"the feet of the prostitute go down to
death, and that her steps take hold on hell:" what then can be hoped
from any punishment, which the laws of man can superadd to disease and
want, to rottenness and perdition? If you permit opium to be publickly
sold at a low rate; it will be folly to hope, that the dread of
punishment will render idleness and drunkenness strangers to the poor.
If a tax is so collected, as to leave opportunities to procure the
commodity, without paying it; the hope of gain will always surmount the
fear of punishment. If, when the veteran has served you at the risque of
life, you withold his hire; it will be in vain to threaten usury and
extortion with imprisonment and fines. If, in your armies, you suffer it
to be any man's interest, rather to preserve the life of a horse than a
man; be assured, that your own sword is drawn for your enemy: for there
will always be some, in whom interest is stronger than humanity and
honour. Put no man's interest, therefore, in the ballance against his
duty; nor hope that good can often be produced, but by preventing
opportunities of evil.'

To these precepts of OMAR, HAMET listened as to the instructions of a
father; and having promised to keep them as the treasure of life, he
dismissed him from his presence. The heart of HAMET was now expanded
with the most pleasing expectations; but ALMORAN was pining with
solicitude, jealousy, and distrust: he took every opportunity to avoid
both OMAR and HAMET; but HAMET still retained his confidence, and OMAR
his suspicions.

CHAP. V.

In the mean time, the system of government was established which had
been proposed by OMAR, and in which HAMET concurred from principle, and
ALMORAN from policy. The views of ALMORAN terminated in the
gratification of his own appetites and passions; those of HAMET, in the
discharge of his duty: HAMET, therefore, was indefatigable in the
business of the state; and as his sense of honour, and his love of the
public, made this the employment of his choice, it was to him the
perpetual source of a generous and sublime felicity. ALMORAN also was
equally diligent, but from another motive: he was actuated, not by love
of the public, but by jealousy of his brother; he performed his task as
the drudge of necessity, with reluctance and ill will; so that to him it
produced pain and anxiety, weariness and impatience.

To atone for this waste of time, he determined to crowd all that
remained with