That drove me out an exile from those walls, Which I so late defended. Abu. Can it be? Are these thy Christian friends? Cal. 'Tis well-we thank them: They help us to subdue themselves-But who Was the companion of thy flight?-A woman? So Daran said Pho. 'Tis there I am most wretched- Eudocia, Oh farewell!-I'll tell you, then, Was won, by my distress, to leave the city; Forgive, if 'tis a crime, a human sorrow, Pho. Now since you have heard my story, That I may save her yet, dearer than life, som; Nor shall my peaceful sword henceforth be drawn In fight, nor break its truce with you for ever. Cal. No there's one way, a better, and but one, To save thyself, and make some reparation Pho. O, name it quickly, and my soul will bless thee! Cal. Embrace our faith, and share with us our fortunes. Pho. Then I am lost again! Not freedom only, but to raise thee high A proverb and a scorn!-take back thy mercy, Cal. As thou wilt. The time's too precious to be wasted longer In words with thee. Thou know'st thy doomfarewell. Abu. [To Cal. Aside.] Hear me, Caled! grant Perhaps he will at length accept thy bounty. Cal. Well-be it so, then. Daran, Guard well thy charge-Thou hast an hour to live; If thou art wise, thou may'st prolong that term; If not-why-Fare thee well, and think of death. [Exeunt Cal. and Abu. Pho. [Dar. waiting at a distance.] Farewell, and think of death! Was it not so? Do murderers then preach morality? Yet death's not there-No; it is a point of time, Dar. [Aside.] Suppose I now orders? I wish I durst-Yet what I dare I'll do. Your jewels, christian-You'll not need these trifles[Searching him. Pho. I pray thee, slave, stand off-My soul's too busy To lose a thought on thee. Enter ABUDAH. Abu. What's this?-forbear! [Takes the jewels from him, and lays them Dar. [Aside.] Denied my booty? Curses on his head! Was not the founder of our law a robber? Abu. What, dost thou mutter? Phocyas, perhaps thou knowest me not- Thy name Abudah, and thy office here, Abu. True, for thou yet Pho. I am, unless thou bringest me better We've heard what army is designed to march terms Than those I have rejected. Abu. Think again. Caled, by me, once more renews that offer. Pho. Thou sayest thou art my friend? Why To shake the settled temper of my breast? Abu. The general knows thee brave, and 'tis He seeks alliance with thy noble virtues. Too late to save her. Now, e'en now, our force Now too thou might'st revenge thy wrongs-so Charged me to say, and more-that he invites Thou knowest the terms to share with him the conquest. Pho. Conquest?-Revenge-Hold, let me think-O horror! Revenge!O what revenge? Bleed on, my For thus to be revenged, were it not worse powers, Pho. He knows me brave!Why does he And let me die in peace! No; he believes I am so poor of soul, I would be bought his slave. But go tell him, Abu. Why wilt thou wed thyself to misery, Pierced through the gloom of Hera's sacred cave, Pho. But whither must I follow? answer that. Abu. What wonders-turn thy eye to Mecca! How far from Caaba first, that hallowed temple, Abu. Hear me once more, 'Tis all I have to offer; mark me now! Abu. He swears she shall be free, she shall be Pho. Then I am lost indeed- -O cruel bounty! How can I be at once both curst and happy! But first reflect, that in this fatal night -be made, Perhaps unknown, some barbarous soldier's prey; Pho. Othis pulls my heart strings! [Falls. Look up, poor wretch, thou art not shipwrecked Abu. There is no voice; it is yet the dead of | Be that coininand now thine. And here this night; The guards, without, keep silent watch around us.. Pho. Again-it calls-'tis she-0 lead me to her Abu. Thy passion mocks thee with imagined sounds. Pho. Sure it was Eudocia's voice cried out, 'Forbear!' What shall I do ?-Oh Heaven! Abu. Heaven shows thee what. Nay, now it is too late; see, Caled comes Pho. [Rising.] What do I see? Damascus! conquest! ruin! rapes and murder! Villains! Is there no more-0 save her, save her! [Exeunt Pho. and Abu. Enter CALED and DARAN. Dar. Behold, on thy approach, they shift their ground. Cal. 'Tis as thou sayest, he trifles with my Omar and Serjabil? it is well, I see them. The bow is bent, nor canst thou 'scape thy doom. Who turns his back henceforth, our prophet curse him! Dar. But who commands the trusty bands of Mecca? Thou knowest their leader fell in the last fight. Cal. 