OMAR. 



Bagdat regretted him ; for he was a judge who never, 

 took bribes, nor ever oppreiTed the poor. 



CHAP. V. 



OMAR WANTS TO KNOW, WHY HE HAS COMMITTED 

 TWO MURDERS; AND IS SHEWN THE REASON 

 OP IT BY A YOUNG WOMAN. 



" I NEVER torment a worm," faidOmar, in the 

 . profoundeft forrow ; 6( and yet I have occalioned the 

 deaths of the handfomefl woman, and the moft upright 

 judge in Bagdat." Omar flint up his palace, took care 

 of himfelf, and went into the country ; where he pafTed 

 fome fuch moments as had tempted him to put an 

 end to his life, had it been then as much the cuftom at 

 Bagdat, as it is now on the banks of the Thames, or the 

 lake of Geneva. Omar's country feat was about fix 

 miles diftant from the retreat of the fage. He went one 

 morning to fee him ; and told him that he was the 

 fame Omar who had afked advice of him, and now re- 

 lated his adventures. The fage was attentive, fiVhed, 

 put his finger to his forehead, and deliberated a while. 

 6i Omar," laid he, " thou liveft in the neighbour- 

 hood ; come hither again at this hour to-morrow." 

 Omar returned, and found a melfenger who acquainted 

 him with the news, that Ali, having overheated him- 

 felf at a great feaft in Bagdat had taken fome cooling 

 fruits to refreih himfelf, died of a fever, and was borne 

 to the grave with the curfes of about fifty believers, 

 among which were thofe of widows and orphans. 

 Omar wrote^ that he made himfelf refponfible for all 



Mi's 



