SCENE IX.

Play'd fearless in th' inviolated shades.

This elemental joy, this gen’ral calm,
HASAN, CARAZA.

Is sure the smile of unoffended Heav'n.

Yet! why-
Shall then the Greeks, unpunish'd and conceal'd'
Contrive perhaps the rain of our empire,

Behold, within th' embow'ring grore League with our chiefs and propagate sedition?

Aspasia stands

HASAN.

MAID.

CARAZA.

IRENE.

HASAN.

sures

IRENE.

ASPASIA.

Whate'er their scheme, the bassa's death de

With melancholy mien, feats it,

Pensive, and envious of Irene's greatness. And gratitude's strong ties restrain my tongue. Steal unperceiv'd upon her meditations

But see, the lofty maid, at our approach,

Resumes th' imperious air of haughty virtue. What ties to slaves ? what gratitude to foes? Are these th’unceasing joys, th' uumingled plea

(To Aspasia. CARAZA.

For which Aspasia scorn'd the Turkish crown? In that black day when slaughter'd thousands fell Is this th’ unshaken confidence in Hear'n? Around these fatal walls, the tide of war

Is this the boasted bliss of conscious virtue? Bore me victorious onward, where Demetrius When did content sigh out her cares in secret ? Tore unresisted from the giant hand

When did felicity repine in deserts ? Of stein Sebalias the triumphant crescent,

ASPASIA. And dash'd the might of Asam from the ramparts.

Ill suits with guilt the gaieties of triumph : There I became, nor blush to make it known, When daring vice insults eternal Justice, The captive of his sword. The coward Greeks, The ministers of wrath forget compassion, Enrag'd by wrongs, exulting with success, And snatch the flaming bolt with hasty hand. Doom'd me to die with all the Turkish captains; But brave Demetrius scorn'd the mean revenge, And gare me life.

Forbear thy threats, proud prophetess of ill,

Vers'd in the secret counsels of the sky.
HASAN.

Do thou repay the gift,
Lest unrewarded mercy lose its charms. Forbear!-But thou art sunk beneath reproach;
Profuse of wealth, or bounteous of success, In vain affected raptures flush the cheek,
When Heav'n bestows the privilege to bless; And songs of pleasure warble from the tongue,
Let no weak doubt the gen'rous hand restrain, When fear and anguish labour in the breast,
For when was pow'r beneficent in vain ? And all within is darkness and confusion.

[Exeunt. Thus on deceitful Etna's flow'ry side

Unfading verdure glads the roving eye;

While secret flames, with unextinguish'd rage,
ACT V.

Insatiate on her wasted entrails prey,
SCENE I.

And melt her treach'rous beauties into ruin,

[Enter Demetrius. ASPASIA, SOLA.

SCENE III.
In these dark moments of suspended fate,
While yet the future fortune of my country

ASPASIA, IRENE, DEMETRIUS.
Lies in the womb of Providence conceal'd,
And anxious angels wait the mighty birth;
O grant thy sacred influence, pow'rful Virtue! Fly, fly, my love! destruction rushes on us,
Attentive rise, survey the fair creation,

The rack expects us,

and the sword pursues. Till, conscious of th' encircling deity,

ASPASIA.
Beyond the mists of care thy pinion tow'rs.
This calm, these joys, dear innocence! are thine: Is Greece deliver'd ? is the tyrant fallin?
Joys ill exchang'd for gold, and pride, and empire.
(Enter Irene and Attendants.

Greece is no more; the prosperous tyrant lives,
SCENE II.

Reserv'd for other lands, the scourge of Hearin.
ASPASIA, IRENE, and Attendants.

ASP ASIA,
Say by what fraud, what force, were you de-

feated ?
See how the Moon through all th' unclouded sky
Spreads her mild radiance, and descending dews Betray'd by falsehood or by crowds o'erborde?
Revive the languid flow'rs; thus Nature shone
New from the Maker's hand, and fair array'd
In the bright colours of primeval spring ; The pressing exigence forbids relation.
When purity, while fraud was yet unknown,

Abdalla

DEMETRIUS.

