 | Abra-Mule : Or, Love and Empire |  |
8
Mah.
Our Prophet seems unmindful of his Charge,
And leaves our Empire to be steer'd at random
By blind Contingency; for did not he
Sit at his Ease, and slumber unconcern'd;
He would not tamely have resign'd my Honour,
Nor suffer'd, spight of all my best Endeavours,
My darling Buda to be ravish'd from me.
Cupr.
The Prophet, Royal Sir, has done his Part
By substituting you to govern for him;
And having to your Care entrusted all,
He thinks he safely may a while withdraw
His Tutelary Pow'r, and leave the World
To you, his great Vice-gerent: And had you
Been equally successful in your Choice
Of all those Ministers who move beneath you,
Buda had still been ours.
Sol.
I always thought
The Visier's Conduct would prove fatal to us.
Hal.
This strange Miscarriage has indeed abated
The high Esteem which I long entertain'd
For that great Man; and if free Liberty
Be granted to disclose our real Sentiments,
It seems to me—
Mah.
Be silent—I perceive
You are all agreed with Fortune, to depress
The rising Glories of the Noble Pyrrhus;
And nought more easie, than with formal Rhet'rick
To cast the Odium of a Battle lost
On him that manag'd it: But you forget
That dire Misfortune, and the Chance of War,
Often defeat the best Contrivances.
And since in many dangerous Campaigns
He has giv'n such Proof of his undaunted Valour,
Those Laurels which his conqu'ring Sword has won
Should shadow this Miscarriage.
9
Jan.
Mighty Monarch,
Th'unfortunate Grand-Visier is arriv'd,
And humbly craves Admittance.
Mah.
Bid him enter.
[Exit Janiz.
Now all prepare from his own Mouth to hear
The Vindication of his injur'd Honour.
Enter Pyrrhus.
Is this the Man so much renown'd in War
For Cities storm'd, and Battles bravely fought?
Does it become the celebrated Pyrrhus
To enter like a private Sentinel
Constantinople's Gates?
Then unattended to appear at Court,
And send in his Petition for Admittance?
Not so he look'd, when throng'd with Multitudes
Of the applauding Soldiers, he arriv'd,
When waving Colours did adorn his Triumph,
And Trumpets sprightly Sound proclaim'd his Entry.
Pyr.
With such Magnificence, and Martial Pomp,
'Till now, were my Arrivals always honour'd;
The thund'ring Ordnance loudly welcom'd me,
And what was more, the Sov'raign of the World
With gracious Looks, and open Arms receiv'd me.
But now (O dire Reverse of fickle Chance!)
I come inglorious, like a Criminal,
To clear my Honour, and excuse my Conduct.
Mah.
Begin then, and as bravely as you fought
Redeem your Reputation.
Pyr.
As I fought?
Have I then liv'd to be arraign'd of Cowardise?
Ask brave Loraine, that Thunderbolt of War,
If ever I in Fight declin'd his Arms,
Or e'er was startled at the Face of Danger.
But 'twas not in my Pow'r t'inspire my Troops
With Souls as large, and fearless as my own.
All my Designs and Methods still were cross'd
By some unlucky, thwarting Accident,
As if the unseen Hand of Providence
Had interpos'd, on purpose to defeat
My close Contrivances, and break my Measures.
10
He little thinks whose Providence it was
That foil'd his Policy.
[Aside to Cupr.
Pyr.
Whate'er Designs,
Tho' manag'd with the greatest Secresie,
I had resolv'd upon, the Enemy,
As if fore-knowing what I had decreed,
Still mov'd against them, and prevented me.
So that I much suspect I was betray'd
By hidden Treach'ry, and some envious Bassa
To whom in Council I reveal'd my Thoughts,
Kept secret Correspondence with the Foe,
And gave Intelligence.
Sol.
A lucky Guesser.
[Aside to Haly.
Pyr.
But if your Highness for full Satisfaction
Demand a more particular Account,
This Paper will inform you, sign'd by most
Of th'eminent Commanders in the Army,
In which at large they justifie my Conduct,
And wipe off all Aspersions.—
[Presents a Writing.
Mah.
You have indeed giv'n ample Satisfaction,
And tho' o'ercome you acquit your self with Honour;
My Pyrrhus still deserves my best Esteem
And claims the highest place in my Affections.
[Comes from the Throne, and embraces him.
Therefore let these Embraces witness for me,
That I impute this Loss to no Defect
In you; nor blame your Conduct, or your Valour.
Continue still t'enjoy your Dignity;
And be the second Person in that Empire,
Which with your Sword so bravely you defend.
What tho' our Glory be a while obscur'd?
The clearest Day is not without some Cloud.
Our next Attempt will give, what this has lost,
And while th'Heroick Pyrrhus shines in Arms
Our wide Dominions shall the World o'er-run,
And my pale Crescent brighten to a Sun.
[Exeunt.
| Abra-Mule : Or, Love and Empire | |