Man. Why didst thou dare return ? Oh! rather | Exhaust my life-blood at each goshing vein! why

Mandane, then-then you may well rejoice Didst thou so long defer with ev'ry grace,

To find your child; then you may truly know And every growing virtue, thus to raise

The best delight a mother's beari can prove, Your mother's dear delight to rapture?

When her son dies with glory. Hamet. Lost

Tim. Curses blast In the deep mists of darkling ignorance,

The stripling's pride! (Talks apart with Octar.) To me my birth's unknown. But sure that look, Zamti. Yé powers, enthron'd above! Those tears, those sbrieks, that animated grief, You never meant entirely to destroy Defying danger, all declare th' effect

This groaning land, when your benignant care Of nature's workings in a parent's heart.

Lends us a youth like bim. Let me enfold Then let me pay my filial duty here,

That lovely ardoar in his father's arms. Kneel to her native dignity, and poor

My brave, my ged'rous boy! In tears of joy, the transport of a son [face; Tim. Dost thou at length

Man. Thou art, thou art my son; thy father's Confess it, traitor? His ev'ry feature blooming in his boy.

Zamti. Yes, I boast it, tyrant; Oh! tell me, tell me all; how hast thou liv'd Boast it to thee, to earth, and heaven, I boast With virtuous Morat? how did he support, This, this is Zamti's son. In dreary solitude, thy tender years ?

Hamet. At length the hour, How train thy growing virtue? quickly tell me; The glorious hour is come, by Morat promis'd, Oh! tell me all, and charm me with thy tongue. “ When Hamet shall not blush to know his father." Hamet. Mysterious pow'rs! have I then liv'd to Zamti. Oh! thou intrepid youth, what bright this?

reward Thus on the brink of death to find a parent, Can your glad sire bestow on such desert? In virtue firm, majestic in distress,

The righteous gods, and your own inward feelings, At length to feel unutterable bliss

Shall give the swetest retribution. Now, In her dear circling arms?

Mandane, now my soul forgives thee all, Re-enter OCTAR, with TIMURKAN and MIRVAN. Since I have made acquaintance with my boy; Tim. Where is this wild,

But, oh! I charge thee, by a husband's rightThis frantic woman, who, with headlong grief,

Tím. A husband's right! a traitor has no rights; Suspends my dread command ? Tear them asander; And mark my words: abjare

the mandarin,

Society disclaims bim. Woman, hear, Send her to some dark cell to rave and shriek,

Renounce all'hymeneal vows, reveal
And dwell with madness; and let instant death

This mystery, and still your son may live,
Leave that rash youth a headless trunk before me.
Man. Now, by the ever-burning lamps that light

While justice whirls that traitor to his fate.

Man. Thou vile adviser! what, betray my lord, Our holy shrines, by great Confucius' altar, By the prime source of life, and light, and being,

My honour'd husband; tum a Scythian wife; This is my child, the blossom of my joys.

Forget the many years of fond delight, Send for his cruel father; he, 'tis he

In which my heart ne'er knew decreasing love, Intends a aud; he, for a stranger's life,

Charm'd with his noble, all-accomplish'd mind! Would give his offspring to the cruel axe,

No, tyrant, no; with him I'll dare to die;
And rend a wretched mother's brain with madness. With bim in ruin more supremely blest,

Than guilt upon a throne triumphant.
Re-enter ZAMTI.

Zamti. Now,
Zamti. Sare the sad accents of Mandane's voice Inhuman Tartar, I defy thy power.
Struck on my frighted sense.

Lo! here, the father, mother, and the son! Tim. Once more, thou traitor!

Try all your tortures on us: here we stand, Who is that stabborn youth?

Resolv'd to leave a track of bright renown Zamti. Alas! what needs

To mark our being; resolv'd all to die, This iteration of my griefs ?

The votaries of honour ! Man. Forbear,

Tim. Then, by heaven! Thou marble-hearted father! 'tis your son. Your doom is fix'd. This moment seize the slaves; And wouldst thou see him bleed ?

Deep in some balesul dungeon's midnight gloom Zamti. On him, on him

Let each apart be plung’d; and Etan, too. Let fall your rage.

