' 'And what,' said ALMORAN, 'is the will of
this mighty and tremendous being?' 'His will,' said the Genius, 'I will
reveal to thee. Hitherto, thou hast been enabled to lift the rod of
adversity against thy brother, by powers which nature has not entrusted
to man: as these powers, and these only, have put him into thy hand,
thou art forbidden to lift it against his life; if thou hadst prevailed
against him by thy own power, thy own power would not have been
restrained: to afflict him thou art still free; but thou art not
permitted to destroy. At the moment, in which thou shalt conceive a
thought to cut him off by violence, the punishment of thy disobedience
shall commence, and the pangs of death shall be upon thee.' 'If then,'
said ALMORAN, 'this awful power is the friend of HAMET; what yet
remains, in the stores of thy wisdom, for me? 'Till he dies, I am at
once precluded from peace, and safety, and enjoyment.' 'Look up,' said
the Genius, 'for the iron hand of despair is not yet upon thee. Thou
canst be happy, only by his death; and his life thou art forbidden to
take away: yet mayst thou still arm him against himself; and if he dies
by his own hand, thy wishes will be full.' 'O name,' said ALMORAN, 'but
the means, and it shall this moment be accomplished!' 'Select,' said the
Genius, 'some friend--'
At the name of friend, ALMORAN started and looked round in despair.
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