 | The Orphan of China |  |
7
SCENE III.
Zamti, Idamè, Asseli, Etan.Zamti.
Why thus, my Etan, frighted and amazed?
Idamè.
Fly, fly this place abandon'd to the Scythian.
Etan.
You are observ'd, and flight impossible.
The pale's encircled by a cruel guard,
Forming around the frighted multitude
A dreadful fence thick-set with pikes and darts.
The Conqu'ror spoke, and slavery heard his voice:
The people, motionless with fear and horror,
Sink in despair, now murder's reeking sword
With impious rage has drank our Emp'ror's blood.
Zamti.
Is he then dead?
Idamè.
O heav'nly powers, the Emperor!
Etan.
Words cannot paint the horrors of the scene.
His bleeding wife, their children torn and mangled—
O Gods! adored on earth! how shall I speak it?
Their sufferings only mov'd the victor's scorn,
While their poor subjects, fearful to complain,
Hung down those eyes that spoke their grief too plainly.
The shameless soldiers on their coward knees
Resign'd their arms; when now the conquerors
Tir'd with the toil of murder, drunk with blood,
Instead of death pronounc'd our slavery.
8
That leads this swarm from forth the Northern hive,
This tyrant, born to be the bane of China,
Here formerly abode, unknown and scorn'd.
Now all-incens'd, implacable he comes,
To glut his anger, and revenge his wrongs.
His savage nation's form'd by other laws
Than our soft people: Fields, and tents, and cars
Their wonted dwelling, ev'n the wide extent
Of this vast city would appear confinement.
No sense have they of our fair arts and laws,
But mean with barb'rous rage to overturn
These walls, so long the wonder of the world.
Idamè.
Too sure the victor comes resolv'd on vengeance.
In my obscurity I plac'd some hopes;
But Heav'n, alas! determin'd to destroy,
Has scatter'd the kind cloud that late conceal'd us.
Zamti.
Perhaps ev'n yet the Gods will save the Orphan:
Be his security our only care—
What means this Tartar here?
Idamè.
O shield me, Heav'n!
| The Orphan of China | |