HASAN. The Sultan comes, still gloomy, still enrag'd. SCENE XI. HASAN, CARAZA, MAHOMET, MUSTAPHA, ABDALLA. MAHOMET. Where's this fair trait'ress? Where's this smiling mischief, Whom neither vows could fix, nor favours bind? HASAN. Thine orders, mighty Sultan! are perform'd, MAHOMET. Your hasty zeal defrauds the claim of justice, Was this the maid whose love I bought with empire? Just as the rack forc'd out his struggling soul, MUSTAPHA. 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, ABDALLA. MURZA. Forgive, great Sultan! that, by fate prevented, MAHOMET. Some artful wile of counterfeited love! MURZA. The queen requested that a chosen troop MUSTAPHA. The Greek Demetrius! whom th' expiring Bassa Declar'd the chief associate of his guilt! MAHOMET. A chosen troop-to intercept-Demetrius- Or but one moment's pause betray confusion, traitor. 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 HASSAN and Caraza. Ye blind officious ministers of folly, Could not her charms repress your zeal for murder? Could not her pray'rs, her innocence, her tears, Suspend the dreadful sentence for an hour? One hour had freed me from the fatal error! One hour had sav'd me from despair and madness. CARAZA. Your fierce impatience forc'd us from your presence, Urg'd us to speed, and bade us banish pity, Nor trust our passions with her fatal charms. MAHOMET. What hadst thou lost by slighting those commands? MUSTAPHA. Great is thy woe! But think, illustrious Sultan, MAHOMET. Robb'd of the maid with whom I wish'd to triumph, [MAHOMET goes back, and returns. Yet ere I quit the sceptre of dominion, Let one just act conclude the hateful day. 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 soften'd, 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! He seiz'd her melting in the fond appeal, Which murder'd innocence that call'd on me. [Exit MAHOMET; ABDALLA is dragged off. |