University of Virginia Library

SCENE TENTH.

MAHOMET, THE PRINCESS, CAMPESTRAN, MUSTAPHA.
(Mustapha enters, and lays the Sword and Casque of Corvinus at the feet of Mahomet.)
MUSTAPHA.
Our Prophet fights the mighty Sultan's cause.

MAHOMET.
Whose Sword and Casque are these?

MUSTAPHA.
They are the spoils
Of fallen Corvinus—whom Mesetes slew.

PRINCESS.
Oh!—

(falls fainting into Campestran's arms.)
CAMPESTRAN,
(Supporting the Princess, and raising his eyes to Heaven).
O! send her strength proportion'd to her woes!
(The Princess recovering, looks earnestly at the Sword and Casque, and lifts the Dagger to kill herself: Campestran stays her hand, and continues.)
Rely on Heaven! nor rashly shed thy blood:
For life, or death, are not in mortals' choice.
Bow down thy soul with patience to this grief;
And, as this separation wounds thy spirit,
Let not thy rebel hand eternal make it,
And lose the hope, in realms of bliss, to meet
The worthy object of thy love on earth.
Resign this Dagger.—

PRINCESS.
No: as 'twas Honour's pledge,
It shall be Honour's guardian.

MAHOMET.
Princess! thy faith,
According to thy Law, is disengag'd.
Consent, that by thy Christian Rites, Campestran
Shall now unite us.

PRINCESS.
Never, will I consent!
Never! Corvinus! to thy Tomb I'm wedded!
(To the Sultan.)
O, let me see him! that the sight may end me!
Then give us the same grave: And spare Belgrade;
Her matrons, virgins, and her tender infants;
And my last breath shall praise and bless thy mercy.

MAHOMET.
If thou wouldst have thy ardent prayers prevail,
And save thy native City from my wrath,
By all that's sacred, to a Christian's soul,
Thou first must swear, not to attempt thy life;
And, in this very hour, be my Sultana:
Or else, with fire and sword, this night, Belgrade
Receives my troops; and sates my great revenge.
To-morrow thou shalt see thy City delug'd
With blood; her Nobles, in thy presence, slain.
Thou shalt behold my hated foe, Corvinus,
Piece-meal devour'd, by our fierce ravening dogs:
No other sepulchre will Mahomet grant him.

CAMPESTRAN.
This godlike youth, shall he not find a grave?

MAHOMET.
Ask that obdurate Fair, who gives remorseless
Her Husband's mangled corpse to vile dishonour,
Her Country to the sword: it is her will.
Corvinus was my foe; as such, I treat him.
Belgrade contains no friends who fight my cause;
I plunge no sword into my Country's bosom;
Nor sentence thousands to indulge my scorn.

PRINCESS.
Show Mercy, Prince! as thou wouldst wish to find it;
Nor ask a price thou wouldst disdain to pay.
Think on the chance of War, and nobly use
The power, which Heaven, in vengeance to this Land,
Ordains thy desolating sword to gain.
(Kneels.)
Think, if some treacherous turn of human fate,
Should thus bow down thy struggling mind to earth;
Thus humbled, thus abas'd, in abject woe,
If mercy thou wouldst hope, O, grant it now!
By me the sorrowing People, thus implore thee;
Their anguish'd souls, thus humbled to the dust,
They deprecate thy rage, and sue for mercy.

MAHOMET.
Did the whole Heavenly Hierarchy kneel,
Unmov'd I'd act the purpose of my soul.
(Campestran raises, and supports the Princess.)
But, on the terms I proffer'd, will I spare:
Thou art the sovereign of thy Country's Fate.
Live; and be partner of my bed and throne:
Else, thy obdurate scorn shall wake more crimes,
Than war's inventive cruelty yet knows.
Pronounce the Doom—If mercy be thy will,
Urge not my rugged soul, by vain resistance;
Lest thou shouldst rouse a storm beyond control.
If thou wilt yield, this moment is thy own;
The next, may be too late, e'en for repentance.

(He walks away from the Princess.)
PRINCESS.
Thy justice, Heaven! o'ertakes me for my perjury;
For my transgression my brave Husband falls.
Though great my fault, yet dire, beyond compare,
On me, thy over-whelming justice comes.
Yet, awful Power! if sufferings can for crimes
Atone, sure mine may hope to find remission.
Let this dread expiation clear my guilt,
Make me so pure, that I may prove a victim,
Acceptable to thee, and save my country still.
(Mahomet approaches.)
O! Mahomet! I'll be ransom for this People;
I swear, till Heaven shall call my spirit hence,
I will bear life, nor free me from its load.
And,—if thou still insist to force my hand,
I'll sacrifice myself—nay,—even to Thee;
But thou must swear to give my Country peace,
On fair and honourable, Princely Terms;
Nor ask another Victim than myself;
Must swear to grant my Husband's corpse a grave;
And once again permit me to review
My native palace, give me three, sad days,
To take a last farewell, and see entomb'd
The Husband of my love.

MAHOMET.
I swear to grant
All thou hast ask'd; but on this one condition,
Instant be mine. If thou attempt thy life,
Thou doom'st Belgrade to an unheard-of vengeance.
Princess! retire. Thou Dervis with her go,
And, on thy life, protect her from herself.
Prepare thy nuptial rites; I will but give
The orders which befit this change, then come
And take my bride, my fair, my bright Sultana.

(The Princess, supported by Campestran, goes into the inner tent; stopping at the Sword and Casque as she passes them.