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