University of Virginia Library

ACT III.

ZINGIS's Pavilion.
ZINGIS and Attendants discovered on a Throne.
A Flourish of Trumpets.
ZINGIS.
Go, Nevian, issue forth our high decree
To all the princes, potentates and kings,
O'er whom the scepter of our power extends,
On the first morning of the ensuing year
To meet in Ordu-balâ's regal halls.
We mean to publish laws to rule mankind—
To bind the nations in one general chain
Of policy—to mark, with strict regard,
The bounds of justice between man and man.
We call this council—not that we require
Advice, but proofs of their allegiance due,
And prompt obedience to the will of Zingis.

NEVIAN.
The king shall be obey'd—his high commands
Will be receiv'd thro' Tartary with awe,
And all its princes hasten to the throne.

[Exit.
ZINGIS.
Suida, prepare thyself. We send thee hence
To distant regions, near the rising sun—
To great Canbâla—seat of Altun Chan,
Who stiles himself the monarch of Cathay.—
Make full demands for all his ravages
In these our kingdoms, when they shrunk away
From every bold invader's sword—and groan'd
Beneath that worst of tyranny—a race
Of timid ministers, and feeble kings.

SUIDA.
Proud of the trust, and zealous to obey
The lord of nations, Suida stands prepar'd.

[Exit.
ZINGIS.
And thou, Jelizou, hasten to the west,
Where Mâhmud, the Charizmian, has confin'd
The Caspian, in the circle of his empire.
Tell him, while, as a son, he shall revere
Our pleasure, we will act a father's part.
That now it is our sovereign will the doors
Of commerce should be open'd with our realms.
Not less on means that civilize mankind
We rest our glory, than on fame in arms.
But, in the pride of hosts, should Mâhmud scorn
Our proffer'd friendship—call him forth to war;
That he may see his kingdoms weeping blood
Beneath the sword of Zingis

JELIZOU.
Too well the pow'r of him who rules the east
Is known by Mâhmud, to reject his friendship.

[Exit.
Enter an Officer.
OFFICER.
Letters from Rizia, empress of the south,
To whom the sable Indian nations kneel,
With presents her ambassadors attend,
And long to greet the sovereign of the world.

ZINGIS.
They shall have audience.—Say, what tidings bring
The messengers of Octar?

OFFICER.
We descry
His standards high erected on the plain.
This morning his astrologers presag'd
Some dire misfortune threaten'd by the stars,
Which stops his progress.—

ZINGIS.
Should the stars presage,
And join their influence as they roll above
To aid the foes of Zingis—he would trust
More to the prowess of a single arm
Than he should fear from them.—But what of Timur?

OFFICER.
We saw his warrior's covering Altay's course,
And Aunac's banners waving on the shore—
Soon the loud roar of war—

Enter Officer.
OFFICER.
The prince returns
Victorious from the field. He brings in chains
A captive train.—The aged monarch, Aunac,
Stood in the front of battle, till his lines
Grew thin by Timur's sword.—A chosen band,
That fought around their king—when all was lost,
Bore their unwilling sovereign from the field;
The fierce Sidasco, pressing on the rear,
Pursues his flight.

ZINGIS.
Did not the Naiman prince
Support the king, for whom he rose in arms?
He bore a specious cause upon his sword,
Yet shrunk from danger: so I knew him still
A dark, designing, and deceitful man,
Expert in policy, but cold in war.
These are not means to gain the terms he claims.
He knows us not—a coward never finds
A friend in Zingis.
Enter TIMUR, with Prisoners.
Thou are welcome, Timur,
This strict obedience to our sovereign will,
Confirms thee in our favour.—Such exploits
Become the son of Zingis.—Who are these?
We want no captives—thou art young in war.—
Ye bold, rebellious men, who did insult
[To the prisoners.
Our pow'r with feeble hands—who durst contemn
Repeated offers of our royal grace,
Which, thro' our vast dominions, were proclaim'd,
Must perish in your folly—bear them hence,
And execute our judgment.—

TIMUR.
It must not be.—Let Timur intercede
For these unhappy men—my word is pass'd
To save their lives—my honor was engag'd
When they resign'd their unavailing swords.

