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The Fair Circassian

A Tragedy
(1749-1814)
  
THE FAIR CIRCASSIAN.
  
[dedication]
  
PROLOGUE BY A FRIEND.
  
[prologue]
  
[castlist]
  
[section]

expand section1. 
ACT I.
expand section2. 
ACT II.
expand section3. 
ACT III.
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ACT IV.
 1. 
SCENE I.
 2. 
SCENE II.
 3. 
SCENE III.
 4. 
SCENE IV.
 3. 
SCENE III.
 4. 
SCENE IV.
 5. 
SCENE V.
 6. 
SCENE VI.
 7. 
SCENE II.
 8. 
SCENE VIII.
expand section5. 
ACT V.

  
EPILOGUE
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SCENE VI.

THE INSIDE OF THE SERAGLIO. ALMEIDA DISCOVERED IN A SUPERB APARTMENT OPENING INTO SEVERAL OTHERS MAGNIFICENTLY DECORATED. MUSIC AND VOICES, ATTEMPT HER ENTERTAINMENT BEFORE SHE SPEAKS. MUTES RICHLY DRESSED ATTENDING.
ALMEIDA.
O vain magnificence of impious grandeur—
Poor ineffectual gildings to set off
Th' imprison'd victim with a shew of pleasure.
Oh! for Circassia's unpolluted shores,
And all the unblemish'd scenes of guiltless life!
Tell me, ye instruments of Persia's tyrant—
Tell me with instant speed—Alas! ye dare not—
Chain'd, by your hapless slavery, to silence,
Vain is to you the blessed power of speech.
Retire, retire—Ye may not give me comfort.
Torn from my father, Omar, Hamet too—
From Hamet—hold my heart—what have I said?
It wakes a thought so full of tender sorrow
I cannot bear it—it overwhelms my soul.

[Reclines on one of the sophas.
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