and indignation. Osmyn, supposing that his wonder suspended his belief
of what he had heard, confirmed his declaration by an oath.

Whoever thou art, to whose mind ALMORAN, the mighty and the proud, is
present; before whom, the lord of absolute dominion stands trembling and
rebuked; who seest the possessor of power by which nature is controuled,
pale and silent with anguish and disappointment: if, in the fury of thy
wrath, thou hast aggravated weakness into guilt; if thou hast chilled
the glow of affection, when it flushed the cheek in thy presence, with
the frown of displeasure, or repressed the ardour of friendship with
indifference or neglect; now, let thy heart smite thee: for, in thy
folly, thou hast cast away that gem, which is the light of life; which
power can never seize, and which gold can never buy!

The tyrant fell at once from his pride, like a star from Heaven; and
Osmyn, still addressing him as HAMET, at once increased his misery and
his fears: 'O,' said he, 'that the throne of Persia was thine! then
should innocence enjoy her birth-right of peace, and hope should bid
honest industry look upward. There is not one to whom ALMORAN has
delegated power, nor one on whom his transient favour has bestowed any
gift, who does not already feel his heart throb with the pangs of boding
terror. Nor is there one who, if he did not fear the displeasure of the
invisible power by whom the throne has been given to thy brother, would
not immediately revolt to thee.'

ALMORAN, who had hitherto remained silent, now burst into a passionate
exclamation of self pity: 'What can I do?' said he; 'and whither can I
turn?' Osmyn, who mistook the cause of his distress, and supposed that
he deplored only his want of power to avail himself of the general
disposition in his favour, endeavoured to fortify his mind against