 | Ximenes |  |
SCENE V.
Alonzo, and Audley.Alonzo.
Ingenuous Briton! did I not assure thee,
That, of all statesmen, he was best prepared,
Alike by nature, and his habitudes,
To render parts, and learning, all their honours?
Audley.
I was delighted with our interview!
He's not indebted to his splendid fame!
Oh! Ximenes! already I admire thee!
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Graced with politeness;—with respect, and ease.
His manner grand, yet free from arrogance,
Is like the style of the great Roman consul;
Tyros, by elegant simplicity
Deceived, imagine they can write such language;
Yet who can rival it's magnificence?
Alonzo.
Believe me, I enjoy your satisfaction;
I hope, your mind, extremely delicate,
And conscious of the dignity of man,
Will never feel regret, that you have changed
Your English native soil for Spanish ground.
Audley.
I should apologize to Ximenes;
To you, Sir, for my misapplied suspicion,
And roughness, when I first accosted you.
But I, unfortunately, have a mind
Susceptible, and I've conflicted, long,
With beings of our species, who had none;
With envy, malice, insolence in power.
Then, you'll excuse the spring of sentiment,
Acting with gentle elasticity,
If rightly treated; but, with violence,
Rebounding from hard pressure.
Alonzo.
Why excuse it,
When no excuse it needs? You've acted nobly,
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Breathing the sweets of Araby the blest,
Atonement will be made you for the storms
You hitherto have suffered. Ximenes
Enlightens us with knowledge, and presents
Himself, to all our eyes, a glorious model
Of true philanthropy.
Audley.
And one great man
Will more improve a state, than a long series
Of politicians, born with common minds.
Alonzo.
This truth our governour exemplifies:
You mentioned your hard fortune. Pray, what boots it,
That the renowned inhabitants of England,
With liberal arts are more refined than we,
Unless the warmer virtues of the heart,
Still, to the cultivation of the mind,
Run parallel, along?—I've read man's nature;
I doubt not but, sometimes, your haughty peers,
Perhaps, more frequently, your haughtier prelates,
The gross misrepresentatives of him,
Whose humble soul could hardly frown on vice,
Wage, with fine talents, a perpetual war;
Exact, with rigour, from their hapless owner,
The cold, and even march of prosperous dullness;
Watch, to oppress him with their awkward power;
Dare to revenge, on him, the Almighty's will,
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And, thus, on earth, rebell against the skies.
Audley.
I see, you're conversant with human kind;
Hence, how their passions operate in England,
You know as well as if you had resided,
For many years, in our famed capital.
Alonzo.
By observation, we may clearly trace
Our selfish nature, through it's varied mazes;
Foretell it's conduct, even in situations,
Fertile of new, and complicated trial.
Minds of blunt intellect, by fortune's caprice,
Held up to publick view, must ever hate
Superiour spirit, and superiour knowledge.—
—But come with me;—we'll treat you properly;
I, with a kind respect;—'tis my ambition,
To imitate the cardinal of Spain!
[Exeunt.
| Ximenes | |