474 o m a it. 



They began to dig. The fun ftruck full on Omar's head. 

 And as foon as the firft bed was ready, he afked if there 

 was a frefh fpring of water at hand. " Thou muft not 

 drink, Omar, till we have finifhed the fecond bed.'* 

 Thirfty as he was, Omar was obliged to dig on. At 

 length the fecond bed was finifhed. Zemira went and 

 fetched fome water from the fpring, and gave it him to 

 drink. " Has the water tafted well to thee," faid Ihe 

 itfith a malicious fmile ? " Better than any I ever drank 

 in my life. But I fee three fine palm-trees, let us go 

 and fit in their fhade." i 6 Prefently, Omar; but we 

 will firft walk about the garden." Omar could not con* 

 ceive what pleafure Zemira could find in walking in the 

 heat of the burning fun ; but, that he might not be un- 

 civil, hi walked. She entertained him with relating the 

 hiftory of all the flowers fhe herfelf had nurtured. At 

 la#, when Omar could fcarcely walk through wearinefs, 

 they went and fat under the palm trees. " Is the fliade 

 pleafant to thee, Omar ?" " So much, that I think it 

 & foretafte of the great Prophet's paradife." " And 

 doft thou think thou wouldft have enjoyed it thus if 

 thou hadfl not been tired?" "That is impoffible." 

 " And would the water have tafted fo well had I given it 

 thee immediately ? By the Prophet it would not." At 

 this moment the grandfather came ; fent Zemira home 

 to get dinner ready, and fat down befide Omar. " Art 

 thou better, young man," faid the hoary fage ? "I am, 

 as well at this moment as ever I was in my life. I have 

 fatigued myfelf, and am here enjoying repofe." " Go 

 on in this manner, and thou wilt foon learn to enjoy. 

 If thou wilt receive inftruction, thy diftemper is cu* 

 rable." * c But tell me, p fage ! how I may enjoy all 



things?" 



