University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

An Apartment in Damaral's Palace.
Enter Hali and Almeida.
HALI.
Thy friend hath here a princely residence,
Well decorated, as becomes his wealth.
Those who, like him, are wont to plough the main,
Reap noble harvests.

ALMEIDA.
Fortune hath in this
Rewarded his exertions: had she prov'd
Not less propitious to his other claims,
His noted valour and unrivall'd fame
Might have exalted him to sov'reign rule.
But I must leave thee. Here, I pray, remain.
My duties call me.
[Exit Almeida.

HALI.
Fortune, I'm thy debtor!
To be committed thus to Damaral's charge,
In his own house receiv'd—and then that all
Remembrance should be blotted from his mind
Of me, whose once aspiring hopes he crush'd—
It is most strange. But I forget not thus.
No—deep engrav'd in my avenging soul
The keen remembrance of my wrongs remains.
Once, like himself, beneath the Rhodian banner
I courted fortune; honour, wealth, and fame
Invited my ambition, when this Damaral,
Whose overbearing spirit ne'er could brook
The breach of his injunction, in the face
Of our assembled host degraded me,
Blasted my rising hopes, and left me nought
To sooth my pangs but hatred and revenge.
They are become congenial to my soul:
For them I sought the Turk, for them forsook
The country and religion of my fathers.
By him, whose faith I now profess to bear,
I'll make him render a severe account.
I have that with me, which, if rightly us'd,
Shall hurl him from his height.—But soft—behold him.

Enter Damaral and Ismena.
DAMARAL.
Within these walls, which own me as their master,
Command, fair lady!

ISMENA.
Thanks, my gracious lord!
Thou'rt far too bounteous.—Hali! join with me
To pay that tribute, which beneficence
Exacts from grateful hearts.

HALI.
On the behalf
Of princely Soliman, I thank thee.

DAMARAL.
Hold—
Thanks are superfluous. Let us have no more.
Lady, I pray thee take me as I am,
A plain, blunt soldier. While beneath this roof,
Nought shall be wanting to thy fair reception.

ISMENA.
My wants are few, and those thy kind attentions
Amply provide for.

DAMARAL.
Wouldst thou choose to have
Thy guardian Hali still attendant on thee?

ISMENA.
If such thy pleasure. I have known him long,
And ever found him worthy. He is now
The only friend I have.

DAMARAL.
Not so, fair lady.
Though rough, and all unus'd to courtly fashions,
We can appreciate excellence like thine,
And pay the homage which is most thy due.
Retain thy charge, good Hali— (to Ismena)
—nay, no thanks.
I am thy debtor, lady, for th' occasion
Of proving my obedience to thy wishes.
But, if it please thee, let us to th' apartment
Destin'd for thy reception. Come, good Hali,
We shall require thine aid for such arrangements
As may be fitting for thy lovely mistress.
A soldier's followers are not us'd to wait
On guests like her.—Permit me to conduct thee.

[Exeunt.