Thy son,--forgive these gushing tears that flow
To see distress like thine!

Zap. (c.) I thank thy pity!

'Tis generous thus to feel for others' woe?
What of my son? Say, didst thou see him die ?
Sel. By Barbarossa's dread command I come,
To tell thee that these eyes alone beheld
Thy son expire.

Zap. Relentless fate! That I should be denied
The mournful privilege to see him die!

To clasp him in the agony of death,

And catch his parting soul! [Weeps. ] Oh, tell me all,
All that he said and looked; deep in my heart
That I may treasure every parting word,

Each dying whisper of my dear, dear son!

Sel. Let not my words offend. What if he said,Go, tell my hapless mother, that her tears

Have streamed too long: then bid her weep no more:
Bid her forget the husband and the son,
In Barbarossa's arms!

Zap. O, basely false!

Thou art some creeping slave to Barbarossa,
Sent to surprise my unsuspecting heart!
Vile slave, begone! My son betray me thus!
Could he have e'er conceived so base a purpose,
My griefs for him should end in great disdain;
But he was brave, and scorned a thought so vile
Wretched Zaphira! how art thou become
The sport of slaves?

Sel. Yet hope for peace, unhappy queen! Thy woes May yet have end.

Zap. Why weep'st thou, crocodile ?

Thy treacherous tears are vain.

Sel. (c.) My tears are honest.

I am not what thou think'st.

Zap. What art thou, then?

Sel. Oh, my full heart! I am-thy friend, and Selim's. I come not to insult, but heal thy woes;

Now check thy heart's wild tumult, while I tell theePerhaps thy son yet lives.

Zap. Lives! Oh, gracious heaven!

Do I not dream! Say, stranger, didst thou tell me,
Perhaps my Selim lives? What do I ask!

Wild, wild, and fruitless hope! What mortal power
Can e'er re-animate his mangled corse,

Shoot life into the cold and silent tomb,

Or bid the ruthless grave give up its dead! [Crosses to R. Sel. (L. C.) O, powerful nature! thou wilt sure betray

me! .

Thy Selim lives: for, since his rumoured death,

I saw him at Oran.

Zap. O, generous youth, who art thou?

[Aside

Sel. A friendless youth, self-banished with thy son; Long his companion in distress and danger:

One who rever'd thy worth in prosperous days,

And more reveres thy virtue in distress.

Zap. O, gentle stranger! Mock not my woes,

But tell me truly-does my Selim live?

Sel. He does, by heaven!

Zap. O, generous heaven! Thou at length o'erpay'st My bitterest pangs, if my dear Selim lives!

And does he still remember

His father's wrongs, and mine?

Sel. He bade me tell thee,

That in his heart indelibly are stamped

His father's wrongs, and thine; that he but waits
Till awful justice may unsheath her.sword;
That, till the arrival of that happy hour,
Deep in his soul the hidden fire shall glow,
And his breast labour with the great revenge!
Zap. Eternal blessings crown my virtuous son!
Sel. Much honoured queen, farewell.

[Going, L. Zap. Not yet not yet,-indulge a mother's love!

In thee, the kind companion of his griefs,
Methinks I see my Selim stand before me.

Depart not yet. [Takes his hand.] A thousand fond re

quests

Crowd on my mind. Wishes, and prayers, and tears, Are all I have to give. O, bear him these!

Sel. Take comfort, then; for know, thy son, o'erjoy'd To rescue thee, would bleed at every vein!— "Bid her," he said, " yet hope we may be blessed! Bid her remember that the ways of heaven,

Though dark, are just: that oft some guardian power Attends, unseen, to save the innocent!

But, if high heaven decrees our fall! oh, bid her

Firmly to wait the stroke, prepared alike
To live or die!" And then he wept as I do.

Zap. O, righteous heaven,

Protect his tender years!

[Weeps.

Be thou his guide through dangers and distress;
Soften the rigours of his cruel exile,
And lead him to his throne!

Sel. (c.) Now, swelling heart,

Indulge the luxury of grief! Flow, tears!

[Exit, R.

And rain down transport in the shape of sorrow!

