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 his heart throb with the pangs of boding terror.  Nor is there one who, if he did not fear the displeasure of the invisible power by whom the throne has been given to thy brother, would not immediately revolt to thee.’

Almoran, who had hitherto remained silent, now burst into a passionate exclamation of self pity:  ‘What can I do?’ said he; ’and whither can I turn?’ Osmyn, who mistook the cause of his distress, and supposed that he deplored only his want of power to avail himself of the general disposition in his favour, endeavoured to fortify his mind against despair:  ‘Your state,’ said he, ’indeed is distressful, but not hopeless.’  The king who, though addressed as, Hamet, was still betrayed by his confusion to answer as Almoran, smote his breast, and replied in an agony, ‘It is hopeless!’ Osmyn remarked his emotion and despair, with, a concern and astonishment that Almoran observed, and at once recollected his situation.  He endeavoured to retract such expressions of trouble and despondency, as did not suit the character he hid assumed; and telling Osmyn that he thanked him for his friendship; and would improve the advantages it offered him, he directed him to acquaint the eunuchs that they were to admit him to Almeida.  When he was left alone; his doubts and perplexity held him long in suspense; a thousand expedients occurred to his mind by turns, and by turns were rejected.

His first thought was to put Osmyn to death:  but he considered; that by this he would gain no advantage, as he would be in equal danger from whoever should succeed him:  he considered also, that against Osmyn he was upon his guard; and that he might at any time learn, from him, whatever design might be formed in favour of Hamet, by assuming HAMET’S appearance:  that he would thus be the confident of every secret, in which his own safety was concerned; and might disconcert the best contrived project at the very moment of its execution, when it would be too late for other measures to be taken:  he determined, therefore, to let Osmyn live; at least, till it became more necessary to cut him off.  Having in some degree soothed and fortified his mind by these reflections, he entered the apartment of Almeida.