University of Virginia Library

SCENE V.

Zaphna goes out led by Palmyra. Hercides enters hastily to Sopheian.
Hercid.
Beware, my lord, the surety of your person!
The moon doth wax in labour; all abroad
Is bustle, all confusion; throughout Mecca,
Each house is left the watch of its own fires,
And the wide air is peopled.—

Soph.
What is forward?

Hercid.
Some cry, The Prophet, where's the Prophet? Each
Inquires th'alarm, none answers—this way now,
And that again, the tide of concourse flows,
Unknowing why. To Mahomet's pavilion
I flew; affright and busie consternation
Was visaged in his train. I press'd to enter;
When Abdoramen barr'd me with his hand,
And to my ear—“The Prophet is intranced—
“To Heaven, perhaps, upon a second embassy”—
He murmur'd and retired—Is Zaphna safe?

Soph.
Here, in my palace.

Hercid.
From what perils scaped—
Amazing providence!

Soph.
But much displaced,
By constitution, or ill rest; and somewhat
Tending unto delirium—he did talk
Of actions dire, dark treasons, and of parents
By savage children slain—

Hercid.
Ha! pause awhile—
It did occur—I have it—On my soul
The impostor is no more!—I do remind me—
Slain by mistake—as mercy shall o'ertake me,
Fallen in the toils he pitch'd!—

Soph.
Who, Mahomet?

Hercid.
Even so—I do remind me—Every noon,
Was't not your use to worship at the Caaba?

Soph.
It was—

Hercid.
There was your hour of slaughter fix'd—but then
This Prophet for the fiends, being ill-assured
Of his young votary, not vers'd in blood;
In person hath adventured, and so fell
Even by his own appointment.

Soph.
I do think,
It bears a face.

Hercid.
Upon my life, a sure one!
When in the temple I did warn your son
To spare a father, I do mind the horror,
The wild astonishment his eye did utter—
As though the deed had overrun prevention,
And caution came a laggard.