DEMETRIUS.

IRENE.

DEMETRIUS.

BDALLA

DEMETRIUS.

ASPASIA.

SCENE IV.
Hated name! bis jealous rage
Broke out in perfidy-Oh curs'd Aspasia,

IRENE, ASPASIA, DEMETRIUS, ABDALLA.
Born to complete the ruin of her country!
Hide me, oh bide me from upbraiding Greece ;
Oh, hide me from myself!

At length the prize is mine — The haughty maid
That bears the fate of empires in her air,

Henceforth shall live for me ; for me alone
Be fruitless grief Shall plume her charms, and, with attentive
The doom of guilt alone, por dare to seize

watch, The breast where virtue guards the throne of Steal from Abdalla's eye the sign to smile.

peace.
Devolve, dear maid, thy sorrows on the wretch,
Whose fear, or rage, or treachery, betray us!

Cease this wild roar of savage exultation :
IRENE, aside.

Advance, and perish in the frantic boast.
A private slation may discover more ;

ASPASIA.
Then let me rid them of Irene's presence :
Proceed, and give a loose to love and treason.

Forbear, Demetrius, 'tis Aspasia calls thee ;
[Withdraws.

Thy love, Aspasia, calls; restrain thy sword;
Nor rush on useless wounds with idle courage.

DEMETRIUS.

ASPASIA.

DEMETRIUS.

ASP ASIA.

ASP ASIA

ABDALLA.

DEMETRIUS.

Forgive, my fair ; 'tis life, 'tis nature calls : At once a thousand passions fir'd his cheek! Now, traitor, feel the fear that chills my hand. “ Then all, is past,” he cry'd—and darted from Nor at the call of Cali deign'd to turn.

[us ;

'Tis madness to provoke superfluous danger,

Avd cowardice to dread the boast of folly.
Why did you stay, deserted and betray'd ?
What more could force attempt, or art contrive ,

Fly, wretch, while yet my pity grants thee flight;

The power of Turkey waits upon thy call. Amazement seiz'd us, and the hoary bassa Leave but this maid, resign a hopeless claim, Stood torpid in suspense ; but soon Abdalla

And drag away thy life in scorn and safety,
Return'd with force that made resistance vain,

Thy life, too mean a prey to lure Abdalla.
Aud bade his new confederates seize the traitors.
Cali disarm'd was borne away to death;
Myself escap'd, or favour'd, or neglected.

Once more I dare thy sword ; behold the prize,
ASP ASIA,

Behold I quit her to the chance of battle.

[Quitting Aspasia, O Greece ! renown'd for science and for wealth, Behold thy boasted honours snatch'd away.

Well may'st thou call thy master to the combat,

And try the hazard, that hast nought to stake ; Though disappointment blast our general scheme, Alike my death or thive is gain to thee ; Yet much remains to hope. I shall not call

But soon thou shalt repent : another moment The day disastrous that secures our fight;

Shall throw th' attending janizaries round thee. Nor think that effort lost which rescues thee.

[Exit hastily Abdalla. [Enter Abdalla.

DEMETRIUS.

1

ABDALLA.

DEMETRIUS.

IRENE.

IRENE.

SCENE V.

Stay-in this dubious twilight of conviction, ASPASIA, INEXE, DEMETRIUS,

The gleams of reason, and the clouds of passion,

Irradiate and obscure my breast by turns : Abdalla fails; now, Fortune, all is mine. [Aside. Wiù spread resistless light upon my soul.

Stay but a moment, and prevailing truth Haste, Murza, to the palace, let the sultan [To one of her Attendants.

DEMETRIUS.
Dispatch his guards to stop the flying traitors,
While I protract their stay. Be swift and faith-

But since none knows the danger of a moment, ful.

