 | The Sultaness |  |
41
SCENE V.
Roxana, Zatima, Acomat, Osmyn.Acom.
What stops you, Madam? wherefore do we waste
The precious Sands of this important Hour?
The buzzing Multitude are all assembled,
Impatient, full of fancy'd Hope, and Fear.
They from your Hands alone expect their Signal:
Why does this Palace at this sacred Moment,
Keep an inactive, a destructive Silence?
Declare, delare; let us not vainly wait.
Roxa.
Vizier, be satisfy'd—I will declare.
Acom.
And yet your Looks in deepest Sorrow sunk,
Speak other Thoughts; Say, Madam, what has happen'd?
Roxa.
Know Vizier then, your Bajazet is false.
Acom.
He false!
Roxa.
Perfidious, base, ungrateful,
He has betray'd us both.—
Acom.
How!—
Roxa.
This, Atalida—
Oh worthy Prize! for her we both have labour'd,
Plotted, intrigued, betray'd.
Acom.
Hah!
Roxa.
Read that Paper,—
Were ever Wrongs like ours? Have we not both
Embrac'd a pois'nous Aspic in our Bosoms?
Let us not still defend this Traitor's Life;
No, let us rather patiently submit
To what the Conqueror's Justice shall impose;
Let us appease him with this Sacrifice.
Acom.
This Outrage was to me; How durst he thus
Weaken those Hands were lifted to protect him:
Base and perfidious! Throw your Cares on me,
Roxana, trust your Vengeance to my Conduct.
Roxa.
No, Acomat, I'll not be rob'd of that,
Invidious Fortune shan't defraud me too
42
I will prepare Horrors beyond account,
To wait in order each successive Moment;
Dismiss your Friends, and leave to me alone
The Guidance of what yet remains undone.
| The Sultaness | |