He had also remarked, that he seemed most discomposed after
he had been with HAMET to ALMEIDA, which happened generally once in a
week; that he was become fond of solitude, and was absent several days
together from the apartment of his women.
OMAR, who from this conduct of ALMORAN had begun to suspect his
principles, determined to introduce such topics of discourse, as might
lead him to discover the state of his mind; and enable him to enforce
and confirm the principles he had taught him, by new proofs and
illustrations.
ALMORAN, who, since the death of his father, had nothing to apprehend
from the discovery of sentiments which before he had been careful to
conceal; now urged his objections against religion, when OMAR gave him
opportunity, without reserve. 'You tell me,' says he, 'of beings that
are immortal, because they are immaterial; beings which do not consist
of parts, and which, therefore, can admit no solution, the only natural
cause of corruption and decay: but that which is not material, can have
no extension; and what has no extension, possesses no space; and of such
beings, the mind itself, which you pretend to be such a being, has no
conception.'
'If the mind,' says OMAR, 'can perceive that there is in itself any
single, property of such a being, it has irrefragable evidence that it
is such a being; though its mode of existence, as distinct from matter,
cannot now be comprehended.
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