Let him forthwith be foand; he, too, shall share
Man. Oh! my devoted child! (Faints.) His father's fate.
Hamel. Support her, heaven! support her tender Mir. Be it my task, dread sir,
frame.

To make the rack ingenious in new pains;
Now, tyrant, now I beg to live; lo! here Till even cruelty almost relent
I plead for life; not for the wretched boon

At their keen, agonizing groans.
To breathe the air, which thy ambition taints, Tim. Be that,
But, oh! to ease a mother's woes; for her, Mirvan, thy care. By the immortal Lama,
For that dear object, let me live for her.

I'll wrest the secret from them, or once more Tim. Spite of their frauds, the truth begins to My rage is up in arms: 'gainst Corea's chief dawn:

I will unfurl my banners; bis proud cities In her wild vehemence of grief, I hear

Shall dread my thunder at their gates, and moarn The genuine voice of nature.

Their smoking ramparts; o'er bis verdant plains Man. (Recovers.) Where's my child?

And peaceful vales I'll drive my rapid car, Oh! let me strain him to my heart; thy bard, And 'ne'er know rest, ne'er sheathe th' avenging Thy cruel father sball not tear thee from me.

sword, Tim. Hear me, thou frantic moarner! dry those Till their king fall, and treason is no more. [Esil. tears;

Octar. Mirvan, bear hence those miscreants to Perhaps you still may save your darling son.

their fate; Man. Oh! quickly give the means.

Thoa, Zamti, art my charge. Tim. Resign your king,

Zamti. Willing I come. Your phantom of a king, and save your cbild. My son, thy father doubts not of thy fortitnde. Hamet. No, my much-hononr'd mother, never Mandane, summon all thy strength; the gods, hear

Who try thy virtue, may reward it still. The base, the dire proposal ; let me rather

(Exit, with Octer

1

I OF CHINA.

Exhaust my life-blood at each reading tel
Mandane, ther--then you may eda
To find your child; then you wa sa
The best delight a mother's beurtere
Wben ber son dies with glory.

Tim. Carses blast
The stripling's pride! (Tales mentale

Zamti. Yé powers, enthron't there?
You never meant entirely to destroy
This groaning land, when your benguets
Lends us a youth like bis. Let me ei
That lovely 'ardoor in his father's as
My brave, my gen'roas bog!

Tür. Dost thog at length
Confess it, traitor!

Zamti. Yes, I boast it, tyrant;
Boast it to thee, to earth, and bera, l'e
This, this is Zamti's son.
Hamet. At length the boar

,

Tbe glorious hour is come, br Max

“ When Hamet shall not blash to kwa bei
Zamti. Oh! thoa intrepid Fosh

, tu ?
reward
Can your glad sire bestow on seed daten
The righteous gods, and your one ste's
Shall give the swetest retributin Mr
Mandane, now my soul forgive there!
Since I have made acquaintance videre
But, oh! I charge thee

, by a hasbalit
Tim. A busband's right! a truiter
Society disclaims bim. Woman, bes,
And mark my words: abjare the mandiri
Renounce all'hymeneal vows, reren
This mystery

, and still your sa movie
While justice wbirls that traiter to la
Man, Thon vile adviser! what

, bet
My honoar'd hasband; turn a Seythm ne
In which my heart ne'er knes decreasiny
Charm'd with his noble, all-accomplistin
No, tyrant, no; with him II dare toer
With him in ruin more supremely bless
Than guilt upon a throne triomphist

Zamti. Now,
Inhuman Tartar, I defy thy power

Man. Hamet! restor'd and lost again! Are wrapp'd the glories of our ancient line,

(Struggles with the Guards.) The liberties of China; then let him
Hamet. Alas!

Live for his people, be it mine to die.
No means to rescue thee! Inhuman villains ! Zaph. Can I hear this, just gods! and not dis-
And will yoa tear me from her? (He is dragged off.

solve
Man. Oh! my child!

In tears of gratitude and love ?

