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He can, in private, do thee vengeance on him:
Thy other favourites, of maturer age,

And more discreetly zealous, would not risk it.
Youth is the stock, whence grafted superstition
Shoots with unbounded vigour. He's a slave
To thy despotic faith; and, urged by thee,
However mild his nature may appear,
Howe'er humane and noble is his spirit,
Or strong his reason, where allowed to reason,
He would, for Heaven's sake, martyr half man-
kind.

Mah. The brother of Palmira!

Mir. Yes, that brother,

The only son of thy outrageous foe,
And the incestuous rival of thy love.

Mah. I hate the stripling, loathe his very name;

Mir. The truce expires to morrow, when Al- The manes of my son, too, cry for vengeance

canor

Again is Mecca's master, and has vowed
Destruction on thy head: the senate, too,
Have passed thy doom.

Mah. Those heart-chilled paltry babblers, Placed on the bench of sloth, with ease can nod, And vote a man to death! Why don't the cowards

Stand me in yonder plain? With half their numbers

I drove them headlong to their walls for shelter,
And he was deemed the wisest senator,
That entered first the gate; but now they think
They've got me in the toil, their spirits mount,
And they could prove most valorous assassins.
Well, this I like-I always owed my greatness
To opposition; had I not met with struggles,
I'd been obscure.--Enough.-Perish Alcanor!
He marbled up, the pliant populace,
Those dupes of novelty, will bend before us,
Like osiers to a hurricane-

Mir. No time

Is to be lost.

Mah. But for a proper arm;
For, however irksome, we must save
Appearances, and mask it with the vulgar.
Mir. True, my sage chief.-What think'st thou,
then, of Zaphna?

Mah. Of Zaphna, sayest thou!
Mir. Yes, Alcanor's hostage

On the cursed sire; but then thou know'st my

love, Know'st from whose blood she sprang: this stag

gers, Mirvan;

And yet I'm here surrounded with a gulf
Ready to swallow me; come, too, in quest
Of altars and a throne-What must be done?→
My warring passions, like contending clouds,
When fraught with thunder's fatal fuel, burst
Upon themselves, and rend me with the shock.
And shall enervating contagious love
Hag my aspiring spirit, sink me down
To woman's shackles, make a lapthing of me?
Glory! that must not be! ambition still,
And great revenge, impetuous urge their claims,
And must be noticed. Mirvan, sound this youth;
Touch not at once upon the startling purpose,
But make due preparation.

Mir. I'll attack him

With all the forces of enthusiasm;
There lies our strength.

Mah. First, then, a solemn vow

To act whatever Heaven by me enjoins him; Next, omens, dreams, and visions, may be pleaded;

Hints, too, of black designs, by this Alcanor,
Upon Palmira's virtue and his life.-
But to the proof.-Be now propitious, Fortune!
Then love, ambition, vengeance, jointly triumph.
[Exeunt,

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service,

Pal. But let us shun it, Zaphna; much I fear | Doubt not but the Supreme, who claims this Alcanor has deceived us: dread the treachery Of this blood-thirsty senate. Trust me, Zaphna, They have sworn the extirpation of our faith, Nor care by what vile means—

Zaph. My soul's best treasure,

For whose security my every thought
Is up in arms, regardless of my own;

Will prove propitious to our chaste endearments.
Farewell, my love; I fly to gain the summit
Of earth's felicity-to gain Palmira.

[Erit. Pal. Where'er I turn me here, 'tis all sus

picion.

What means this vow? Mirvan, I like thee not:

Shun thou Alcanor's presence. This hour, Pal- Alcanor too distracts my timorous breast:

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Pal. Oh, Zaphna!

Methinks I do not like this secret vow.

Why must not I be present! were I with thee,
I should not be so anxious;

For trust me, Zaphna, my affection for thee
Is of that pure disinterested nature,
So free from passion's taint, I have no one wish
To have thee more than thus, have thee my
friend,

Share thy loved converse, wait upon thy welfare,
And view thee with a sister's spotless eye.

Zaph. Angelic excellence!

Pal. And let me tell thee,

Even Mahomet's self I dread, whilst I invoke

him.

Like one benighted 'midst a place of tombs,
I gaze around me, start at every motion,
And seem hemmed in by visionary spectres.
All righteous Power, whom, trembling, I adore,
And blindly follow, oh deliver me

From these heart-rending terrors !-Ha! who's
here?

Enter MAHOMET.

'Tis he! 'tis Mahomet himself! kind Heaven
Has sent him to my aid-My gracious lord!
Protect the dear, dear idol of my soul!
Save Zaphna; guard him from

Mah. From what!-why Zaphna?