'Tis true; thou, Daran, well deservest that charge; I've marked what a keen hatred, like my own, Dwells in thy breast against these christian dogs. Dar. Thou dost me right. Cal. And therefore I'll reward it. sabre, For since I saw him now so lost in passion, By all he held most dear, nay, by the voice Abu. Have patience yet: Abu. Hear what's agreed; but on the terms That every unresisting life be spared. I shall command some chosen faithful bands, Phocyas will guide us to the gate, from whence He late escaped, nor do we doubt but there With ease to gain admittance. What, Abudah! Abu. The general-and I know What reverence is your due. [Caled gives signs to his men to fall on. -Nay, he who stirs, First makes his way through me. My honour's pledged; Rob me of that who dares. [They stop.] I know thee, Caled, Chief in command; bold, valiant, wise, and faithful; But yet, remember, I'm a Mussulman; Nay, more, thou know'st, companion of the prophet, And what we vow is sacred. Cal. Thou art a Christian, I swear thou art, and hast betrayed the faith. Abu. No more-this strife But ill beseems the servants of the caliph, And casts reproach-Christians, withdraw a while; I pledge my life to answer the conditions [Exeunt Eumenes, Herbis, &c. Why, Caled, do we thus expose ourselves A scorn to nations that despise our law? Thou call'st me Christian--What! Is it because I prize my plighted faith, that I'm a Christian? Come, 'tis not well, and if Cal. What terms are yielded? Abu. Leave to depart, to all that will; an oath First given, no more to aid the war against us; An unmolested march; each citizen Well met!--but wherefore are the looks of To take his goods, not more than a mule's bur peace? Why sleeps thy sword? Beside some few slight arms for their defence Against the mountain robbers. Cal. Now, by Mahomet, Thou hast equipped an army! Abu. Canst thou doubt The greatest part by far will chuse to stay, Cal. Well-be it on thy head, if worse befall! This once I yield—but see it thus proclaimed Through all Damascus, that who will depart Must leave the place this instant- -Pass, [Exeunt. move on. SCENE II.-The outside of a nunnery. Enter EUDOCIA, Eud. Darkness is fled; and yet the morning light Gives me more fears than did night's deadly gloom. Within, without, all, all are foes-Oh, Phocyas, Pho. Did not I hear the murmurs of a voice, This way?———a woman's too?————and seemed complaining? Hark-No-O torture! Whither shall I turn me? I've searched the palace rooms in vain; and now, I know not why, some instinct brought me hither; 'I was here last night we met. Dear, dear Eudocia ! Eud. Who calls the lost Eudocia? Sure 'tis a friendly voice. Pho. 'Tis she- -O rapture! Eud. Is't possible-my Phocyas! Do I yet call thee mine? Eud. Do I yet see thee? Yet hear thee speak ?--O how hast thou escaped From barbarous swords, and men that know not mercy? Pho. I've borne a thousand deaths since our last parting. But wherefore do I talk of death?-for now, And feel I'm blest beyond the power of change. Eud. O, yet beware-lest some event unknown Again should part us. Pho. [Aside.] Heaven avert the omen! None can, my fair, none shall. Eud. Alas! thy transports Make thee forget; is not the city taken? Eud. And are we not beset with foes? Eud. No foes? Pho. I know not how to tell thee yet;— But think, Eudocia, that my matchless love, And wondrous causes pre-ordained conspiring, For thee have triumphed o'er the fiercest foes, And turned them friends. Eud. Amazement! Friends! O all ye guardian powers!-Say on-O lead me, Lead me through this dark maze of Providence, Which thou hast trod, that I may trace thy steps, With silent awe, and worship as I pass. Pho. Enquire no more-thou shalt know all hereafter Let me conduct thee hence Eud. O, whither next? To what far distant home?- -But 'tis enough, That, favoured thus of Heaven, thou art my guide. And as we journey on the painful way, Pho. Indulge no more thy melancholy thoughts! Damascus is thy home. Eud. And yet thou sayest It is no longer ours! Where is my father? Pho. To show thee, too, how Fate seems eve ry way To guard thy safety, e'en thy father now, Of his tyrannic vow. Thou know'st last night Eud. And yet, that now Is of the least importance to my peace. Pho. Thou heavenly maid! To free thee, then, from every anxious thought, Know, I've once more, wronged as I am, ev'n saved Thy father's threatened life; nay, saved Da mascus From blood and slaughter, and from total ruin. Terms are obtained, and general freedom granted To all that will, to leave in peace the city. |