(Aside.) Now, then, barbarians, you have seiz'd on all Hamet. Why streams My soul bolds dear. What have I now to dread ? That flood of grief? and why that stifled groan? I gave him being; in the bour of peril

Through the dark mist bis sorrow casts around him, I lew to rescue him; I could no more.

He seems no common man. Say, gen'rous youth,
If he must fall, I'll emulate bis virtues;

Who and what art thou ?
True to the solemn vow I've breath'd to heaven, Zaph. Who and what am I?
True to my sovereign still! in honour's cause The veriest wretch that ever groan'd in anguish.
The mother from her son shall learn to die. One lost, abandon'd, plung’d in woe,

(Exeunt. Beyond redemption's aid! to tell thee all
ACT IV.

In one dire word, big with the last distress, SCENE I.-A Prison. Hamet lies stretched on the In one accumulated term of horror,

Zaphimri!
ground, in chains.

Hamet. Ha! my king !
Enter ZAPHIMRI, in a Tartar dress, and MIRVAN.

Zaph. That fatal wretch,
Mir. There, stretch'd at length on the dank Exalted into misery supreme !
ground, he lies

Oh! I was happy while good Zamti's son;
Scoruing his fate: your meeting must be short. I walk'd the common tracts of life, and strove
Zaph. It shall.

Humbly to copy my imagin'd sire.
Mir. And yet I tremble for th' event.

But now-
Zaph. Mirvan, no more: I will hold converse Hamet. Yes now--if thou art he-as sure
with him,

'Tis wondrous like-rais'd to a state, in which Though death were arm’d against the interview. A nation's happiness on thee depends.

[Exit Mirvan. Zaph. A nation's happiness! there, there I bleed; Hamet. What wouldst thou, Tartar?

There are my pangs. Por me this war began; Zaph. Rise, thou gen'rous youth!

For me hath purple slaughter drench'd yon plains; No vulgar errand mine.

I am the cause of all : I forg'd those chains Hamet. (Rises.) Now speak thy purpose.

For Zamti and Mandane, too! by me they fall; Zaph. To these lone walls, where oft the Soy- Them have I thrown into a dungeon's gloom : thian stabber,

These are the horrors of Zaphimri's reign!
With murd'rous stride bath come; these walls I am the tyrant; I ascend the throne,
that oft

By base ingratitude, by the vile means
Have seen the assassin's deeds, I bring a mind Of selfish cowardice, that can behold
Firm, virtuous, upright. Under this vile garb, Thee, and thy father, mother, all in chains,
Lo! here a son of China.

All lost, all murder'd, that I thus may rise
Hamet. Yes, thy garb

Inglorious to a throue.
Denotes a son of China, and those eyes

Hamet. Alas! thy spirit,
Roll with no black intent. Say on.

Thy wild disorder'd fancy, pictures forth
Zaph. Inflam'd

Ills that are not, or being ills, not worth
With admiration of heroic deeds,

A moment's pause.
I come to seek acquaintance with the youth, Zuph. Not ills! thou canst not mean it;
Who, for his king, would die.

The angry fates, amidst their hoards of malice,
Hamet. And does thy heart

Had nought but this; they meant to render me Applaud the deed ?

Pecaliarly distress'd. Tell me, thou gallant youth, Zaph. It does, by heaven, it does.

(A soul like thine knows every fine emotion,) Yes, virtuous envy rises in my soul.

Is there a nerve in wbich the heart of man
Thy ardour charms, and even now I pant

Can prove such torture, as when thus it meets
To change conditions with thee.

Unequall'd friendship, honour, truth, and love,
Hamet. Then my heart

And no return can make?
Accepts thy proffer'd friendship. In a base, Hamet. That pow'r will come.
A prone, degen'rate age, when foreign force Zaph. But when ? when thou art lost!
And foreign manners have o'erwhelm'd us all, When Zamti and Mandane are no more!
And sunk our native genius,

thou retain'st Oh! for a dagger's point to plunge it deep,
A seuse of ancient worth. But wherefore here? Deep in this-ha! deep in the tyrant's lieart.
To this sad mansion, this abode of sorrow,

Hamet. There your revenge should point.-Alas! Com'st thou to know a wretch that soon must die?

my sov'reiga, Zaph. Oh! no; thou shalt not die. By me the Why didst thou ventare to tbis place of danger? king,

Zaph. And canst thou deem me, then, so baso of By me Zaphimri says

soul,
Hamet. Zaphimrí says!

