 | Zingis |  |
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ACT V.
Enter TIMUR.TIMUR.
Th' appointed time draws near.—The silent moon,
Now, cold and wan, rolls down the hazy west,
And hastes to hide her half-enlighten'd orb.
At such a dreary, undistinguish'd hour,
The guilty ought to perpetrate such crimes
As ill can bear the splendid eye of day.
Yet I am urg'd with such uncommon force—
By love, by wrongs, by all a father's crimes—
To use the sword—that, partial to my state,
Mankind will pity, where they can't approve.
Enter CUBLA, ZENA, and Conspirators.
Hail, gallant chiefs. Are all the tribes in arms?
CONSPIRATORS.
All under arms.
CUBLA.
We only wait to know
The post assign'd to each.—Thy high commands,
To point the line of action thro' the night.
TIMUR.
Our daring enterprize, my friends, demands
Conduct as well as valor.—On that hill
No feeble foe securely dreams in night.
To wrest the world from Zingis, is a deed
As full of peril as it is of fame.
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Before the royal square—and boast the blood
Of Zingis, must be vanquish'd by the spear.
To the bold Tomats, who defend the pass
Along the river—Zena, we oppose
Thy hardy tribe.—To bold Jessugi's sword
Assign the stubborn Vigurs on the left.
To thee, Togai, the noble task we give
To break the Munguls, marshall'd in the rear.
Araptan, strike confusion and dismay
Thro' all the nations that extend their lines
Towards the mountains.—Timur draws the sword
Against the chosen Toman , that aloft
Look forward from their shields thro' dusky night,
And guard their sovereign with a wall of steel.
CUBLA.
What is the signal?
TIMUR.
When you thrice shall hear
The midnight watch resounding from the rock
Where Zingis stands in arms—on every side
Exalt the shout of war—assail at once
Th'embattl'd Nirons.—Thro' the storms we raise;
Ascend victorious; or by noble deaths
Avoid dishonour.
ALL.
Victory and Timur!
[Exeunt Conspir.
TIMUR.
'Tis done—Amidst his armies Zingis falls.
But yet, to sit upon the Tartar throne,
Red with a father's blood, and to derive
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My soul approves not.—
Enter OVISA.
Bright sultana, come,
And, like a sunbeam seen before a storm,
Diffuse a pleasing melancholy light
Along a mind that's shadow'd o'er with woe.
OVISA.
Alas, Ovisa is the guilty cause
Of all the griefs that shadow o'er thy soul.
'Twas I disgrac'd thee: 'twas the adverse fate
Of the devoted line, that, like a blast,
Pass'd o'er thy blighted honors—laid thee low,
To wither in thy prime. To ruin Timur
Was not enough—I made a parricide
Of him I lov'd.
TIMUR.
Forbear, my soul's delight!
I blame thee not, thou first of womankind!
Fate urg'd me on—a concourse of events
Decrees his fall—
OVISA.
The tyrant should have dy'd
But by these hands—the last—the poor remains
Of Aunac's house—his murder'd sovereign's race
Should rid the world of Zingis—should revenge
The treachery, the treasons, and the blood
By which he rose into the Tartar throne.
I have offended—he's thy father, Timur;
Forgive the rage, the madness, the despair
Of one, so broken with uncommon woes.
[Weeps.
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O harrass not a soul so soft as thine
With dire vicissitudes of grief and rage.—
All may be well—becalm thy mind awhile;
Our time is short—this hour—
OVISA.
May be the last
We ere shall meet—I know it, son of Zingis;
And have resolv'd.—The spirit of our race
Has not forsaken this distracted breast.
Should Timur fall—and my foreboding heart
Still dreads the worst—why should I stay behind?
To lose again my father, brother, friends,
All these art thou to desolate Ovisa.
TIMUR.
How shall I sooth to rest thy mournful mind?
Let heaven dispose of me—
[The first watch sounds.
That calls me hence—
This one embrace—it shall not be the last.
Compose thy soul, my love;—O let not grief
Dissolve thee thus—convulse thy tender frame—
Again—
[Second sound.
Be not too rash.—This dreary place—
The deed a doing, and the gloom of night
Replete with horrors, may awake despair.
