Baj. I see, 'tis vain To court thy stubborn temper with endearments. Arp. And dost thou hope to fright me with the phantom, Death? 'Tis the greatest mercy thou canst give; One day scarce passing by unmark'd with blood, Baj. Confusion! dost thou brave me? But my wrath Shall find a passage to thy swelling heart, 'Tis all the boasted courage of thy sex; Though, for thy soul, thou dar'st not meet the danger. Arp. By all my hopes of happiness, I dare! Baj. This moment is the trial. This moment, then, shall show I am a Greek, Baj. Here, mercy, I disclaim thee! Mark me, traitress! My love prepares a victim to thy pride, And when it greets thee next, 'twill be in blood. [Exit. Enter MONESES, guarded by some MUTES; others Arp. If it be happiness, alas! to die, To love and glory lost, and from among The great Creator's works expung'd and blotted, Then, very shortly, shall we both be happy, Mon. There is no room for doubt; 'tis certain bliss. The tyrant's cruel violence, thy loss, soul Already seem more light; nor has my Arp. By all the truth of our past loves, I vow, This very now I could put off my being Mon. Since thou art arm'd for all things after death, But's full as grievous. All that the mind feels Enter a MUTE; he signs to the rest, who proffer a Arp. Think, ere we part!— Mon. Of what? Arp. Of something soft, Tender and kind, of something wondrous sad. Oh, my full soul! Mon. My tongue is at a loss; Thoughts crowd so fast, thy name is all I've left, [The MUTES struggle with him. Arp. I have a thousand, thousand, things to utter, 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 Enter BAJAZET, HALY, and ATTENDANTS. Baj. Ha! wherefore lives this dog? Be quick, ye slaves! And rid me of my pain. F Mon. For only death, And the last night, can shut out my Arpasia. [The MUTES strangle MONESES. Arp. Oh, dismal! 'tis not to be borne! Ye moralists! Ye talkers! what are all your precepts now? Can love and indignation be so fierce, If those, that are my slaves, and should live for me, Enter the DERVISE. Der. The valiant Omar sends, to tell thy 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, ev'n 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 heav'n. Ha! or my eyes are false, they move this way; Tis certain so. Fly, Haly, to our daughter. [Exit HALY. Let some secure the christian prince, Axalla ;We will begone this minute. Enter OMAR. Omar. Lost! undone ! Baj. What mean'st thou? Omar. All our hopes of flight are lost. Mirvan and Zama, with the Parthian horse, Enclose us round, they hold us in a toil. Baj. Ha! whence this unexpected curse of chance? Omar. Too late I learnt, that, early in the night, A slave was suffer'd, by the princess' order, To pass the guard. I clove the villain down, Who yielded to his flight: but that's poor vengeance! That fugitive has rais'd the camp upon us, And, unperceiv'd, by favour of the night, In silence they have march'd to intercept us. Baj. My daughter! Oh, the traitress! Der. Yet, we have Axalla in our power; and angry Tamerlane Will buy his fav'rite's life, on any terms. Omar. With those few friends I have, I, for a while, Can face their force: if they refuse us peace, Revenge shall sweeten ruin. Enter HALY, with SELIMA, weeping. [Exit. Baj. See where she comes, with well dissembled innocence; With truth and faith so lovely in her face, As if she durst e'en disavow the falsehood.- Bring forth the minion of her foolish heart! Haly. 'Would I could not speak The crime of fatal love! The slave, who fled, Haly. Hid beneath that vile appearance, |