s; without reflecting that he was even then repeating the folly;
and while he felt himself the victim of vice, he could not suppress his
contempt of virtue: 'If I must perish,' said he, 'I will at least perish
unsubdued: I will quench no wish that nature kindles in my bosom; nor
shall my lips utter any prayer, but for new powers to feed the flame.'

As he uttered this expression, he felt the palace shake; he heard a
rushing, like a blast in the desart; and a being of more than human
appearance stood before him. ALMORAN, though he was terrified, was not
humbled; and he stood expecting the event, whether evil or good, rather
with obduracy than courage.

'Thou seest,' says the Appearance, 'a Genius, whom the daring purpose of
thy mind has convoked from the middle region, where he was appointed to
wait the signal; and who is now permitted to act in concert with thy
will. Is not this the language of thy heart?--"Whatever pleasure I can
snatch from the hand of time, as he passes by me, I will secure for
myself: my passions shall be strong, that my enjoyments may be great;
for what is the portion allotted to man, but the joyful madness that
prolongs the hours of festivity, the fierce delight that is extorted
from injury by revenge, and the sweet succession of varied pleasures
which the wish that is ever changing prepares for love?"'

'Whatever thou art,' said ALMORAN, 'whose voice has thus disclosed the
secret of my soul, accept my homage; for I will worship thee: and be
thou henceforth my wisdom and my strength.'

'Arise,' said the Genius, 'for therefore am I sent. To thy own powers,
mine shall be superadded: and if, as weak only, thou hast been wretched;
henceforth thou shalt be happy. Take no thought for to-morrow;
to-morrow, my power shall be employed in thy behalf. Be not affrighted
at any prodigy; but put thy confidence in me.' While he was yet speaking
and the eyes of ALMORAN were fixed upon him, a cloud gathered round him;
and the next moment dissolving again into air, he disappeared.

CHAP. IX

ALMORAN, when he recovered from his astonishment, and had reflected upon
the prodigy, determined to wait the issue, and refer all his hopes to
the interposition of the Genius, without attempting any thing to retard
the marriage; at which he resolved to be present, that he might improve
any supernatural event which might be produced in his favour.

HAMET, in the mean time, was anticipating the morrow with a mixture