CHAP. III.
The receipt of this letter threw ALMORAN into another agony of
indignation: he felt again the loss of his prerogative; the offer of
advice he disdained as an insult, to which he had been injuriously
subjected by the will of his father; and he was disposed to reject
whatever was suggested by OMAR, even before his proposal was known. With
this temper of mind he began to read, and at every paragraph took new
offence; he determined, however, not to admit OMAR to the honour of a
conference upon the subject, but to settle a plan of government with his
brother, without the least regard to his advice.
A supercilious attention to minute formalities, is a certain indication
of a little mind, conscious to the want of innate dignity, and
felicitous to derive from others what it cannot supply to itself: as the
scrupulous exaction of every trifling tribute discovers the weakness of
the tyrant, who fears his claim should be disputed; while the prince,
who is conscious of superior and indisputable power, and knows that the
states he has subjugated do not dare to revolt, scarce enquires whether
such testimonies of allegiance are given or not.
Thus, the jealousy of ALMORAN already enslaved him to the punctilios of
state; and the most trifling circumstances involved him in perplexity,
or fired him with resentment: the friendship and fidelity of OMAR stung
him with rage, as insolent and intrusive; and though it determined him
to an immediate interview with his brother, yet he was embarrassed how
to procure it.
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