ZINGIS.
Audacious boy—no more—didst thou presume
To pardon traitors?—Know'st thou not that Zingis
Is sovereign here, and that he delegates
His pow'r to none?—Say,—when didst thou perceive
By art, by argument, by open force,
Our resolutions alter'd?—hence, away,
[To his guards.
And lead them to their fate.

TIMUR
, drawing.
Stand off, ye slaves!—
By heavens they shall not perish.—Thus oppress'd,
I must forget that passiveness of soul—
My duty to a father—with my blood
I will protect them.

ZINGIS.
Ha!—thus to my face—
Dost thou not fear?—Should Zingis sacrifice
This victim to his fury?—Or—begone—
I will not slay thee—take thy captives hence,
I give them to thy pride.—This insolence
Shall not unpunish'd go. Our steps to fame,
To the dominion of the eastern world,
Must not be thus retarded by a son,
Who, in his disobedience, throws disgrace
Upon the power of Zingis.—From our presence
We must remove examples that suggest
Rebellion to our subjects. To the north
We send thee hence to-morrow—to a clime
Tempestuous as the temper of thy soul.
In Tuba's forests, and those spacious vales
Where dark Selânga roars into the main;
Compel the haughty Tomats to obey:
The ocean only shall our empire bound.
Enter SIDASCO.
My bold Sidasco!—

SIDASCO.
Sovereign of the world!
The war is ended—Aunac comes in chains.

ZINGIS.
Our faithful chief, to thee—
Enter OVISA suddenly, and kneels.
Who durst admit
The princess?—Let the captain of our guards
This instant be arrested.—Rise, Ovisa—
Why dost thou kneel?—What wouldst have from Zingis?

OVISA.
If e'er thy heart was soften'd by distress,
If e'er thy soul rejoic'd in generous deeds,
O spare my father; let him die in peace—
[Zingis is retiring, she seizes his skirt.
Thou must not leave me, Zingis. O pronounce
The words of mercy.—Aunac's strength has fail'd,
His friends forsook him; he is left alone,
A poor old man!—No cause for fear remains.
The brave are never cruel—they delight
To stretch their hand to raise a fallen foe,
To speak the words of comfort—There he comes!
What, Timur, hast thou done? Is this thy faith,
Thy plighted faith to me? Like all thy race,
Art thou perfidious!—Timur, 'twas not well
Thus to betray the poor, the lost Ovisa!—

TIMUR.
Hear me, Ovisa, e'er thou shalt condemn.

OVISA.
Hear thee, false man!—
Enter AUNAC, in Chains.
Look there—behold him there—
These are thy works—the ruin thou hast made.
O Zingis! Zingis! wilt thou slay the king,
The king that lov'd thee—cherish'd thee?—alas!
The tyrant is inexorable.—Thou
Alone who pitiest the distress'd Ovisa,
O king! O father!—to thy friendly tomb
Receive thy daughter.

AUNAC.
Welcome to my arms—
Thou lovely beam, that gild'st my parting hour!
My eyes are blest—my wishes at an end.
These hairs have long been whiten'd o'er with years,
And my disasters bend me to the dust.
Why should I wish to live? to haunt this world
The ghost of what I was?—But thou art young—
Yet, can I leave thee lonely midst thy foes?
Shall those who riot in thy father's blood
Derive from thee a title to his throne?—
Yet, what should I advise?

OVISA.
I know thy soul,
And have resolv'd—Yes—all the fated line
Shall fall at once, and leave the East to Zingis.
My heart, indignant, spurns this world away;
My rising spirit struggles to be free.

ZINGIS.
No more! Sidasco—lead thy captive hence—

TIMUR.
I would entreat—but stern in his resolves;
[To Aunac.
He melts not at distress—nor lends an ear
To those whom fortune left.