Whence this vain terror? is he not with us?
Pal. Oh, sir, you double now my apprehen-
sions!

Those broken accents and that eager look
Shew you have anguish smothering at the heart,
And prove for once, that Mahomet's a mortal.

Mah. apart.] Ha! I shall turn a traitor to
myself

Oh woman! woman!-Hear me; ought I not
To be enraged at thy profane attachment.!

This Mirvan, this fierce Mirvan, gives me ter- How could thy breast, without the keenest sting,

rors:

So far from tendering consolation to me,
His theme is blood and slaughter. As I met
him,

His eyes flamed fury, whilst in dubious phrase
He thus bespoke me- The destroying angel
Must be let loose--Palmira, Heaven ordains
'Some glorious deed for thee, yet hid in darkness;
'Learn an implicit reverence for its will;
And, above all, I warn thee, fear for Zaphna.
Zaph. What could he mean? can I believe,
Alcanor,

Thy fair deportment but a treacherous mask?
Yet spite of all the rage that ought to fire me
Against this rebel to our faith and prophet,
I have held me happy in his friendship,
And bondage wore the livery of choice.

Pal. How has Heaven fraught our love-linked
hearts, my Zaphna,

With the same thoughts, aversions and desires!
But for thy safety and our dread religion,
That thunders hatred to all infidels,

With great remorse I should accuse Alcanor.

Harbour one thought not dictated by me?
Is that young mind, I took such toil to form,
Turned an ingrate and infidel at once?
Away, rebellious maid-

Pal. What dost thou say,
My royal lord? Thus prostrate at your feet
Let me implore forgiveness, if in aught
I have offended: talk not to me thus;
A frown from thee, my father and my king,
Is death to poor Palmira. Say then, Mahomet,
Didst thou not in this very place permit him
To tender me his vows?

Mah. apart.] His vows! perdition!
How the soft traitress racks me!-Rise, Pal-
mira-

Apart.] Down, rebel love! I must be calm-
Come hither;

Beware, rash maid, of such imprudent steps;
They lead to guilt. What wild pernicious errors
Mayn't the heart yield to, if not greatly watched!
Pal. In loving Zaphna sure it cannot err;
There's nothing wild, nothing pernicious-
Mah. How!

Zaph. Let us shake off this vain remorse, Pal-This theme delights you

mira,

Resign ourselves to Heaven, and act its pleasure.
The hour is come, that I must pledge my vow:

Pal. I must own it does.

Yes, my great master, for I still have thought
That Heaven itself approved of my affection,"

And gave a sanction to our mutual ardours.
Can what was virtue once be now a crime?
Can I be guilty-

Mah. Yes towards me you are-
You, nursed from infancy beneath my eye,
Child of my care and pupil of my faith,
You, whom my partial fondness still distinguished
From all the captive youths that graced my
triumphs,

And you who now, without my leave, permit
A slave to bear thee from my sight for ever.
Pal. No, we both live, nay more, would die
for thee:

And oh, my lord! if all that earth can offer
Of grandeur, opulence, or pleasure, e'er
Shall make me deaf to gratitude's demands,
May Zaphna's self be evidence against me,
And plead for double vengeance on my treachery!
Mah. apart.] Zaphna again! Furies! I shall
relapse,

And make her witness of my weakness.

Pal. Sir!

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Trust then thy dearest interests to my bosom;
But know your fate depends on your obedience.
If I have been a guardian to your youth,
If all my lavish bounties past weigh aught,
Deserve the future blessings which await you.
Howe'er the voice of heaven dispose of Zaphna,
Confirm him in the path where duty leads,
That he may keep his vow and merit thee.
Pal. Distrust him not, my sovereign;
Zaphna

Disdains to lag in love or glory's course.
Mah. Enough of words-

Pal. As boldly I've avowed
The love I bear that hero at your feet,
I'll now to him, and fire his generous breast
To prove the duty he has sworn to thee.

noble

[Erit Palmira. Mah. Confusion! must I, spite of me, be made

The confidant of her incestuous passion?
What could I say? such sweet simplicity
Lured down my rage, and innocently winged
The arrow through my heart. And shall I bear
this?

Be made the sport of curst Alcanor's house?
Checked in my rapid progress by the sire,
Supplanted in my love by this rash boy,
And made a gentle pander to the daughter?
Perdition on the whole detested race!

Enter MIRVAN.

