Hamet, Ozro, SLAVES IN BARBARY, } A DRAMA IN Two ACTS. Persons of the Drama. Bashaw of Tunis. Brothers, and Slaves in Tunis Brother to Ozro and Amandar, sent to redeem them. An American Captive. Amandar, Kidnap, Oran, Gorton, Zanga, } Sea Captains. Teague, An Irish Captive. Sharp, An African, and Kidnap's Slave. Officer, Auctioneer, Guards, Attendants, Purchasers I of Slaves, &c. ACT I. SCENE I.-A Garden. AMANDAR Solus, confined with a chain. N vain the flowers spread their gaudy colours, and fill the air with fragrance. The sun has not a cheering beam for me. All nature's smiles are frowns to him, who wears the chain of bondage. Fifteen long months have witnessed my misfortune: what luckless winds delay Francisco's passage? Enter ORAN with a cane. Oran. Moping fugitive! quick to your task. [Beating him.] I have not placed you here to mutter to the herbs and flowers: they need the labour of your hands. Let them have it; or heavier blows shall punish your neglect. Aman. Then do your worst! I ask the fatal blow, to put a period to my miseries. Oran. Your life is in my hands; but it shall be prolonged; and with your life, I'll lengthen out your miseries. Aman. Unfeeling tyrant! from you I only ask the murderer's office. Speech was designed for friendly intercourse; it ill becomes the tiger. In brutal silence, you may tear my flesh: add not the sting of words. Enter OZRO. Oran. Hah! Ozro. A slave enlarged is no grateful sight to his old master. [Aside. Ozro. I come, my brother, to end your sufferings. Aman. Welcome! You know them to be more than man can bear. Oran. Vile intruder! are you so soon intoxicated with your liberty? Quick, flee this place; or stronger chains, than bound you here before, shall sober you again. Ozro. Talk not of chains! but rather learn to dread the hand, on which they have been bound. I come to execute the orders of your lord and master; not to be frightened with your threats. Amandar's injuries have reached the ears of the Bashaw; and I am sent Oran. Tale-bearing renegade! Well, I shall learn to husband my own property, and give up no more slaves for Hamet's counsellors. Attend your duty! [To Amandar, striking him. Ozro. Repeat that blow, and it shall cost you dear. Oran. Caitiff! begone from hence; or even the Bashaw shall not defend you from my indignation. Quick leave my sight! Ozro. Not while you have it in your power to ex ercise your tyranny over my brother. But yesterday, you promised to sell Amandar for this sum: here it is, ready counted to your hand. I demand him of you. Oran. One half of this sum would have bought him yesterday. It is my present choice to sacrifice my property for my revenge. I will double his task and shorten his allowance, till his pride is reduced, and he becomes more profitable, by additional severity. This is my promise to-day: take it for your solace. Ozro. Monster! would you forever feast your soul on the miseries of the unfortunate? Your word is passed; recall it at the peril of your life. There is your money. [Flinging it at his feet.] Amandar is Oran. When foreign, ruffians, who ought to wear the chains of bondage, are armed with swords, all right is lost: our property is given to the winds. Were it not for what weak heads, and sickly hearts call justice, I'd feast my dogs upon your flesh. Ozro. Go vent your railings to the savage beasts, that prey on one another. If you love the laws that sanction cruelty, they are your fit associates. Amandar, you are once more restored to liberty and life. [Cutting off his bands with his sword.] [Exeunt Amandar and Ozro. Oran. Taking his money.] These high-bred fellows make but poor slaves. 'Tis well to shift them off at any rate. I will take care how I lay out my money for the future. [Exit. SCENE II. The Highway. OZRо and AMANDAR. Aman. Am I deluded by a dream? or is this real? What angel eye of pity has glanced upon us? Ozro. I would not interrupt thy bliss, nor stir the dregs, which the fair surface of this draught conceals. But fortune seems to make our happiness her sport. Aman. Has not the Bashaw purchased our freedom? What are the conditions? Ozro. That is for time or wild conjecture to determine. We must deliberate what course to take. Aman. What dost thou say? let me hear the worst. Ozro. You know the circumstances of my liberation. All had the appearance of affability and pity in the Bashaw. He questioned particularly concerning our situation, and seemed moved with the account I gave. I informed him, our brother was daily expected with the gleanings of an unfortunate father's interest to re deem us from our chains, and restore us to a disconso late family. He turned aside, as though some sudden emotion had seized his mind; then exclaimed, They shall be mine!" the money was paid for your ransom, and committed to me. We are considered as his property. 66 Aman. What then creates suspicion? This favour has some claim upon our gratitude. If we must err, let it be on the side of honour. Ozro. So thought I, Amandar. These were the impressions of the moment. But avarice often assumes the appearance of generosity: and malice, to make its prey more sure, puts on the guise of pity. If the Bashaw's motive were our happiness, all, but my freedom, I would pledge to pay the debt of gratitude. But I would sooner seek the lion's den, or trust the mercy of a tiger, than commit myself to a mercenary Turk. A father's fortune well may tempt the hypocritic show of kindness to his sons. Aman. This thought gives weight to your suspicion. Are our misfortunes then the object of base speculation? This well becomes the dignity of rulers; the honour of the prime magistrate of Tunis! to seek us out, like brutes, to buy and sell, and fill his coffers on the ruins of our family. But stay. Is there no room for charity? Tunis, of all the states of Barbary, is famed for its refinement. Every Turk is not an Oran. I think I have heard the Bashaw noted for his humanity. Ozro. That ruler has but an ill title to humanity, who suffers his subjects to traffic in the dearest rights of man, and shares himself the execrated commerce. Aman. True, my brother, but let us remember our native Venice. We have seen the Turk sold there in open market, and exposed to all the indignities which we have borne with Oran. Nay more; we may come nearer home, and spread the blush on our own faces. We have both heard the story of the grateful Turk, who, by the intercession of Francisco, was twice released from servitude. He had a noble soul, a feeling heart. Though his virtues were discovered, and finally rewarded by our father, we may blush that they were so long unheeded by our countrymen, and he suffered to languish in ignominious bondage. Ozro. Your words have weight. For the sake of this noble captive, I will take part of my censure from the Turks, and spare it for my countrymen. Though this was done before my memory, the story paints his virtues to my mind; and had I no other claim, I would call Francisco brother for this deed Aman. [After a pause.] Can it be? no; 'tis too much to think off. Ozro. What, Amandar? Aman. A thought has struck my mind. Help to confirm, or to confute it. Enter Guards abruptly. Ozro. [Drawing.] Who is here? Stand off! [Guards draw. 1st Guard. But look, my lads! You see you are outmanned. We are more than two to one. Ozro. Then keep your distance, and let us know your business: else, were you ten to one, I'd make your number less. let 1st Guard. As to our business, we are obliged to you know it; or I believe your swords would not frighten us to it. It is to carry you to the Bashaw. Ozro. On what conditions must we go? 1st Guard. As to that, we shall not be nice. We have no cavalry, you see; so you must be content to march on foot. You may take the front, or centre, as suits you best. But we shall not trust you in the if you show a disposition to desert us; and, if you are inclined to be hostile, we must secure that sword. rear, Ozro. I ask the terms on which we are to go; as slaves or freemen? 1st Guard. We don't wish to take the trouble tobind you. If you are not free to go, we must quicken |