omar. 475 



things ?** " As thou enjoyeft this fhade. Mark my 

 words; whoever delires to enjoy, muft firft abftain. 

 The Eternal has odained it as a fundamental law. 

 And the greateft voluptuoufnefs is comprehended in this 

 law. I^earn to long for a thing, and thou wilt be at eafe, 

 Learn tp abftain, and thou wilt infallibly enjoy." 



CHAP. VII f 

 OMAR RESOLVES TO BE HAPPY, 



ZEMIRA called them to dinner. They went in, 

 and fat down at table. Omar was hungry. The veffels 

 and the table linen were coarfe ; but exceedingly clean. 

 The difhes were few, but they were adapted to each 

 other. They were wholefome, and were feafoned by 

 the converfation of the wife old man and his grand- 

 daughter. They rofe up ; and Omar confelfecl that he 

 had never been better entertained even at the calif's. 

 He promifed to come and fee them pretty often ; and 

 he kept his word. Till now Zemira and Omar had 

 feen one another as a friend fees his friend. They had 

 eyed each other freely, had converfed confidentially, 

 -and had prefTed hands fociably. The old man foon 

 obferved that Zemira fpoke lefs in Omar's prefence ; 

 dnd that Omar caft his eyes on the ground in her's. 

 The fage once left them alone, in an arbour of rofes ; 

 he immediately fell on his knees before her, feized her 

 hand, and faid in a faultering tone of voice : ' 6 Doll 

 thou guefs, p Zemira, what I am about to tell thee V 

 'Zemira blufhed, ordered him to rife, and let her hand 

 involuntarily lie in his. Omar did not rife till Hie 

 Jh.ad confelfed to him that flie was not angry ; he beg- 

 ged 



