Osman :: :: University of Virginia Library

The Mufti's Tent.
Aphendina enters at one Door, Ashad at the other; the Attendants cross the Stage, and leave them.
ASHAD.
Our Prophet succour thee, my dearest Child;
[Embracing.
Confirm thy Virtue, and thy Innocence.

APHENDINA.
Alas! my Father; pardon my Surprize
And Ecstacy at meeting you again,
After an Absence never known before;
It adds new Life and Vigour to my Spirits,
And spreads abundant Joy o'er all my Senses.

ASHAD.
A Word, my Daughter: You receiv'd my Letter,
Together with the Sultan's?

APHENDINA.
Sir, I did;
And in Compliance with them both, am here.

ASHAD.
You're prudent, Daughter—You've had good Instructions:
Let them not fail you in the Time of Trial.
Be virtuous, Child—You know the Sultan's Power:
I say be virtuous—or be no more.
[Exit Ashad.

Enter Sultan and Attendants, who pass: He runs to her.
[Musick without.
OSMAN.
Thou blooming Maid! this Meeting glads my Soul.

APHENDINA.
Most mighty Emperor! your high Command
Hath brought your meanest Slave to kiss your Feet.
[Going to embrace her, she kneels.
My best Acknowledgments fall short in Worth
Of noble Osman's Favour to his Handmaid.

OSMAN.
Arise, my Fair One! 'tis too mean for you
[Raises her.
To prostrate even to the Sultan's Person.
You I esteem my Equal—All to you
Shall with like Ardour bend, as to myself;
But you to no Man—May I be resolv'd?
Does thy fond Heart dilate with rising Joy,

And bound with Ecstasy at Osman's Name?
Say, do'st Thou love?—Thy Blush confest it once.

APHENDINA.
If t'have known aught, when you were absent from me,
Save joyless Days, and ever restless Nights;
If Pray'rs, and Sighs, and Wishes for your Safety,
Haunting Repose—oft forc'd the starting Tear:
If these were Love, if these the Lover's Pangs,
I then avow the Flame; with Joy confess,
The Grave itself can't extirpate my Passion.

OSMAN.
Kind Heav'n then smiles upon the happy Osman!
[Kneeling, kisses her Hand.
I can no more—Still love me, Aphendina!

APHENDINA.
My Emperor at my Feet! It must not be.
Sir, you confound me by this Condescension:
I cannot suffer it.

OSMAN.
My Love, I rise.
But, O! declare, what Transports fill thy Breast,
When my fond Breathings tell thee, Osman loves.

APHENDINA.
Could I delineate the Joys of Paradise,
Then might I paint thy Aphendina's Bliss.
How has my Soul been shock'd! when tortur'd Fancy,
Presenting to my View the hostile Field,
I saw your Highness foremost in the Ranks,
Amid the Din and Tumult of the War!
Your innate Valour might have led you on
To some destructive Enterprize, and robb'd
The World—and Aphendina of her Osman.

OSMAN.

The Recollection of thy matchless Graces
Caus'd such an Alteration in your Osman,
As spite of my own Glory, sav'd the Poles.
Yes, Aphendina, you have fix'd a Crown
Upon the tottering Head of Sigismond,
With more Security than Conquest could.
Your Letter pressing my Return, subdu'd me,
Concluded Peace, and bent me to the Porte,
To reap the grateful Harvest of thy Love.
I'd Thoughts, my Fair! you should have triumph'd with me;
But I shall now dismiss you from the Camp;
You shall not enter the Imperial City

In my Retinue, least it should be said,
I sought this only Treasure of my Soul
To grace the Entry of Sultana Queen—
But know, my Aphendina, Osman follows,
Wholly devoted to your future Happiness.

[Exit Aphendina.

Let but the Woman whom we love appear,
What dastard Souls are might'est Conquerors!
Why did I send for Aphendina hither,
But to behold her Beauty, praise her Charms,
Declare my Love, and try my Art to win her,
By soft Address, to enter my Seraglio?
What then prevented off'ring this Proposal,
But Dread of disobliging her I love?
By Mahomet! I'd face a Cannon sooner,
And grasp the Ball just firing at my Breast,
Than urge to her what she may not approve.
—This Suspence destroys me; but e're the Sun
Has, in his wonted Course, revisited
The Western World, my Fate shall be decided.

[Exit.