University of Virginia Library

ACT IV.

SCENE, a Prison.
Alphonso
with a Book in his Hand.
I'm satisfy'd—this Doctrine truly charms me!
Awake, my Soul! shake off thy earthly Habits!
New plume thy Wings, and turn thy longing Eyes
To the bright Regions of Eternal Day!
How dangerous were it to our future State,
Shou'd these frail Joys be lasting and unmix'd,
That charm our Souls with empty fond Delights,
And chain our groveling Senses down to Earth?
No Tempest-beaten weary Traveller,
Benighted, wilder'd, void of Hope and Comfort,
With greater Joy compleats his purpos'd Journey,
Than I embrace my Death, and quit the World:
Oh! were my Isabella but secure,
I shou'd not have one Wish to linger here:
But, ha! the lovely faithful Maid appears;
Like Night's bright Queen she gilds the Vale of Horror,
And lightens all the wide Expanse around.
Enter Isabella.
Thou tender blooming beautious Innocence!
Peace of my Soul! thou Charmer of my Cares,
What Words shall I find soft enough t'express
Thy wondrous Love; and my redundant Fondness
Now, spite of all my Griefs, even now this Instant,
While in my Arms—I clasp this precious Treasure.
I would not change Conditions with the Sultan.

Isa.
Why, has the great Dispenser singled us
From the whole Mortal Race to be compleatly wretched?

Alp.
O murmur not, my Love, at Providence!
Heaven is too wise and good to punish us
Without a Cause; nor let us rashly dare
To censure what we cannot comprehend,
These lowring Clouds just teeming with Destruction,
That hover o're our Head may be disperst,
The threatning Storm may burst at Distance from us,
And leave the Sky bright and serene again.

Isa.
Alas, Alphonso! nothing now can save us!
Not the least glimmering Dawn of doubtful Hope
Breaks out to light us thro' this dismal Maze,
'Tis dark! 'tis frightful all! and comfortless!
Thy Case has been related to the Mufty,
And in their Prophet's Name, he votes thy Death.

Alp.
Curse on their Prophet, and his bloody Laws;
From Brutes, 'tis idle to expect Humanity;
Their Breasts are harder than the Scythian Rocks,
On which their fierce Progenitors were nurs'd.

Isa.
Must we then Part Alphonso, part for ever!
Oh, 'tis a direful killing Thought! for ever;
How can it be? shall Death have Power to sever,
Divide our Souls, blended in Love and Fondness?

Alp.
This ravish'd Heart, with Joys unfelt before,
Beats to the heavenly Musick of thy Voice,
As at Noon-Day, the Sun burnt labouring Swain,
His glowing Breast scorch'd with immoderate Heat,
Pants for the cool refreshing limpid Stream,
So pants my Soul for thee; for Love and Vertue!
Thus fix'd, I could for ever gaze upon thee
With fond Desire, with ardent Breathings charm'd
To Exstacy unutterable! Lost
In a sweet o'erflowing Tide of Transport.

Isa.
Thy Words Alphonso, melt my Soul away.
Why dost thou turn me all again to Softness?
In pleasing Dreams, why should our Thoughts be lull'd,
While Death each Moment gather Ground upon us!
Since we must die let us die as Lovers should,
And while 'tis in our Power, as it becomes us.

Alp.
What dost thou mean?

Isa.
Canst thou not guess, Alphonso.

Alp.
Make me no Stranget to thy nearest Thoughts,
Oh, tell me all thy Soul!

Isa.
My Heart's too full—

(turns away her Head weeping.)
Alp.
Thy throbbing Breast swells with some dreadful Thought,
That struggles hard, and strives to find a Vent.
Oh! speak my gentle Love.

Isa.
I've brought this Dagger—

Alp.
Ha! hold thee there! I would not hear a Word
From thy soft Lips of Blood, of Blood and Murder!
I know what 'tis thou meanest, this glittering Steel
Points to the fatal Deed: It must not be
Nature afrighted, startle and denies
Aloud, this hasty, Heathen Liberty.
Think! Art thou not a Christian, Isabella?

Isa.
Yet it must be Alas! what think'st thou can
Become of me, when thou art gone Alphonso?

Alp.
O, thou hast raised a Storm within my Breast.
Ten thousand Terrors and tormenting Thoughts
Rage in my Soul, all Anxious for thy Safety.
So the Numidian Lyon in his Den
Lies calmly slumbring, but on a sudden wak'd
Starts terrible, and shakes his awful Main.
Majestick, stalks, collecting all his Fierceness;
Then dreadful Roars, the Hills and Vales rejoin'd,
The Woods affrighted, wave their gloomy Heads,
And the wide Forest all around him trembles:
These Wretches all are barbarous, base and faithless:
I fear the Visier most—he can't be honest.

