Part 6 (1/2)

ABD. I touch the hand That chains down fortune to the throne of fate; And will avenge thee; for 'twas thy command, 'Tis Heaven's--My father! what r.e.t.a.r.ds our bliss?

Why art thou silent?

MUZA. Inexperienced years Rather would rest on the soft lap, I see, Of pleasure, after the fierce gusts of war.

O Destiny! that callest me alone, Hapless, to keep the toilsome watch of state; Painful to age, unnatural to youth, Adverse to all society of friends, Equality, and liberty, and ease, The welcome cheer of the unbidden feast, The gay reply, light, sudden, like the leap Of the young forester's unbended bow; But, above all, to tenderness at home, And sweet security of kind concern Even from those who seem most truly ours.

Who would resign all this, to be approached, Like a sick infant by a canting nurse, To spread his arms in darkness, and to find One universal hollowness around?

Forego, a little while, that bane of peace.

Love may be cherished.

ABD. 'Tis enough; I ask No other boon.

MUZA. Not victory?

ABD. Farewell, O queen! I will deserve thee; why do tears Silently drop, and slowly, down thy veil?

I shall return to wors.h.i.+p thee, and soon; Why this affliction? Oh, that I alone Could raise or could repress it!

EGI. We depart, Nor interrupt your counsels, nor impede; Oh, may they prosper, whatsoe'er they be, And perfidy soon meet its just reward!

The infirm and peaceful Opas--whither gone?

MUZA. Stay, daughter; not for counsel are we met, But to secure our arms from treachery, O'erthrow and stifle base conspiracies, Involve in his own toils our false ally -

EGI. Author of every woe I have endured!

Ah, sacrilegious man! he vowed to Heaven None of his blood should ever mount the throne.

MUZA. Herein his vow indeed is ratified: Yet faithful ears have heard this offer made, And weighty was the conference that ensued, And long, not dubious; for what mortal e'er Refused alliance with ill.u.s.trious power?

Though some have given its enjoyments up, Tired and enfeebled by satiety.

His friends and partisans, 'twas his pretence, Should pa.s.s uninterrupted; hence his camp Is open every day to enemies.

You look around, O queen, as though you feared Their entrance--Julian I pursue no more; You conquer him--return we; I bequeath Ruin, extermination, not reproach.

How we may best attain your peace and will We must consider in some other place, Not, lady, in the midst of snares and wiles How to supplant your charms and seize your crown.

I rescue it, fear not: yes, we retire.

Whatever is your wish becomes my own, Nor is there in this land but who obeys.

[He leads her away.

THIRD ACT: FIRST SCENE.

Palace in XERES.

RODERIGO and OPAS.

ROD. Impossible! she could not thus resign Me, for a miscreant of Barbary, A mere adventurer: but that citron face Shall bleach and shrivel the whole winter long There, on you cork-tree by the sallyport.

She shall return.

OPAS. To fondness and to faith?

Dost thou retain them, if she could return?

ROD. Retain them? she has forfeited by this All right to fondness, all to royalty.