 | Almyna : Or, The Arabian Vow |  |
38
ACT. IV.
SCENE. I.
An Antichamber, to the Royal Bed-Chamber; Morat in waiting; Alhador enters to him.Mor.
My Lord, the Sultan Sleeps.
Alh.
In dutious silence I'le attend his waking.
Mor.
When the Grand Vizier, and your self withdrew
The Emp'ror cry'd, that he was much surpriz'd.
Almyna's strange Request, her slight regard of Life,
Mov'd in his Soul, uncommon thoughts, and wonder;
But that his Vow was most unalterable.
For were she a thousand times the Vizier's Daughter,
The Bow-string must attend the fatal Nuptials.
Alh.
My Eyes have yet a fairer Land in View.
But for the Vizier, his present real despair
Transports him, beyond any future Hopes.
Mor.
Our Gracious Sultan kindled at his Wrongs,
The Father of his Wars, and guide to Conquests.
Under whose shade, his Lawrels took their growth,
And gain'd their glorious, envy'd Height! he said,
That tho' Abdalla were his Successor,
Yet to the nicest weight, they shou'd have Justice.
But, oh, my Lord, I am the Vizier's creature,
Rais'd by his Love, and shining with his Favour.
My Life too poor a Recompense for all,
And most unwillingly (whilst I have breath)
Shou'd (tamely) see his beautious Daughter fall
Beneath the cruel Bow-string.
The Emperor wakes, let us withdraw.
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Sult.
'Twas but a Dream—no more—
It's possible the Mind, by fancy can be tost
VVith such alternatives, of Hopes and Fears?
That which he never think of, when awake;
Yet in our Sleep, takes liberty to rack us.
I dream'd that I was passing the deep Lake,
The fatal Plank, laden with all my sins!
Our Prophet, on the other side to Judgment,
Encompast, with the Ghost of those fair Queens,
VVhom in the fear of Jealousy, I'de Murther'd.
To me they pointed, with revengeful Rage,
And cry'd, that was no landing place for me.
Charg'd with the Blood of Innocents I was,
And must not hope to tread the blissful Plains;
Unless I could Attonement make, for my rash Vow,
And rather Deeds; but, oh, 'twas now too late!
Opprest with weight, the rotten Plank gave way,
Deep in the horrid River I was plung'd,
My strugling Soul, already tasting Torments.
Our Queen's aloud, shouting revengful Joy!
Let Musick try to recompose my Mind.
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Then Alhador and Morat enter.
Mor.
Commander of the Faithful, mighty Lord,
Your truest Slave, the Vizier thus by me,
For all his Wounds in War, his Toils in Peace,
His Love, more to Almanzor than the Sultan,
His never ceasing Cares, to form thy Glory.
Till it has shone the wonder of the East,
Avert this Evil from your Soldier's heart,
Let not our Soveraign's House, to his bring ruin.
Zoradia (by the Prince already wrong'd,)
Despairs, and Dyes? Almyna's Fate is next,
(Who to her Life prefers the Honour of your Bed)
Unless thy Mightiness refuse to see her.
Sult.
Not see her Eunuch, that were rude indeed,
A Lady so receiv'd might well complain.
Fame too, has loudly sung her Beauty's praise,
That 'twere to wrong our self, not to behold her.
The rest is in the Fates, did I not bid
You shou'd conduct her hither, and that Zoradia
Shou'd with her attend, my Brother too;
To answer what she shou'd object against him.
Alh.
Commander of the Faithful mighty Caliph,
Zoradia fainting with her Wrongs, refuses,
'Midst all her Agonies of Love, and Scorn,
T'appear before thee to accuse her Lover.
Abdalla fierce with rage, at thy command,
Shot fury from his Eyes, and bid me thence,
With such sawcy Orders, to my Sovereign Prince,
He wou'd appear, in his own time appear;
To punish Insolence, to my confusion.
Almyna, unattended by the Vizier.
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Unable to behold his Daughter's ruin)
The fair Almyna ravish't with her Fortune,
As if to dye for thee, made all her Glory.
Waits with impatience for the longing Moments.
That to thy Eyes, unveils the beauteous Victim.
Sult.
'Tis well our Eunuchs wait, and introduce her,
What here within, shou'd beat such new Alarms?
Can expectation, for a Maid unseen;
Cause Sallies in my Blood, and Dancings at my Heart.
We who almost unmov'd, have oft enjoy'd,
What art, or Nature gives, to Eastern Beauties.
She comes, be still my heart, subside desires,
And leave our Reason free, to judge the Charmer.