Isa.
Alas! thou know'st him not; to him alone
Thou ow'st thy Life till now, at my Request,
And ev'n this Hour he labours for thy Safety.

Alp.
He is a cunning Monster, Isabella!
At thy Request? I charge thee have a Care,
He may, perhaps, ensnare thy thoughtless Vertue,
Say, has he never offer'd thee his Love?

Isa.
Never, by Heaven, I swear, or if he had
And made the least Impression on my Heart,
Thus I'd have torn the Traytor from my Breast
And dash'd it in his Face.

Alp.
O virtuous Maid!
Full well I know nought, can corrupt thy Love,
Not that of Angels burns more bright and pure,
But yet I fear—

Isa.
Give me thy Fears, Alphonso,
If that alone was all we had to fear—

Alp.
O, be not too secure, ten thousand Deaths
Are not so terrible as this one Thought,
It racks me more than all the bloody Tortures
These cursed Infidels can heap upon me,
Let them impale me, tear me Limb from Limb,
Flay me alive, cut me to smallest Atoms,
Grind me to Dust, and scatter me in Air,
Do all that Man, or Devils, can invent,
I'd freely bear it to preserve thy Virtue.
Be on thy Guard, on Peril of thy Life;
I scorn to ransom mine at Price of thee.

Isa.
Is this the Recompence, the kind Requital
Of all my tender Love? Unjust Alphonso!
Indeed, I never did deserve Suspicion—
Why chils my Blood? my very Eyes grow dim,
Cold Damps o'erspread me, Death must give me Ease.

(faints.)
Alp.
What have I said?—Forgive me Isabella!
Confusion to my Thoughts! She faints! she dies!
Look up fair Creature! softest Innocence!
Be reconcil'd! Alas, she hears me not!
Curse on my Rashness! Ha! the scatter'd Crimson,
The fading Colour flushes o'er her Cheeks,
Again she lives, and all her Beauties brighten.
So looks the Morn, so mild, so sweet, so lovely,
When in the smiling East, the new-born Day
Reviving, paints the Sky, and glads the World.

Isa.
Unkind Alphonso! why wouldst thou recal me,
Just sinking down into the softest slumber.
Didst thou not chide me, and distrust my Faith?

Alp.
I was to blame: But pardon my wild Passion;
Thou hast dispell'd my Fears, hush'd every Thought,
My Breast is calm, calm as the tranquil Ocean,
When on the unruffled Surface Halcions breed,
Come to my Arms, thou Miracle of Goodness.

Isa.
Alas! thy manly Eyes even swim in Tears,
Thy Bosom heaves and swells with smother'd Fondness,
If thy firm Soul at length be softned thus;
O, think, Alphonso, think what I endure.

Alp.
Forgive a Weakness ne'er indulg'd before
This briny Flood has cut it's aking passage,
Not Streams of Blood wou'd flow with half this Pain.

Enter Ozmin.
Ozm.
Christian! I come to bring the joyful Tidings,
The Princess has obtain'd thee a Reprieve,
Nor doubts but to prevail to save thy Life.

Isa.
O, generous Lady! how shall I express.
My overflowing Joy? O, give me Way,
And let me fly to thank her.

Alp.
Isabella, once I charge, be careful of the Visier.

(exit Isabella.
Ozm.
Christian! I heartily congratulate
Thy Hopes of Safety.

Alp.
Thou speak'st me fair;
But so did that base Wretch, who first betray'd me.

Ozm.
I am thy Friend, and come to offer thee
The Means of Liberty. Darest thou accept 'em?

Alp.
I dare do any thing that's honest and becomes
The Character of Man, as Man should be.

Ozm.
Know then, thy promis'd Pardon from the Sultan
Requires long time, e're it can be effected;
Besides, I fear the Visier will impede
All Intercessions that his Wife may make;
Therefore wou'd have thee snatch the present Moment,
Which offers fair, thro' me, for thy Deliverance.

Alp.
And leave my Isabella?

Ozm.
She too is free.
Follow but my Advice, you both are happy.

Alp.
The Voice of Angels warble in that Sound,
What must I do, to purchase such a Blessing

Ozm.
Dispatch the Visier.

Alp.
Ha!

Ozm.
Nay, start not at a Deed
Applauding Heaven will smile on, Earth approve,
And only Friends regret: His Crimes are grown
Too monstrous for this World.

Alp.
Say, if they are,
Ought I to be his Executioner?

