University of Virginia Library

SCENE IV.

Gloster, Daraxa, a Messenger from Selim, attending at some distance.
Daraxa.
Oh! 'tis too much!
I can no more support it.

Gloster.
Generous Mourner,
How is it with the Princess Eleonora?

Daraxa.
Struck by the Poison, on her Couch she lies,
A Rose soft-drooping in Sabean Vales,
Beneath the fiery Dog-star's noxious Rage.
O Christian Chief, I never shall forget
The Scene these melting Eyes have just beheld,
With mingled Tears of Tenderness and Wonder.

Gloster.
How was it, Madam?

Daraxa.
When this Pride of Woman,
This best of Wives, which in his radiant Course
The Sun beholds, when first she, sickening, felt
Th'imperious Summons of approaching Fate,
All rob'd in spotless White she sought her Altars;
And, prostrate there, for her departing Soul,
The Prince her Husband, and her Orphan-Children,
Implor'd th'Eternal Mind.—As yet she held
Her swelling Tears, and in her Bosom kept
Her Sighs repress'd: nor did the near Approach
Of the pale King of Terrors dim her Beauty;
No, rather adding to her Charms, it breath'd
A certain mournful Sweetness thro' her Features.
But as th'increasing Bane more desperate grew,
Wild to her Bed she rush'd, and then, indeed,
The lovely Fountains of her Eyes were open'd,
Then flow'd her Tears.—“Connubial Bed, she cry'd,
“Chaste Witness of my Tenderness for him,
“To save whose Life I unrepining die,
“In Bloom of Youth, farewel!—Thou shalt, perhaps,
“Receive a fairer, a more happy Bride;
“But never a more faithful, never one
“Who loves her Husband with a fonder Passion.
Here flow'd her Tears afresh; with burning Lip,
She press'd the humid Couch, and wept again.
At last, while weary Sorrow paus'd, she rose,
And, fearing lest immediate Death might seize Her,
Demanded to be led to see the Prince;
But Fear of chasing from his Eyes, too soon,
The salutary Sleep that heal'd his Pangs,
Restrain'd her trembling Footsteps. On her Couch,
Abandon'd to Despair, she sunk anew,
And for her Children call'd. Her Children came.
A while, supported on her Arm, she ey'd them,
With Tears pursuing Tears a-down her Cheek,
With all the speechless Misery of Woe—
I see her still—O God!—the powerful Image
Dissolves me into Tears!

Gloster.
Madam proceed.
Such Tears are Virtue, and excel the Joys
Of wanton Pride.

Daraxa.
Then starting up, she went
To snatch them to a Mother's last Embrace;
When strait reflecting that the piercing Poison
Might taint their tender Years, she sudden shrunk
With Horror back—“O wretched Eleonora!
“(She weeping cry'd) and must I then not taste
“The poor remaining Comfort of the Dying,
“To see a Husband, clasp my dearest Children,
“And mix my parting Soul with theirs I love?”
Her sad Attendants, that till then had mourn'd
In silent Sorrow, all, at This, gave way
To loud Laments—She rais'd her languid Eye,
And casting on them round a gracious Smile,
To each by Name she call'd, even to the lowest,
To each extended mild her friendly Hand,
Gave, and, by Turns, receiv'd a last Farewel.
Such is the dreadful Scene from which I come.

Gloster.
How heighten'd now with Edward's mingled Woes!
Why were my lingering Years reserv'd for this?

Daraxa.
Come nearer, you, the Messenger of Selim,
And bear him back this Answer—His chief Aim,
He says, in stooping to sollicite Peace,
Was from the Chains of Infidels to save me.
What! was it then to rescue me he sent,
Beneath an all-rever'd and sacred Name,
Beneath the Shelter of his Hand and Seal,
A murdering Wretch, a sacrilegious Bigot,
To stab at once the gallant Prince of England,
And Mousol Faith? nay, with a poison'd Dagger
(Such his inhuman Cowardice) to stab him?
So well, 'tis true, he judg'd, the Christian Prince
Had now been mingled with the harmless Dead;
If his bright Princess, glorious Eleonora,
Had not redeem'd his dearer Life with hers.
You heard in what Extremity she lies.
Go, tell the Tyrant then—O Heaven and Earth!
O Vanity of Virtue! that Daraxa
Should e'er to Selim send so fell a Message—
I will suppress its Bitterness—Yet tell him,
This Crime has plac'd eternal Bars betwixt us.
See my last Tear to Love—Arabian Wilds
Shall bury 'midst their Rocks the lost Daraxa.
Away!

Gloster.
Behold they bear this way the Princess,
Once more to taste the Sweetness of the Sun,
Ere yet to mortal Light she bid farewel.