 | Irene |  |
SCENE III.
Aspasia, Irene, Demetrius.Demetrius.
Fly, fly, my Love, Destruction rushes on us,
The Rack expects us, and the Sword pursues.
Aspasia.
Is Greece deliver'd? is the Tyrant fall'n?
Demetrius.
Greece is no more, the prosp'rous Tyrant lives,
Reserv'd, for other Lands, the Scourge of Heav'n.
Aspasia.
Say, by what Fraud, what Force were you defeated?
Betray'd by Falshood, or by Crouds o'erborn?
Demetrius.
The pressing Exigence forbids Relation.
Abdalla—
Aspasia.
Hated Name! his jealous Rage
Broke out in Perfidy—Oh curs'd Aspasia,
Born to compleat the Ruin of her Country;
Hide me, oh hide me from upbraiding Greece,
Oh, hide me from myself!
Demetrius.
Be fruitless Grief
The Doom of Guilt alone, nor dare to seize
The Breast where Virtue guards the Throne of Peace.
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Whose Fear, or Rage, or Treachery betray'd us.
Irene
aside.
A private Station may discover more;
Then let me rid them of Irene's Presence:
Proceed, and give a loose to Love and Treason.
[Withdraws.
Aspasia.
Yet tell.
Demetrius.
To tell, or hear, were Waste of Life.
Aspasia.
The Life, which only this Design supported,
Were now well lost, in hearing how you fail'd.
Demetrius.
Or meanly fraudulent, or madly gay,
Abdalla, while we waited near the Palace,
With ill-tim'd Mirth propos'd the Bowl of Love.
Just as it reach'd my Lips, a sudden Cry
Urg'd me to dash it to the Ground untouch'd,
And seize my Sword with disencumber'd Hand.
Aspasia.
What Cry? The Stratagem? Did then Abdalla?—
Demetrius.
At once a Thousand Passions fir'd his Cheek:
Then all is past he cried—and darted from us;
Nor at the Call of Cali deign'd to turn.
Aspasia.
Why did you stay? deserted and betray'd?
What more could Force attempt, or Art contrive?
Demetrius.
Amazement seiz'd us, and the hoary Bassa
Stood torpid in Suspence; but soon Abdalla
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And bade his new Confederates seize the Traitors.
Cali disarm'd was born away to Death;
Myself escap'd, or favour'd or neglected.
Aspasia.
O Greece! renown'd for Science and for Wealth,
Behold thy boasted Honours snatch'd away.
Demetrius.
Though Disappointment blast our general Scheme,
Yet much remains to hope. I shall not call
The Day disast'rous that secures our Flight;
Nor think that Effort lost which rescues thee.
[Enter Abd.
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