DEMETRIUS. Will teach a gentler term. Your calmer thought IRENE. Forbear this rudeness, And learn the rev'rence due to Turkey's queen : DEMETRIUS. Farewell, unhappy maid; may every joy ASPASIA. And when, contemptuous of imperial pow'r, [Exeunt Dem. Asp. with part of the attendants. SCENE VI. [IRENE walks at a distance from her attendants.] After a pause. Against the head, which innocence secures, Turn'd backwards by the pow'rful breath of heav'n. Bound o'er the sparkling waves. Go, happy bark, Fly from the busy pleasures of her sex, Well pleas'd to search the treasures of remembrance, Come, let us seek new pleasures in the palace, [To her attendants, going off. Till soft fatigue invite us to repose. SCENE VII. [Enter MUSTAPHA, meeting and stopping her.] Fair falsehood, stay. MUSTAPHA. IRENE. What dream of sudden power Has taught my slave the language of command? MUSTAPHA. Who calls for pardon from a wretch condemn'd? IRENE. Thy look, thy speech, thy action, all is wildness- MUSTAPHA. Who charges guilt! Ask of thy heart; attend the voice of conscience- Nor thus usurp the dignity of virtue. Hard was the strife of justice and of love; But now 'tis o'er, and justice has prevail'd. Know'st thou not Cali? know'st thou not Demetrius? IRENE. Bold slave, I know them both-I know them traitors. MUSTAPHA. Perfidious!-yes-too well thou know'st them traitors. IRENE. Their treason throws no stain upon Irene. MUSTAPHA. The sultan knows it; He knows, how near apostasy to treason But 'tis not mine to judge-I scorn and leave thee. IRENE, to her attendants. [Exit Mustapha. Go, blust'ring slave-He has not heard of Murza. SCENE VIII. Enter HASAN, CARAZA, with mutes, who throw the black robe upon IRENE, and sign to her attendants to with draw. HASAN. Forgive, fair excellence, th' unwilling tongue, IRENE. What wild mistake is this! Take hence, with speed, HASAN. Alas! they come commanded by the sultan, IRENE. Are these the rapid thunderbolts of war, Securely sleeps, and, in delightful dreams, We CARAZA. e come, bright virgin, though relenting nature IRENE. Whence is this rage; what barb'rous tongue has wrong'd me? What fraud misleads him? or what crimes incense? HASAN. Expiring Cali nam'd Irene's chamber, The place appointed for his master's death. IRENE. Irene's chamber! From my faithful bosom CARAZA. Tis ours, alas! to punish, not to judge, Not call'd to try the cause, we heard the sentence, IRENE. Some ill designing statesman's base intrigue! That vengeance can invent, or pow'r inflict. [Enter Abdalla: he stops short and listens. SCENE IX. IRENE, HASAN, CARAZA, ABDALLA. ABDALLA, aside. All is not lost, Abdalla; see the queen, See the last witness of thy guilt and fear, CARAZA. Unhappy fair! compassion calls upon me |