To dwell secure in ignominious safety;
Kind heaven! where is the king?

With cold insensibility to wait
Zaph. His steps are safe,

The ling’ring hoars, with coward patience wait
Unseen as is the arrow's path. By me he says,

them,
He knows, he loves, he wonders at thy virtue; Deliberating on myself, while ruin
By me he swears, rather than thou shouldst fall, Nods over Zamti's house? No, gen'rous youth,
He will emerge from dark obscurity,

I'll not think meanly of thee; no, that thought
And greatly brave his fate.

Is foreign' to thy beart.
Hamet, Ha! die for me!

Hamet. Withdraw thee bence;
For me ignoble in the scale of being,

Nor lightly hazard thus so dear a life:
An unimportant wretch! Whoe'er thou art, Think of thy ancestors.
I pr'ythee, stranger, bear my answer back. Zaph. My ancestors !
Oh! 'tell my sovereign, that here dwells a heart What is to me a long descended line,
Above all pain and peril. When I fall,

A race of worthies, legislators, heroes,
A worm, an insect dies; but in his life

Unless I bring their virtues, too? No more!

Forget the many years of food delight

Lo! here, the father, mother, and by
Try all your tortares of us: here we do
Resoly'd to leare a track of bright mean
To mark our being; resolr'd all ble
The rotaries of honour !

T'im. Then, by heaven!
Your doom is lix'd This moment seint
Deep in some baleful dangeen's mida
Let each apart be plung'd; and teste
Let him forthwith be foard; be, tas, ale
His father's fate.

Mir. Be it my task, dread si,
To make the rack ingenious is **

Till even cruelty almost relent

At their keen, agonizing groses.

Tim. Be that,

Mirvan, thy care. By the installer
I'll wrest the secret from than, at

My rage is up in arms:
I will unfarl my banners; bis provedete
Shall dread my thonder at their na

Their smoking ramparts; o'er is not
And peaceful rales 11 drive a mis
And ne'er know rest, ne'er Shade
Till their king fall, and train

sword,
Octar. Mirvan, bear hence the s

their fate;
Thoa, Zamti, art my charge

Zamti. Willing I come

My son, thy father doubts width dane, summon all the street

-irtue, master

[on;

This very night I'll barst those guilty walls, Like the sun lab'ring in a night of clouds,
Rend those vile manacles, and give thee freedom. Shot forth, at intervals, a gladsome ray,
Re-enter MIRVAN.

Bright'ning the face of woe.

T'im. He must not die: Mir. The time forbids delay : whilst thou art here,

The slave sball linger out his days in torment. Thy fate's suspended on each dreadful moment. Octar. Might I advise, Mandane may be won. Žaph. This garb will cloak me from each jealous She still, sir, may be your's : a conqu’ror's sighs

Shall wast a thousand wishes to her heart, eye; Thou need'st not fear detection.

Till female vanity aspire to reach (Flourish of trumpets.)

The eastern throne. Hamet. Ha! what means

Tim. No, Octar; 'tis not mine That sudden and wild harmony?

To melt in languishing desire, and try Mir. Ev'n now

The bopes, the fears, and the caprice of love. The conqu’ror and bis fell barbaric rout,

Innur’d to rougher scenes, for other arts For this day's victory, indulge their joy.

My mind's employ’d: to sling the well-stor'd quirer Zaph. Joy soon to end in groans; for all con

Over this manly arm, and wing the dart
At the fleet rein-deer sweeping

down the vale, spires To forward our design: a band of heroes

Or up the mountain straining ev'ry nerve; Ev'n now are ready ; bonourably leagu'd

To vault the neighing steed, and urge bis course, To vindicate their rights. Thy father's care

Swister than whirlwinds, through the ranks of war, Plann’d and inspir'd the whole. And, lo! the lights Reeking with gore to drive my chariot wheels ; That whilom blaz'd to heav'n, now rarely seen,

These are my passions, this my oply science.

