power to assume the form of whomsoever thou wouldst have sent?' 'I would
have sent Osmyn,' said ALMORAN, 'but that I know him to be a traitor.'
'Let the form of Osmyn then,' said the Genius, 'be thine. The shadows of
the evening have now stretched themselves upon the earth: command Osmyn
to attend thee alone in the grove, where Solyman, thy father, was used
to meditate by night; and when thy form shall be impressed upon him, I
will there seal his eyes in sleep, till the charm shall be broken; so
shall no evil be attempted against thee, and the transformation shall be
known only to thyself.'

ALMORAN, whose breast was again illuminated by hope, was about to
express his gratitude and joy; but the Genius suddenly disappeared. He
began, therefore, immediately to follow the instructions that he had
received: he commanded Osmyn to attend him in the grove, and forbad
every other to approach; by the power of the talisman he assumed his
appearance, and saw him sink down in the supernatural slumber before
him: he then quitted the place, and prepared to visit HAMET in the
prison.




CHAP. XVIII.


The officer who commanded the guard that kept the gate of the prison,
was Caled. He was now next in trust and power to Osmyn: but as he had
proposed a revolt to HAMET, in which Osmyn had refused to concur, he
knew that his life was now in his power; he dreaded lest, for some
slight offence, or in some fit of causeless displeasure, he should