HASAN.

The Sultan comes, ftill gloomy, ftill enrag'd.

SCENE XI.

HASAN, CARAZA, MAHOMET, MUSTAPHA,

ABDALLA.

MAHOMET.

Where's this fair trait'refs? Where's this smiling

mischief,

Whom neither vows could fix, nor favours bind?

HASAN.

Thine orders, mighty Sultan! are perform'd,
And all Irene now is breathlefs clay.

MAHOMET.

Your hafty zeal defrauds the claim of juftice,
And disappointed vengeance burns in vain.
I came to heighten tortures by reproach,
And add new terrors to the face of death.

Was this the maid whofe love I bought with empire ?
True, fhe was fair; the fmile of innocence
Play'd on her cheek-So fhone the first apoftate-
Irene's chamber! Did not roaring Cali,
Juft as the rack forc'd out his ftruggling foul,
Name for the scene of death Irene's chamber?

MUSTAPHA.

His breath prolong'd but to detect her treason,
Then in fhort fighs forfook his broken frame.

MAHOMET.

MAHOMET.

Decreed to perish in Irene's chamber!

There had the lull'd me with endearing falfehoods, Clafp'd in her arms, or flumb'ring on her breast, And bar'd my bofom to the ruffian's dagger.

SCENE XII.

HASAN, CARAZA, MAHOMET, MUSTAPHA,
MURZA, ABDALLA.

MURZA.

Forgive, great Sultan! that, by fate prevented,
I bring a tardy meffage from Irene.

MAHOMET.

Some artful wile of counterfeited love!
Some foft decoy to lure me to destruction!
And thou, the curs'd accomplice of her treason,
Declare thy meffage, and expect thy doom.

MURZA.

The queen requested that a chofen troop
Might intercept the traitor Greek, Demetrius,
Then ling'ring with his captive mistress here.

MUSTAPHA.

The Greek Demetrius! whom th' expiring Baffa
Declar'd the chief affociate of his guilt!

MAHOMET.

A chofen troop-to intercept-Demetrius

The queen requefted-Wretch, repeat the meffage; And, if one varied accent prove thy falfehood,

Or but one moment's paufe betray confufion,
Those trembling limbs-Speak out, thou fhiv'ring

Was she then guiltlefs! has my thoughtless rage
Destroy'd the fairest workmanship of Heav'n!
Doom'd her to death unpity'd and unheard,
Amidft her kind folicitudes for me!

Ye flaves of cruelty, ye tools of rage, [To Haf, and
Ye blind officious minifters of folly,

[Car. Could not her charms reprefs your zeal for murder? Could not her pray'rs, her innocence, her tears, Sufpend the dreadful fentence for an hour? One hour had freed me from the fatal error! One hour had fav'd me from defpair and madness.

CARAZA.

Your fierce impatience forc'd us from your prefence, Urg'd us to speed, and bade us banish pity,

Nor truft our paffions with her fatal charms.

МАНОМЕТ.

What hadft thou loft by flighting those commands?
Thy life perhaps-Were but Irene fpar'd,
Well if a thousand lives like thine had perish'd;
Such beauty, fweetness, love, were cheaply bought
With half the grov'ling flaves that load the globe.

MUSTAPHA.

MUSTAPHA.

Great is thy woe! But think, illuftrious Sultan,
Such ills are fent for fouls like thine to conquer.
Shake off this weight of unavailing grief,
Rush to the war, difplay 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;
Succefs and conqueft now are empty founds,
Remorfe and anguifh feize on all my breaft;
Those groves, whofe fhades embower'd the dear Irene,
Heard her laft cries, and fann'd her dying beauties,
Shall hide me from the tafteless world for ever.

[Mahomet goes back, and returns.

Yet, ere I quit the fceptre of dominion,

Let one just act conclude the hateful day.

Hew down, ye guards, those vaffals of distraction,
[Pointing to Hafan and Caraza.
Those hounds of blood, that catch the hint to kill;
Bear off with eager hafte th' unfinish'd fentence,
And speed the stroke, left mercy fhould o'ertake them.

CARAZA.

Then hear, great Mahomet, the voice of truth.

MAHOMET.

Hear, fhall I hear thee! didft thou hear Irene?

CARAZA.

Hear but a moment.

MAHOMET.

MAHOMET.

Hadft thou heard a moment,

Thou might' have liv'd, for thou hadft fpar'd Irene.

CARAZA.

I heard her, pitied her, and wifh'd to fave her.

MAHOMET.

And wifh'd-be ftill thy fate to wifh in vain.

CARAZA.

I heard, and foften'd, till Abdalla brought
Her final doom, and hurried her destruction.

MAHOMET.

Abdalla brought her doom! Abdalla brought it!
The wretch, whofe 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 fhe begg'd to plead her caufe before thee.

MAHOMET.

O feize me, Madness-Did fhe call on me!
I feel, I fee the ruffian's barb'rous rage.
He feiz'd her melting in the fond appeal,

And stopp'd the heav'nly voice that call'd on me.
My fpirits fail, awhile fupport me, Vengeance-
Be juft, ye flaves; and, to be just, be cruel;
Contrive new racks, imbitter ev'ry pang,
Inflict whatever treafon can deserve,
Which murder'd innocence that call'd on me.

[Exit Mahomet! Abdalla is dragged off.

SCENE