University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

The Mufti's Palace.
Ashad, musing.
ASHAD.
The Sultan's Rage will issue forth in Vengeance,
If once he breaks the Bands of his Benevolence.
He seem'd, methought, cooler than usual,
Avoided Interchange of Looks, and turn'd
Unwonted from me, as I stept toward him.
This Love of his, meeting with Disappointment,
Ponders Revenge, and Fury knows no Bounds.
I wish his next Rencounter with my Daughter,
Don't terminate in some severe Event.
I durst not yet inform her of my Fears;
She'll not permit me even to suspect him;
But Power unlimited is hard to trust,
When Youth especially and Love conspire.

[Enter Aphendina.
APHENDINA.
Why hangs this Heaviness upon my Father?
You are not us'd to look so cold upon me:
You're so reserv'd, you do not smile to Day:
Is it ill News? or what you've heard abroad
Has caus'd this unaccustom'd Pensiveness?

ASHAD.
My Child, at present you'd better leave me:
Thoughts of your Welfare never quit my Breast;
I may clear up again, anon; then leave me.

APHENDINA.
If they're on my Account, I ought to share them;
Let me intreat you, Sir, unfold your Meaning.

ASHAD.
I know thou'lt be impatient at my Fears.

APHENDINA.
Indeed I won't, but strive to yield you Comfort.

ASHAD.
Thou wilt, if they should strike at Osman's Actions.

APHENDINA.
O! let me hear them; they can't be hurtful,
If they treat of Osman.

ASHAD.
I've only Doubts;
They may be vain, my Dear.

APHENDINA.
And must be so,
If you've Doubts of Osman.

ASHAD.
Howe'er I can't
Dismiss them yet—his Love may ruin thee.

APHENDINA.
And is that all creates my Father's Grief?
His Love's too generous; each Act bespeaks
The strictest Honour; too great, too noble
For deluding Stratagems.

[Enter Servant.
SERVANT.
My Lord! the Sultan!

[Enter Sultan, looking sternly.
OSMAN.
Madam, you've almost made me desperate;
Your Noncompliance with my late Request,
Has put me on pursuit of other Measures,
In which, I will be trifled with no longer.
I've fix'd my Resolution, and demand
Your ready Entrance into my Seraglio:
My Passion's obstinate; I'll be obey'd.

ASHAD.
Daughter! where find you now the Man of Honour?

APHENDINA.
My Lord! I little thought your Love would prompt you,
To this ungen'rous Treatment of your Slave.
My Duty binds me to obey your Orders,
And I'll attend your Call; but know, my Lord,
The Bars of the Seraglio are too weak,
Long to retain a Soul designed for Paradise;
Your Love, I see, aims only at my Person,
My inward Mind, my Virtue's Excellence,
Weigh little in the Ballance of your Hope,
So both deserted fall to my Disposal;
I want not Means, my Lord, to die unspotted.

[Weeping.
OSMAN.
O! no; die all the World but Aphendina:
[Embracing.
Thou shalt indeed be borne to the Seraglio,
Not as a Slave, but as thy Osman's Bride:
Thou shalt in equal Share partake my Glory.
And you, my Father! as I ever call'd you,
Henceforth art so, upon a double Claim
Be happy then, Old Man, as we can make you;
Behold in us your Sultan and your Empress;
Be third in our Dominions—why not chief?
He by whose Hand the Blessing is conferr'd,
Should rank in Excellence, beyond the Blest.

APHENDINA.
Sir, do I dream! I'm too amaz'd to thank you!
This Mark of Favour and Benevolence,
Would seem Delusion from another Man;
But Osman's Tongue can't falsify his Heart.
O! think not, Sir, my Stop to your Desires,
Proceeded from a Prospect of this Issue;
Nought so remote from probable, hath ever
Painted a faint Idea in my Mind,
Of any Blessing to compare with this:
This could be only gender'd in your Breast;
No other Soul capacious to admit it

OSMAN.
Fair Excellence! thy Beauties struck my Heart,
Thy Virtues gain'd Dominion o'er my Soul;
Thank not your Osman for the happy Moment;
'Tis your Perfections Due—unequal Tribute!
It were unjust to make no Difference,
Betwixt Divinity, and earthly Objects.
Madam, my Orders wait you at the Palace,
[Takes her Hand.
Reception meets you as befits our Queen;
To-morrow's Sun shall hail our Titles equal.

[Exeunt omnes.