University of Virginia Library

ACT V.

SCENE I.

A GRAND SALOON IN THE PALACE.
ALMORAN, CALED.
ALMORAN.
Oh! torture, torture—infamous abasement!
Shall Almoran—the oriental god—
Stoop meanly from his throne to fawn and sigh—
To fawn and sigh yet be repuls'd—rejected?

CALED.
Take then, my gracious lord, without delay
The offer'd remedy—a rich revenge.

ALMORAN.
What power can give it me!

CALED.
Thy faithful Caled.—

ALMORAN.
Quick pour the balsam on my bleeding wounds.

CALED.
Sultan, foul treason lurks around thy throne—
That solemn Osmyn—

ALMORAN.
Osmyn!

CALED.
He! my lord!—Our ever faithful Ali,
Still busy in the service of the sultan,
Informs me of a dark conspiracy
Plann'd by that very Osmyn.

ALMORAN.
O the slave!
Th' ungrateful slave—

CALED.
By him concerted,
Thy rival brother still has power to hurt thee;
This very night, when darkness wraps the sphere,
In the deep zenith of its gloom he goes,
Mask'd in the robes of thy domestic Iman,
(The priest appointed to attend Almeida)
To meet the fair in the seraglio garden—
Access how easy, by the priest conducted!

ALMORAN.
Persia teems with traitors!

CALED.
This shallow Iman, wrought upon by Osmyn,
Favour'd the treason, and betray'd his master.
A slave was trusted—Aladin the eunuch—
Observe the hand of heaven, my lord—As Aladin
Convey'd the borrowed robes to wily Osmyn,
Ali perceiv'd the traitor steal along,
And soon by menaces the truth extorted:
At length the venal slave is wholly our's.

ALMORAN.
Down, down, aspiring rage.—What follow'd, Caled?

CALED.
The slave secured, straight Ali wrote, my lord,
To Osmyn, in the Iman's character,
Exactly fein'd—that all things were prepared;
That Aladin by chance had met the king,
The injured Hamet, who detain'd the slave
'Till the blest hour of meeting.—Long ere that
Shall happy Almoran defeat the project—
Long, long ere that shall triumph o'er Almeida.

ALMORAN.
First see that Osmyn, and that villain Iman,
Perish in pains unheard of—

CALED.
Leave their fate
To me, my lord—but now enjoy thy victory.
Of this assur'd, this night they breathe their last.
The robes are now without, the hour advances.

ALMORAN.
Thou ready counsellor—but this voice—this face—

CALED.
Art, art, my lord.—Nature is easy marr'd—
The face may be conceal'd—it will be night—
Thick the disguise—thou goest as Hamet too—
Almeida is appriz'd—expects her Hamet—
Osmyn at hand—all ready to receive thee,
And trembling love may breathe its sighs in whisper.

ALMORAN.
Yet to what end this labour'd artifice?

CALED.
The end of happiness—To make her hate
To kindle all the pride of virtue in her:
By well-sown hints of an unbounded passion,
Perhaps by menac'd FORCE, and other lures,
To rouse her fury, and provoke her scorn
Ev'n against the REAL Hamet—Then retire—
Resume thyself—as Almoran appear,
And in the fever'd hour of—

ALMORAN.
Vain attempt!
Oh! impotent device to move a love,
Fix'd as the central heart within her bosom.
And how, presumptuous, dost thou dare to think
That Almoran will act the base dissembler;
Still by thy arts impos'd, and still successless?

CALED.
Pardon my zealous duty, mighty sultan,
Since 'tis thy sacred pleasure to resign
The beauteous maid—perhaps—

ALMORAN.
Resign her! No!
No, by the love and rage that rends my heart,
First shall this executing arm—Away!
The effort shall be try'd—Some circumstance
Perchance may rise—at least 'twill foil the arts
Of those vile minions, and secure Almeida:
Caled prepare the robes, and wait my coming.
[Exit Caled.
Meantime this feeble traitor—Ha! he comes,
And Osmyn too; but Caled will destroy—

SCENE II.

OSMYN with OMAR in Chains.
GUARDS WITH THEIR SABRES DRAWN.
ALMORAN, OMAR, OSMYN.
ALMORAN.
Well, proud philosopher, is this thy virtue?
Dost thou at length go forth to preach rebellion?
Lo! thy reward.

OMAR.
And what, vain man, is thine?
In thy own toils entangled, sham'd, defeated!
Treason and Omar never can be join'd—
What thou hast styl'd rebellion, he calls justice!
And, deeming that a virtue—glories in it.

