MAHOMET. Your hasty zeal defrauds the claim of justice, Just as the rack forc'd out his struggling soul, His breath prolong'd but to detect her treason, MAHOMET. Decreed to perish in Irene's chamber! There had she lull'd me with endearing falsehoods, Clasp'd in her arms, or slumb'ring on her breast, And bar'd my bosom to the ruffian's dagger. SCENE XII. HASAN, CARAZA, MAHOMET, MUSTAPHA, MURZA. Forgive, great Sultan! that, by fate prevented, I bring a tardy message from Irene. MAHOMET. Some artful wile of counterfeited love! Some soft decoy to lure me to destruction! MURZA. The queen requested that a chosen troop Might intercept the traitor Greek, Demetrius, Then ling'ring with his captive mistress here. MUSTAPHA. The Greek Demetrius! whom the expiring Bassa Declar'd the chief associate of his guilt! MAHOMET. A chosen troop-to intercept-Demetius- MURZA. The queen requested MAHOMET. Who? the dead Irene? Was she then guiltless! has my thoughtless rage Ye slaves of cruelty, ye tools of rage. [To Has. and CARAZA. Your fierce impatience forc'd us from your presence, MAHOMET. What hadst thou lost by slighting those commands? Thy life perhaps-Were but Irene spar'd, Well if a thousand lives like thine had perish'd; Such beauty, sweetness, love, were cheaply bought With half the grov❜ling slaves that load the globe. MUSTAPHA. Great is thy woe! But think, illustrious Sultan, Such ills are sent for souls like thine to conquer. Shake off this weight of unavailing grief, Rush to the war, display thy dreadful banners, And lead thy troops victorious round the world. MAHOMET. Robb'd of the maid with whom I wish'd to triumph, No more I burn for fame, or for dominion ; Success and conquest now are empty sounds, Remorse and anguish seize on all my breast; Those groves, whose shades embower'd the dear Irene, Heard her last cries, and fann'd her dying beauties, Shall hide me from the tasteless world for ever. [Mahomet goes back, and returns. Yet, ere I quit the sceptre of dominion, Let one just act conclude the hateful day. Hew down, ye guards, those vassals of distraction, [Pointing to Hasan and Caraza. Those hounds of blood, that catch the hint to kill; Bear off with eager haste th' unfinish'd sentence, And speed the stroke, lest mercy should o’ertake them. CARAZA. Then hear, great Mahomet, the voice of truth. MAHOMET. Hear, shall I hear thee! didst thou hear Irene? Hear but a moment. CARAZA. MAHOMET. Hadst thou heard a moment, Thou might'st have liv'd, for thou hadst spar❜d Irene, CARAZA, I heard her, pitied her, and wish'd to save her. MAHOMET. And wish'd be still thy fate to wish in vain. CARAZA. I heard, and soft'ned, till Abdalla brought MAHOMET. Abdalla brought her doom! Abdalla brought it! The wretch, whose guilt, declar'd by tortur❜d Cali, My rage and grief had hid from my remembrance: Abdalla brought her doom! HASAN. Abdalla brought it, While yet she begg'd to plead her cause before thee. MAHOMET. O seize me, Madness-Did she call on me! I feel, I see the ruffian's barb❜rous rage. Which murder'd innocence that call'd on me. [Exit Mahomet! Abdalla is dragged off SCENE XIII. HASAN, CARAZA, MUSTAPHA, MURZA. MUSTAPHA to MURZA. What plagues, what tortures are in store for thee, Behold the model of consummate beauty, MURZA. Such was the will of Heav'n-A band of Greeks That mark'd my course, suspicious of my purpose, Rush'd out and seiz'd me, thoughtless and unarm❜d, Breathless, amaz'd, and on the guarded beach Detain'd me, till Demetrius set me free. MUSTAPHA. So sure the fall of greatness rais'd on crimes! |