 | Ximenes |  |
SCENE I.
On one Side of the Stage enters Zaigri, with three Moorish Prisoners in Chains; to them, on the other Side of the Stage, advances Ximenes.Ximenes.
To Ximenes when Zaigri's name's announced,
A bright assemblage of the fairest virtues
Inspires my fancy; I forget the pressure
Of age, and sickness, and, awhile, seem strung
With all the vigour of my youthful days.
What is thy present wish, that I can serve?
Too much thou never canst desire of me;
For to thy friendship; to it's active zeal,
I owe my life.—But say; who are these captives?
Zaigri.
The leaders of the late alarming tumult,
Whose fury aimed it's action at thy life.
To thee I bring them; and not more, from zeal
For Ximenes, than from my ardent love
Of universal justice. These bold culprits
Have impiously profaned a solemn treaty;
Profaned the hallowed olive-shade of peace;
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Their blind revenge. To show that thou art worthy
Of different treatment, I'll not, meanly, now,
Recite thy conduct with elaborate praise;
For well I know that we alike despise
Whatever can be construed adulation.
But, from a single fact, mistaken men,
Unless you're dead to every generous virtue,
It must be evident that you're the foes
Of one, whose merits if you rightly knew,
You would not wish his life abridged, but lengthened,
With numerous years, beyond our mortal span.
When from your rage I undertook to rescue
This great, undaunted patriot, and to lodge him
Safely within the walls of our Alhambra,
He perseveringly refused my offer;
And with his friends he vowed that he would die.
Then, let the punishment by Ximenes
Himself be named, of lawless criminals,
Who were impatient to deprive the world
Of it's first virtues.
Ximenes.
Thy regard for me,
Most generous Zaigri, hath too strongly imaged
Their guilt, and my desert: the pungent feelings,
The vigorous action of resistless nature,
Will still predominate; no policy;
No power can quell them. These unhappy Moors
May plead great provocation to their outrage.
Our measures have been fatal to your kingdom:
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I like them better for their violence,
Than if they tamely had endured their masters.
Loose them, and let them go;—strike off their fetters.
Heaven is my witness; though I'm deemed severe,
And supercilious; would the weal of Spain
Proceed, without the awe of rigid justice,
Without that awe, would wickedness reform,
I would not make a captive in these realms,
Except a grateful, honourable train,
Bound only by the golden chain of mercy.
Zaigri.
What say my prisoners? your conqueror,
You find, is far humaner than your prince.
1st Captive.
I, from the present workings of my soul,
Oh! Zaigri, for myself, can fully answer.
And if o'erflowing sentiment, in others,
Resembles mine, I, too, for them, can answer.
The susceptible mind, alive to wrongs,
Is equally alive to benefits.
I am the proselyte of Ximenes,
In admiration; let me add, in friendship!
Thou, the most eloquent of advocates,
That ever urged the faith of thy Messiah,
Almost persuadest me to be a Christian.
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to the First.
My heart, my friend, repeats the strains of thine!
3d Captive.
Mine vibrates in strict unison to both.
When the fine passions, by some great occasion
Excited, act with all their energy,
They mock the weaker power of florid speeches.
Ximenes.
Sure, this example of my equity
Hath most judiciously been shown. Good Zaigri,
When thou hast freed from chains these souls of fire,
Who never will, again, abuse their freedom,
Hither return; something I would impart,
That claims attention from your private ear.
Adieu, my honest Moors; if you should hold,
At any time, important intercourse
With sects, from which your tenets are abhorrent;
Remember, still, 'tis in the breast of man,
In any faith, to be magnanimous.
1st Captive.
Farewell, thou noble governour of Spain!
If thy ambition prompts thee to convert
The generous Moorish race, this is the way.
White-robed benevolence, whose smile is love,
That sky-descended cherub, ever melts
To purer faith than inquisitions burn.
[Exeunt, Zaigri, and the Captives.
| Ximenes | |