omar. 473 



All's debts, thanked the Almighty for having recom- 

 penfed the injuftice of his friend, and went the next 

 morning to the fage. " Omar," faid he, " what 

 mode of life doft thoupurfue ?" "I pray to the Immor- 

 tal, I Ihudder when I fee my flaves fufFer, I give and 

 lend to thofe who are in want, but ftill I curfe my exif- 

 ence." " The Eternal created thee, Omar, and thou 

 art marked in his books." " But wherefore have I been 

 the death of a woman and a man of a thoufand times 

 more value than myfelf?" " We are the creatures of 

 the Eternal ; bleffed be the Eternal !" f? But what mould 

 I do not to curfe my exillence ?" iC Abilain and enjoy." 

 * 6 Thou toldft me that before ; but I underftood thee 

 not." " I will fend my grandaughter, to thee, Omar. 

 I have fomething to fay to my workmen." The old * 

 man called Zemira, and left Omar alone. 



CHAP. VI. 

 OMAR IS FORCED TO DIG. 



u I AM not difpofed to day," faid Omar, " to keep 

 company with a lady ; neverthelefs I fhall wait for her." 

 Zemira entered. She had a pretty jftraw hat on her 

 head, and her Huff gown was tucked up, that it might 

 not incommode her in working. " Omar," faid lhe 

 with a modeft franknefs 66 my grandfather delires thee 

 to dine with us to day." " Thou wilt have then but a 

 filent gueft," faid Omar with a deep ligh. But thou 

 wilt firft help me to dig a couple of flower-beds ?" * 6 Moft 

 joyfully." He then followed Zemira into a fmall garden 

 which me had cultivated with her own hands ; and was 

 aftonifhed at the beautiful regularity preferred in it. 

 W^S^^^^^' ' They 



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