And Heav'n forbids to lavish life away,

[Exit Murza. This lucky stratagem shall charın the Sultan,

Let kind compulsion terminate the contest. Secure his confidence, and fix his love. [ Aside.

[Seizing her hand. Ye Christian captires, follow me to freedom;

A galley waits us, and the winds invite.
Behold a boaster's wort) ! Now snatch, my fair,
The happy moment ; hasten to the shore,
Ere he return with thousands at his side.

Whence is this violence ?

DEMETRIUS.

IRENE.

DEMETRIUS.

ASPASIA.

IRENE.

:

ASPASIA.

IRENE.

lo vain I listen to th' inviting call

Your calmer thought Of freedoin and of love; my trembling joints,

Will teach a gentler term.
Relax'd with fear, refuse to bear me forward.
Depart, Demetrius, lest my fate involve thee;
Forsake a wretch abandon'd to despair,

Forbear this rudeness, To share the miseries herself has caus'd.

And learn the rev'rence due to Turkey's queen:

Fly, slaves, and call the sultan to my rescue.
DEMETRIUS.

DEMETRIUS.
Let us not struggle with th' eternal will,
Nor languish o'er irreparable ruins ;

Farewell, unhappy maid : may every joy
Come, haste and live-Thy innocence and truth Be thine, that wealth can give, or guilt receisc !
Shall bless our wand'rings, and propitiate Heav'n.

And when, contemptuous of imperial pom'r, Press not her fight, while yet her feeble nerves

Disease shall chase the phantoms of ambition, Refuse their office, and uncertain life

May penitence attend thy mournful bed, Still labours with imaginary woe;

And wing thy latest prayer to pitying Hear'n! Here let me tend her with officious care,

[Exeunt Dem. Asp.with part of the attendants. Watch each unquiet flutter of the breast,

SCENE VI. And joy to feel the vital warmth return, To see the cloud forsake her kindling cheek, [Irene walks at a distance from her attendants.) And hail the rosy dawn of rising health.

After a pause.

Against the head, which innocence secures, Oh! rather, scornful of flagitious greatness,

Insidious malice aims her darts in vain, (Hear'n. Resolve to share our daugers and our toils,

Turn'd backwards by the pow'rful breath of Companion of our flight, illustrious exile, Perhaps even now the lovers unpursu'd Leave slavery, guilt, and infamy behind. Bound o'er the sparkling waves. Go, bappy bark,

Thy sacred freight shall still the raging main. IRENE.

To guide thy passage shall th' aërial spirits My soul attends thy voice, and banish'd virtue

Fill all the starry lamps with double blaze; Strives to regain ber empire of the mind :

Th’applauding sky shall pour forth all its beams, Assist her efforts with her strong persuasion ;

To grace the triumph of victorious virtue;

While I, not yet familiar to my crimes, Sure 'tis the happy hour ordaind above,

Recoil from thought, and shudder at myself. When vanquish'd vice shall tyranvize no more.

How am I chang'd! How lately did Irene

Fly from the busy pleasures of her sex, (brance, Remember peace and anguish are before thee, And live her guiltless inoments o'er anew!

Well pleas'd to search the treasures of rememAnd honour and reproach, and Heav'n and Hell.

Come, let us seek new pleasures in the palace, ASPASIA.

[TÓ her attendants going off. Content with freedom, and precarious greatness.

Till soft fatigue invite us to repose.

SCENE VII.

ASPASIA.

DEMETRIUS.

DIMETRIUS.

Now make thy choice, while yet the pow'r of [Enter MUSTAPHA, meeting and stopping her.]

choice Kind Hear'n affords thee, and inviting mercy

MUSTAPHA. Holds out her hand to lead thee back to truth. Fair falsehood, stay.

IRENE.

HASAN

IRENE.

MUSTAPHA.

IRENÉ.

