AN, than a joint
administration; and if a struggle for superiority should happen, he
hoped the virtues HAMET would obtain the suffrages of the people in his
favour, and establish him upon the throne alone. But as change is itself
an evil, and as changes in government are seldom produced without great
confusion and calamity, he applied himself to consider in what manner
the government of ALMORAN and HAMET could be administered, so as most
effectually to blend their characters in their administration, and
prevent the conduct of one from exciting jealousy in the other.

After much thought, he determined that a system of laws should be
prepared, which the sons of Solyman should examine and alter till they
perfectly approved, and to which they should then give the sanction of
their joint authority: that when any addition or alteration should be
thought necessary, it should be made in the same manner; and that when
any insuperable difference of sentiment happened, either in this or in
any act of prerogative independent of the laws for regulating the
manners of the people, the kings should refer it to some person of
approved integrity and wisdom, and abide by his determination. OMAR
easily foresaw, that when the opinion of ALMORAN and HAMET should
differ, the opinion of ALMORAN would be established; for there were many
causes that would render ALMORAN inflexible, and HAMET yielding: ALMORAN
was naturally confident and assuming, HAMET diffident and modest;
ALMORAN was impatient of contradiction, HAMET was attentive to
argument, and felicitous only for the discovery of truth. ALMORAN also
conceived, that by the will of his father, he had suffered wrong; HAMET,
that he had received a favour: ALMORAN, therefore, was disposed to
resent the first appearance of opposition; and HAMET, on the contrary,
to acquiesce, as in his share of government, whatever it might be, he
had more than was his right by birth, and his brother had less. Thus,
therefore, the will of ALMORAN would probably predominate in the state:
but as the same cause which conferred this superiority, would often
prevent contention, OMAR considered it, upon the whole, rather as good
than evil.

When he had prepared his plan, therefore, he sent a copy of it, by
different messengers at the same time, both to ALMORAN and HAMET,
inclosed in a letter, in which he exprest his sense of obligation to
their father, and his zeal and affection for them: he mentioned the
promise he