Though disappointment blast our general scheme,

Yet much remains to hope. I shall not call
The day disastrous that secures our flight;

Nor think that effort lost which rescues thee.

[Enter Abdalla.

SCENE IV.
IRENE, ASPASIA, DEMETRIUS, ABDALLA.

A BDA LL.A.

At length the prize is mine—The haughty maid
That bears the fate of empires in her air,
Henceforth shall live for me ; for me alone
Shall plume her charms, and, with attentive watch,
Steal from Abdalla's eye the sign to smile.

DEM ETRIUS.

Cease this wild roar of savage exultation;
Advance, and perish in the frantic boast.

ASPASIA.

Forbear, Demetrius, 'tis Aspasia calls thee;
Thy love, Aspasia, calls; restrain thy sword;
Nor rush on useless wounds with idle courage.

DEM ETRIUS. What now remains 2

ASPASIA.
It now remains to fly

IDEMETRIUS.

Shall then the savage live, to boast his insult;
Tell how Demetrius shunn'd his single hand,
And stole his life and mistress from his sabre?

A BID ALL.A.

Infatuate loiterer, has Fate in vain
Unclasp'd his iron gripe to set thee free?
Still dost thou flutter in the jaws of death;
Smard with thy fears, and maz'd in stupefaction?

IDEMIETRIUS.
Forgive, my Fair; 'tis life, 'tis nature, calls:
Now, traitor, feel the fear that chills my hand.

ASPASIA.

Tis madness to provoke superfluous danger,
And cowardice to dread the boast of folly.

A BD ALL.A.

Fly, wretch, while yet my pity grants thee flight;
The power of Turkey waits upon my call.
Leave but this maid, resign a hopeless claim,
And drag away thy life in scorn and safety,
Thy life, too mean a prey to lure Abdalla.

HD EMETRIUS.

Once more I dare thy sword; behold the prize,
Behold I quit her to the chance of battle.

[2uitting Aspasia.

A BT) A LL.A.

Well may'st thou call thy master to the combat,
And try the hazard, that hast nought to stake;
Alike my death or thine is gain to thee;
But soon thou shalt repent: another moment
Shall throw th’ attending Janizaries round thee.

[Erit hastily Abdalla.

SCENE V.
ASPASIA, IRENE, DEMETRIUS.

IRENE.

Abdalla fails; now Fortune, all is mine. [Aside.
Haste, Murza, to the palace, let the Sultan
[To one of her Attendants.
Despatch his guards to stop the flying traitors, -
While I protract their stay. Be swift and faithful.
[Erit Murza.
This lucky stratagem shall charm the Sultan, [Aside.
Secure his confidence, and fix his love.

D E METRIU S.
Behold a boaster's worth ! Now snatch, my fair,
The happy moment; hasten to the shore,
Ere he return with thousands at his side.

- ASPASIA. In vain I listen to th’ inviting call Of freedom and of love; my trembling joints, Relax'd with fear, refuse to bear me forward. Depart, Demetrius, lest my fate involve thee; Forsake

Forsake a wretch abandon'd to despair,
To share the miseries herself has caus’d.

| DE METRIUS. Let us not struggle with th' eternal will, Nor languish o'er irreparable ruins; Come, haste and live—Thy innocence and truth Shall bless our wand'rings, and propitiate Heav'n.

IRENE. Press not her flight, while yet her feeble nerves Refuse their office, and uncertain life Still labours with imaginary wo; Here let me tend her with officious care, Watch each unquiet flutter of the breast, And joy to feel the vital warmth return, To see the cloud forsake her kindling cheek, And hail the rosy dawn of rising health.

A SPASIA.
Oh! rather, scornful of flagitious greatness,
Resolve to share our dangers and our toils,
Companion of our flight, illustrious exile,
Leave slavery, guilt, and infamy behind.

IRENE. - :
My soul attends thy voice, and banish'd Virtue
Strives to regain her empire of the mind ;
Assist her efforts with thy strong persuasion;
Sure 'tis the happy hour ordain’d above,
When vanquish'd Vice shall tyrannize no more.

D F M ETRIUS.

Remember peace and anguish are before thee, And honour and reproach, and IIeav'n and Hell.

ASPASIA.
Content with freedom, and precarious greatness.

DEMETRIUS, Now make thy choice, while yet the pow'r of choice Kind Heav'n affords thee, and inviting Mercy Holds out her hand to lead thee back to truth.

| RIEN E.
Stay—in this dubious twilight of conviction,
The gleams of reason, and the clouds of passion,
Irradiate and obscure my breast by turns :
Stay but a moment, and prevailing truth
Will spread resistless light upon my soul.

- DEMETRIUS. * But since none knows the danger of a moment, And Heav'n forbids to lavish life away, Let kind compulsion terminate the contest. * * '. [Seizing her hand. Ye Christian captives, follow me to freedom: A galley waits us, and the winds invite.

IRENE. Whence is this violence?

DEMETRIUS.

Your calmer thought Will teach a gentler term.

IRENE.

Forbear this rudeness, And learn the rev'rence due to Turkey's Queen: Fly, slaves, and call the Sultan to my rescue. VoI. I. X