What sleepy charms benumb these active herces, CARAZA. We 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, Ordain'd the mournful messengers of death. IRENE. Some ill-designing statesman's base intrigue! Some cruel stratagem of jealous beauty! Perhaps yourselves the villains that defame me, 3 Now haste to murder, ere returning thought [Enter Abdalla: he stops short, and listens. SCENE IX. IRENE, HASAN, CARAZA ABDALLA. All is not lost, Abdalla; see the queen, CARAZA. Unhappy fair! compassion calls upon me ABDALLA. Is then your sov'reign's life so cheaply rated, That thus you parley with detected treason? Should she prevail to gain the Sultan's presence, Soon might her tears engage a lover's credit; Perhaps her malice might transfer the charge; Perhaps her pois'nous tongue might blast Abdalla. IRENE. O let me but be heard, nor fear from me ABDALLA. I mark'd her wily messenger afar, And saw him skulking in the closest walks: HASAN. Then call it not our cruelty, nor crime; Deem us not deaf to woe, nor blind to beauty, That thus constrain'd we speed the stroke of death. [Beckons the Mutes. IRENE. O, name not death! Distraction and amazement, CARAZA. Could we reverse the sentence of the Sultan, [The Mutes at the sign lay hold of her. ABDALLA. Dispatch, ye ling'ring slaves; or nimbler hands, IRENE. Grant me one hour, O grant me but a moment, And bounteous Heav'n repay the mighty mercy With peaceful death, and happiness eternal. CARAZA. The prayer I cannot grant-I dare not hear. [Signs again to the Mutes. IRENE. Unutterable anguish ! Guilt and Despair, pale spectres! grin around me Be charg'd upon my soul. O, mercy! mercy! SCENE X. ABDALLA, HASAN, CARAZA. ABDALLA, aside. Safe in her death, and in Demetrius' flight, HASAN to CARAZA. Does not thy bosom (for I know thee tender, CARAZA. Her piercing cries yet fill the loaded air, And tell the horrid tale with cheerful face; ABDALLA. Frame your report with circumspective art; CARAZA. What need of caution to report the fate ABDALLA. Perhaps my zeal too fierce betray'd my prudence; CARAZA. From his escape learn thou the pow'r of virtue; Nor hope his fortune, while thou want'st his worth. HASAN. The Sultan comes, still gloomy, still enrag'd. Whom neither vows could fix, nor favours bind ? HASAN. Thine orders, mighty Sultan! are perform'd, |