University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

Grand-Master's Palace.
Enter Villiers, Raymond, and Davila.
VILLIERS.
Have all our posts been duly visited?
These are no times for ease and self-indulgence,
When the proud Ottoman, beleagu'ring close,
Threatens th'immediate downfal of our state.

RAYMOND.
All has been done that vigilance can do.
Yet surely now unequal grows our contest—

VILLIERS.
That thought should urge us on to fresh exertions.
As Christian knights, we should prepare to meet
The will of heav'n.
(Trumpet sounds.
What means that loud appeal?
Go forth, good Raymond, and demand the cause.

[Exit Raymond.
DAVILA.
It sounded like a parley. What can move
The Turk, who hitherto hath seem'd t'avoid
All intercourse, save that of ruthless war,
Thus to solicit audience?

Enter Raymond.
RAYMOND.
From the foe
An envoy seeks admission to thy presence.

VILLIERS.
Conduct him hither straight.
[Exit Raymond.
Whate'er his mission,
Friendly or hostile, we're for both prepar'd.

Enter Raymond and Omar.
VILLIERS.
Approach, and freely speak.

OMAR.
Illustrious chief!
From Mustapha, the delegate of him,
Who, drawing from the Prophet his descent,
His sceptre wields, I greet thee. He hath learnt
That in a bark of war, to Cyprus bound
And captur'd by a galley of your Order,
A damsel, to the governor betroth'd,
Is made a pris'ner. As by knighthood's rules
Both she and her attendants are exempt
From war's stern stricture, so, our Gen'ral trusts,
Thou wilt on just conditions yield them up.

VILLIERS.
Well hast thou said, that not with helpless females
Our Order wages war. Thus far believe:
While here the object of your suit sojourns,
She shall with fitting courtesy be treated.
Say, on what terms doth Mustapha propose
We should accord the captive maid's release?

OMAR.
Either such ransom as thou may'st require,
Or adequate exchange of such as chance
Hath made his pris'ners.

VILLIERS.
Should we grant your suit,
We shall disdain to barter her for gold:
But for a knight—for such, alas! there are,
Whom, in despite of valour, fate compels
To bear his fetters—if he will to exchange her—

OMAR.
'Tis not our usage, when a knight is captiv'd,
On any terms his liberty to grant:
Yet doth our chief so highly prize Ismena,
He may for once dispense with rigid rules,
And listen to your proffer.

VILLIERS.
That were well,
And worthy of himself. But say, dost think,
Were we to grant the boon he now demands,
And, on this basis, for th'exchange to treat
Of all whom war, on either side, hath thrown
Into captivity—dost think, I say,
He would concede a truce, 'till we might bring
Our treaty to conclusion? 'Twere most worthy
To soften thus th'asperities of war.

OMAR.
Send forth, and make your proffer; I, meanwhile,
Will here remain, a hostage for the safety
Of him whom ye employ.

VILLIERS.
'Tis fairly said.
Give us short space thy proffer to discuss,
And thou shalt know our purpose. Here, meantime,
Abide on our good faith.

OMAR.
There is one Hali,
Who hath the charge of fair Ismena. Might I,
By your permission, hold short parlance with him,
I might impart to him some brief instructions,
Which Mustapha, on knowledge of her fate,
Fram'd for the better guidance of her conduct.

VILLIERS.
Thy boon is granted. Raymond! see thou giv'st him
Such conduct as befits both him and us;
And let the valiant Damaral have due notice,
As it behoves, of what has now occurr'd.

[Exeunt severally.