Almyna enters veil'd, introduced by the Sultan's Eunuchs, and led by Alhador; she kneels.
Alm.
To the dread Majesty of all the World,
Thy lowest Slave, the true Adorer kneels!
Here, oh, ye Pow'rs let me expire before him.
Unveil'd, unseen; oh, let me strait expire,
By your kind Doom expire! If you foresee
That no Intelligence of Heart shall bless me,
If my too humble Charms, may not prevail,
To touch his conqu'ring Soul, with equal softness
But if for me, so great a Fate's design'd,
Long Life will crouded be, in that one Night,
The business of the Morn, as quite forgot
The fatal Bow-string can have no effect,
For I before (with Joy) shall dye transported.
Sult.
Unveil the Maid—She has a glorious Form,
Such Angels bear, or Goddesses assume,
Such Venus was with all her Train of Graces.
Oh, no! there was no such, thy self the first,
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'Twas but a Name, or Notion, before thou wert form'd.
Her glistering Eyes, like Lightning flash thro' mine.
All-seeing, all-commanding; how they pierce me?
Confusion! my whole Breast is naked to 'em.
'Twere vain to hide, this Empire they have gain'd,
Divine Almyna, for thou sure art more,
Much more than mortal Beauty, can pretend.
My dazell'd Sences turn as in a hurry,
My heart flies to my Lips! and flutters there.
My thickning Breath, beats quick and short!
My trembling Limbs, refuse to do their Office!
Approach, my Fair, thus with thy hand support me.
Thus rest me on thy breast, I faint with wonder.
Behold the thorough Conquest thou hast gain'd.
Alm.
Oh, ye Eternal Powers! accept my Thanks;
Accept the praise of your devoted Creature.
Go on, to finish what you have begun,
Support me now, give me immortal Strength,
To bear, immortal Joys, my Lord is mine.
The Hero of the Age, is his Almyna's.
By mutual Love made mine, transporting thought
Let vulgar Maids, by Vulgar Passions sway'd,
Miscall Dissemulation, Modesty.
My Pride of Life, shall be to own my Flame.
What tho' to morrow ends the pleasing Boast,
This Hour, this glorious wisht for Hour, is mine!
To Morrow be the Fates, and my Almanzor's!
Sult.
Why dost thou rouse me, from that pleasing Trance,
Which thy Enchanting Charms occasion'd?
Such Beauty, was not made, so soon to fade,
What Sacrilegious Wretch cou'd rob that Shrine?
Deface the Image of his Maker there.
Widow the World by an injurious Rape,
And put an end, in thee, to all that's excellent.
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Thy Father's Merit puts a Bar between us.
He who my Wars has fought, my Lawrels planted.
Shall I requite him, with his Daughter's murther?
Or wert thou not from him, cou'd I destroy,
In thee, the rarest piece of Nature's work?
If Nature thus, so artfully cou'd work.
Oh, let me ever live, without a Joy,
Rather than purchase at that costly price.
Alm.
Cou'd an addition to my Joys be made,
It were to give 'em growth, as well as birth.
That length of time, might consummate our Bliss,
And I for ever have Almanzor mine.
Sult.
Alas! is there not a Vow between us?
Have I not sworn, by the eternal Mind,
By Mahomet, and by the Holy Alcoran,
By all things binding, or on Earth or Heav'n?
If thou'rt our Queen, and so enjoy'd thou Dy'st.
Alm.
Oh, Impious Vow! cruel Ingratitude!
With death requiteing such a generous Flame!
Is this the Hero, of the East renown'd?
When India, Persia, were his Conquests made.
The strong Damascus, and the famous Bagdat.
All these perform'd, in the first Bloom of Life;
When others, but begin to hear of Battels:
Him, whom by Fame I lov'd e're I beheld.
Nay, cou'd have doated on such shining Vertues.
Tho' a distorted frame, had so been animated.
Judge then my Joy when I beheld that Form,
So nobly graceful, beauteously commanding,
Able without a Soul, to charm ev'n me!
Such complicated Excellence undoes me,
Without thee dying, dying if I have thee.
Oh! let my Lord, permit his willing Victim,
(If unoffending, I may yet speak on)
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Sult.
Can'st thou offend? It must be with thy Scorn,
VVhilst those bewitching Eyes retain their Magick,
Whilst thus they look, and look so very kind,
Thou needst not, lovely Charmer, fear offending.
Alm.