O think on Timur—think upon his woes.
Should he behold—
[Third sound.
I come—I come—Farewel.
[Exit.
OVISA.
He's gone—for ever vanish'd from my eyes?
O king—O father—if thy spirit strays
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Are these thy passing steps that sound aloft
Along the rustling branches of that oak?
Look on Ovisa.—Have I not reveng'd
Thy murder—thy slain son—thy kingdom lost—
The ruin'd glories of a line of kings?
I arm'd his son against thy cruel foe;
Plung'd into guilt, for thee, the first of men;
And risk'd a life much dearer than my own.
Art thou not satisy'd—
Enter MILA.
MILA.
Alas, Ovisa, we are left alone.
The hill is bare of troops.—The waining moon
Has disappear'd—the melancholy blast
Of midnight, mixing with the Altay's roar,
Sounds thro' the lonely tents. The night is dark—
With horror fill'd—
OVISA.
It suits my state of mind.
Mila, the long disasters of our house
Are drawing to conclusion.—I observ'd
A brother's present in thy bosom hid—
Thy queen demands it.—
MILA.
Ha! what means Ovisa!
OVISA.
That dagger, Mila—
[Snatching a dagger from Mila's bosom.
My superior woes,
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[Noise at a distance.
The dreadful strife is swelling in the wind—
[Kneeling.
Thou soul divine, that dost pervade the world,
If from thy aweful dwelling in the skies,
Where round thy throne the murm'ring thunder walks,
The ready minister of thy commands,
Thou look'st thro' the breaches of thy storms,
At times, on earth. O turn thine eyes on Timur:
Ward off the hand of death—
[The noise increases; Ovisa starts up.
Perhaps his soul
This very instant issued thro' his wounds.
MILA.
Alas, my queen, what horrors shake thy frame!
What wildness flashes from Ovisa's eyes!
All may be well—forbear—
OVISA.
I shall be firm—
Firm as the son of Aunac—he who fell
Amidst his ruin'd armies—On that rock
Which bends its mossy forehead o'er the stream,
There stands a tree; it murmurs to the wind.
Shrill in its top, last night, I heard the voice
Of passing Zangon—thou shalt find me there.
Go, bid my slaves, if any yet attend
The desolate Ovisa, to observe
The progress of events—to mark the time
When Timur falls—If Asia's hope must die.
That thro' the dreary horrors of the night,
My soul may join the lord of my desires.
[Exeunt.
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Enter ZINGIS, NEVIAN, Officers and Attendants.
Shouts at a Distance.
ZINGIS.
This is the feeble effort of despair.
Zemouca seeks for death. His haughty soul,
Bereft of hope, awakes this tumult round,
And in a daring action longs to leave
The world it fail'd to rule—
Enter OFFICER in haste,
OFFICER.
Zemouca, Zena,
The Soigarates—the Kergis—all in arms,
Attack the troops upon the Altay's banks,
And rush upon the line—the guards o'erwhelm'd,
From post to post roll back upon the square;
The gallant prince, Caredi, with his tribe,
Stems the rude torrent—but he soon must fall,
Unless supported—This from him to Zingis.
ZINGIS
, to an Officer.
Balin, this instant hasten and repel
This impotent attack—But since mankind
Are slaves to fear, and armies by surprize
Have fall'n before a despicable foe,
We shall not fail in prudence—Sound to arms.
[Trumpet sounds.
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We are begirt with foes—On every side
Bold treason walks thro' night—Confusion, fear,
Run thro' our lines—I heard the dreadful voice
Of Timur thundring thro' the horrid gloom;
While Cubla from amidst the war replies—
Half of the tribes are rebels—Up the hill,
Thro' men and arms, they hew their bloody way
Towards the royal tents.
ZINGIS.
Thy fears, young man,
Have magnify'd the danger.—Let our guards
Stand to their arms within the royal square.
The son of Zingis must not be despis'd.
Timur is brave—he only durst attempt
A deed so great. Demand his father forth,
And in the bosom of the midnight cloud
Contend with him for Asia.
Enter SIDASCO, wounded.
SIDASCO.
All is lost—
The line is broke—within the royal square
Death ravages at large—Our bravest chiefs,
The firm supporters of the fame of Zingis,
Are struck with fear, and fly.
