OMAR. 471 



fing; they were contented, or at leaft they foisgot that 

 they were not fo. Omars heart was warmed a little by 

 the rays of joy which fparkled from the eyes of all. 

 ife returned home ; and confeffed to his friend All, 

 that fociety might have its pleafures. In Ihort, he let 

 himfelf be perfuaded to frequent the lively and frolick- 

 fome circles oftener and oftener ; and, on leaving them 

 the tenth time, he embraced Ali: 66 I thank thee moft 

 fincerely, Ali, for thy advice ; now I am fenftble how 

 I may enjoy the pleafures of life : my houfe ihall be 

 open to all thofe who chufe to be gay." The cooks of the 

 empire of the eaft had then the excluiive privilege of 

 pampering ; Omar wrote for cooks to the Byzantine court, 

 and Ihortly after he never fat down to a dinner with 

 lefs than twenty covers. One feaft fucceeded another ; 

 and his houfe was the temple of hofpitality, good tafte, 

 and jollity. " Now I fliall be happy," faid Omar. "I 

 am come to myfelf." He had cooks; confequently, 

 he muft have phyficians. He obferved now and then, 

 that he could no longer fleep fo found as he ufed to 

 do. He lamented that he often waked with a headach. 

 He confeffed, that even in the mid ft of his good com- 

 pany, he was frequently feized with wearinefs and lan^ 

 guor. Omar in time fafted and yawned while all others 

 were eating. Once he broke the law of the prophet ; 

 for he fat up a whole night over fome greek wine to 

 pleafe the chamberlain of the calif; in confequence 

 of which he was fo difpirited, that the following even- 

 ing at table he fell into a fwoon. The chief judge of 

 Bagdat, who fat oppohte him, obferved him firir, 

 ftrove to fpeak ; but* being choaked by a fifh bone, 

 he was carried tp his grave in three days after. All 



k H 4 Bag- 



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