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