being fpeechlefs, he ftruggled for fome Time in great Agonies, and then expired. The Sultan'sTM Fate determined the Siege of Croya.

His Son, afterwards called MAHOMET the Great, tho' he conquer'd two Empires, that of Conftantinople and that of Trapezond, twelve Kingdoms, and five hundred Cities, could never fubdue Epirus, during the Life of Scanderbeg, who amidft fo maný Dangers, as he had been continually expofed to, by his own Courage and the Malice of his Enemies, died in Peace, a natural Death, being attacked with a Fever, which took him from his afflicted People on the 17th of January, 1467, in the 63d Year of his Age.

He died at Lyfa, which City, about nine Year's after, was taken by the Turks, who though they hated him living, with much Reverence took up his Bones; which with great Contention (every one striving for a Part, tho' ever fo fmall) they divided amongst them; and after every one had fet his Portion in Silver or Gold, and adorned it with Jewels according to his Fancy or Ability, they fuperftitiously wore them as facred Charms or Amulets against Cowardice and ill Fortune.

As to the Person of Scanderbeg, he was of a fair Complexion; his Features regular, and his Countenance manly and majeftic, fo that his Face was perfectly handfome, without the leaft unbecoming Softnefs. His Stature was high, his Limbs proportionably large, and exquifitely well made. His Conftitution naturally good, was fo improved by Temperance and Exercife, that he could bear the extreameft Viciffitudes of Heat and Cold, and the greatest Labour without any apparent Inconveniency.

His Strength was wonderful, of which we have in feveral Authors many furprizing Inftances; as his cutting two Men afunder with a fingle Stroke of his Scymeter; his cleaving a Man at one Blow from Head to Chine; his cutting through Head-pieces of Iron; his killing a wild Boar at one Stroke; and cutting off the Head of a wild and fierce Buffalo at another.

was parsaing

12 or

rin

The Virtues and Excellencies of his Mind were vifible in every Action of his Life. The following another unte is a remarkable Inftance of his forgiving Temper: A Kinfman of his, who had bafely betrayed his of his magas. Counfels, and joined his Enemies the Turks, after rimity fome Time returned; and with a Halter about his follows an Neck threw himself at his Feet: Scanderbeg not only fuis of his raised him from the Ground and embraced him with my to be great Tenderness, but immediately restored him to his former Command, and Share in his Confidence and Favour. That his Judgment was perfect in his Youth without help of much Experience, we may took the resohetion learn from his Conduct under Amurath, and his befor artful Recovery of his native Dominions: And that himself and the Time did not in the leaft abate the Ardor of his to Courage, we have the strongest Proof in his Behaviour escape, when in the Article of Death. It is afferted from rexcite his the undoubted Evidence of those who served underrsion, to him, that in his Wars with the Turks he killed above defend bearly three Thousand of them with his own Hands, and agench hemithat his own Troops were never defeated in any sie pos Battle in which he was prefent.

(a)

THE

PROLOGUE,

Defigned to be Spoken.

THE friendless Picce we bring to View this Night,
Hath none but you to do its Merits Right:

No Party's form'd to force undue Applaufe,
Ner fear we Cenfure, if there is no Caufe:
Impartial Judgment is our utmost Claim,
Commend with Justice, or with Justice blame.
The bounteous Britons, merciful and brave,
Scorn to infult a Bard who's in his Grave,
Much less to wrong the Widow and Diftreft,
By Fortune croft'd, and worldly Cares appreft.

To you, the Fair, the Wife, the Good, the Great,
She flies for Shelter from the Storms of Fate,
And gives you this, the only little Store
Her Shipwreckt Fortune fafely brought to Shore.
The Author of thefe Scenes, long fince at Reft,
Had ev'ry manly Virtue in his Breast.
And, what demands the generous Britons Tears,
He funk, when young, beneath the Weight of Cares,
By that fell Scheme,

When robb'd of all,

that ruin'd half the Land:
Death lent his friendly Hand,

To face lin from that worst of human Woes,
Which Merit in Diftrefs for ever knows.
Contempt to Poverty's fo fraitly ty'd,
That modeft Worth the Union can't divide.
Happy our Poet then, who dy'd before
He tafted of that only Ill in flore.

But to his Widow make ye fome amends,

And to his Orphan Play be charitable Friends.
The Caufe of Liberty his Muse inspir'd,

And by chafte Love her warmest Thoughts were fir'd;
Here may you fee how bravely one Man dar'd,
When Love and Liberty were to reward;

No Toils, no Dangers, he could deem too great,
To gain a Mistress, or preferve the State;
The nobleft Praife the Hero's Deeds can crown,
Is Love t'exalt, and pull Oppression down;
Such Scanderbeg's, whofe gallant Soul, we fee,
Tho' bound by Love, could fet bis Country free.

Dra

Dramatis Perfonæ.

MEN.

SCANDERBEG, King of Epirus and Albania.
ARANIT, an old General.

THOPIA, Chriftian Princes of Greece, Friends
URANES, S and Allies to Scanderbeg.

AMURATH II, Sultan of the Turks.

CHAHASAN, Son of Amurath.

ARCHAN, Prime Vizier.

ALIBEC, Boftangi Baffa.

ACOMAT, a Baffa.

ARADIN, an Eunuch, Friend to Scanderbeg, and formerly his Tutor in the Seraglio.

WOME N..

SELIMANA, Sultaness.

AMISSA, Sifter to Scanderbeg.

ARIANISSA, Daughter to Aranit, Captive to the Turk.

Guards, &c.

Scene CROYA, the Capital of Albania, and Parts adjacent.