6 



OMAR 



ged and begged a kifs as a proof that he might believe 

 her ; but all to no purpofe ; Ihe remained inflexible. 

 " Thou givefr, me pain, Omar," faid fhe ; " but I 

 durft not grant thy requeft." " And why not r" tc Be- 

 caufe I — becaufe I — love thee." The grandfather 

 at this moment came up to them ; and Omar was obliged 

 to break off his converfation with Zemira. " Would 

 ever any man think a girl would not kifs him becaufe 

 Ihe loved him ?" faid Omar to himfelf. They went in 

 to dinner ; the converfation fell on indifferent fubjecls. 

 Thefage remarked, that Grangers admired the fine walks 

 and parks which the califs had laid out before the gates 

 of Bagdat ; but they execrated the pavement they had 

 caufed to be laid in Bagdat; f< for example," continued 

 the old man, <fi in that ftreet where thy palace is, I have 

 twice diflocated my leg." Omar fat deeply engaged 

 in thought ; and gave an anfwer not at all to the pur- 

 pofe. 6 ' What is the matter with thee, Omar?" faid 

 the fage. Omar lighed ; conlidered a little, and then 

 related to him the whole affair. The old man fmiled, 

 looked at them both ; and, ftroaking Zemira's cheek, 

 faid, I thank thee, Zemira, for loving Omar fo well." 

 Omar Hill intreated, in the prefence of the fage, for a 

 kifs ; and fhe at length promifed him one as foon as the 

 ftreet in which his palace flood fhould be better paved. 

 Omar haftened to Bagdat, obtained permiffion of the 

 calif, hired paviours, took upon himfelf the chief in- 

 fpeclion, employed himfelf, and forgot his diffatif- 

 fadlion. In two months he returned, and claimed Ze- 

 mira's fitft kifs. In like manner he was always obliged to 

 do fomething to deferve a fecond, a third, and fo on. 

 And three years after his firft declaration of love, Zemira 



became 



