n the earth.
Is it not our duty, to suffer, as well as to act? If my own hand
consigns me to the grave, what can it do but perpetuate that misery,
which, by disobedience, I would shun? what can it do, but cut off my
life and hope together?' With this reflection he threw the dagger from
him; and stretching himself again upon the ground, resigned himself to
the disposal of the Father of man, most Merciful and Almighty.

ALMORAN, who had now resolved to send for the intelligence which he
longed to hear, was dispatching a messenger to the prison, when he was
told that Caled desired admittance to his presence. At the name of
Caled, he started up in an extasy of joy; and not doubting but that
HAMET was dead, he ordered him to be instantly admitted. When he came
in, ALMORAN made no enquiry about HAMET, because he would not appear to
expect the event, which yet he supposed he had brought about; he,
therefore, asked him only upon what business he came. 'I come, my
lord,' said he, 'to apprize thee of the treachery of Osmyn.' 'I know,'
said ALMORAN, 'that Osmyn is a traitor; but of what dost thou accuse
him? 'As I was but now,' said he, 'changing the guard which is set upon
HAMET, Osmyn came up to the door of the prison, and producing the royal
signet demanded admittance. As the command which I received, when he was
delivered to my custody, was absolute, that no foot should enter, I
doubted whether the token had not been obtained, by fraud, for some
other purpose; yet, as he required admittance only, I complied: but that
if any treachery had been contrived, I might detect it; and that no
artifice might be practised to favour an escape; I waited myself at the
door, and listening to their discourse I overheard the treason that I
suspected.' 'What then,' said ALMORAN, 'didst thou hear?' 'A part of
what was said,' replied Caled, 'escaped me: but I heard Osmyn, like a
perfidious and presumptuous slave, call ALMORAN a tyrant; I heard him
profess an inviolable friendship for HAMET, and assure him of
deliverance. What were the means, I know not; but he talked of speed,
and supposed that the effect was certain.'

ALMORAN, though he was still impatient to hear of HAMET; and discovered,
that if he was dead, his death was unknown to Caled; was yet
notwithstanding rejoiced at what he heard: and as he knew what Caled
told him to be true, as the conversation he related had passed between
himself and HAMET, he exulted in the pleasing confidence