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