ALMORAN.
Thou dost, audacious? Then say, rude boaster,
What hast thou gain'd by all this wond'rous virtue,
But ignominious chains, that now enfold thee?
And the tremendous death which waits to seise thee.

OMAR.
Thou hast miscounted, sultan, of my gains,
Nor can thy most malignant tyranny
Blast the bright wreathe that waits to crown my triumph.
I've acted as became me—That's a victory
Thou ne'er wilt know.

ALMORAN.
Insensate moralist!
Conduct him, Osmyn, instant to his cell,
Within the traitor's cave enclose the dotard,
And leave him to his fate.

[Going.
OMAR.
A moment stop!
I deign to ask it as a parting favour.
Unmov'd I heard my sentence, Almoran,
Unmov'd shall brave whate'er thy pride inflicts,
To stop the pulse that soon, without thy aid,
Would cease to beat; yet a last pray'r remains;
Let thine own eye survey me in my fall;
Let thine own eye attest th' unruffled calmness
With which old Omar lays down weary being;
And though he could not teach thee how to live,
Let him yet teach thee—what it is to die.

[Going.
ALMORAN.
Exulting slave. Death shall not be thy lot,
Convey the traitor, Osmyn, from our presence;
Double his weight of fetters; bind them hard;
Let every crevice that admits the light,
And ev'ry wholesome gale of heavenly air,
Save what may chain the rebel down to life,
To ling'ring, hated life, be fast repell'd.—
See thou obey, or tremble for thyself.
Remember, I am Almoran, whose power
Can in a moment crush thee.—Hence!—Dispatch.

[Exit.

SCENE III.

OMAR, OSMYN.
OMAR.
Unhappy, wretched, raging man, farewel!
“In what a blessed time his father died:
“The gods foresaw the mischiefs in advance,
“And took him from such anguish to themselves.”
Come, thou disgraceful servant of the guilty,
Lead to these glooms—I follow thee undaunted.—
Dearer to Omar far the dungeon'd darkness,
Than all the sunshine Osmyn can enjoy,
While Osmyn is the pandar of a tyrant.

OSMYN.
Slaves, leave your prisoner, and wait without;
Remove the massy bars that close his cave—
I will myself conduct the captive thither.

[Exit guards.
OMAR.
Why trifles Osmyn with his king's command?
He seems disturb'd.—

OSMYN.
Omar, thou strik'st me hard—
Survey this face—is nought depicted there
That speaks an alter'd soul?

OMAR.
An alter'd soul!

OSMYN.
Yes, Omar, thou hast shewn me to myself,
Long since, prepar'd to seize some fair occasion
Of breaking from the manacles I wore—
Worse than these bonds to thee—Yes, Omar, thou,
Like the pure mirror in a cherub's hand,
Hath held the hideous picture to my view,
And shewn to Osmyn his deformity.
Here, by the holy pow'rs of heav'n, I swear—

[Kneels.
OMAR.
Osmyn, forbear—If thou inded art fix'd,—
If vows have past between thy soul and thee,
Oaths are superfluous, impious, and vain:
The solemn secret purpose be thy bond,
And note of that is mark'd above already.

OSMYN.
In all things far above me. I'll not swear,
But do a deed shall better speak my truth
Than all the lavish language of the lip.
Thy glory is at hand—thine and Almeida's.—
I have, my friend, devis'd a pious fraud
To serve an injur'd king. Hamet, this night,
Visits his lov'd Almeida. That the least—
Freedom and virtue will attend the issue—
A fit disguise, already is prepar'd
A slave—the trusty Aladin—attends,
Silent and safe to guide the happy Hamet
To the appointed place.—What's further purpos'd
I will unfold hereafter.

OMAR.
Generous Osmyn,
I need not thank thee—there's a god within
Each honest breast, that well rewards the virtuous.
What's to be done?

OSMYN.
I'll tell thee as we pass.
A thousand slaves look up to me for life;
The tyrant plac'd me o'er them for his pride;
Yet do they hate the person they protect.—
These, at a nod, I summon to the cave,
Where I will now conduct thee.—There remain
Till the rich crisis of a just revenge.
Trust to my faith, and fortune is our own.

