The Sultaness A Tragedy |
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| 3. | SCENE III. |
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 | The Sultaness |  |
SCENE III.
Atalida, Zara.Ata.
Let us be gone; let us retire, my Zara,
We will not interrupt their Bridal Joys.
Zora.
Can you then think?—
Ata.
I know not what to think;
Dost thou believe I will behold these Nuptials?
The Prince is safe; Roxana is appeas'd:
Alas! I little thought that Bajazet—
But why should I complain? 'twas my Desire:
Has he not readily fulfill'd my Will?
Yet am I much surpriz'd, to find the Prince
Cou'd plead with such persuasive Eloquence,
A Cause to which his Soul seem'd so averse:
Then jealous of his Faith, and firm to Honour,
He cou'd not bear to feign one guilty Word.
And yet perhaps his Words were cold and forc'd,
To sooth Roxana's Rage, as I requested.
Perhaps tho' they were forc'd, her eager Love
Believ'd the little that he said sincere.
Perhaps his generous Heart, at last was mov'd,
When he beheld her sacrifice her All;
Her Faith, her Love, her Power, and Pride to save him.
Perhaps he thought, by Gratitude subdu'd:
And conscious of the Debt;—No, Zara, no,
That Thought has fix'd ten Thousand Daggers here.
Dost thou believe I will behold these Nuptials?
The Prince is safe; Roxana is appeas'd:
Alas! I little thought that Bajazet—
But why should I complain? 'twas my Desire:
Has he not readily fulfill'd my Will?
Yet am I much surpriz'd, to find the Prince
Cou'd plead with such persuasive Eloquence,
A Cause to which his Soul seem'd so averse:
Then jealous of his Faith, and firm to Honour,
He cou'd not bear to feign one guilty Word.
And yet perhaps his Words were cold and forc'd,
To sooth Roxana's Rage, as I requested.
Perhaps tho' they were forc'd, her eager Love
Believ'd the little that he said sincere.
Perhaps his generous Heart, at last was mov'd,
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Her Faith, her Love, her Power, and Pride to save him.
Perhaps he thought, by Gratitude subdu'd:
And conscious of the Debt;—No, Zara, no,
That Thought has fix'd ten Thousand Daggers here.
Alas! how fruitful is my jealous Mind,
In Reasons that distract and tear my Bosom.
In Reasons that distract and tear my Bosom.
Zara.
Yet he's not crown'd, nor has he yet espous'd her.
Wait the Success with Patience.
Ata.
My dear Zara,
When I prevail'd on him to see Roxana,
I did not give up all my Interest in him.
Cou'd I believe after that tender Passion,
Which warm'd our mutual Souls; this Interview
Wou'd give him Joy and Transport?—No, my Zara,
My jealous Heart wrongs him and tortures me.
When I prevail'd on him to see Roxana,
I did not give up all my Interest in him.
Cou'd I believe after that tender Passion,
Which warm'd our mutual Souls; this Interview
Wou'd give him Joy and Transport?—No, my Zara,
My jealous Heart wrongs him and tortures me.
Yet why was I shut out from all his Councils?
Have I so little Share in Bajazet?
Why does he not attend himself, and plead
His Cause in Person?—No, he dares not see me,
He cannot bear his Heart's too just Reproaches,
And therefore 'tis he shuns my hated Presence.
Have I so little Share in Bajazet?
Why does he not attend himself, and plead
His Cause in Person?—No, he dares not see me,
He cannot bear his Heart's too just Reproaches,
And therefore 'tis he shuns my hated Presence.
And yet 'tis fit it shou'd be thus—My Eyes
Wou'd wound him; they in spight of me wou'd talk
Of Gratitude, of Friendship, Faith, and Love.
He ne'er shall see me more—
Wou'd wound him; they in spight of me wou'd talk
Of Gratitude, of Friendship, Faith, and Love.
He ne'er shall see me more—
Zara.
—Behold the Prince.
| The Sultaness | |