What dream of sudden power What wild mistake is this ! Take hence with Has taught my slave the language of command !

speed Henceforth be wise, nor hope a second pardon. Your robe of mourning, and your dogs of death.

Quick from my sight, you inauspicious monsters, MUSTAPHA.

Nor dare henceforth to shock Irene's walks. Who calls for pardon froin a wretch condemn'd?

Alas! they come commanded by the sultan, Thy look, thy speech, thy action, all is wild. Th’unpitying ministers of Turkish justice, Who charges guilt on ine?

[ness— Nor dare to spare the life his frown condemns.

IRENE. Who charges guilt! Are these the rapid thunderbolts of war, Ask thy heart; attend the voice of conscience That pour with sudden violence on kingdoms, Who charges guilt ! lay by this proud resent- And spread their flames resistless o'er the world? ment

What sleepy charms benumb these active heroes, That fires thy cheek, and elevates thy mien, Depress their spirits, and retard their speed ? Nor thus usurp the dignity of virtue.

Beyond the fear of ling'ring punishment,
Review this day.

Aspasia now within her lover's arms
Securely sleeps, and in delightful dreams

Smiles at the threat'nings of defeated rage.
Whate'er thy accusation,
The sultan is my judge.

We come, bright virgin, though relenting naMUSTAPHA.

tare That hope is past ; Shrinks at the hated task, for thy destruction; Hard was the strife of justice and of love; When summon'd by the sultan's clam'rous fury, But now 'tis o'er, and justice has prevaild. We ask'd with tim'rous tongue th' offender's Know'st thou not Cali? know'st thou not Deme.

name,
trius?

He struck his tortur'd breast, and roar'd, Irene.
We started at the sound, again inquir'd;

Again his thund'ring voice return'd, Irene.
Bold slave, I know them both I know them tra
tors,

Whence is this rage? what barb'rous tongue has

wrong'd ine? Perfidious ! - yes - too well thou know'st them What fraud misleads him? or what crimes intraitors.

cense?

IRENE.

CARAZA.

IRENE.

IRENE.

MUSTAPHA.

Their treason throws no stain upon Trene. Expiring Cali nam'd Irene's chamber,
This day has prov'd my fondness for the sultan; The place appointed for his master's death.
He knew Irene's truth.

IRENE.

CARAZA.

IRENE.

MUSTAPITA.

Irene's chamber ! From my faithful bosom The sultan kuows it, Far be the thought-But hear my protestation. He knows how near apostacy to treason But'tis not mine to judge-Iscorn and leave thee. I go, lest vengeance urge my hand to blood,

'Tis ours, alas ! to punish, not to judge, To blood too mean to stain a soldier's sabre.

Not call'd to try the cause, we heard the sen[Erit Mustapha.

tence, IRENE, to her attendants.

Ordain'd the mournful messengers of death,
Go, blust'ring slave-He has not heard of Murza.
That dextrous message frees me from suspicion. Some ill-designing statesmen's base intrigue!

Some cruel stratagem of jealous beauty !
SCENE VIII.

Perhaps yourselves the villains that defame me, Enter HASAN, CARAZA, with Mutes, who throw Now haste to murder, ere returning thought the black robe upon TRENE, and sign to her Recal th' extorted doom. It must be so : attendants to withdraw.

Confess your crime, or lead me to the sultan;
There dauntless truth shall blast the vile accuser;

Then shall you feel what language cannot utter, Forgive, fair excellence, th' unwilling tongue,

Each piercing torture, ev'ry change of pain, The tongue, that, forc'd by strong necessity,

That vengeance can invent, or pow'r inflict. Bids beauty such as thine prepare to die,

[Enter ABDALLA; he stops short and listens.

HASAN

IRENE.

ABDALLA

SCENE IX.

Quick at my call, shall execute your charges

Dispatch, and learn a fitter time for pity.
IRENE, HASAN, CARAZA, ABDALLA.

IRENE.
ABDALLA, aside.

