of the tyrant, yet has my heart in secret been thy friend.  If I am the messenger of evil, impute it to him only by whom it is devised.  The rack is now preparing to receive thee; and every art of ingenious cruelty will be exhausted to protract and to increase the agonies of death.’  ‘And what,’ said Hamet, ‘can thy friendship offer me?’ ’I can offer thee,’ said Almoran, ’that which will at once dismiss thee to those regions, where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary rest for ever.’  He then produced the poignard from his bosom; and presenting it to Hamet, ‘Take this,’ said he, ‘and sleep in peace.’

Hamet, whose heart was touched with sudden joy at the sight of so unexpected a remedy for every evil, did not immediately reflect, that he was not at liberty to apply it:  he snatched it in a transport from the hand of Almoran, and expressed his sense of the obligation by clasping him in his arms, and shedding the tears of gratitude in his breast.  ’Be quick,’ said Almoran:  this moment I must leave thee; and in the next, perhaps, the messengers of destruction may bind thee to the rack.  ’I will be quick,’ said Hamet; ’and the sigh that shall last linger upon my lips, shall bless thee.’  They then bid each other farewel:  Almoran retired from the dungeon, and the door was again closed upon Hamet.

Caled, who waited at the door till the supposed Osmyn should return, presented him with the beverage which he had prepared, of which he recounted the virtues; and Almoran received it with pleasure, and having eagerly drank it off, returned to the palace.  As soon as he was alone, he resumed his own figure, and fate, with a confident and impatient expectation, that in a short time a messenger would be dispatched to acquaint him with the death of Hamet.  Hamet, in the mean time, having grasped the dagger in his hand, and raised his arm for the blow, ‘This,’ said he, ’is my passport to the realms of peace, the immediate and only object of my hope!’ But at these words, his mind instantly took the alarm:  ‘Let me reflect,’ said he, ’a moment:  from what can I derive hope in death?—­from that patient and persevering virtue, and from that alone, by which we fulfill the task that is assigned us upon the earth.  Is it not our duty, to suffer, as well as to act?  If my own hand consigns me to the grave, what can it do but perpetuate that misery, which, by disobedience, I would shun? what can it do, but cut off my life and hope together?’ With this reflection he threw the dagger from him; and stretching himself again upon the ground, resigned himself to the disposal of the Father of man, most Merciful and Almighty.