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