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.'