I do not want a slave, but a friend; not merely a
woman, but a wife. If I find ALMEIDA such as my fancy has feigned her;
if her mind corresponds with her form; and if I have reason to think,
that she can give her heart to HAMET, and not merely her hand to the
king; I shall be happy.' To this declaration, Abdallah replied with
expressions of the profoundest submission and gratitude; and HAMET
dismissed him, to prepare ALMEIDA to receive him in the afternoon of the
same day.
CHAP. VII.
As eight moons only had passed since the death of Solyman, and as the
reverence of HAMET for the memory of his father would not suffer him to
marry till the year should be completed; he determined not to mention
ALMEIDA to his brother, till the time when he could marry her was near.
The fierce and haughty deportment of ALMORAN had now left HAMET no room
to doubt of his character: and though he had no apprehension that he
would make any attempts upon ALMEIDA, after she should be his wife; yet
he did not know how much might justly be feared from his passion, if he
should see her and become enamoured of her, while she was yet a virgin
in the house of her father.
ALMEIDA had not only unsullied purity of mind, but principles of refined
and exalted virtue; and as the life of HAMET was an example of all that
was either great or good, Abdallah felt no anxiety upon leaving them
together, except what arose from his fears, that his daughter would not
be able to secure the conquest she had made.
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