Rais'd from a soldier to imperial sway,
Shed a pale glimmer, and the foe secure,
Sinks down in deep debauch; while, all awake,

I still will reign in terror. Bring that traitor, The genius of the land broods o'er the work The boary priest, before me. [Exit Oclar. Of stice and revenge:

Now, by heav'n! Mir. The gallant chiefs,

Their stubborn fortitude erects a fence At their appointed station, are conven'd;

To shield 'em from my wrath, more pow'rfal far In silent terror all intent they stand,

Than their high boasted wall, which long bath

stood And wait the signal in each gale that blows. Hamet. Dream on, deluded Tartar, yes, dream The shock of time, of war, of storms, and thunder,

The wonder of the world. What art thou, virtue, Still unspecting plunge in guilty joy, And bury thee in riot.

That giv'st these joys, my heart bath never known? Zaph. Ne'er again

Enter ZAMTI, in chains.
To wake from that vile trance ; for ere the dawn,
Detested spoiler, thy hot blood shall smoke

Thy hated sight once more I brook, to try
On the stain'd marble, and thy limbs abhorr'd

If yet the sense of deeds abhorr'd as thine I'll scatter to the dogs of China.

Has touch'd your soul : wbile yet the bour permits, Mir. Ha!

Repent thee of thy crimes. Break off your conference: Octar this way comes; To yield to thy unjust commands. Bat know,

Žamti. The crime would be
Beware, my prince.

A louder voice than thine forbids the deed,
Enter OCTAR.

The voice of all my kings; forth from their tombs, Well, Octar, there's your pris'ner.

Ev'n now, they send a peal of groans to heav’n,

(Points to Hamet.) Where all thy murders are long since gone op, Octar. Convey him hence to where Mandane's And stand in dread array against thee. grief

Tim, Murders! Rings through the vaulted roof.

Ungrateful mandarin ! say, did not I, Hamet. Yes, lead me bence

When civil discord lighted up her brand, To soften anguish in a parent's breast.

And scatter'd wide her flames; when fierce con[Exit, with Mirvan,

tention, Zaph. What may this mean? I dread some lark. 'Twixt Zorobamti and Zaphimri's father, ing mischief.

(Exit. Sorely convuls'd the realm ; did not I then Octar. When the boy clings around his mother's Lead forth my Tartars from their porthern frontier, heart,

And bid fair order rise ? Then, in that tender moment, tear bim from her;

Zamti. Bid order rise! And, in her impotence of grief, the truth

Hast thou not smote us with a hand of wrath! Will barst its way.

By thee each art has died, and ev'ry science Enter TIMURKAN.

Gone out at thy fell blast. Art thou not come Why from the genial banquet

To sack onr cities, to subvert our temples, Thus will my sov’reign seek a dangeon's gloom? The temples of our gods, and with the worship, Tim. A more than midnight gloom involves my The monstrous worship of your living Lama, soal.

Profane our holy shrines? What boots the conqu’ring sword, the plume of Tim. Resolve my doubts, victory,

Nor think with groundless, with ill-tim'd reproach, If still this coward boy in secret lives;

To talk me from my purpose. If serpent-like, amidst the flow'ry garlands,

Zamti. Tyrant, yes; He wreaths his folds, to dash my promis'd joy, Yes, thou hast smote us with a band of wrath, And poison my delight?

Full twenty years hast smote us ; bat at length Octar. Then, at once,

Will come the hour of heav'n's just visitation, To end your fears, give Zamti to the sword, When thou shalt rue--hear me, thou man of blood! His wife, and all who aid him in bis guilt. Yes, thou shalt rue the day, the day that saw thee 'Twill crush the seeds of dark conspiracy.

Imbrue those hands accorst in royal blood. Tim. No; Zamti's death but multiplies my fears. Now, tyrant, now-yes, tremble at my words, With him the truth lies buried in the tomb. The arm of the most high is bar'd against thee; Hast thoa beheld the stubborn mandarin?

