THE SIEGE OF DAMASCUS. BY HUGHES. DRAMATIS PERSONE. MEN. CHRISTIANS. EUMENES, Governor of Damascus. ARTAMON, an Officer of the Guards. EUDOCIA, Daughter to Eumenes. Officers, Soldiers, Citizens, and Attendants. --- MEN. SARACENS. CALED, General of the Suracen Army. Officers, Soldiers, and Attendants. Scene, The City of Damascus, in Syria, and the Saracen Camp before it. And, in the last Act, a Valley adjacent. SCENE I.-The City. ACT I. Enter EUMENES, followed by a crowd of people. Yes, I do pity them, Heaven knows I do, Enter HERBIS. Herb. News! we are betrayed, deserted; The works are but half-manned; the Saracens Perceive it, and pour on such crowds, they blunt Eum. I have sent a fresh recruit; And though I braved it to the trembling crowd, 1st. Offi. Help there! more help! all to the eastern gate! 2d Offi. Look where they cling aloft, like clustered bees! Here, archers, ply your bows. 1st Offi. Down with the ladders! What, will you let them mount? Eum. True; they pretend the gates of Paradise 2d Offi. Aloft there! give the signal, you that Mean time, in spite of their late bold attack, wait The city still is ours; their force repelled, Eum. No-let us first Believe the occasion fair, by this advantage, To purchase their retreat on easy terms: Herb. So the tide turns; Phocyas has driven That failing, we the better stand acquitted it back. The gate once more is ours. Enter EUMENES, PHOCYAS, ARTAMON, &C. Eum. Brave Phocyas, thanks! Mine and the people's thanks. [People shout and cry, A Phocyas, &c. Yet, that we may not lose this breathing space, Hang out the flag of truce. You, Artamon, Haste with a trumpet to the Arabian chiefs, And let them know, that, hostages exchanged, I would meet them now upon the eastern plain. [Exit Artamon. Pho. What means Eumenes? Pho. On terms of peace! What terms can you expect from bands of robbers! For barren sands, and native poverty, Eum. What can we do? Our people in despair, our soldiers harrassed Herb. Besides, you know what frenzy fires their Of their new faith, and drives them on to danger. To our own citizens. However, brave Phocyas, And in our absence form what force thou canst; SCENE II-A Plain before the City. A Prospect of Tents at a distance. Enter CALED, ABUDAH, and Daran. Dar. To treat, my chiefs! what, are we merchants then, That only come to traffic with those Syrians, Cal. Why, so am I-and but to save the lives At your request, has stilled his angry voice, Eum. We come to know, After so many troops you have lost in vain, Why on your heads you call our pointed arrows, Cal. Is that a question now? you had our sum mons, When first we marched against you, to surrender. You see we are returned; our hearts, our cause, Herb. But why those swords were drawn, And what's the cause, inform us. Eum. Speak your wrongs, If wrongs you have received, and by what means They may be now repaired. Abu. Then, christians, hear! And heaven inspire you to embrace its truth! Immutable. By us great Mahomet, Art. [Aside.] So-then, it seems There is no harm meant; we are only to be beaten Into a new religion-If that's all, I find I am already half a convert. Eum. Now, in the name of Heaven, what faith That stalks gigantic forth thus armed with terrors, Herb. Bold, frontless men! that impudently dare To blend religion with the worst of crimes! Eum. Where are your priests? What doctors of your law Have you e'er sent to instruct us in its precepts? And well might claim our thanks. Cal. Friendship like this With scorn had been received: your numerous vices, Your clashing sects, your mutual rage and strife, And reigns in mimic state, 'midst idol shows, Who mildly taught you-Therefore Mahomet Eum. O solemn truths! though from an im- That we're unworthy of our holy faith, Our prophet has bestowed them on the faithful, And heaven itself has ratified the grant. Eum. Oh! now indeed you boast a noble title! What could your prophet grant? a hireling slave! Not even the mules and camels, which he drove, Were his to give; and yet the bold impostor Has cantoned out the kingdoms of the earth, In frantic fits of visionary power, To soothe his pride, and bribe his fellow madmen! Cal. Was it for this you sent to ask a parley, To affront our faith, and to traduce our prophet? Well might we answer you with quick revenge. Nor such indignities-Yet hear, once more, Hear this, our last demand; and this accepted We yet withdraw our war. Be christians still, But swear to live with us in firm alliance, To yield us aid, and pay us annual tribute. Eum. No-Should we grant you aid, we must be rebels; And tribute is the slavish badge of conquest. Two, Caled, shall be thine; two thine, Abudah. A scimitar. This, and of solid gold Will soon be ours: look round your Syrian frontiers! See in how many towns our hoisted flags And last view Aiznadin, that vale of blood! Herb. Presumptuous men! What though you yet can boast successful guilt, Is conquest only your's? Or dare you hope That you shall still pour on the swelling tide, Like some proud river that has left its banks, Nor ever know repulse? Eum. Have you forgot! Not twice seven years are past since e'en your prophet, Bold as he was, and boasting aid divine, Pho. Where is the treasure of my soul!- Behold me here impatient, like the miser The shining heaps which he still fears to lose. Eud. Welcome, thou brave, thou best deserving lover! How do I doubly share the common safety, Since 'tis a debt to thee !-But tell me, Phocyas, Dost thou bring peace?—Thou dost, and I am happy! Pho. Not yet, Eudocia; 'tis decreed by Heaven I must do more to merit thy esteem. Peace, like a frighted dove, has winged her flight To distant hills, beyond these hostile tents; And through them we must thither force our way, If we would call the lovely wanderer back To her forsaken home. Eud. False flattering hope! Vanished so soon!-alas, my faithful fears Eud. Is the truce ended? Must war, alas! renew its bloody rage, Pho. Think for whose sake danger itself has charms. Dismiss thy fears; the lucky hour comes on, And soldiers, kindled into sudden fury, Press all in crowds, and beg I'll lead them on. Did I say if——I must, I will; the cause What then shall hinder, since our mutual faith Eud. May blessings still attend thy arms!— I've caught the flame of thy heroic ardour! Are bribes too little for my vast ambition. SCENE Í.-The Governor's Palace. Eum. I know thy friendly fears; that thou and I Enter EUMENES and HERBIS. And mark the event! Eum. What could I less? You saw 'Twas vain to oppose it, whilst his eager valour, Impatient of restraint Herb. His eager valour! cyas'. Herb. I had indeed forgot; and ask your par- I took you for Eumenes, and I thought Herb. Nay, who's forgetful now? Eum. I could curse the giddy changeful slaves, But that the thought of this great hour's event him more. be it, Owed its deliverance to a boy.Why, Herb. [Aside.] That, that's my torture. I sent my son to the emperor's court, in hopes His merit at this time might raise his fortunes; But Phocyas-curse upon his forward virtues !Is reaping all this field of fame alone, Or leaves him scarce the gleanings of a harvest. Eum. See, Artamon with hasty strides returning. He comes alone!-O friend, thy fears were just. Art. Joy to Eumenes! Is set in blood, and from the western skies Art. He is, and crowned with triumph. Eum. What noise is that? Herb. The people worshipping their new divinity. Shortly they'll build him temples. Eum. Tell us, soldier, Since thou hast shared the glory of this action, Tell us how it began. Art. At first the foe Seemed much surprised; but, taking soon the alarm, Gathered some hasty troops, and marched to meet us. The captain of these bands looked wild and fierce, |