4<j8 OMAR. 



for ever excluded from Mohammed's paradife if I deceive 

 not both young and old." " Knoweft thou, Ali, what 

 he faid to me ?" " Well, let us hear this mighty wif- 

 . dom." " Every thing is wanting to me, becaufe I want 

 nothing ; and that I muft abftain and enjoy." " Fare- 

 well, Omar. May our great prophet take thee and thy 

 five fenfes into keeping !'* Ali went away, thinking 

 himfelf happy that he was not fuch a fool asOmar ; and 

 this philofopher went to one of his female friends, and 

 came home next morning lick. Omar, on the contrary, 

 walked away leifurely, curling his miferable deftiny; 

 and rofe up frelh and healthy. 



CHAP. III. 



OMAR KILLS HIS WIFE. 



OMAR was one of thofe men who could be called 

 perfect, if ever the Eternal made any mortal perfect:. 

 He was young and handfome, and the maidens of Bag- 

 dat called him in their fongs the rofe of delire, the 

 pink of happinefs, and the violet of the morning dream. 

 His riches were immenfe, his palace was indeed lefs 

 tiian thofe of the califs, but it was more beautiful ; for 

 their' s were rich but void of all elegance or neatnefs* 

 Omar was ftrong and healthy ; and, what is more than 

 all this, he was purfued by the maidens he loved. No 

 wonder that Omar was not at reft. " Ali is known to 

 be a fool," faid Omar at length ; but the fage likewife 

 may not be fo wife as he is thought to be. " I fhall 

 try if I cannot be happy in Fatima's arms." Omar took 

 Fatima home, breathed only on her lips, tailed in full 

 meafure the happinefs of love, rioted in Fatima's charms 5 

 i and 



