thou standest. It is enough, that concealed in this darkness, I have +overheard the specious guile, which some evil demon has practised upon +thee.' 'Is it then certain,' said HAMET, 'that this being is evil?' 'Is +not that being evil, said ALMORAN,' 'who proposes evil, as the condition +of good?' 'Shall I then,' said HAMET, 'renounce my liberty and life? The +rack is now ready; and, perhaps, the next moment, its tortures will be +inevitable.' 'Let me ask thee then,' said ALMORAN, 'to preserve thy +life, wilt thou destroy thy soul?' 'O! stay,' said HAMET--'Let me not be +tried too far! Let the strength of Him who is Almighty, be manifest in +my weakness!' HAMET then paused a few moments; but he was no longer in +doubt: and ALMORAN, who disbelieved and despised the arguments, by which +he intended to persuade him to renounce what, upon the same condition, +he was impatient to secure for himself, conceived hopes that he should +succeed; and those hopes were instantly confirmed.' 'Take then,' said +HAMET, this unholy charm; and remove it far from me, as the sands of +Alai from the trees of Oman; lest, in some dreadful hour, my virtue may +fail me, and thy counsel may be wanting!' 'Give it me then,' said +ALMORAN; and feeling for the hands of each other, he snatched it from +him in an extasy of joy, and instantly resuming his own voice and +figure, he cried out, 'At length I have prevailed: and life and love, +dominion and revenge, are now at once in my hand!' + +HAMET heard and knew the voice of his brother, with astonishment; but it +was too late to wish that he had withheld the charm, which his virtue +would not permit him to use. 'Yet a few moments pass,' said ALMORAN, and +thou art nothing.' HAMET, who doubted not of the power of the talisman, +and knew that ALMORAN had no principles which would restrain him from +using it to his destruction, resigned himself to death, with a sacred +joy that he had escaped from guilt. ALMORAN then, with an elation of +mind that sparkled in his eyes, and glowed upon his cheek, stretched out +his hand, in which he held the scroll; and a lamp of burning sulphur was +immediately suspended in the air before him: he held the mysterious +writing in the flame; and as it began to burn, the place shook with +reiterated thunder, of which every peal was more terrible and more +loud. HAMET, wrapping his robe round him, cried out, 'In the Fountain +of Life that flows for ever, let my life be mingled! Let me not be, as +if I had never been; but still conscious of my being, let me still +glorify Him from whom it is derived, and be still happy in his love!' + +ALMORAN, who was absorbed in the anticipation of his own felicity, heard +the thunder without dread, as the proclamation of his triumph: 'Let thy +hopes,' said he, 'be thy portion; and the pleasures that I have secured, +shall be mine.' As he pronounced these words, he started as at a sudden +pang; his eyes became fixed, and his posture immoveable; yet his senses +still remained, and he perceived the Genius once more to stand before +him. 'ALMORAN,' said he, 'to the last sounds which thou shalt hear, let +thine ear be attentive! Of the spirits that rejoice to fulfill the +purpose of the Almighty, I am one. To HAMET, and to ALMORAN, I have been +commissioned from above: I have been appointed to perfect virtue, by +adversity; and in the folly of her own projects, to entangle vice. The +charm, which could be formed only by guilt, has power only to produce +misery: of every good, which thou, ALMORAN, wouldst have secured by +disobedience, the opposite evil is thy portion; and of every evil, which +thou, HAMET, wast, by Obedience, willing to incur, the opposite good is +bestowed upon thee. To thee, HAMET, are now given the throne of thy +father, and ALMEIDA. And thou, ALMORAN, who, while I speak, art +incorporating with the earth, shalt remain, through all generations, a +memorial of the truths which thy life has taught!' + +At the words of the Genius, the earth trembled beneath, and above the +walls of the prison disappeared: the figure of ALMORAN, which was +hardened into stone, expanded by degrees; and a rock, by which his form +and attitude are still rudely expressed, became at once a monument of +his punishment and his guilt. + +Such are the events recorded by ACMET, the descendant of the Prophet, +and the preacher of righteousness! for, to ACMET, that which passed in +secret was revealed by the Angel of instruction, that the world might +know, that, to the wicked, increase of power is increase of +wretchedness; and that those who condemn the folly of an attempt to +defeat the purpose of a Genius, might no longer hope to elude the +appointment of the Most High. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ALMORAN AND HAMET*** + + +******* This file should be named 14013.txt or 14013.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/0/1/14013 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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