of HAMET
with propriety, interrupted him with a fierce and haughty tone: 'How!'
said he, 'perfidious to my brother! to ALMORAN perfidious!'

Osmyn, who had now gone too far to recede, and who still saw before him
the figure of HAMET, proceeded in his purpose: 'I knew,' said he, 'that
in thy judgment I should be condemned; and yet, the preservation of life
is the strongest principle of nature, and the love of virtue is her
proudest boast.' 'Explain thyself,' said ALMORAN, 'for I cannot
comprehend thee.' 'I mean,' said Osmyn, 'that he, whose life depends
upon the caprice of a tyrant, is like the wretch whose sentence is
already pronounced; and who, if the wind does but rush by his dungeon,
imagines that it is the bow-string and the mute.' 'Fear not,' said
ALMORAN, who now affected to be again calm; 'be still faithful, and thou
shalt still be safe.' 'Alas!' said Osmyn, there is no diligence, no
toil, no faith, that can secure the slave from the sudden phrensy of
passion, from, the causeless rage either of drunkenness or lust. I am
that slave; the slave of a tyrant whom I hate.' The confusion of ALMORAN
was now too great to be concealed, and he stood silent with rage, fear,
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 hi