orrid rites, and this commerce with unholy
powers, are prohibited to mortals in the Law of life.' 'See thou to
that,' said the Genius: 'Good and evil are before thee; that which I now
offer thee, I will offer no more.'

HAMET, who had not fortitude to give up at once the possibility of
securing the advantages that had been offered, and who was seduced by
human frailty to deliberate at least upon the choice; stretched out his
hand, and receiving the scroll, the Genius instantly disappeared. That
which had been proposed as a trial of his virtue, ALMORAN believed
indeed to be an offer of advantage; he had no hope, therefore, but that
HAMET would refuse the conditions, and that he should be able to obtain
the talisman, and fulfill them himself: he judged that the mind of HAMET
was in suspense, and was doubtful to which side it might finally
incline; he, therefore, instantly assumed the voice and the person of
OMAR, that by the influence of his council he might be able to turn the
scale.

When the change was effected, he called HAMET by his name; and HAMET,
who knew the voice, answered him in a transport of joy and wonder: 'My
friend,' said he, 'my father! in this dreary solitude, in this hour of
trial, thou art welcome to my soul as liberty and life! Guide me to thee
by thy voice; and tell while I hold thee to my bosom, how and wherefore
thou art come?' 'Do not now ask me,' said ALMORAN: 'it is enough that I
am here; and that I am permitted to warn thee of the precipice, on which
thou standest. It is enough, that concealed in this darkness, I have
overheard the specious guile, which some evil demon has practised upon
thee.' 'Is it then certain,' said HAMET, 'that this being is evil?' 'Is
not that being evil, said ALMORAN,' 'who proposes evil, as the condition
of good?' 'Shall I then,' said HAMET, 'renounce my liberty and life? The
rack is now ready; and, perhaps, the next moment, its tortures will be
inevitable.' 'Let me ask thee then,' said ALMORAN, 'to preserve thy
life, wilt thou destroy thy soul?' 'O! stay,' said HAMET--'Let me not be
tried too far! Let the strength of Him who is Almighty, be manifest in
my weakness!' HAMET then paused a few moments; but he was no longer in
doubt: and ALMORAN, who disbelieved and despised the arguments, by which
he intended to persuade him to renounce what, upon the same condition,
he was impatient to secure for himself, conceived hopes that he should
succeed; and those hopes were inst