Ozm.
Yes, when Necessity compels like yours
'Tis Bigotry of Honour to refuse:
But let me beg thee to withdraw a Moment,
I see a Friend approaching, and our Business
Requires Dispatch, and Closet Privacy,
Soon I'll absolve all Scruples thou canst make
(exit. Alp.
Enter Achmat.
Well Achmat say, how stand the Janizaries?

Ach.
Firm as our Hearts can wish, all ripe for Mischief:
I have follow'd thy Advice, instill'd those Jealousies
Into their factious Heads, as have quite turn'd
Their weaker Intellect; told frightful Stories
Of horrd Inovations in the State;
This Mustapha's unbounded Power and Greatness,
Told 'em that the Designs to set aside
The Race of Ottoman, repeal the Laws,
Transfer the Sceptre to a spurious Hand,
Or fill the Throne himself.

Ozm.
Aye, aye, Tales like these,
Ne're fail to fire the Crowd.

Ach.
so zealously they're bent,
They vow to shed the last dear Drop of Blood
That ebbs within their Veins to guard the Sultan
And make the Visier lay aside the Mask,
And won himself at once. All long again
To bend the Bow, and shake the glittering Spear,
To prove the Vigour of a Turkish Arm
In foreign Fields of Blood, and bravely there
Wash out the Stains of an inglorious Peace,
Contriv'd by this damned Visier, whom they load
With thousand Curses.

Ozm.
For my own Success
Upon this Christian here, I cannot boast
As yet, but will pursue it farther. Ha!
Ruston! what makes he here?

Enter Haly Guards.
Hal.
Disarm 'em both.

Ach.
What means the Villain?

Ozm.
Stand off, ye Slaves.

Hal.
Vain is Resistance; the Visier is inform'd
You held Intelligence with this Christian here,
For which he holds it needful to confine you,
Till you can clear your selves before the Sultan.

Ozm.
Audacious Villain!

Ach.
Matchless Impudence.
By whom are we accus'd,

Hal.
Too soon you will be told,
This Visit here in Part confirms your Guilt.

Ach.
Tell the proud Visier—

Ozm.
Have Patience noble Achmat.

Ach.
A Time will come—

Hal.
To punish Crimes like yours; away
Now haughty Lords your Fate depends on me.

(Exeunt Guards another Way.
SCENE the Palace, Irene and Isabella.
Irene
Dear Isabella! give a Truce to Grief,
Raise thy sad Eyes, and chear thy drooping Soul,
Alphonso's safe, all shall be well again,
This direful Storm, this dismal threatning Tempest,
When 'tis blown over, and its Rage is spent
Shall only more endear your future Joys.

Isa.
Illustrious Princess! all your Benefits
Are deeply rooted in my grateful Heart,
Nor will I ever cease to address your Goodness.

Irene,
Then in Return, I've one Request to make,
That thou, with me wilt leave Constantinople,
And bear me Company to meet the Sultan.
The Journey will divert and comfort thee.

Isa.
Diversion, Madam, would ill suit my State
Depress'd, and broken with Excess of Sorrows,
Think with your self, wou'd you desire Diversion,
Court Gaiety and Mirth, where you as I am.

Irene,
Come, come, no more! away with these sad Thoughts,
I must not now excuse you, 'tis not proper.

Isa.
Heavens! what can she mean? Not proper Madam?
Had you a dying Lover to upbraid you,
A poor unhappy Wretch that forfeited
His Life, thro' ardent Tenderness for you,
Cou'd you be so unjust to leave him thus?
I wou'd not disoblige you for my Life,
But I can die, e'er go from my Alphonso.

Irene,
Alas, poor Maid! I cannot urge her more.
(aside.
But must assure my self some other Way.
Thou art a tender loving Constant Creature.
The Visier comes! enjoy thy Choice, but leave me.
Exit Isabella and enter Must. and Haly.
My Lord, I heard just now surprising News,
I hope not true.

Mus.
'Twas artfully contriv'd, but hush, no more.
(to Haly.
What was it, Madam?

Irene,
That, tho' the Court sets out
This Day to meet the Sultan, you design
To stay behind us here in the Seraglio.

Mus.
Most urgent Business does detain me here.
I cannot go.

Irene,
You will not Mustapha!
'Tis as I thought, base and Perfidious Man,
I know thy Wiles, the Drift of all thy cunning,
Thy faithless Heart lyes naked to my View,
That wretched Maid! that poor unhappy Christian
When I am gone, must be the Sacrifice
To thy hot Passion, thy adulterous Flame:
But dearly shalt thou pay for all my Wrongs.

Mus.
As I expected—Still at your Jealousies?
This is too fierce a Proof of Love, Irene!
Little Distrusts give Edge to the Delight;
But yours are too unreasonable and wild.

