A rumour of what had happened within had reached them, which some
believed, and some doubted: but when they saw OMAR and HAMET return
together, and observed that their looks were full of resentment and
trouble, they became silent with attention in a moment; which OMAR
observing, addressed them with an eloquence of which they had often
acknowledged the force, and of which they never repented the effect.
He told them the tender connexion between HAMET and ALMEIDA, and
disclosed the subtil hypocrisy of ALMORAN: he expatiated upon the folly
of supposing, that the power that was supreme in goodness and truth,
should command a violation of vows that had been mutually interchanged,
and often repeated; and devote to ALMORAN the beauties, which could only
be voluntarily surrendered to HAMET. They heard him with a vacant
countenance of surprize and wonder; and while he waited for their reply,
they agreed among themselves, that no man could avoid the destiny that
was written upon his head; and that if ALMEIDA had thus been taken from
HAMET, and given to ALMORAN, it was an event that by an unchangeable
decree was appointed to happen; and that, therefore, it was their duty
to acquiesce. OMAR then beckoned with his hand for audience a second
time, and told them, that ALMORAN had not only practised the arts of
sorcery to deprive HAMET of ALMEIDA, but that he meditated a design to
usurp the sole dominion, and deprive him of the share of the government
to which he had a right by the will of Solyman his father. This also
they heard with the same sentiments of wonder and 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 would produce adequate effects. They recollected that
OMAR had, in the reign of Solyman, often rescued them from such
oppression, as now threatened them; and that the power of HAMET had
since interposed in their behalf, when ALMORAN would have stretched his
prerogative to their hurt, or have left them a prey to the farmer of a
tax. 'Shall HAMET,' said they, 'be deprived of the power, that he
employs only for our benefit; and shall it center in ALMORAN, who will
abuse it to our ruin? Shall we rather support ALMORAN in the wrong he
has done to HAMET, than HAMET to obtain justice of ALMORAN? HAMET is
our king; let him command us, and we will obey.' This was uttered with a
shout that ecchoed from the mountains beyond the city, and continued
near a full hour. In the mean time, the multitude was increasing every
moment; and the troops that lay in and near the city, having taken arms,
fell in with the stream: they were secretly attached to HAMET, under
whose eye they had been formed, and of whose bounty they had often
partaken; and their fear being removed by the general cry, which left
them no room to apprehend an opposition in favour of ALMORAN, they were
now at full liberty to follow their inclinations.
In the mean time, ALMORAN, who had retired to the innermost court of the
palace, had heard the tumult, and was alarmed for his safety: he ran
from room to room, confused and terrified, without attempting or
directing any thing either for his defence or escape, yet he sent every
moment to know the state of the insurrection, and to what end its force
would be directed.
Among those whom accident rather than choice had attached to the
interest of ALMORAN, were Osmyn and Caled: they were both distinguished
by his favour; and each had conceived hopes that, if he should possess
the throne alone, he would delegate his authority to him. ALMORAN now
ordered them to take the command of the troops, that were appointed to
attend his person as their peculiar duty, with as many others as had not
declared for HAMET, and to secure all the avenues that led to his
seraglio.
OMAR and HAMET were now on horseback, and had begun to form the troops
that had joined them, and as many others as were armed, which were
before mingled together in a confused multitude. An account of this was
brought to ALMORAN by Osmyn; and threw him into a perturbation and
perplexity, that disgraced his character, and confounded his attendants.
He urged Osmyn, in whom he most confided, to dispatch, without giving
him any orders to execute; then turning from him, he uttered, in a low
and inarticulate voice, the most passionate exclamations of distress and
terror, being struck with the thought that his guard might betray him:
when he recollected himself, and perceived that Osmyn was still present,
he burst into a rage, and snatching out his poignard, he swore by the
soul of the Prophet, that if he did not instantly attempt something, he
would stab him to the heart. Osmyn drew back trembling and confused; but
having yet received no orders, he would have spoken, but ALMORAN drove
him from his presence with menaces and execrations.
The moment that Osmyn left him, his rage subsided in his fears, and his
fears were mingled with remorse: 'Which way soever I turn,' said he, 'I
see myself surrounded by destruction. I have incensed Osmyn by
unreasonable displeasure, and causeless menaces. He must regard me at
once with abhorrence and contempt: and it is impossible, but he should
revolt to HAMET.'
In this agony, the terrors of futurity rushed upon his mind with all
their force; and he darted as if at the bite of a scorpion: 'To me,'
said he, 'death, that now approaches, will be but the beginning of
sorrow. I shall be cut off at once from enjoyment, and from hope; and
the dreadful moment is now at hand.' While he was speaking, the palace
again shook, and he stood again in the presence of the Genius.
'ALMORAN,' said the inhabitant of the unapparent world, 'the evil which
thou fearest, shall not be upon thee. Make haste, and shew thyself from
the gallery to the people, and the tumult of faction shall be still
before thee: tell them, that their rebellion is not against thee only,
but against Him by whom thou reignest: appeal boldly to that power for a
confirmation of thy words, and rely for the attesting sign upon me.'
ALMORAN, who had stooped with his face to the ground, now looked upward,
and found himself alone: he hasted, therefore, to follow the directions
he had received; and hope was again kindled in his bosom.
Osmyn, in the mean time, made a proper disposition of the troops now
under his command; and had directed a select company to remain near the
person of the king, that they might at least make good his retreat.
While he was waiting at his post, and revolving in his mind the total
disappointment of his hopes, and considering what he should do if HAMET
should establish himself alone, 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.