knees are now feeble, and bend with the weight of years that is upon me.  I am, as thou art, a man; and therefore I have erred:  but I have still kept the narrow path in view with a faithful vigilance, and to that I have soon returned:  the past, therefore, I do not regret; and the future I have no cause to fear.  In Him who is most merciful, I have hope; and in that hope even how I rejoice before thee.  My portion in the present hour, is adversity:  but I receive it, not only with humility, but thankfulness; for I know, that whatever is ordained is best.’

Almoran, in whose heart there were no traces of OMAR’S virtue, and therefore no foundation for his confidence; sustained himself against their force, by treating them as hypocrisy and affectation:  ‘I know,’ says he, ’that thou hast long learned to eccho the specious and pompous sounds, by which hypocrites conceal their wretchedness, and excite the admiration of folly and the contempt of wisdom:  yet thy walk, in this place, shall be still unrestrained.  Here the splendor of my felicity shall fill thy heart with envy, and cover thy face with confusion; and from thee shall the world be instructed, that the enemies of Almoran can move no passion in his breast but contempt, and that most to punish them is to permit them to live.’

Omar, whose eye had till now been fixed upon the ground, regarded Almoran with a calm but steady countenance:  ‘Here then,’ said he, ’will I follow thee, constant as thy shadow; tho’, as thy shadow, unnoticed or neglected:  here shall mine eye watch those evils, that were appointed from everlasting to attend upon guilt:  and here shall my voice warn thee of their approach.  From thy breast may they be averted by righteousness! for without this, though all the worlds that roll above thee should, to aid thee, unite all their power, that power can aid thee only to be wretched.’

Almoran, in all the pride of gratified ambition, invested with dominion that had no limits, and allied with powers that were more than mortal; was overawed by this address, and his countenance grew pale.  But the next moment, disdaining to be thus controuled by the voice of a slave, his cheeks were suffused with the blushes of indignation:  he turned from Omar, in scorn, anger, and confusion, without reply; and Omar departed with the calm dignity of a benevolent and superior being, to whom the smiles and frowns of terrestrial tyranny were alike indifferent, and in whom abhorrence of the turpitude of vice was mingled with companion for its folly.

CHAP.  XII.