Irene,
Nay then 'tis Time to banish all Deceit,
Throw off Dissembling, and appear my self.
Know that, not thou, nor all thy perjur'd Sex,
E'er warm'd Irene with one tender Wish:
Cou'd I have lov'd, my former Lord, had all
That Women doat on, or that Man cou'd boast,
I never priz'd, but now disdain and hate thee;
Mistaken Wretch! that Vow my Pride extorted,
Thou vainly thought'st was owing to my Fondness,
But my Revenge shall prove, I scorn that Passion
Which thou so insolently hast depended on.

Mus.
Excellent Wife! But I must turn this Torrent,
(aside
Lest in its Course it overwhelms my Hopes:
If, Madam, so unworthy of your Love,
Why did you grace me with the Name of Husband?
Or since so titled, what have I e'er done
That should deserve this Usage?

Irene,
The worst of Crimes,
All meaner Injuries I cou'd forgive,
But I disdain the Man whom I have blest
Shou'd think another worthy his Desires.

Mus.
By Heaven I do not, thou art all to me,
That thy whole Sex can give; but now I find
I am not so to thee. Unjust Irene!

Irene,
What but some base design, such as I've nam'd
Cou'd form a Cause to keep thee here behind us.

Mus.
O, rash Suggestion of impatient Jealousy
Which from most distant Causes can assign
Reasons to work upon, and raise Suspicion,
I have no Leisure Hours to throw away
On Love Affairs, if I were so inclin'd;
The State engrosses all my Nights and Days
And wears me out in Watches for its Safety.
The Janizaries now, which I had told before,
Had but your Passion held the Reins of Reason,
Are highly discontent, and threaten Mutiny;
To add to this, some Spahi's are arrived,
From a confederate Prince, which bring us Word
That strange Designs are form'd against the Sultan,
And that the horrid Plot took, being here;
Ozmin and Achmat are suspected for it,
And but this Moment seiz'd.

Irene,
This may be true.
But e'er I yet believe I'll sound him farther;
(aside
If it be thus, 'tis most impossible
You can go hence; therefore to prove my self
Is not a doating, yet a tender Wife.
I too will stay and bear you Company.

Mus.
Death! this is ten times worse than what I fear'd.
(aside.
Thy generous Soul obliges and amazes,
But yet, methinks, 'twere better for us both,
That you should go to attend your royal Father,
—You can make no Excuse: By our great Prophet,
To Morrow, if alive, I'll overtake you.

Irene,
Ha! now 'tis Plain, but I'll conceal my Thoughts.
(aside.
On that Condition only I consent;
You swear to Morrow, if alive, you'll follow.

Mus.
I do, and thus I ratify my Oath,
Life of my Life, farewell, may Heaven protect you.

(kissing her
Irene,
O, Traytor! but I will a while be calm,
Stifle my Rage, till I at once can blast
(aside.
His high-rais'd Wishes, and detect his Guilt,
Yes, he shall find, 'spite of his Artifice,
With how much Ease an injur'd Woman can
Unravel all the Schemes of faithless Man.

(exit.
Mus.
Oh, Haly! what a Toyl to force Affection,

Haly.
Yet you, great Sir, make all things easy to you,
But now the Work is done.

Mus.
Ay, there remains
No more Impediments to bar the Way
To Isabella's Arms! the Thought transports me!
What is this Love, this strange mysterious Passion!
Has it the same Effects on all Mankind
As me? or is a more than usual Store
Blended in my Composure? it must be so;
'Tis idle to suppose unerring Nature
Has given us Passions only to torment us;
No, she expects they should be gratify'd;
We're free to use what she has freely given.
To vulgar Souls, dull, heavy, thoughtless Lumsp,
She has been wisely frugal of her Blessings,
They're Strangers to the purer Joys of Life,
Refin'd Delights prepar'd for nobler Minds,
Then let 'em drudge on in the common Road,
Boast of their Chastity and Temperance,
And call their stupid Slugishness a Vertue.
I must, and will indulge my brighter Senses
With all the Joys Imagination forms.

Haly.
My Lord, this working Brain has form'd a Way
To bring her safely into your Apartment,
Her Shrieks within her own may raise the Women
To trace the Truth, and who would trust their Secrecy
The Deed once done, for her own sake she'll hide it.

Mus.
Thou art the best of Engines, but dispatch,
The Train will soon set out, and I'd not lose
One Moment from my Pleasures. O my full Heart
The Princess gone, the calls of Business hush'd
Those Plagues that Poyson all the Sweets of Life
By thy kind Industry remov'd. This Night
I'll travel thro' new Worlds of fierce Delight!
No saucy Cares shall the vast Bliss destroy,
But while on Earth all Paradise enjoy!