And, lo! the hand of fate describes thy doom Octar. Unconquer'd, yet by words he stands un- In glaring letters on yon rabied wall! mov'd,

Each gleam of light is perish'd out of hear'ı, Smiling contempt, as if some inward joy,

And darkness rushes o'er the face of earth.

SCENE 1.]
THE ORPHAN OF CHINA.

13
Tim. And think'st thou, slave, with visionary Man. Alas! all's rain'd; China is no more.
fears

Zaph. Behold me, Tartar; hear the voice of I e'er can shrink appall’d? thou moonstruck seer!

truth;
No more I'll bear this mockery of words.

Thus, on his knees, Zaphimri begs to die.
What, Octar, ho!

Tim. Thou early traitor! by thy guilty father
Re-enter OCTAR.

Train'd up in fraud, wouldst thou deceive me, too?
Lead forth that frantic woman.

Hamet. He would: all would deceive you; all
Rain involves ye all; this very hour

conspire
Shall see your son impal'd; yes, both your sons. Against my claim; all wrest my title from me:
Bring Etan, too, before is.

The father's art, the mother's fond ambition,
Octar. Etan, sir,

Upon my ruins to exalt their name,
Is fled for safety.

And raise their son to empire.
Tim. Thou pernicious slave! (To Zamti.) Zaph. Ha! forbear,
Zamti. The righteous gods protect him from thy Rash youth, forbear; nor thus insult your king.

[Exit Octar. Mine is the crown; its miseries are mine:
rage.
T'im. Him, too, thou wouldst withdraw from Mine the worst malice fortune hath in store :
justice! bim

I claim it all, and will not bear a rival.
Thy perfidy would send to Corea's realm,

Hamet. Horror! believe him not ; for me the
To brood in secret o'er some work of treason.

troops

From Corea's realm dar'd to approach your walls :
Re-enter OCTAR, Guards, &c. with Hamer and

I led them on; I came from climes remote;
MANDANE.

The captives of your sword have own’d they fought
Now, then, deluded fair, if fix'd in error

To see me seated on the throne of China.
You still persist, the rack shall have its prey. Zaph. By heav'n, he's innocent; tbe guilt is mine.
Man. I tell thee, homicide, my soul is bound

Misguided boy! I charge thee dare no more
By solemn vows; and wouldst thou bave me break Usarp a monarch's right; resign at once
What angels wafted on their wings to heav'n ? My lawful claim, the honours of my birth;
Tim. This moment saves your child, or dooms Give back my name ; I ask it but to die.
him dead.

Tim. Their wondrous conflict but involves me
Man. Goddess of vengeance, from your realms

deeper above,

In doubt, místrust, perplexity, and fear. Where near the throne of the most high thou sitt’st, | Misguided fair one, say which is your king ? Inspher'd in darkness, amidst hoards of thunder, Man. Behold their virtue, and respect them both. Serenely dreadful, till dire human crimes

Tim. Perdition seize ber! Zamti, mark my Provoke thee down, now, on the whirlwind's wing,

words; Descend, and with your flaming sword, your bolts, This moment clear each doubt, or keenest pangs Red with almighty wrath, let loose your rage, Shall hunt the secret through each trembling nerve. And blast this vile seducer in his guilt.

Zamti. I have already yielded up my son;
Tim. Then seize her son, and give bim to the I gave him to your sword; and after that,
rack.

After that conflict, think'st thou there is aught
Man. No; by the pow'rs above, by ev'ry tie Zamti has left to fear?
Of humanizing pity, seize me first:

Tim. Yes; learn to fear
Despatch his mother; end this wretched being.

My will, my sov’reign will, which here is law,
Enter Guards, with ZAPHIMRI.

And treads upon the neck of slaves.
Zaph. (Rushing from the Guards.) Hold! mur- Zamti. Thy will

d'rers, hold! I charge you, slaves, forbear! The law in China? ill-instructed man!
Zamti. Ha! China totters on the brink of ruin. Now learn an awful truth. Though raffian pow'r

(Aside.) | May, for awhile, suppress all sacred order, Tim. Etan! thou art welcome to my great re- And trample on the rights of man, the soul venge!

