I have rush'd eager on, amidst the foremost, Arp. If it be happiness, alas! to die, tain bliss. The tyrant's cruel violence, thy loss, Mon. Since thou art armed for all things after death, Why should the pomp and preparation of it Arp. Think, ere we part! Arp. Of something soft, Tender and kind, of something wondrous sad. Mon. My tongue is at a loss; Thoughts crowd so fast, thy name is all I've left, My kindest, truest, dearest, best Arpasia! A thousand more to hear yet. Barbarous villains! Give me a minute. Speak to me, Moneses! Mon. Speak to thee? 'Tis the business of my life, 'Tis all the use I have for vital air. Stand off, ye slaves! To tell thee that my heart Is full of thee; that, even at this dread moment, My fond eyes gaze with joy and rapture on thee; Angels, and light itself, are not so fair. Enter BAJAZET, HALY, and Attendants. Baj. Ha! wherefore lives this dog? Be quick, ye slaves! And rid me of my pain. And the last night, can shut out my Arpasia. [The Mutes strangle MONESK Arp. Oh, dismal! 'tis not to be borne! Y: moralists! Ye talkers! what are all your precepts now? Patience? distraction! Blast the tyrant, blas him, Avenging lightnings! Snatch him hence, ye fiends! Love! Death! Moneses! Nature can no more; Ruin is on her, and she sinks at once. [She sinks down Baj. Help, Haly! raise her up, and bear be out! And fetch me cordials! No, she shall not die! Ha. Already 'tis beyond the power of art; That blest them with its odours as it past. Baj. Can it be possible? Can rage and grief, Can love and indignation be so fierce, So mortal in a woman's heart? Confusion! Is she escaped then? What is royalty, If those, that are my slaves, and should live for me, Can die, and bid defiance to my power? Enter the Dervise. Der. The valiant Omar sends, to tell the greatness The hour of flight is come, and urges haste; Since he descries, near Tamerlane's pavilion, Bright troops of crowding torches, who from thence, On either hand, stretch far into the night, And seem to form a shining front of battle. Behold, even from this place thou may'st discern them. [Looking out. Baj. By Alla, yes! they cast a day around them, And the plain seems thick-set with stars, as heaven. Ha! or my eyes are false, they move this way; 'Tis certain so. Fly, Haly, to our daughter. [Exit HALT geance. That fugitive has raised the camp upon us, Axalla in our power, and angry Tamerlane Om. With those few friends I have, I for a while Can face their force: if they refuse us peace, Revenge shall sweeten ruin, and 'twill joy me, To drag my foe down with me, in my fall. [Erit OMAR. Enter HALY, with SELIM, weeping. Baj. See where she comes, with well-dissembled innocence; With truth and faith so lovely in her face, Bring forth the minion of her foolish heart! Ha. Would I could not speak The crime of fatal love! The slave who fled, Ha. Hid beneath that vile appearance, My father! have I lost you all? My father! Baj. Talk'st thou of nature, who hast broke her bands! Thou art my bane, thou witch! thou infant parricide! But I will study to be strangely cruel; I will forget the folly of my fondness; Disgrace will overtake my lingering hand; Die then! Thy father's shame, and thine, die with thee! [Offers to kill her, Sel. For Heaven, for pity's sake! Baj. No more, thou trifler! [She catches hold of his armı Ha! dar'st thou bar my will?-Tear off her hold! When nature teaches even the brute creation Behold them now streaming for mercy, mercy! [Shouts. And shall they triumph o'er the race of Bajazet! Die, Selima!-Is that a father's voice?— Rouse, rouse, my fury! Yes, she dies, the victim To my lost hopes! Out, out, thou foolish nature! Seize her, ye slaves! and strangle her this moment! [To the Mutes. Sel. Oh, let me die by you! Behold my breast! I would not shrink! Oh, save me but fromthese! Baj. Dispatch! [The Mutes seize her. Sel. But for a moment, while I pray That Heaven may guard my royal father! Baj. Dogs! Sel. That you may only bless me, ere I die! [Shout. [As BAJAZET runs at SELIMA, with his sword, enter TAMERLAne, Axalla,&c. AXALLA gets between BAJAZET and SELIMA, whilst TAMERLANE and the rest drive BAJAZET and the Mutes off the Stage. Ar. And am I come to save thee? Oh, my joy! Be this the whitest hour of all my life! Sel. Alas, Axalla! Death has been around me; Blood and tumultuous slaughter are about us, [Exeunt AXALLA and SELIMA. Enter TAMERLANE, the Prince of TANAIS, ZAMA, MIRVAN, and Soldiers; with BAJAZET, OMAR, and the Dervise, prisoners. Tam. Mercy at length gives up her peaceful sceptre, And justice sternly takes her turn to govern; "Tis a rank world, and asks her keenest sword, To cut up villany of monstrous growth. Zama, take care, that with the earliest dawn, Those traitors meet the fate their treason merits. [Pointing to OMAR and the Dervise. For thee, thou tyrant! [To BAJ.] whose oppressive violence Has ruined those thou shouldst protect at home; Whose wars, whose slaughters, whose assassine tions, (That basest thirst of blood! that sin of cowards) Whose faith, so often given, and always violated Have been the offence of Heaven, and plague o earth- What punishment is equal to thy crimes? Baj. It is beneath me to decline my fate; I'll curse thee with my last, my parting breath, And keep the courage of my life, in death; Then boldly venture on that world unknown: It cannot use me worse than this has done. [Exit BAJAZET, guarded. Tam. Behold the vain effects of earth-born pride, That scorn'd Heaven's laws, and all its power defied! That could the hand, which formed it first, for get, And fondly say, I made myself be great! Who then rule best, when mindful to obey. EPILOGUE. Too well we saw what must have been our fate, With moving sounds you kindly drew the fair, 'Twas verse decay'd, or politics improv❜d, Time was when busy faces were a jest, When cheerful theatres with crowds were grac'd; Are busy now in settling, peace and war: And ask who did elections lose or get- Another, that the tax and war may cease, -Talks of the duke of Anjou's right and peace, And, from Spain's wise example, is for taking A viceroy of the mighty monarch's making; Who should all rights and liberties maintain, And English laws by learn'd dragoons explain Come, leave these politics, and follow wit; There, uncontroll'd, you may in judgment sit; you. VOL. I. 2 N |