He
recollected the perfidy of Osmyn; and he suspected that, from the same
cause, all were perfidious: 'While HAMET has yet life,' said he, 'I
fear the face of man, as of a savage that is prowling for his prey.'
'Relinquish not yet thy hopes,' said the Genius; 'for one, in whom thou
wilt joyfully confide, may be found. Let him secretly obtain admittance
to HAMET, as if by stealth; let him profess an abhorrence of thy reign,
and compassion for his misfortunes; let him pretend that the rack is
even now preparing for him; that death is inevitable, but that torment
may be avoided: let him then give him a poignard, as the instrument of
deliverance; and, perhaps, his own hand may strike the blow, that shall
give thee peace.' 'But who,' said ALMORAN, shall go upon this important
errand?' 'Who,' replied the Genius, but thyself? Hast thou not the
power to assume the form of whomsoever thou wouldst have sent?' 'I would
have sent Osmyn,' said ALMORAN, 'but that I know him to be a traitor.'
'Let the form of Osmyn then,' said the Genius, 'be thine. The shadows of
the evening have now stretched themselves upon the earth: command Osmyn
to attend thee alone in the grove, where Solyman, thy father, was used
to meditate by night; and when thy form shall be impressed upon him, I
will there seal his eyes in sleep, till the charm shall be broken; so
shall no evil be attempted against thee, and the transformation shall be
known only to thyself.
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