Which gave our legislation life and vigour
Zaph. I come on matters of importance deep Shall still subsist, above the tyrant's reach.
Un to thy throne and life.

The spirit of the laws can never die.
Zamti. Heed not an idle boy.

Tim. Here, then, all parley ends: thy doom is
Tim. Proceed, and tell thy purpose.

fix'd : Zaph. Even now

This very moment drag 'em from my sight. Thy death is plotting.

(Guards seize Zamti.) Tim. Ha! by whom?

Man. Yes, lead me with him : in his arms to die,
Zaph. Zaphimri!

Mandane goes resign'd. But, tyrant, know
Zamti. What means my son?

The great important truth is treasur'd here.
Tim. Resign him to my vengeance,

Thy pow'r can de'er extort it. Yes, live on,
And then our mercy shall to thee extend.

In the worst agony of doubt and fear. Zaph. Think not I come to save this worthless With us the secret dies: that joy is oors; life.

With that we triumph still ; with that we bid thee Pity Mandane ; save her tender frame.

Fear while we live, and tremble in our fall. Pity that youth ; (kneels) oh! save that godlike

[Exit, with Zamti and Guards.

Hamet. No, spare 'em, yet forbear; here point Zamti. Wilt thou dishonour me, degrade thyself,

thy sword; Thy native dignity, by basely kneeling ?

Unsluice these veins, but spare their matchless Quit that vile posture.

lives!

(He is carried off. Tim. To appease our wrath,

Zaph. I am your victim, by the gods, I am. Bring me Zapbimri's head.

(Kneels, and holds Timurkan.) Zaph. Will that suffice?

T'im. Away, vile slave! go, see them bleed; beTim. His blood atones for all.

hold Zaph. (Rises.) Then take it, tyrant;

How they will writhe in pangs; pangs doom’d for I am Zaphimri ; 'I your mortal foe.

thee, Zamti. Angels of light, quick on your rapid And all who deal in treachery like thine. [Exit. wing

Zuph. (On the ground.) Yet hear ne; yet a Dart from your thrones above, and hover round

moment ! barb'rous Scythians ! him.

Wilt thou not open, earth, and take me down,

man.

Down to thy caverns of eternal darkness?

The vassals of his will ? no; let as rather And sleeps almighty justice ? will it not

Nobly break through the barriers of this life, Awaken all its terrors ? arm yon band

And join the beings of some other world, Of secret heroes with avenging thunder ?

Who'll throng around our greatly daring soals, By heav'n, (rises) that thoughi lifts up my kindling And bail

our light with wonder and applause. soul

Zamti. Distress too exquisite! ye holy powers, With renovated fire. My glorious friends, If aught below can supersede your law, Who now, convene big with your country's fate, And plead for wretches, who dare, self-impell’d, When I am dead, oh! give me just revenge ; Rush to your awful presence ; 'tis not, then, Let me not die inglorious ; make my fall,

When the distemper'd passions rage, when pride By some great act of yet unheard-of vengeance, Is stung to madness, when ambition falls Resound throughout the world; that furthest From her high scaffolding-oh! no; if anght Scythia

Can justify the blow, it is when virtue May stand appall'd at the huge distant roar No more can stand at bay, when liberty Of one vast ruin tumbling on the heads

No longer breathes at large ; 'tis with the groans Of this fell tyrant, and his hatred race. [Esit. Of our lov'd country, when we dare to die. ACT V.

Man. Then here at once direct the friendly steel. SCENE I.-The Palace.

Zamti. Now, then, prepare thee. Ah! does this

become Enter Zamri and MANDANE, followed by OctaR. Thy husband's love? thus, with aplifted blade Zamti. Why dost thou lead us to this hated Can I approach that bosom-bliss, where oft mansion?

With other looks than these, oh! my Mandane, Must we again behold the tyrant's frown?

I've hush'd my cares within thy shelt'ring arms? Thou know'st our hearts are fix'd.

