MAHOMET. 、 Decreed to perish in Irene's chamber! There had she lull'd me with endearing falsehoods, SCENE XII. HASAN, CARAZA, MAHOMET, MUSTAPHA, MURZA. Forgive, great Sultan! that, by fate prevented, MAHOMET. Some artful wile of counterfeited love! MURZA. The queen requested that a chosen troop MUSTAPHA. The Greek Demetrius ! whom th' expiring Bassa MAHOMET, A chosen troop-to intercept-Demetrius The queen requested-Wretch, repeat the message; * Or C Was she then guiltless! has my thoughtless rage Ye slaves of cruelty, ye tools of rage, [To Has. and [Car. Could not her charnis repress your zeal for murder ? Could not her prayʼrs, her innocence, her tears, One hour had freed me from the fatal errour! One hour had sav'd me from despair and madness. CARAZA. Your fierce impatience forc'd us from your presence, MAHOMET, What had'st thou lost by slighting those commands? MUSTAPHA. Great is thy wo! But think, illustrious Sultan, MAHOMET. Robb'd of the maid with whom I wish'd to triumph, No more I burn for fame, or for dominion; Success and conquest now are empty sounds, Remorse and anguish seize on all my breast; Those groves, whose shades embower'd the dear Irene, Heard her last cries, and fann'd her dying beauties, Shall hide me from the tasteless world for ever. [Mahomet goes back, and returns. Yet, ere I quit the sceptre of dominion, Let one just act conclude the hateful day. Hew down, ye guards, those vassals of distraction, Those hounds of blood, that catch the hint to kill; CARAZA. Then hear, great Mahomet, the voice of truth. MAHOMET. Hear, shall I hear thee! didst thou hear Irene? MAHOMET. Hadst thou heard a moment, Thou might'st have liv'd, for thou hadst spar'd Irene. CARAZA. I heard her, pitied her, and wish'd to save her. MAHOMET. And wish'd-be still thy fate to wish in vain. CARAZA. I heard, and soften'd, till Abdalla brought MAHOMET. Abdalla brought her doom! Abdalla brought it! HASAN. Abdalla brought it, While yet she begg'd to plead her cause before thee. MAHOMET. O seize me, Madness--Did she call on me! I feel, I see the ruffian's barb'rous rage. He seiz'd her melting in the fond appeal, And stopp'd the heav'nly voice that call'd on me. [Exit Mahomet; Abdalla is dragged off. SCENE XIII. HASAN, CARAZA, MUSTAPHA, MURZA. MUSTAPHA to MURZA. What plagues, what tortures, are in store for thee, Behold the model of consummate beauty, MURZA. Such was the will of Heav'n-A band of Greeks That mark'd my course, suspicious of my purpose, Rush'd out and seiz'd me, thoughtless and unarm'd, Breathless, amaz'd, and on the guarded beach Detain'd me, till Demetrius set me free. MUSTAPHA. So sure the fall of greatness, rais'd on crimes! t EPILOGUE |