'If I had been appointed to govern alone,' said he, 'I should
have had no equal; and he who has no equal, though he may have faithful
servants, can have no friend: there cannot be that union of interests,
that equal participation of good, that unrestrained intercourse of mind,
and that mutual dependence, which constitutes the pure and exalted
happiness of friendship. With ALMORAN, I shall share the supreme delight
of wresting the innocent and the helpless from the iron hand of
oppression; of animating merit by reward, and restraining the unworthy
by fear: I shall share, with ALMORAN, the pleasures of governing a
numerous, a powerful, and a happy people; pleasures which, however
great, are, like all others, increased by participation.'
While HAMET was thus enjoying the happiness, which his virtue derived
from the same source, from which the vices of ALMORAN had filled his
breast with anguish and discontent; OMAR was contriving in what manner
their joint government could best be carried into execution.
He knew that Solyman, having considered the dispositions of his sons,
was of opinion, that if they had been blended in one person, they would
have produced a character more fit to govern in his stead, than either
of them alone: ALMORAN, he thought, was too volatile and warm; but he
suspected, that HAMET would sink into inactivity for want of spirit: he
feared alike ALMORAN'S love of enterprize, and HAMET'S fondness for
retirement: he observed, in HAMET, a placid easiness of temper, which
might suffer the reins of government to lie too loose; and, in ALMORAN,
a quickness of resentment, and jealousy of command, which might hold
them too tight: he hoped, therefore, that by leaving them a joint
dominion, he should blend their dispositions, at least in their effects,
in every act of government that should take place; or that, however they
should agree to administer their government, the public would derive
benefit from the virtues of both, without danger of suffering from their
imperfections, as their imperfections would only operate against each
other, while, in whatever was right, their minds would naturally concur,
as the coincidence of rectitude with rectitude is necessary and eternal.
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25