Since then my gracious Lord, permits me speak,
Let me, at th'original Mischiefs strike;
Suppose I take an Oath to slay the Innocent,
The Crime were less, much less to break the Vow,
Than by performing it, to run on Murder.
But thou securest thy self, from thoughts of Sin:
For that our Prophet, in his Alcoran,
As thou explain'st, says Women have no Souls,
But mighty Sultan, tell thy heart but this;
Had not thy beautious, faulty Queen done Ill?
Woudst thou the Letter, e're have so expounded?
Revenge, and Jealousy, arrests the Text:
Thus taught to speak, to put a gloss on Murder.
Oh, horrid Crime! Murder of Innocents.
Cast but thy Eyes around the fair Creation,
And say what Beings challenge such perfection.
Are we not made for the most perfect Work,
And therefore surely, the most perfect Creatures?
Besides, be not the Means, the Joys, the Pains the same,
In the production, of the Females, as the Males
If from the Parents, you derive the Soul,
When they beget Immortal, feel they no Distinction.
Or if, the Soul, be with the Life infused,
Wou'd not the Womb that holds 'em, find a Difference.
Since then their Beings, and their Birth's the same,
They dye the same, and the same Way shall rise,
And to Immortal Life adjudged as you be,
Dost thou not tremble; Sultan, but to think?
How fatal to thee, the Mistake may prove?
What will our Prophet say, at thy last day?
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How will Remorse, oppress thee in thy passage?
Oh, never! never! shalt thou cross the Bridge,
The horrid River, must receive my Lord.
Distraction! Anguish! Horror! tears me,
At but the Imagination of thy Punishment;
Oh! Early wake thee, from this Dream of Fate.
I beg not for my self, I am content to Dye.
So that my Death may be thy last of Crimes.
Sult.
Still do I dream, or waking, am confus'd,
Beyond what 'ere was in the pow'r of Dreams?
Is it her Eyes, or Tongue, this Change has caus'd?
I, who till now, upon her Sexe's Ills,
With Justice have bin eloquently lov'd.
I, who against the intruder Love declaim'd!
Resolving n'ere again, to give my Heart,
Am here enchanted, without pow'r of Speaking,
Lest speaking, I should chance to offend Almyna.
Alm.
If yet thou doubt whether our Sex have Souls,
What Presidents, my Lord, cou'd I not bring thee?
Sult.
Thou hast that nameless Power of taking Hearts,
Speak on, for I, methinks, cou'd hear thee ever.
Alm.
What was not fam'd Semiramis the Queen of Nations.
Whom mighty Alexander, emulated?
Thence after her, resolv'd his Indian Wars.
At which the stoutest, of his Warriors trembled.
He trod that World, a Woman first explor'd,
By her Example, gain'd his noblest Conquest.
What was not our fair Neighbouring Judith,
When th'Assyrian Monarch had resolv'd,
To sweep whole Nations, like the Durst before him?
Had she not a Soul? And an exalted one?
That Durst alone attempt, what all Dispair'd off.
Her Honour at the stake she rusht thro' all,
And by one stroke, redeem'd the East from ruin.
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Lucretia, Portia, Clelia, thousands more,
Without a Soul, have gain'd such endless Fames?
Or Cleopatra, that Heroick Queen,
In Death, she nobly follow'd Anthony.
But I shou'd much intrude, shou'd I but tell
The Half of what our Sex have dar'd for Glory.
Go we no farther, then the poor Zoradia,
Without a Soul, cou'd she support such Wrongs,
Abdalla's Perjury, and breach of Vows,
She nobly bears, and Dying will not Charge him
Lest it Incense, thy Mightiness against him.
Sult.
Leave thou the Ear of her Redress to Us.
'Tho' next our self, our Brother was most dear,
Such living Wrongs shall not unpunisht pass.
Alm.
And yet thy self, ar't Author of the greatest,
My Lord, has giv'n me leave, and I will speak,
What not thy Vizier none of all thy Council,
Or can, or dare relate, a Woman shall!
The Groans, the Cries, of thy distressed People,
The fears of Parents, or their certain Woes,
Those that thou hast, or those that thou may'st ruin,
For thy Inhuman, Cruel, Purpose, Ruin.
Oh! what a Tarnish is it, to thy Glory;
Thou, who before of all the happy Nations,
Wert as a God reverenc'd, and almost pray'd to,
Art now become their dread, no more a Blessing,
And what the mighty motive of this Change?
The Inconstancy of a weak Woman, no more,
Which thou with thy large Soul, shoud'st first dispise,
Then punish, and forget, so end Revenge;
Not hold a trembling innocent World in awe,
For Crimes that are not theirs.