OMAR.
Now, Osmyn, thou indeed art good and virtuous,
And with an honest joy my heart enfolds thee!
[Embraces.
But haste, my friend—fie on these loitering limbs—
Oh, that awhile I could shake of my age!
But even now, should nature close the scene,
Still should I doubly triumph in my death,
Since I have serv'd my king—and sav'd a soul.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

THE GARDEN OF THE SERAGLIO; THE MOON ABOUT TO SET.
Enter HAMET.
At length, by many a maze, I've reach'd the garden,
Scal'd the high walls, and pass'd the sentinels.—
Ha! at yon window flames the distant taper!
There! there! e'en now, perchance—O! hold my brain!
No more will I arouse the sons of Persia,
But my own cause with my own arm avenge.
Omar, e'er this, has breath'd his latest prayer—
Almeida too—I will not think—Almeida!—
O! never more this sabre will I sheathe,
Till on its point a brother's blood!—Forgive—
Forgive me, gods!—Ye have not form'd me sanguine:
Wrongs, wrongs have wrought me to this dire extreme.
Nor shall I strike a brother, but a tyrant.
Remote from notice will I wait the morn,
Till Almoran, as is his custom, walks
To the seraglio, from the palace—then
Shall injur'd Hamet pay th'important debt
He owes himself, Almeida, and his country.

[Exit.

SCENE V.

Enter OSMYN.
The moon hath veil'd her orb, a few faint streaks
Silver the somb'rous shades, to note her parting.
'Tis near the moment Aladin should come.
The monarch his high charge—soft—they're here,
Aladin leads the way.

SCENE VI.

ALMORAN (disguised).
[Starts back at seeing Osmyn.
OSMYN.
My royal master,
Accept the willing homage of my heart,
A first fair offering at the shrine of virtue.
Welcome to liberty and fair Almeida.
Thy Omar's safe—the guards are far remov'd—
The tyrant sleeps, perchance; or if he wakes,
Suspects not—all's secure—Almeida waits
The signal.

ALMORAN.
This speaks for me, Osmyn.
[Embracing.
Oh! Almoran, to what art thou reduc'd!

[Aside.
OSMYN.
'Tis the twelfth hour—and see, my gracious lord,
Faithful Almeida comes.—Thou, Aladin,
Still wait—Farewel! my lord—be happy.
I go to guard thy privacy.

[Exit.

SCENE VII.

ALMEIDA with CRYSANTHE, from the seraglio.
ALMEIDA.
This is the place my Hamet has appointed,
And this the silent unsuspected hour.—
Yonder he walks, Crisanthe—O! my heart!
[Going to him.
Muffled, as he now is, by night's dun shades
And gloomy robes, my bosom owns its lord—
My love, my Hamet!—Thus receive my welcome.

[Embraces.
ALMORAN.
Her tender pressure pays for every pang.

[Aside.
ALMEIDA.
Much did I fear the tyrant Almoran.
“Yes, gracious prince, still doth thy virtuous spirit,
“E'en 'gainst thyself, defend a brother's fame—
“Defend the man which wrongs thee”—But, nor toil,
Unwearied watchfulness, nor life itself,
Past in subservience to his dark designings,
Prevents the sudden whirlwind of his rage,
Nor checks the frenzy of that lawless soul.

ALMORAN.
Is't possible!

ALMEIDA.
Osmyn has told me all—
All that relates to that perfidious monster.
The man who serves him, like a wretch condemn'd,
Fancies he hears, in every passing gale—
That rushes by his dungeon, some swift fate;
The savage bowstring, or the sanguine mute.

ALMORAN
(aside.)
Oh! agony extreme!—Said Osmyn this?

ALMEIDA.
Were this a place for words, O! much lov'd youth,
Insulted partner of a throne degraded—
Were this a place for converse—I could tell thee,
How sovereign hate surrounds the gloomy palace,
And sheds tremendous darkness o'er the sceptre,
How all the hearts of Persia wrung with slavery,
Throb in their loyal bosoms to be free—
And how that gem, which in thy father's reign
Shone brightly lambent as the flame of life—
That gem which regal power would seize in vain,
Prerogative usurp, or riches bribe—
Th'affection of his subjects—All is lost:
“While hate and horror, flattery, and falsehood—
“The secret murmur, and the mining treason,
“Are gone abroad, like some wide-wasting pest,
“To frighten every virtue from the empire.”

ALMORAN.
Indeed!—Is Almoran?—My heart is rent.

[aside.
ALMEIDA.
But soon the lofty tyrant from his height—
O! my best Hamet, hail the radiant hour—
Falls, like a star from heav'n. The time's at hand
When Hamet shall resume the wrested sceptre;
When peace her sacred birth-place shall regain,
And honest loyalty once more look upwards:
All Persia watches the eventful crisis,
And not a slave—a vassal here immur'd,
But hath to virtuous Hamet vow'd allegiance:
This very night will wait his sovereign mandate,
Avow their scorn of Almoran and guilt,
Led on by daring spirits form'd for freedom:
[Shews a dagger.
And I—even I—my lord, behold am arm'd
To aid the glorious cause—
Ha!—thou art not well, my lord—You feel too much
For an ungrateful brother—But no more
I'll name the tyrant—since it pains my Hamet.
Come then, my lord—behold Almeida ready;
Osmyn conducts my sire—Crisanthe's here,
Lead thou the way.