Grant me one hour, O grant me but a moment All is not lost, Abdalla ; see the queen,

And bounteous Hear'n repay the mighty mercy See the last witness of thy guilt and fear With peaceful death, and happiness eternal. Enrob'd in death-Dispatch her, and be great.

CARAZA.
CARAZA.

l'he prayer I cannot grant-I dare not hear.
Unhappy fair! compassion calls upon me Short be thy pains. (Signs again to the Mutes.
To check this torrent of imperious rage ;
While unavailing anger crowds thy tongue
With idle threats and fruitless exclamation,

Unutterable anguish! The fraudful moments ply their silent wings, Guilt and Despair, pale spectres! grin around And steal thy life away. Death's norrid angel

me, Already shakes his bloody sabre o'er thee. And stun me with the yellings of damnation! The raging sultan burns till our return, O, hear my pray’rs ! accept, all-pitying Hear'n, Curses the dull delays of ling'ring mercy, These tears, these pangs, these last remains of And thinks his fatal mandates ill obey'd. Nor let the crimes of this detested day (life;

Be charg'd upon my soul. 0, mercy ! mercy

[Mutes force her out. Is then your sov'reign's life so cheaply rated, That thus you parly with detected treason ?

SCENE X
Should she prevail to gain the sultan's presence,
Soon inight her tears engage a lover's credit;

ABDALLA, HASAN, CARAZA,
Perhaps her malice might transfer the charge;

ABDALLA, aside.
Perhaps her pois'nous tongue might blast Ab.
dalla.

Safe in her death, and in Demetrius's flight,
Abdalla, bid thy troubled breast be calm.

Now shalt thou shine the darling of the sultan, O let me but be heard, nor fear from me

The plot all Cali's, the detection thine.
Or flights of pow'r, or projects of ambition.

HASAN to CARAZA.
My hopes, my wishes, terminate in life,
A littie life, for grief, and for repentance,

Does not thy bosom (for I know thee tender,

A stranger to th' oppressor's savage joy)
ABDALLA.

Melt at Irene's fate, and share her woes?
I mark'd her wily messenger afar,

CARAZA,
And saw him skulking in the closest walks:
I guess'd her dark designs, and warn'd the sultan, Her piercing cries yet fill the loaded air,
And bring her former sentence new confirm’d. Dwell on my ear, and sadden all my soul.

But let us try to clear our clouded brows,
HASAN

And tell the horrid tale with cheerful face;
Then call it not onr cruelty, nor crime;

The stormy sultan rages at our stay. Deem us not deaf to woe, nor blind to beauty,

ABDALLA That thus constrain’d we speed the stroke of death. (Beckons the Mules. Frame your report with circumspective art:

Inflame her crimes, exalt your own obedience :

But let no thoughtless bint involve Abdalla. O name not death! Distraction and amazement,

CARAZA. Horrour and agony, are in that sound !

What need of caution to report the fate Let me but live, heap woes on woes upon me, Of her the sultau's voice condema'd to die? Hide me with murd'rers in the dungeon's gloom, Or why should he, whose violence of duty Seud me to wander on some pathless shore, Has serv'd his prince so well, demand our siLet shame and hooting infamy pursue me,

lence? Let slav'ry harass, and let hunger gripe.

IRENE.

IRENE.

ABDALLA.

CARAZA.

Perhaps my zeal 100 fierce betray'd my priCould we reverse the sentence of the sultan,

dence; Our bleeding bosoms plead Irene's cause.

Perhaps my warmth exceeded my commissiva; But cries and tears are vain ; prepare with pa- Perhaps I will not stoop to plead my cause, tience

Or argue with the slave that sar'd Demetrius. To meet that fate we can delay no longer. [The Mutes at the sign lay hold of her.

From his escape learn thon the pov'r of virtne;

Nor hope his fortune, while thou want'st his Dispatch, ye ling'ring slaves; or nimbler hands,

Trorth,

CARAZA.

ABDALLA.