to man: as these powers, and these only, have put him into thy hand,
thou art forbidden to lift it against his life; if thou hadst prevailed
against him by thy own power, thy own power would not have been
restrained: to afflict him thou art still free; but thou art not
permitted to destroy. At the moment, in which thou shalt conceive a
thought to cut him off by violence, the punishment of thy disobedience
shall commence, and the pangs of death shall be upon thee.' 'If then,'
said ALMORAN, 'this awful power is the friend of HAMET; what yet
remains, in the stores of thy wisdom, for me? 'Till he dies, I am at
once precluded from peace, and safety, and enjoyment.' 'Look up,' said
the Genius, 'for the iron hand of despair is not yet upon thee. Thou
canst be happy, only by his death; and his life thou art forbidden to
take away: yet mayst thou still arm him against himself; and if he dies
by his own hand, thy wishes will be full.' 'O name,' said ALMORAN, 'but
the means, and it shall this moment be accomplished!' 'Select,' said the
Genius, 'some friend--'

At the name of friend, ALMORAN started and looked round in despair. He
recollected the perfidy of Osmyn; and he suspected that, from the same
cause, all were perfidious: 'While HAMET has yet life,' said he, 'I
fear the face of man, as of a savage that is prowling for his prey.'
'Relinquish not yet thy hopes,' said the Genius; 'for one, in whom thou
wilt joyfully confide, may be found. Let him secretly obtain admittance
to HAMET, as if by stealth; let him profess an abhorrence of thy reign,
and compassion for his misfortunes; let him pretend that the rack is
even now preparing for him; that death is inevitable, but that torment
may be avoided: let him then give him a poignard, as the instrument of
deliverance; and, perhaps, his own hand may strike the blow, that shall
give thee peace.' 'But who,' said ALMORAN, shall go upon this important
errand?' 'Who,' replied the Genius, but thyself? Hast thou not the