Sult.
Are we become so monstrous to our People,
Whom, like a Father, we have still Indulg'd;
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Wou'd they unpunish'd, have their Monarch injur'd?
Are we not made, the Comets of the World,
To point at Right and Wrong?
Alm.
'Tis true, my Lord.
But not to shed your baleful Influence
Upon the Innocent, why do I Love thee?
Why love this glorious dreadful Murderer?
Or is it in the Fates, that I must suffer?
I, who have left the certainty of Power,
A Crown presented by the young Abdalla,
Nay, (in Succession) all thy Crowns and Power,
Have left his bloom of Charms, his Virgin Heart,
To go in search of thine, where Death requites me,
Yet cou'd I gain but this, to fall the last
That with my Life, thy cruel Vow might end,
To save thy precious Soul, so near to ruin,
And in my Blood, to wash the stains away;
Restore thee to thy self, and to thy Glory,
It wou'd be more than living with another.
Sult.
Whether thou hast a Soul, be it thy care?
Thou hast a beautious Body, so far I am sure,
And therefore take thee at thy Word, be our Queen,
Our last and most belov'd, our Oath thus sav'd,
VVe the remainder of our Life will waste,
In Penitence for our rash Vow, and thy fair Loss,
Lead on, Lord Alhador, to join our hands
[Abdalla meets 'em.
Abd.
First stay, and hear thy only Brother speak;
VVas it for this that I was bid attend?
To see thee court my VVife, before my face,
These thy Invectives made against the Sex,
Oh, patience! patience! Grief and Rage, transports me.
Sult.
Lord Alhador, conduct our beautious Bride,
Canst thou, my Queen, forgive this moment's pause,
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To punish this rash Boy, his Perjuries.
That done, my Fair, we'le fly to all of Heav'n,
That Heav'n on Earth can give us, in Almyna.
[Exit Almyna and Alhador.
The rest retire, and leave me with the Prince.
Dost thou not know, bold Youth, but to invade
Our Presence, with a noise, is certain Death.
How comes it then, forgetful of thy self,
And of the Reverence due to Majesty
Forgetful of thy Morning glories,
(VVhere never Brother, shewed so great a Trust,
So great a Love and Tenderness before.)
Thou in requital dost complain of VVrong,
Of VVrong to whom, was e're Almyna thine?
Indeed, her Sister, as we're well inform'd,
Has heard thy Love, and binding Oaths have pass'd,
VVhat hast thou then to say? VVhy breaking them?
Thou with unpresidented falseness,
Shou'd pretend to Court and VVed Almyna?
Abd.
The story is too old, and I too warm,
To argue tamely upon Right and VVrong.
Take back those Glories, you reproach me with,
Wou'd Heav'n had pleas'd, that I had not receiv'd 'em
Ingratitude had then, not fill'd the Scales against me.
But if thou woud'st oblige me, to my VVish:
And make thy Brother, live, or Dye, thy Debter,
Forget a while, the Dignity of Caliph,
Forget a while, thy Majesty and Pow'r.
And let our equal Swords, like fate decide,
VVho shall Possessor be of fair Almyna.
Sult.
Did not our Love arise in Bar between us,
Our tender Love, to an ingrateful Brother.
Thou soon, rash Boy, shoudst find what thou hast askt,
To thy Confusion find, our conqu'ring Sword,
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Abd.
I give thee back that Love, thou vain Pretender,
Can it be Love, when thou of Love dost rob me?
VVhat is thy Love, when valu'd with Almyna?
In her's is Life and Joys; in thine, Deceit and Death.
Thy Crowns and Empires, I return 'em all,
Nor will not be oblig'd, but to thy Sword,
One world, no longer, can contain us both;
Draw; if thou wilt not have me kill thee
Thus Defenceless as thou art; so cold to Glory,
So cold, in daring for the bright Almyna.
Sult.
How blinded do our Passions make us all?
With pitty, and with Indignation, we shou'd see.
The common Weaknesses of human Race.
How soon Abdella, cou'd I crush thee now,
To Nothing crush, and punish thy Presumption?
A Word, a Look of mine! and thou wert mortal!
Our Guards, our Mutes; nay, our very Eunuchs
Each were alone, more than thou coud'st withstand.
Do not provoke thy Fate, begon, and think
Of doing Justice, to the fair Zoradia.
Abd.
Good Heav'n! is this the Man, whom you have made,
Your Representative, this Coward-Monarch?