Man. Alas! the loves that bless'd our bappy days, Octar. The war of words

Have spread their pinions never to return, We scorn again to wage. Beneath this roof And the pale fates surround us. 'Zamti, come, The rack is now prepar'd, and Timurkan,

Here lay me down in honourable rest; Anon, sball view your pangs, and coant each groan Come as thou art, all hero, to my arms, Ev'n to the fullest laxury of vengeance.

And free a virtuous wife. Guard well that passage ; (to the Guards within) Zamti. It must be so: see the traitors find

Now, then, prepare thee. My arm flags and droops, No means of flight, while to the cougueror Conscious of thee in every trembling nerve. I hasten to receive his last commands. [Exit.

(Throros down the dagger.) Zamti. Thou ever faithful woman!

By heaven, once more I would not raise the point Man. Canst thou, Zamti,

Against that board of sweets, for endless years Still call me faithful? by that honour'd name of universal empire. Wilt thou call ber, whose wild materoal love Man. Ha! they come ; Hath buried all in ruin?

The ministers of vengeance come; and yet Zamti. Yes, thoa art,

They shall not long insult us in our woes; Thou art my wife, whose virtue, ev'n in bondage, Myself will still preserve the means of death. Hath cheer'd my soal; and now thy ev'ry charm,

(Takes up the dagger.) Endear'd by danger, kindled by distress To higher lastre, all my passions beat

Re-enter OCTAR, with TIMURKAN and Guards. Unutterable gratitude and love.

Tim. Now, then, detested pair, yoar hour is And must-oh! cruel!--must I see thee bleed?

Man. For me death wears no terror on his brow. I hate this dull delay. Seize Zamti first; Full twenty years hath this afflicted breast

Let studied art, with slow.consuming pangs, Been smote with these sad bands; these baggard Explore the truth; por let him know relief,

In his worst agonies, till every secret eyes Have seen my country's rain; seen my husband,

Burst forth in groans, and end my doubts and fears. My son, my king, all in the Tartar's hands. Zamti. Begin your tortures, end this wretched What, then, remains for me ? death, only death.

being; Zamti. Ah! can thy tenderness endure the pangs

I care not now how soon. (The Guards seize his.) Inventive cruelty ev'n now prepares ?

Man. Stay, Zamti, stay! Must this lov'd form, this soft perfection bleed?

And will you force him thus ? [He is forced of.] Thy decent limbs be strain'd with cruel cords,

Inhuman villains ! To glut a ruffian's rage?

Oh! Timurkan, behold me humbled here, Man. Alas! this frame,

Thus lowly on my knees, thus prone to earth, This feeble texture, never can sustain it.

And grov'ling at your feet. I ask to die; But this, this I can bear! (Shews a dagger.) | With weak humanity; deal still in blood.

Grant my request; it will not stain thy name Zamti. Ha! Man. Yes, this dagger!

Oh! let me perish in my husband's arms! Do thou bat lodge it in this faithful breast,

It will be mercy to indulge my prayer, My heart shall spring to meet thee.

And murder shall for once be virtue in thee. Zamti. Oh!

Tim. Behold him first, behold the bvary traitor Man. Do thou,

Gasping in death, and welt'ring in his gore. My honour'd lord, who taught'st me ev'ry virtae, Thy tarn will follow. By thy treach'rous arts, Afford the friendly, the last haman oflice,

The hated orphan lives. And teach me now to die.

Man. (Rises.) And if he lives, Zamti. It must not be.

May heaven protect him, till the awful troth, Hence let me bear this instrument of death.

In some dread hour of horror and revenge, (Takes the dagger.)

Shall burst like thander on thee. If by me Shall we usarp the dread prerogative

Zaphimri lives, then, tyrant, know thy duty; Of life and death, and measure out the thread

Descend at once from a throne gain'd by murder, Of our own being? 'Tis the cowards act,

And yield the crown, resign it to your master. Who dares not to encounter pain and peril.

T'im. Pernicious traitress! Be that the practice of th' untutor’d savage;

Enter MIRVAN. Be it the practice of the gloomy north. [nod, Ha! what wouldst thou, Mirvan?

Man. Must we, then, wait the haughty tyrant's Mir, Near to the eastern gate, a slave reports,

come.