ZINGIS.
Away—'tis time
For Zingis to appear.
SIDASCO.
It is too late—
NEVIAN.
The camp of Octar—
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What of Octar's camp?
NEVIAN.
Let us retreat—
ZINGIS.
Presumptuous man—no more—
Foe to my fame—dost thou—shall Asia's lord
Shrink from the face of danger—blood shall swell
The Altay's stream—the East—the world shall groan
Beneath the shock of armies, ere from war
The backward step of Zingis shall be seen.
[Exeunt, except Sidasco.
Enter TIMUR, CUBLA, and other Conspirators, with drawn Swords.
TIMUR.
The tent of Zingis!—Spare the hero's life;
The conqueror of Asia must not fall.
Stain not with horrid parricide the fame
We have acquir'd.—Sidasco, in his blood!
On thee the death of Aunac is reveng'd.
Relentless, cruel Omrah.—Where is Zingis?
SIDASCO.
Fled to the camp of Octar.
TIMUR.
Thou betray'st
Thy sovereign's fame—my father never fled.
If, in the carnage of this dreadful night,
Some spot is cover'd with uncommon heaps
Of slaughter'd warriors, there the king of Nirons
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We war not with the vanquish'd.—Haste, Togai,
And with the music of the Tomans bring
The bright Ovisa: she shall rule the East.
CUBLA.
The troops must have a king—they look aloft
To him who pull'd the tyrant from his sphere.
This land of heroes to the sword alone
Will yield obedience. How can female hands
Ere wield the scepter Zingis could not hold!
CHIEFS.
Let Timur reign!
CUBLA.
The moment's on the wing.
Then seize it prince, ere wild dissentions rise.
Mankind are struck with novelty, and he,
Who, thro' the rude disorders of the night,
Has courage to ascend the Tartar throne,
Will be supported,—Timur king of Tartars!
CHIEFS.
Timur, king of Tartars!
TIMUR.
Since then the public voice—
Enter ZEMOUCA, with his Party, hastily, with his sword drawn.
ZEMOUCA.
The man who dares
To mount this throne, shall perish in his crime.
The race of Aunac shall the Tartars rule.
Ovisa only has a right to reign.
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Presumptuous man, who in this thin disguise
Of loyalty, dost hide thy own designs,
Thy insolence forbear,—or else this sword—
ZEMOUCA.
Vain are thy threats,—the base usurping Niron,
Who rais'd himself, as every villain may,
By perfidy, by treason, and by blood,
Is now removed, thou patricide, by thee.—
Nor shall the tyrant's race—
TIMUR.
Audacious, slave!
Thus Timur answers—
[They fight.
ZEMOUCA.
Niron, at thy heart—
Thus perish all—Ha! still his adverse fate
Pursues Zemouca,—Faithless to my hand,
[Throwing away his sword.
Hadst thou but done my purpose.—Unreveng'd
I die.—
[Falls.
The Niron's fortune still prevails.
The world, for which I fought and toil'd so long,
Is now secur'd to Timur.—Bright Ovisa,
She too is his.—The kingdoms of my fathers
Are fall'n for ever. But my soul is free.—
[Dies.
CUBLA.
Why totter thus thy weak, unsteady steps?
What paleness, Timur, wanders o'er thy face?
How fares it with the prince?
TIMUR.
Does Zingis live?
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What means my lord?
TIMUR.
Go grasp his royal knees,
If yet he wanders thro' his ruin'd lines,—
He may forgive you. Heaven reveng'd his wrongs
On his rebellious son.
CUBLA.
He bleeds to death—
TIMUR.
If, midst his hosts, the lord of Asia fell,
Repair to Octar,—he alone can hold
The scepter of his father. Let him not—
I knew him generous, let not Octar use
His pow'r against Ovisa—Let her will
Be free amidst the horrors of her state.
Enter an OFFICER hastily.
All, all is lost!
CUBLA.
Explain thy fears.
OFFICER.
The king—
Zingis, advancing with his Niron guards,
Broke our victorious troops, and pour'd their flight
Down the steep hill. A while the valiant Zena
Flam'd in the front of war, and stop'd the foe
Till slain by Zingis.—Round the royal square
Each pass is seiz'd.
