The passions which Almoran could no longer suppress, now burst out, in a torrent of exclamation:  ’Am I then, said he, ’blasted for ever with a double curse, divided empire and disappointed love!  What is dominion, if it is not possessed alone? and what is power, which the dread of rival power perpetually controuls?  Is it for me to listen in silence to the wrangling of slaves, that I may at last apportion to them what, with a clamorous insolence, they demand as their due! as well may the sun linger in his course, and the world mourn in darkness for the day, that the glow-worm may still be seen to glimmer upon, the earth, and the owls and bats that haunt the sepulchres of the dead enjoy a longer night.  Yet this have I done, because this has been done by Hamet:  and my heart sickens in vain with the desire of beauty, because my power extends not to Almeida.  With dominion undivided and Almeida, I should be Almoran; but without them, I am less than nothing.’

Omar, who, before he has passed the pavilion, heard a sound which he knew to be the voice of Almoran, returned hastily to the chamber in which he left him, believing he had withdrawn too soon, and that the king, as he knew no other was present, was speaking to him:  he soon drew near enough to hear what was said; and while he was standing torpid in suspense, dreading to be discovered, and not knowing how to retire, Almoran turned about.

At first, both stood motionless with confusion and amazement; bus ALMORAN’S pride soon surmounted his other passions, and his disdain of Omar gave his guilt the firmness of virtue.

‘It is true,’ said he, ’that thou hast stolen the secret of my heart; but do not think, that I fear it should be known:  though my poignard could take it back with thy life; I leave it with thee.  To reproach, or curse thee, would do thee honour, and lift thee into an importance which otherwise thou canst never reach.’  Almoran then turned from him with a contemptuous frown:  but Omar caught him by the robe; and prostrating himself upon the ground, intreated to be heard.  His importunity at length prevailed; and he attempted to exculpate himself, from the charge of having insiduously intruded upon the privacy of his prince, but Almoran sternly interrupted him:  ‘And what art thou,’ said he, ’that I should care, whether thou art innocent or guilty?’ ’If not for my sake,’ said Omar, ’listen for thy own; and though my duty is despised, let my affection be heard.  That thou art not happy, I know; and I now know the cause.  Let my lord pardon the presumption of his slave:  he that seeks to satisfy all his wishes, must be wretched; he only can be happy, by whom some are suppressed.’  At these words Almoran snatched his robe from the hand of Omar, and spurned him in a transport of rage and indignation:  ‘The suppression of desire,’ said he, ’is such happiness, as that of the deaf who do not remember to have heard.  If it is virtue, know, that, as virtue, I despise it; for though it may secure the obedience of the slave, it can only degrade the prerogative of a prince.  I cast off all restraint, as I do thee:  begone, therefore, to Hamet, and see me no more.’