Who talks of Guards and Mutes, himself too base,
Too poorly Spirited, to deal me justice?
Thou are not surely, he renown'd in Arms
The conqu'ror of the East, the Dread of Europe.
It was thy Gen'rals fought for thee, not thou:
Or else enervated, thou hast forgot,
By long Disuse; the Soldier's Trade of Glory;
That thus provok'd, (against an unfledg'd Youth)
Thou darest not trust, the Merit of thy Sword.
Sult.
Thou to thy ruin hast provok'd it.
Ask thy Life.
[Fight.
50
If with it thou'lt bestow Almyna?
Else 'tis a Curse, and not to be supported.
Sult.
Rise; and from our Moderation learn,
A better Term than Cowardice, for Friendship.
I fought but to restore thee to our self,
Thy Life we unupbraided, do Bestow,
Be what thou shoud'st, and thou art still our Brother;
But for our Bride, she hates thee for her Sister.
And chuses Death with me, rather than Empire!
Love and Life with false Abdalla.
Abd.
Oh! Emperor, why dost thou more undo me?
Why was thy Sword, less cruel than thy VVords?
Spard'st thou with one, to murder with the'other.
But I deserve to lose, who cou'd so ill
Defend her, Traytor! Feeble! Coward Arm!
When all my Hopes, my Joys hung on a Moment.
To give that Moment from me, to my Rival.
But 'twas the prejudice of Education,
Custom even amidst my Rage prevail'd,
Bred to an Awe, I held his Person sacred.
What art thou glaring thing that this affrights?
What Magick rests there in the name of Sultan?
Sult.
Thou dost too far intrude upon my Love,
That Barrier thrown, how Lost a thing wer't thou,
Take yet Zoradia for thy shining Bride.
And we forgive thee all; else know young Man,
Such VVrongs as hers, done to our Vizier,
(The next but thou in Dignity, the first
In Merit of our Empire) must have Vengeance.
Abd.
I ask Almyna, thou answerd'st with Zoradia,
VVhom, oh! 'tis sure I pitty, but can't Love;
Nor does the Maid, insist upon my Vows.
Releast by her, shou'd I be bound by others?
Has not thy Royal Word, the Vizier's choice,
Design'd me for Almyna's happy Husband:
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Thou who such Arguments this morning us'd,
Exclaiming loud against the Sexe's Crimes.
Thy self art caught, in the same snare are caught,
And now pretend'st to preach to me of Justice.
Sult.
And execute it too, our Guards attend;
Secure the Prince, and bear him to his Chamber,
VVhen thou to morrow see'st Almyna dead.
Thou maist, perhaps, be juster to Zoradia.
Abd.
Dare not, for thy own, to touch her sacred Life,
VVhilst I have Breath, Revenge shall be my cry!
Off! or unarm'd! I'le strangle who opposes.
Oh, Emperor! I cast me at your Feet,
See how my Tears burst forth, I sob for VVoe.
Oh, spare Almyna your Successor begs,
Turn not away, I am your only Brother.
Him whom this morn, you Lov'd, you blest, you prais'd;
And thought him worthy, to succeed to Empire:
Forgive me, aweful Sultan, my fond Rage.
Transported at her loss, I vow'd at random.
But, oh, 'tis sure I did not fear her Death,
Else crawling thus I never had offended.
Let her but live, tho' she be never mine.
Art thou a Lover, and dost need intreaty?
Oh, no! who e're cou'd murder what they Lov'd?
Thou'st an Usurper there, no lawful Prince;
For, oh! 'tis sure! the tender Throne of Love,
Was never fill'd before, by any Tyrant!
Sult.
What Business hast thou, with our Love, or Empress?
Zoradia is thy fate! when just to her,
Thou art again, our Brother, and our Heir:
Till then, our Doom remains, forgive me Love
That I so long, have trifled from Almyna
[Exit. Sult.
Abd.
Come back thou Tyrant of the East, he's gone
And I am left a Prey, to Rage and Grief;
52
Confin'd! a Slave! a Pris'ner to my Subjects!
Are ye not so, was I not Sworn your King!
Yet where's your Duty, your Allegiance now?
Will you permit, your Vizier's Daughter's Death?
Go tell the valiant Muca, I wou'd see him;
Methinks the World shou'd arm in such a Cause,
Or I alone, will all things dare to save her,
Sultan, or thou, or I (e're she) shall bleed,
The Chance is thrown, 'tis Fate has so Decreed.
Exeunt Omnes.
| Almyna : Or, The Arabian Vow | |