ALMORAN.
Soft—some safer means.

ALMEIDA.
What means remain?

ALMORAN.
The means to seize
That joy which slavish forms—

ALMEIDA.
Away,
Thou worse than Almoran—Away!

ALMORAN.
Thus let me claim the rights of generous love.

ALMEIDA.
All, all but this Almeida could have borne:
Her fate was never desperate 'till this moment.
Ev'n in the darkest hour of her distress,
She thought on thee—she thought on virtuous Hamet;
Hoarded his fondness with a miser's care;
And when the piercing sorrow smote her heart,
His lov'd idea, like a charm divine,
Still'd the sad sigh, and check'd the falling tear.

ALMORAN.
When will Almeida from these dreams awake?

ALMEIDA.
Nay then 'tis time to treat thee as thou art.
In the soft hour of peace, I am a woman,
And not unmindful of my sex's province;
But in the trying moment of dishonour
[draws the dagger.
I tow'r above the female's fancied terrors,
And meet the ruffian with a hero's boldness:
See heav'n hath arm'd my hand—Desist or fall.

SCENE VIII.

Enter HAMET.
Surely I heard—
Villain forbear—O! all ye gods—Almeida!

ALMORAN
(throws off the disguise.)
Ha!—Who art thou—'Tis Almoran—Ha!—Hamet!

ALMEIDA.
Almoran!—Ah! poor betray'd Almeida.

[Faints.
HAMET.
Ha! betray'd!—Now then accursed king—
[They fight, Almoran disarm'd.
Guilt brings the haughty tyrant to the earth—
Behold the mighty Almoran disarm'd!

ALMORAN.
Strike—strike—I will not bear the load of life.

HAMET.
I need not shed thy blood—Thy conscience bleeds
Already

SCENE IX.

CALED and ALI (with lights.)
ALMORAN.
Ye loitering villains—seize—this instant seize—

HAMET.
Approach and die—

SCENE X.

ENTER OMAR AND OSMYN, AT THE HEAD OF A LARGE PARTY.
ALMORAN.
More treason-slaves!

OMAR.
Seize, but shed no blood.

HAMET.
Hah!—Omar!—Osmyn!—Almoran disguis'd!
Oh! my brave friends, help, help, thy wretched master.
Rise injur'd excellence to life and Hamet.

ALMORAN.
Kill me, ye slaves, and I forgive the treason:
Unhand me, or by heaven—O! shame, shame, shame!

ALMEIDA.
Profound astonishment chains every sense!
Ah! righteous providence, what art's involv'd.

HAMET.
My fears for thee—

ALMEIDA.
Thy fears were vain, my lord—
Thou saw'st me arm'd—

HAMET.
Then I am blest indeed—Thy father's safe,
And all the tears he sheds are tears of joy.
But still that hapless man—It wounds my soul
To see the lofty spirit sinking in despair;
And nature yet demands a brother's pause
Suspended o'er his fate.

ALMORAN.
Thou shalt not chain me to the wheel of life—
Fierce throes of heart, and agonies unheard of,
Sit vulture-like upon—Stand off—I will not,
No—no power on earth shall hold the hand of justice:
[Breaks from the guards.
Lo it is poiz'd—Brother, I owe thee much—
How then to pay thee?—thus—thus—and thus.
[Stabs himself.
Hamet, thy fears are past—I faint apace—approach—
Ah! gently—Let me die upon thy bosom.
Much have I wrong'd—I can offend no more.

[Dies.
HAMET.
Ha! Almoran—my brother—once lov'd friend,
Alas! too late convinc'd.
Save me, Almeida, from this dreadful sight.

ALMEIDA.
Unhappy Almoran—My soul forgives thee!

OSMYN.
Hail injur'd king, the eastern world is thine.

HAMET.
I ask not now the means of this strange fortune;
But ere I taste the bounty of the gods
Dash'd with some bitterness—prepare that corpse
For the cold grave, with every regal honour:
And may his failings with his dust be buried.
The forfeit paid, how dark soe'er the crimes,
'Tis our's to pardon, friends, and not to punish.

OMAR.
Then Persia shall revive, and all be well.
Behold Ambition humbled in the dust,
The guilty Minion trembles at his crimes,
In this good man returning virtue smiles,
In your blest selves, my children, we may trace
The sure rewards of constancy and truth,
The meed of goodness—and CONSENT OF HEAV'N.