AUNAC.
O generous youth,
Plunge not in our misfortunes.—In thy breast
Thy father's rigour dwells not. Brave, yet mild.
I had a son like thee, whose rising fame
Shone thro' the gloomy winter of my age.
But he is fallen, and of our royal house
She now remains alone.—Ovisa, come—
Embrace thy father—tho' my breast is cold
To all the world—my spirit burns for thee.

TIMUR.
aside.
It is too much—Tho' ruin must ensue,
I will obey the impulse of my soul.

[Exit.
ZINGIS
, to Sidasco.
Why am I disobey'd!—

AUNAC.
Omrah, lead on—
This presence is unworthy of a king—
We leave him to the horrors of his soul.
But we will not upbraid—Yet know, we scorn
Thy utmost rage. For he who longs for death,
Like us, may smile at tyrants when they frown,
Ovisa, one embrace—It is the last—

OVISA.
We must not part—together let us die.

ZINGIS.
Conduct her to her tent.

OVISA.
Dost thou refuse
This little boon—this privilege of death?
Relentless tyrant—know, thou shalt not long
Divide Ovisa from her fallen race.

[Both carried off.
ZINGIS.
Something like pity shakes my firm resolves,
And almost melts the iron heart of Zingis.
The king is old; yet may ambitious men
Hold forth a cause so specious—whilst he lives,
Some dark conspiracies may rise around us.
But to imbrue our hands in Aunac's blood,
Would tarnish half the glories of our reign.
Enter TIMUR and an Attendant.
What wouldst thou, Timur? Go;—thy looks bespeak
Thy purpose—go—while Zingis rules the world,
He rules himself—is absolute in mind,
And none shall alter his determin'd will.
[Exit Zingis, &c.

TIMUR.
In vain he rages; Aunac has escap'd;
My chosen troop have rescu'd him from death,
And bear him far from danger.—Haste—away;
[To his attendant.
Inform Ovisa—left in her despair—
Tell her what Timur for her love has done—
[Exit attendant.
But ruin follows.—What shou'd I resolve?
My father's rage is deadly. Should I fly,
And bear Ovisa to the Caspian shores?
This sword is my inheritance—the world
Is wide enough for conquest: other thrones
Will rise for her in Asia.—
Enter ZEMOUCA.
Who art thou,
That thus intrud'st upon me?

ZEMOUCA.
Not unknown
In Asia is Zemouca—

TIMUR.
Hapless man!
Why dost thou tarry?—hence,—away—should Zingis
Hear of his mortal foe—not half the East
Could save thee from his fury—Leave this camp;
To thee it is the hungry lion's den.

ZEMOUCA.
In my prosperity I harbour'd not
A fear of death—Why should he now begin
To shew more dreadful to me, thro' this cloud
Which has involv'd my state?—To thee I owe
My life in battle. Thou hast sav'd it here,
Among thy captives, at the risque of thine,
And I do mean to make thee some return.

TIMUR.
I want it not.—A generous action brings
Its own reward,—a feeling of the soul
Of greater value, than aught thou canst give.
Zemouca leave me,—there is danger here
To thee—To Timur, should it once be known,
That he preserv'd the greatest foe of Zingis.

ZEMOUCA.
Time hurries on, and thou consider'st not,
That sorrow hastes apace. With morning comes
Thy brother Octar, Towards the stormy north
Thy troops file off already.—Wilt thou leave
Ovisa and the empire?

TIMUR.
Dost thou mean
To urge me on to parricide?

ZEMOUCA.
I urge
Thee, not to parricide but open war,
A foe invades thee, seizes on a throne,
By justice thine; nay, forces from thy arms,
The first of women. Timur has the pow'r
To right himself, yet passive in his soul
He in the tyrant still beholds the father.

