acquiescence: If it is
decreed, said they, that ALMORAN shall be king alone, who can prevent
it? and if it is not, who can bring it to pass? 'But know ye not,' said
OMAR, 'that when the end is appointed, the means are appointed also. If
it is decreed that one of you shall this night die by poison, is it not
decreed also that he shall drink it?'

The crowd now gazed upon each other, without reply, for some minutes:
and at last they only said, that no effort of theirs could change the
universal appointment of all things; that if ALMORAN was to be king
alone, he would be so notwithstanding all opposition; and that if he was
not to be king alone, no attempt of his own, however supported, could
make him so. 'I will not,' said OMAR, 'contradict your opinion; I will
only tell you what I have heard, and leave you to, suffer the calamities
which threaten you, with a fortitude and resignation that are suitable
to your principles; having no consolation to offer you, but that HAMET,
whose destiny it was not to make you happy, will suffer with you the
evils, that neither he nor you could prevent: the mournful comfort of
this fellowship, he will not be denied; for he loves you too well, to
wish even to be happy alone.' The crowd fixed their eyes upon HAMET, for
whom their affection was now strongly moved, with looks of much greater
intelligence and sensibility; a confused murmur, like the fall of the
pebbles upon the beach when the surge retires from the shore, expressed
their gratitude to HAMET, and their apprehensions for themselves.

OMAR waited till they were again silent, and then improved the advantage
he had gained. 'ALMORAN,' said he, 'considers you as the slaves of his
power; HAMET as the objects of his benevolence: your lives and your
properties, in the opinion of ALMORAN, are below his notice; but HAMET
considers his own interest as connected with yours. When ALMORAN,
therefore, shall be unchecked by the influence of HAMET; he will leave
you to the mercy of some delegated tyrant, whose whole power will be
exerted to oppress you, that he may enrich himself.'

A new fire was now kindled in their eyes, and their cheeks glowed with
indignation at the wrongs that threatened them; they were no longer
disposed to act upon the principles of fatality, as they had perversely
understood them; and they argued at once like reasonable and free
beings, whose actions were in their choice, and who had no doubt but
that their actions woul