To the council of OMAR, HAMET was implicitly obedient, as to the
revelations of the Prophet; but, like his instructions, it was neglected
by ALMORAN, who became every moment more wretched. He had a graceful
person, and a vigorous mind; he was in the bloom of youth, and had a
constitution that promised him length of days; he had power which
princes were emulous to obey, and wealth by which whatever could
administer to luxury might be bought, for every passion, and every
appetite, it was easy for him to procure a perpetual succession of new
objects: yet was ALMORAN, not only without enjoyment, but without peace;
he was by turns pining with discontent, and raving with indignation; his
vices had extracted bitter from every sweet; and having exhausted
nature for delight in vain, he was repining at the bounds in which he
was confined, and regretting the want of other powers as the cause of
his misery.
Thus the year of mourning for Solyman was compleated, without any act of
violence on the part of ALMORAN, or of caution on the part of HAMET: but
on the evening of the last day, HAMET, having secretly prepared every
thing for performing the solemnity in a private manner, acquainted
ALMORAN by a letter, which OMAR, undertook to deliver, that he should
celebrate his marriage on the morrow.
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