This night the old enthusiast offers incense
To his vain gods in sacred Caabo:
Zaphna, who flames with zeal for Heaven and
thee,

May be won o'er to seize that lucky moment.
Mah. He shall; it must be so; he's born to

act

The glorious crime; and let him be at once
The instrument and victim of the murder.
My law, my love, my vengeance, my own safety,
Have doomed it so-But, Mirvan, dost thou
think

His youthful courage, nursed in superstition,
Can e'er be worked-

Mir. I tell thee, Mahomet,
He's tutored to accomplish thy design.
Palinira too, who thinks thy will is Heaven's,
Will nerve his arm to execute thy pleasure.
Love and enthusiasm blind her youth:
They're still most zealous who're most ignorant.
Mah. Didst thou engage him by a solemn vow?
Mir. I did, with all the enthusiastic pomp
Thy law enjoins; then gave him, as from thee,
A consecrated sword to act thy will.
Oh, he is burning with religious fury!
Mah. But hold, he comes-

Enter ZAPHNA.

Child of that awful and tremendous power,
Whose laws I publish, whose behests proclaim,
Listen, whilst I unfold his sacred will:
'Tis thine to vindicate his ways to man,
'Tis thine his injured worship to avenge.

Zaph. Thou lord of nations, delegate of Hea

ven,

Sent to shed day o'er the benighted world,
Oh say in what can Zaphna prove his duty!
Instruct me how a frail earth-prisoned mortal
Can, or avenge, or vindicate a god.

Mah. By thy weak arm he deigns to prove his

cause,

And launch his vengeance on blaspheming rebels.
Zaph. What glorious action, what illustrious

danger,

Does that Supreme, whose image thou, demand?
Place me, oh place me, in the front of battle,
'Gainst odds innumerable! try me there;
Or, if a single combat claim my might,
The stoutest Arab may step forth and see,
If Zaphna fail to greet him as he ought.
Mah. Oh, greatly said, my son; 'tis inspira-
tion!

But heed me: 'tis not by a glaring act
Of human valour Heaven has willed to prove
thee;

This infidels themselves may boast, when led
By ostentation, rage, or brute-like rashness.
To do whate'er Heaven gives in sacred charge,
Nor dare to sound its fathomless decrees,

Mir. Now, Mahomet, is the time to seize on This, and this only's meritorious zeal.

Mecca,

Crush this Alcanor, and enjoy Palmira,

Attend, adore, obey; thou shalt be armed
By death's remorseless angel, which awaits me.

Zaph. Speak out, pronounce; what victim must | I offer?

What tyrant sacrifice? whose blood requirest thou?

Mah. The blood of a detested infidel,

A murderer, a foe to Heaven and me,

A wretch, who slew my child, blasphemes my god,

And, like a huge Colossus, bears a world

Of impious opposition to my faith:

The blood of curst Alcanor!

Zaph. I!-Alcanor!

Support my faltering will, harden my heart,
Lest nature, pity, plead Alcanor's cause,
And wrest the dagger from me.
Ha! who comes here?

Enter ALCANOR.

Alc. Whence, Zaphna, that deep gloom, That, like a blasting mildew on the ear

Of promised harvest, blackens o'er thy visage? Grieve not, that here, through form, thou art confined;

I hold thee not as hostage, but as friend,

Mah. What! dost thou hesitate? Rash youth, And make thy safety partner with my own.

beware;

He that deliberates, is sacrilegious.

Far, far from me be those audacious mortals,
Who for themselves would impiously judge,

Or see with their own eyes; who dares to think,
Was never born a proselyte for me.▾
Know who I am; know on this very spot

I have charged thee with the just decree of Hea

ven,

And when that Heaven requires of thee no more
Than the bare offering of its deadliest foe,
Nay, thy foe too, and mine, why dost thou ba-
lance,

As thy own father were the victim claimed!
Go, vile idolater! false Musselman!

Go seek another master, a new faith!
Zaph. Oh Mahomet!

Mah. Just when the prize is ready,
When fair Palmira's destined to thy arms-
But what's Palmira? or what's heaven to thee,
Thou poor weak rebel to thy faith and love!
Go serve and cringe to our detested foe.

Zaph. Oh pardon, Mahomet! methinks I hear The oracle of Heaven-It shall be done.

Mah, Obey then, strike, and for his impious blood,

Palmira's charms and Paradise be thine.

Zaph. And make my safety partner with thy

own!

[Aside. Alc. The bloody carnage, by this truce sus

pended

For a few moments, like a torrent checked
In its full flow, will, with redoubled strength,
Bear all before it-

In this impending scene of public horror,
Be then, dear youth! these mansions thy asylum:
I'll be thy hostage now, and with my life
Will answer, that no mischief shall befall thee.
I know not why, but thou art precious to me.
Zaph. Heaven, duty, gratitude, humanity!

