This sacrilegious hypocrite, this spoiler, Mah. Child of my care, [Aside. [Aside. At length from galling chains I've set thee free, Fraud is thy law, the tomb thy only bounty, The venerable prophet I revered, The king I served, the god that I adored ! Mah approaching her.] Whence this unwonted language, this wild frenzy? Pal. Where is the spirit of my martyred father? Where Zaphna's, where Palmira's innocence? Blasted by thee, by thee, infernal monster— Thou found'st us angels and hast made us fiends; Give, give us back our lives, our fame, our virtue : Thou canst not, tyrant-yet thou seekest my love, Scckest with Alcanor's blood his daughter's love! Mah. apart.] Horror and death! the fatal secret's known. Enter MIRVAN, Mir. Oh, Mahomet, all's lost, thy glory tarnish- And the insatiate tomb ripe to devour us! Attempt to stem their progress, till the arrival [Exit Mirvan. Pal. Now, now, my hour's at hand! Hearest thou those shouts, that rend the ambient air? Seest thou those glancing fires, that add new horrors To the night's gloom? fresh from thy murdering poignard, My father's spirit leads the vengeful shades I see them raise their unsubstantial arms Mah. [Aside.] What terror's this, that hangs upon her accents? I feel her virtue, though I know her weakness. Pal. Thou askest my love; go seek it in the grave Of good Alcanor. Talk'st of grateful minds? Bid Zaphna plead for thee, and I may hear thee; Till then, thou art my scorn-May'st thou, like With head erect, as if he knew not guilt, Mah. Impious man! Is it not enough to have spilt thy parent-blood, The pestilence, the famine; such art thou; Mah. Babbler, avaunt! Zaph. Well thou upbraid'st me; for to parley with thee Half brands me coward. Oh, revenge me, friends! Revenge Alcanor's massacre; revenge Palmira's wrongs, and crush the rancorous monster! Mah. Hear me, ye slaves, born to obey my will! Pal. Ah, hear him not! fraud dwells upon his tongue. Zaph. Have at thee, fiend-Ha! Heaven! [Zaphna advancing, reels, and reclines on his sword. What cloud is this [Hangs down his sword, and reclines on Pharon. Some cruel power unnerves my willing arm, Blasts my resolves, and weighs me down to earth. Mah. Such be the fate of all, who brave our law. Nature and Death have heard my voice, and now Let Heaven be judge 'twixt Zaphna and myself, And instant blast the guilty of the two. Pal. Brother! ob, Zaphna! Zaph. Zaphna, now no more. [Sinking down by Alcanor's body, and leaning on the bier, Pharon kneeling down with him, and supporting him. Down, down, good Pharon--Thou poor injured corse, May I embrace thee? Wont thy pallid wound Pal. Oh, my brother! Zaph. In vain's the guiltless meaning of my heart; High heaven detests the involuntary crime, ven, Guide her, and—oh! Pal. Think not, ye men of Mecca, This death inflicted by the hand of heaven; 'Tis he-that viper [Dics. Mah. Know, ye faithless wretches! 'Tis mine to deal the bolts of angry heaven; Behold them there, and let the wretch, who doubts, Tremble at Zaphna's fate; and know, that Mahomet Can read his thoughts, and doom him with a look. Go then, and thank your pontiff and your prince For each day's sun he grants you to behold. Hence to your temples, and appease my rage! [The people go off. Pal. Ah, stay! my brother's murdered by this tyrant: By poison, not by piety, he kills. Mah. 'Tis done- Thus ever be our law received! Now, fair Palmira Pal. Monster is it thus, [Apart. Thou makest thyself a god, by added crimes, Mah. Think, exquisite Palmira! for thy sake- race. See where Alcanor, see where Zaphna, lies; [Stabs herself with Zaphna's sword. Mah. What hast thou done! Pal. A deed of glory, tyrant! Thou hast left no object worth Palmira's eyes, And, when I shut out light, I shut out thee— [Dies Mah. Farewell, dear victim of my boundless passion! The price of treachery, the reward of murder, Sink with thee to the earth-Oh, justice, justice! In vain are glory, worship, and dominion! Mah. Paltry dastards! You fled the foe, but can disarm your master! Angel of death, whose power I've long proclaimed, Now aid me, if thou canst; now, if thou canst, Draw the kind curtain of eternal night, And shroud me from the horrors, that beset me! [Exeunt Mahomet, &c. Pha. Oh! what a curse is life, when self-conviction Flings our offences hourly in our face, And turns existence torturer to itself! . SCENE I.-The palace. Enter SIGISMUNDA and LAURA. Sig. An, fatal day to Sicily! the king Touches his last moments! Laura. So 'tis feared. ACT I. Sig. The death of those distinguished by their But by their virtue more, awakes the mind Suggests a thousand fears. What troubles thence Laura. The fears of love-sick fancy! Who, in the late crusado, bravely fell. Laura. He has sometimes, Like you, his doubts; yet, when maturely weigh ed, Believes it true. As for lord Tancred's self, Sig. Merit like his, the fortune of the mind, Beggars all wealth--Then, to your brother, Laura, He talks of ine? Laura. Of nothing else. Howe'er The talk begin, it ends with Sigismunda. Sig. Away, my friend; You flatter- -yet the dear delusion charms. Laura. No, Sigismunda, 'tis the strictest truth, Nor half the truth, I tell you. Even with fond ness My brother talks for ever of the passion He praises love as if he were a lover. Of honour, virtue, friendship, purest bliss- Laura. Then his pleasing theme Laura. He says, that, though he was not nobly Nature has formed him noble, generous, brave, That though his passions burn with high impa tience, And sometimes, from a noble heat of nature, Of ruling reason brings them back to temper, Sig. True! Oh, true, Rodolpho! The heart of woman tastes no truer joy, Is never flattered with such dear enchantment- He was this morning well, when to the chase Sif. 'Tis true. But at his years Death gives short notice-Drooping nature then, Sif. For what, my daughter?-But, with such emotion, Why did you start at mention of count Tancred? Sig. Nothing-I only hoped the dying king Might mean to make some generous just provision For this your worthy charge, this noble orphan. Sif. And he has done it largely-Leave me now 3 Y |