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, to Timur.
Thy presence may recal
The flying tribes.
TIMUR.
What now remains of life,
Cannot convey me hence.—My adverse fate
Lies heavy on my friends. Retire with speed,
Avoid the lord of Asia in his rage.
[Exeunt conspirators, except Cubla.
CUBLA.
Let them avoid who fear him—Hapless prince;
I did advise thee to this daring deed,
And will support thee to the last extream.—
This to my fame I owe, and this to thee,
And to a spirit that disdains to yield.
Enter ZINGIS and his Party.
Flourish of Trumpets,
ZINGIS.
Pursue the traitors. Thou rebellious youth,
That durst call forth thy father—shake his throne,
And make him anxious for the world he rul'd.
Ha! dost thou tremble? Art thou only bold
When fortune favors in the gloom of night?
Degenerate boy! We sooner could forgive
Thy crimes than fears.—
TIMUR
falling.
My father is reveng'd.—
ZINGIS.
Ha! is it thus.—Has the rude chance of war
O'ertaken Timur in a deed like this?
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Thy latter field,—In other wars expir'd,
These tears would flow from a more noble cause,
Than pity for a son.
TIMUR.
Will Zingis grant
My last request.—Yet I have known so long
Th'unalter'd rigor of a father's will,
That Timur has no hopes.—I leave my friends,
Whom their affections listed in my cause,
Involv'd in ruin.—Spare them—O protect
A poor disastrous mourner in her tears.—
Daughter of Aunac! Let thy pride forgive
The feelings of a heart that's wholly thine.
I'll not sollicit.—No,—Ovisa, no.
I will not wound thy dignity of soul,
By a request to foes. Yet Timur now
Can not defend—Ovisa—Oh—farewel.
[Dies.
ZINGIS.
I was to blame.—He ought to rule the East;
For when my spirit should forsake the world,
His milder genius would have reconcil'd
The vanquish'd nations to the house of Zingis.
Enter OVISA, led by TOGAI.
OVISA.
I am betray'd—Perfidious man! Is this—
Is this the king to whom thou lead'st Ovisa?
ZINGIS.
Remove the princess.
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Yes.—This scene of death.
Becomes this presence—Was it not enough,
O thou destroyer of Ovisa's race!
To slay my brother—In his failing years
To murder Aunac.—Could not nature hold
Thy hand from Timur?—Murderer of thy son!—
Ah! whither wanders my distracted soul?
By me he fell—'Twas my ill-fated love
Brought him to this—made all this ruin here.—
O Timur, Timur!
[Throwing herself on Timur's body.
No thou shalt not force
Her lord from poor Ovisa.—I resign
My claim to Asia.—Does thy iron heart
Deny me this—a portion of his grave?
ZINGIS.
Nevian, convey her hence.—This scene of blood
Disturbs her reason.
[Ovisa starting up.
OVISA.
Tyrant, do thy worst.—
This world is thine.—There is a place beyond
The limits of thy empire.—It becomes
The last remains of Aunac's royal line.
Thus—thus—to free herself—
[Stabs herself.
ZINGIS.
Prevent her Nevian.—
NEVIAN.
It is too late—
OVISA.
O thou for whom alone
I could have borne to live—it was not kind
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If still thy spirit hovers in the wind,
O let me hear thy voice—Awhile delay—
My soul is fluttering on its parting wings—
I see thee faintly, Timur!—Ha!—that cloud
Comes in between—O—leave me not my love.—
[Dies.
ZINGIS.
Nevian convene our chiefs within the square,
We have commands to give.—We must restore
From this rude storm that has pass'd o'er our camp,
Our intermitted pow'r. Tomorrow war
Shall roll this scene of sorrow from our mind.—
And Zingis, like the sun thro' cloudless heaven,
Shall urge his course to conquest. Chief of Eluths,
[To Cubla.
It was not well to arm our son against us.
But there's enough of blood.—Go—hence—away.—
And yet the generous passions of the soul,
Those homely virtues of a private life,
Suit not our great designs.—We sit aloft,
In thunder and in clouds, to awe the world,
And first must conquer, e're we bless mankind.
THE END.
| Zingis | |