[Aside. What didst thou say, Alcanor? Didst thou say, That thy own roof should shield me from the tempest?

That thy own life stood hostage for my safety? Alc. Why thus amazed at my compassion for thee?

I am a man myself, and that's enough
To make me feel the woes of other men,
And labour to redress them,

Zaph. [Aside. What melody these accents make!

And whilst my own religion spurs to murder,
His precepts of humanity prevail.

Apart to Mirvan.] Mirvan, attend him close, and [To Alcanor.] Can, then, a foe to Mahomet's sa

let thy eyes

Be fixed on every movement of his soul.

[Exeunt. Zaph. Soft, let me think-This duty wears the face

Of something more than monstrous-Pardon, Heaven!

To sacrifice an innocent old man,
Weighed down with age, unsuccoured and un-
armed!

When I am hostage for his safety too!-
No matter, Heaven has chose me for the duty;
My vow is past and must be straight fulfilled.
Ye stern relentless ministers of wrath,
Spirits of vengeance! by whose ruthless hands
The haughty tyrants of the earth have bled,
Come to my succour, to my flaming zeal
Join your determined courage;
And thou, angel

Of Mahomet, exterminating angel!

That mow'st down nations to prepare his passage,

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[To Zaphna] Zaphna, come near-I oft have thought to ask thee,

To whom thou owest thy birth; whose generous blood

Swells thy young veins, and mantles at thy heart. Zaph. That dwells in darkness; no one friendly beam

E'er gave me glimpse, from whom I am descended.

The camp of godlike Mahomet has been
My cradle and my country; whilst, of all
His captive infants, no one more has shared
The sunshine of his clemency and care.

Alc. I do not blame thy gratitude, young man:
But why was Mahomet thy benefactor?
Why was not I? I envy him that glory.
Why, then, this impious man has been a father
Alike to thee and to the fair Palmira?
Zaph. Oh!

Alc. What is the cause, my Zaphna, of that sigh, And all that language of a smothered anguish? Why didst thou snatch away thy cordial eye, That shone on me before?

Zaph. [Aside.] Oh my torn heart! Palmira's name revives the racking thought Of my near blunted purpose.

Alc. Come, my friend;

The floodgates of destruction, soon thrown open,
Will pour in ruin on that curse of nations.
If I can save but thee and fair Palmira
From this o'erflowing tide, let all the rest
Of his abandoned minions be the victims
For

your deliverance-I must save your blood. Zaph. [Aside.] Just Heaven! and is it not I must shed his blood?

Alc. Nay, tremble, if thou dar'st to hesitate. Follow me straight.

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| This conference with the foe? To Mahomet Away this instant; he commands thy presence. Zaph. [Aside.] Where am I? Heavens! how shall I now resolve?

How act? A precipice on every side
Awaits me, and the first least step's perdition.
Mir. Young man, our prophet brooks not such
delay;

Go, stop the bolt, that's ready to be launched
On thy rebellious head.

Zaph. Yes, and renounce This horrid vow, that's poison to my soul. [Exit with Mirvan, &c.

Re-enter ALCANOR and PHARON.

Alc. Where is this Zaphna?—But he flies me
still:

In vain I call in all the softening arts
Of pity, love, and friendship, to engage him:
His breast is seared by that impostor's precepts
'Gainst all who bid defiance to his laws.

But, Pharon, didst thou mark the baneful gloom,
The somewhat like reluctance, rage, and pity,
That, blended, sat upon his pensive brow?

Pha. I did; there is something at his heart-
Alc. There is-

Would I could fathom it! This letter, Pharon,
His aspect, age, the transport that I taste,
When he is near me; the anxiety

His absence gives, do too much violence
To my distracted sense.
Hercides here
Desires to see me; 'twas his barbarous hands,
That robbed me of my children; they are living,
He tells me, under Mahomet's protection,
And he has something to unfold, on which
Their destiny and mine depend. This Zaphna
And young Palmira, vassals of that tyrant,
Are ignorant from whom they are descended.
Imagination's pregnant with that thought.
My wishes mock me. Sinking with my grief,
I blindly catch at every flattering error,
And supplicate deception's self for succour.

Pha. Hope, but yet fear, Alcanor: think, my
chief,

How many infants from their parents torn,
Ere conscious whose they are, attend that tyrant,
Drink in his dictates, place their being in him,
And deem him an infallible dispenser
Of Heaven's decisions-

Alc. Well, no matter, Pharon;

At noon of night conduct Hercides hither;
Thy master in the adjoining fane once more
Will importune the gods with prayers and in-

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