, he was joined by Caled.

Caled had a secret enmity against Osmyn, as his rival in the favour of
ALMORAN; but as he had concealed his own pretensions from Osmyn, Osmyn
had no ill will against Caled. As they were now likely to be involved
in one common calamity, by the ruin of the prince whose party they had
espoused; Caled's enmity subsided, and the indifference of Osmyn was
warmed into kindness: mutual distress produced mutual confidence; and
Caled, after condoling with Osmyn on their present hopeless situation,
proposed that they should draw off their forces, and revolt to HAMET.
This proposition Osmyn rejected, not only from principle, but from
interest: 'Now we have accepted of a trust,' said he, 'we ought not to
betray it. If we had gone over to HAMET, when he first declared against
his brother, he would have received us with joy, and probably have
rewarded our service; but I know, that his virtue will abhor us for
treachery, though practised in his favour: treachery, under the dominion
of HAMET, will not only cover us with dishonour, but will probably
devote us to death.'

In this reasoning, Caled could not but acquiesce; he felt himself
secretly but forcibly reproved, by the superior virtue of Osmyn: and
while he regretted his having made a proposal, which had been rejected
not only as imprudent but infamous; he concluded, that Osmyn would ever
after suspect and despise him; and he, therefore, from a new cause,
conceived new enmity against him. They parted, however, without any
appearance of suspicion or disgust; and, in a short time, they were in
circumstances very different from their expectations.

VOLUME SECOND

CHAP. XI.

ALMORAN had now reached the gallery; and when the multitude saw him,
they shouted as in triumph, and demanded that he should surrender.
HAMET, who also perceived him at a distance, and was unwilling that any
violence should be offered to his person, pressed forward, and when he
was come near, commanded silence. At this moment ALMORAN, with a loud
voice, reproached them with impiety and folly; and appealing to the
power, whom in his person they had offended, the air suddenly grew dark,
a flood of lightning descended from the sky, and a peal of thunder was
articulated into these words:

Divided sway, the God who reigns alone
Abhors; and gives to ALMORAN the throne.

The multitude stood aghast at the prodigy; and hiding their faces with
their hands, every one depart