University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

—A Room.
Ibrah.
Zamor.

Zamor.
What dost thou want? disturb me not:
My heart already is too full of trouble.

Ibrah.
My friend, I come to ease thee of that load.

Zamor.
Thy friend. No, I'm the enemy of all,
I've sear'd my heart against each tender feeling,
I am the friend of none, not even of thee,
For all mankind are leagued for my destruction.

Ibrah.
Canst thou believe me faithless?

Zamor.
Yes, believe thee,
I know, thou art. I've seen too well the world,
I've seen how empty is that whining thing,
They call a friend, and I have shut my heart
Forever 'gainst the siren songs of friendship;
No, there is nought in friendship, nought but sounds,
Base, hollow sounds, in all those protestations,
Which friends are pouring in each others ears:
I hate the world, I loathe each human feature,
And I will be reveng'd on all mankind.

Ibrah.
No! thou shalt never be reveng'd on me,
For there is nought in me to excite thy vengeance;
Have I not always closely clung around thee,
Although the chillest frosts of adverse fortune
Benumb'd thee?

Zamor.
Did adversity benumb me?
No, never; I will never lose my spirit,
I'll rise superior to these puny insults,
But I will be reveng'd—

Ibrah.
Oft have I stood
Before thy bosom in the hour of conflict,
And took the blow they aim'd against thy life.

Zamor.
Oh hadst thou let them strike, thou'dst been my friend;
Then I had fallen in the midst of glory,
Nor ever liv'd to see this foul disgrace.

Ibrah.
And cannot I assist thee in thy vengeance?
Can I not show in this I am thy friend?

Zamor.
Leave me to work the vengeful deed alone;
I want no aid, the conqueror of Spain
Shall never stoop to ask for ought to aid him;
I'll be reveng'd by this (lifting his right arm)
and this alone.

Ibrah.
And how wilt thou o'ercome the hoary tyrant?
Is strength and valour mightier than his pow'r?
Canst thou alone, undaunted as thou art,
Canst thou o'ercome the thousands that surround him,
And force thy way to vengeance by thy arm?

Zam.
I'll make the attempt and die, or be reveng'd.

Ibrah.
Let prudence rather take the place of rashness;
Wait for some kind conjuncture, when the task
Is easiest, then with faithful Ibrahim
And the brave legion, thou hast led to glory,
In every conflict with our Christian foes,
Show to the tyrant, vengeance never dies,
But only sleeps till she can strike securely.

Zam.
What say'st thou, Ibrahim, my legion faithful?
Do they remember still their valiant leader?
This gives me life, this fires my soul anew,
And yields its wonted vigour to my arm.

Ibrah.
Yes, they are faithful, yes, they love thee, Zamor,
Ev'n with a maiden's fondness, they would triumph
And think it happiness to die for thee;
I know it, I have seen it in their eyes
And read it in their features, I did mark
Resentment burning in their manly breasts,
When thou wert yesterday so meanly stripp'd
Of all the honors won by thee so nobly.

Zam.
Then there is hope; give me that valiant legion,
Let all the world arise in arms against me,
And I can bid defiance: now, thou tyrant,
Thy doom is fix'd, thou soon shalt feel my rage,
Thou soon shalt know, how dark, how terrible
Is vengeance in the bosom of a Moor.