TIMUR.
Zemouca, thou presum'st on thy condition,
And therefore art so bold. I know from whence
This zeal arises, and behind thy words,
Perceive the gloomy workings of thy soul.—
I blame thee not, my father is thy foe,
And Timur is the rival of thy love,
Both then should perish.—But thou know'st me not,
I am not made by nature for thy purpose,
I look thro' artful men, and hate deceit,
As I abhor the crimes thou dost suggest.
[Exit Timur.

ZEMOUCA.
Curse on the virtues of this haughty boy,
They level my designs.—I hop'd to rouze
To strife, the hateful family of Zingis,
And from the bosom of the storm to rush,
To seize Ovisa, and the Tartar throne.
But still some means are left.

Enter ZENA.
ZENA.
Ill-fated prince,
Why dost thou loiter here,—for Zingis knows
Of thy escape from death. From post to post
He rushes in his rage. (Flourish.)
Away,—he comes,—
Retire Zemouca, I will meet thee soon,
Beside the rock, that with its crooked pines,
Sounds to the passing Altay.

ZEMOUCA.
Draw thy sword.
Why should I fly,—Is Zingis more than man?
But yet this headlong fury—this despair—
Suits not the brave;—not he alone must die,
This mighty fabrick he has raised, shall fall,
And whelm his race in ruin.

[Exit.
Enter ZINGIS attended.
ZINGIS.
To defend
Our mortal foe Zemouca from our rage,
To favour Aunac's flight, and in this war
To lengthen the misfortunes of the East,
Are crimes beyond our mercy. Haste Sidasco,
[Exit Sidasco,
Pursue the king.—Bold treason is awake,
Let all our guards be doubled,—let our spies
Beset the tent of every prince and chief.
Call Timur hither,—He must be secured.
Ovisa's beauty is the secret source
From whence these deeds of disobedience spring.
The cause must be remov'd. Let her be sent
Without delay, to Octar. Zena, thou
Conduct her hence. To thy command we give
The troops of Timur: lead them to the north.

ZENA.
The lord of Tartary shall be obeyed.

Enter TIMUR.
ZINGIS.
Have we not, Timur, with a father's care,
Rear'd thee to manhood? Have we not with pow'r
And princely dignities invested thee?
Have we impos'd restraint upon thy will?
Or enviously witheld thy steps from fame?
Yet thou hast these indulgences return'd
With disobedience, treachery, and treason.
Twice hast thou suffer'd Aunac to escape,
Once sav'd our greatest foe,—retarding thus
Our course to glory;—dost thou think such crimes
Can be forgiven thee?

TIMUR.
Timur does not mean
To justify his conduct, or assign
The rigor of his father, as the cause
Of disobedience to his high commands.
But in my soul, some other passions dwell,
Than those that tend to desolate the world;
I feel for the distress'd.—How could I see
Ovisa's father slain amidst her tears!
The king, who gave his daughter to my love,
With all his realms—

ZINGIS.
Dost thou presume to claim
The kingdoms conquer'd by the sword of Zingis?
Rebellious boy—forbear.—

TIMUR.
Let Octar reign,
I claim not aught but her,—the fair remains
Of the long line that rul'd the eastern world.

ZINGIS.
Thou shalt not shake thy father's firm resolves—
Know that our mind hath been divested long,
Of all those feeble feelings, that might stop
Our progress to dominion.—On a plan,
Extensive as the object we pursue,
Is form'd our conduct,—which nor perils sway,
Nor those soft passions, that are better nam'd
The frailties, than the virtues of a king.
Zena, to-night, conduct her hence,—thy rout
Lies thro' the camp of Octar.

TIMUR.
Chief, beware,
There's danger in the service. Touch her not,
Should I complain,—a tempest might arise,
Which would involve in ruin and in death,
The host of Zingis.

ZINGIS.
Ha! he utters treason,—
Seize him.—

TIMUR.
The man who dares approach me first,
Shall perish in his insolence. This sword,
Which Zingis gave, shall nver be resign'd,
To other hands than his.
[Giving his sword to Zingis.
You now may come
And execute the orders of the king.

