By the caprice of one woman, I am robbed not only of enjoyment
but of peace, and condemned for ever to the torment of unsatisfied
desire.'
OMAR, who was impatient to apprize him that he was not alone, and to
prevent his disclosing sentiments which he wished to conceal, now threw
himself upon the ground at his feet. 'Presumptuous slave!' said ALMORAN,
'from whence, and wherefore art thou come?' 'I am come,' said OMAR, 'to
tell thee that not the caprice of a woman, but the wishes of ALMORAN,
have made ALMORAN wretched.' The king, slung with the reproach, drew
back, and with a furious look laid his hand upon his poignard; but was
immediately restrained from drawing it, by his pride. 'I am come,' said
OMAR, 'to repeat that truth, upon which, great as thou art, thy fate is
suspended. Thy power extends not to the mind of another; exert it,
therefore, upon thy own: suppress the wishes, which thou canst not
fulfill, and secure the happiness that is within thy reach.'
ALMORAN, who could bear no longer to hear the precepts which he
disdained to practice, sternly commanded OMAR to depart: 'Be gone,' said
he, 'lest I crush thee like a noisome reptile, which men cannot but
abhor, though it is too contemptible to be feared.' 'I go,' said OMAR,
'that my warning voice may yet again recall thee to the path of wisdom
and of peace, if yet again I shall behold thee while it is to be found.
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