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He then turned about; and putting, his hand to his forehead, stood again, silent in a musing posture: he recollected, that if he assumed the figure of HAMET, it was necessary he should give orders for HAMET to be admitted to ALMEIDA, as he would otherwise be excluded by the delegates of his own authority; turning, therefore, to Osmyn, 'Remember, said he, 'that whenever HAMET shall return, it is my command, that he be admitted to ALMEIDA.
In going to Palestine Douglas landed in Spain, where the Saracen King, or Sultan of Granada, called Osmyn, was invading the realms of Alphonso, the Spanish King of Castile.
Osmyn had already experienced the misery of dependent greatness, that kept him continually under the eye of a capricious tyrant, whose temper was various as the gales of summer, and whose anger was sudden as the bolt of heaven; whose purpose and passions were dark and impetuous as the midnight storm, and at whose command death was inevitable as the approach of time.
He was now next in trust and power to Osmyn: but as he had proposed a revolt to HAMET, in which Osmyn had refused to concur, he knew that his life was now in his power; he dreaded lest, for some slight offence, or in some fit of causeless displeasure, he should disclose the secret to ALMORAN, who would then certainly condemn him to death.
But just at this moment, ALMORAN, having at last disengaged himself from Osmyn, by whom he had been long detained, resumed his own figure: and while the eyes of ALMEIDA were fixed upon HAMET, his powers were suddenly taken from him, and restored in an instant; and she beheld the features of ALMORAN vanish, and gazed with astonishment upon his own: 'Thy features change! said she, 'and thou indeed art HAMET. 'The sudden trance, said he, 'has restored me to myself; and from my wrongs where shalt thou be hidden? This reproach was more than she could sustain, but he caught her as she was falling, and supported her in his arms.
Osmyn, who had now gone too far to recede, and who still saw before him the figure of HAMET, proceeded in his purpose: 'I knew, said he, 'that in thy judgment I should be condemned; and yet, the preservation of life is the strongest principle of nature, and the love of virtue is her proudest boast. 'Explain thyself, said ALMORAN, 'for I cannot comprehend thee. 'I mean, said Osmyn, 'that he, whose life depends upon the caprice of a tyrant, is like the wretch whose sentence is already pronounced; and who, if the wind does but rush by his dungeon, imagines that it is the bow-string and the mute. 'Fear not, said ALMORAN, who now affected to be again calm; 'be still faithful, and thou shalt still be safe. 'Alas! said Osmyn, there is no diligence, no toil, no faith, that can secure the slave from the sudden phrensy of passion, from, the causeless rage either of drunkenness or lust.
Among those whom accident rather than choice had attached to the interest of ALMORAN, were Osmyn and Caled: they were both distinguished by his favour; and each had conceived hopes that, if he should possess the throne alone, he would delegate his authority to him.
She was satisfied, even charmed, with the personation of Osmyn; but, from the first, she could not abide either of the heroines, who, each in her part, strove to outdo the other in mincing, mouthing, attitudinizing, and all imaginable small sins against Nature and Art. She saw at once, by the sure intuitions of genius, how everything they did could be done better, and burned to do it.
ALMORAN, who with the form assumed the manners of HAMET, addressed Osmyn with a mild though mournful countenance: 'At length, said he, 'the will of ALMORAN alone is law; does it permit me to hold a private rank in this place, without molestation? 'It permits, said Osmyn, 'yet more; he has commanded, that you should have admittance to ALMEIDA. ALMORAN, whose vanity betrayed him to flatter his own power in the person of HAMET, replied with a smile: 'I know, that ALMORAN, who presides like a God in silent and distant state, reveals the secrets of his will to thee; I know that thou art' 'I am, said Osmyn, 'of all thou seest, most wretched. At this declaration, ALMORAN turned short, and fixed his eyes upon Osmyn with a look of surprize and anger: 'Does not the favour of ALMORAN, said he, 'whose smile is power, and wealth, and honour, shine upon thee? 'My lord, said Osmyn, 'I know so well the severity of thy virtue, that if I should, even for thy sake, become perfidious to thy brother' ALMORAN, who was unable to preserve the character of HAMET with propriety, interrupted him with a fierce and haughty tone: 'How! said he, 'perfidious to my brother! to ALMORAN perfidious!
ALMORAN, who now, by the utmost effort of his mind, restrained his confusion and his fear, that he might learn the truth from Caled without dissimulation or disguise, raised him from the ground and repeated his enquiry. 'If I have erred, said Caled, 'impute it not: when I had detected the treachery of Osmyn, I was transported by my zeal for thee.
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