ZINGIS
, to his guards.
Forbear,—the race of Ogus, first of men,
Were ne'er disgrac'd with fetters, like their souls,
Their bodies still were free. Take back thy sword,
A soldier's spirit dwells upon his arms.
Know, Timur, tho' thy crimes excite our rage,
We'll sooner take away the life we gave,
Than break the manly vigor of thy soul.
But hope not our forgiveness. Leave this camp,
The desart is before thee. Should the sun
Rise on thee here, with death, and what is worse,
With infamy we punish thy delay.
[Exit Zingis, &c.

TIMUR
, to an attendant.
Tamuzin, hasten to th'Eluthian lines,
Bid Cubla meet me at the water-fall,
Soon as the sun shall hide his splendid orb
Behind the hills.—'Tis done,—the storm is o'er,
[Exit Tamuzin.
But the high heaving deep unsettled round,
Wears still a face of ruin. Should Ovisa
Consent to share my fate, I scarce could call
My father cruel. See, the princess comes!
She comes! and glads my soul, as when by night,
The weary traveller sees a friendly beam
To light him o'er the desart.

Enter OVISA.
OVISA.
To thy arms
Receive me, Timur,—Why did I offend,
I knew not all thy nobleness of soul.
Forgive the error of a mind oppress'd
With more than common ills;—to thee I owe
My father's life.

TIMUR.
Thy tears more powerful were,
Than the commands of him who rules the East.

OVISA.
Dark in his wrath, thy father pass'd from hence.

TIMUR.
And all his rage is turn'd against his son.
In me Ovisa sees a banish'd man,
This night I quit this camp.

OVISA.
Unhappy prince,
Involv'd in the misfortunes of our house,
Thy splendid glories set. It must not be,—
Timur shall not be ruin'd.—Go, inform
The tyrant, that his rigor has prevailed:
I will compleat the purpose of his soul,
And give my hand to Octar.

TIMUR.
To my brother!
Was it Ovisa spoke!

OVISA.
I will restore
Thee to the love of Zingis,—to that sphere,
In which thou ought'st to move, and then pursue
That course my state requires.

TIMUR.
Farewel—

OVISA.
My lord,
Thou dost not mean to leave me!—

TIMUR.
The commands
Of Zingis were, that I should leave this camp,
Thou know'st how stern he is.

OVISA.
O turn not thus,
Thy wild determin'd look upon the ground.
Timur—

TIMUR.
I must be gone,—the hour is near
For my departure hence.—With small regret
I plunge into the horrors which surround
The fortune of an exile. Since Ovisa—
But I will not upbraid.—A prince disgraced,
Ought not to hope the favor of mankind
Should follow him thro' ruin.—

[Going.
OVISA.
Son of Zingis!
I'll not be left unheard—nay then—I'm urg'd
The sooner to my purpose.—I resolv'd
To place thee high,—to give thee back to fame,
To all thy dignities, and then demand
An end to grief from this.—

[Drawing a dagger.
TIMUR
, taking it from her.
Ovisa—hold—
Sultana of my soul,—thou must not thus
Withdraw from Timur. Thy auspicious light
Must mildly shine upon me thro' this gloom.
Forgive the jealous transports of a mind
O'erwhelm'd with love. Have I condemn'd unheard
The first of women!—

OVISA
, leaning on Timur.
O I'm sick at heart,
My sorrows, Timur, crowd too much upon me.

TIMUR.
Still there is hope,—some valiant friends remain,
Whose firm affections no misfortunes change,
Devoted to my service.—They shall guard
Ovisa hence.—To-night we urge our flight
Across the desart, to the Caspian shores.
And meet what fate decrees,—My soul delights
To strive with fortune, in her gloomy hour,
To triumph o'er her frowns,—and to my sword
To owe my greatness, rather than derive
From ancestry a title to the world.