SCENE III.

DEMETRIUS, CALI, LEONTIUS, ABDALLA.

LEONTIUS.

Our bark unseen has reach'd th' appointed bay,
And where yon trees wave o'er the foaming surge
Reclines against the shore: our Grecian troop
Extends its lines along the sandy beach,
Elate with hope, and panting for a foe.

ABDALLA.

The fav`ring winds assist the great design,
Sport in our sails, and murmur o'er the deep.

CALI.

'Tis well-A single blow completes our wishes; Return with speed, Leontius, to your charge; The Greeks, disorder'd by their leader's absence, May droop dismay'd, or kindle into madness.

LEONTIUS.

Suspected still!-What villain's pois'nous tongue
Dare join Leontius' name with fear or falsehood?
Have I for this preserv'd my guiltless bosom,
Pure as the thoughts of infant innocence?
Have I for this defy'd the chiefs of Turkey,
Intrepid in the flaming front of war?

CALI.

Hast thou not search'd my soul's profoundest thoughts? Is not the fate of Greece and Cali thine?

LEONTIUS.

Why has thy choice then pointed out Leontius
Unfit to share this night's illustrious toils?

To wait remote from action, and from honour,
An idle list'ner to the distant cries

Of slaughter'd infidels, and clash of swords?
Tell me the cause, that while thy name, Demetrius,
Shall soar triumphant on the wings of Glory,
Despis'd and curs'd, Leontius must descend
Through hissing ages, a proverbial coward,
The tale of women, and the scorn of fools?

DEMETRIUS.

Can brave Leontius be the slave of Glory?
Glory, the casual gift of thoughtless crowds!
Glory, the bribe of avaricious virtue!

Be but my country free, be thine the praise;
I ask no witness, but attesting conscience,
No records, but the records of the sky.

LEONTIUS.

:

Wilt thou then head the troop upon the shore,
While I destroy the oppressor of mankind?

DEMETRIUS.

What canst thou boast superiour to Demetrius?
Ask to whose sword the Greeks will trust their cause,
My name shall echo through the shouting field:
Demand whose force yon Turkish heroes dread,
The shudd'ring camp shall murmur out Demetrius

CALI.

Must Greece, still wretched by her childrens folly,
For ever mourn their avarice or factions?
Demetrius justly pleads a double title;
The lover's intrest aids the patriot's claim.

LEONTIUS.

My pride shall ne'er protract my country's woes;
Succeed, my friend, unenvied by Leontius.

DEMETRIUS.

I feel new spirit shoot along my nerves,
My soul expands to meet approaching freedom.
Now hover o'er us with propitious wings,
Ye sacred shades of patriots and of martyrs !
All ye, whose blood tyrannick rage effus'd,
Or persecution drank, attend our call;
And from the mansions of perpetual peace
Descend, to sweeten labours once your own!

CALI.

Go, then, and with united eloquence.

Confirm your troops; and when the moon's fair beam Plays on the quiv'ring waves, to guide our flight, Return, Demetrius, and be free for ever.

[Exeunt Dem. and Leon.

SCENE IV.

CALI, ABDALLA.

ABDALLA.

How the new monarch, swell'd with airy rule,
Looks down, contemptuous, from his fancy'd height,
And utters fate, unmindful of Abdalla !

CALI..

Far be such black ingratitude from Cali!

When Asia's nations own me for their lord,
Wealth, and command, and grandeur shall be thine.

ABDALLA.

Is this the recompense reserv'd for me?

Dar'st thou thus dally with Abdalla's passion?
Henceforward hope no more my slighted friendship,
Wake from thy dream of power to death and tortures,
And bid thy visionary throne farewell.

CALI.

Name, and enjoy thy wish

ABDALLA.

I need not name it;

Aspasia's lovers know but one desire,

Nor hope, nor wish, nor live, but for Aspasia.

CALI.

That fatal beauty plighted to Demetrius
Heaven makes not mine to give.

ABDALLA.

Nor to deny.

CALL.

Obtain her, and possess; thou know'st thy rival.

ABDALIA:

Too well I know him, since on Thracia's plains
I felt the force of his tempestuous arm,
And saw my scatter'd squadrons fly before him.
VOL. I.

U

Nor

Nor will I trust th' uncertain chance of combat;
The rights of princes let the sword decide,
The petty claims of empire and of honour:
Revenge and subtle jealousy shall teach
A surer passage to his hated heart.

CALI.

O spare the gallant Greek, in him we lose
The politician's arts, and hero's flame.

ABDALLA.

When next we meet before we storm the palace,
The bowl shall circle to confirm our league;
Then shall these juices taint Demetrius' draught,
[Shewing a phial.

And stream destructive through his freezing veins :
Thus shall he live to strike th' important blow,
And perish ere he taste the joys of conquest.

SCENE. V.

MAHOMET, MUSTAPHA, CALI, ABDALLA.

MAHOMET.

Henceforth for ever happy be this day,

Sacred to love, to pleasure, and Irene!

The matchless fair has bless'd me with compliance; Let every tongue resound Irene's praise,

And spread the general transport through mankind.

CALI.

Blest prince, for whom indulgent Heav'n ordains
At once the joys of paradise and empire,

Now