Yes, I have sooth'd her woes; have found her noble:
And, to have given this respite to her pangs,
O'erpays all pain and peril! Powerful virtue !
How infinite thy joys, when even thy griefs
Are pleasing! Thou, superior to the frowns
Of fate, canst pour thy sunshine o'er the soul,
And brighten woe to rapture!

Enter OTHMAN and SADI, L.

Honoured friends!

How goes the night?

Sadi. (L. c.) "Tis well nigh midnight.
Oth. What! in tears, my prince!

Sel. But tears of joy: for I have seen Zaphira,
And pour'd the balm of peace into her breast:
Think not these tears unnerve me, valiant friends;
They have but harmonized my soul, and waked
All that is man within me, to disdain

Peril or death.-What tidings from the city?
Sadi. All, all is ready. Our confederate friends
Burn with impatience till the hour arrive.

Sel. What is the signal of th' appointed hour?

Sadi. The midnight watch gives signal of our meeting: And, when the second watch of night is rung,

The work of death begins.

Sel. (c.) Speed, speed, ye minutes!

Now let the rising whirlwind shake Algiers,

And justice guide the storm.

Let your zeal hasten on the great event:

The tyrant's daughter found and knew me here,

And half suspects the cause.

Oth. Too daring prince,

Retire with us; her fears will sure betray thee.

Sel. What! leave my helpless mother here a prey

To cruelty aud lust-I'll perish first;

This very night the tyrant threatens violence;

I'll watch his steps; I'll haunt him through the palace; And, should he meditate a deed so vile,

I'll hover o'er him like an unseen pestilence,
And blast him in his guilt!

Sadi, Intrepid prince!

Worthy of empire! Yet accept my life,

My worthless life; do thou retire with Othman ;
I will protect Zaphira.

Sel. Think'st thou, Sadi,

That when the trying hour of peril comes,
Selim will shrink into a common man!
Worthless were he to rule who dares not claim
Pre-eminence in danger. Urge no more:
Here shall my station be; and, if I fall,

O, friends, let me have vengeance! Tell me now
Where is the tyrant?

Oth. (L. C.) Revelling at the banquet.
Sel. (c.) 'Tis good.

destined?

Now tell me how our powers are

Sadi. Near every port a secret band is posted;
By these the watchful sentinels must perish:
The rest is easy: for the glutted troops

Lie drown'd in sleep-the dagger's cheapest prey.
Almanzor, with his friends, will circle round
The avenues of the palace. Othman and I
Will join our brave confederates (all sworn
To conquer or to die), and burst the gates
Of this foul den. Then tremble, Barbarossa.
Sel. Oh, how the approach of this great hour
Fires all my soul; but, valiant friends, I charge you,
Reserve the murderer to my just revenge;

My poniard claims his blood.

Oth. Forgive me, prince!

Forgive my doubts,-think-should the fair Irene-
Sel. Thy doubts are vain.

tyrant,

I would not spare the

Though the sweet maid lay weeping at my feet;
Nay, should he fall by any hand but mine,

By heaven, I'd think my honoured father's blood
Scarce half revenged! My love, indeed, is strong;
But love shall yield to justice.

Sadi. Gallant prince,

Bravely resolved.

Sel. But is the city quiet?

Sadi. All, all is hush'd. Throughout the empty streets, Nor voice, nor sound; as if the inhabitants,

Like the presaging herds that seek the covert
Ere the loud thunder rolls, had inly felt

And shunn'd th' impending uproar.

Oth. There is a solemn horror in the night, too, That pleases me; a general pause through nature; The winds are hush'd

Sadi. And as I pass'd the beach, [Looking out, L. The lazy billow scarce could lash the shore;

No star peeps through the firmament of heav'n

Sel. And, lo! where eastward, o'er the sullen wave, The waning moon, depriv'd of half her orb, Rises in blood; her beam, well nigh extinct, Faintly contends with darkness

Hark! what meant

That tolling bell?

Oth. (R. C.) It sounds the midnight watch.
Sadi. (L. c.) This was the signal—

[Bell tolls.

Come, Othman, we are call'd; the passing minutes
Chide our delay; brave Othman, let us hence.

Sel. One last embrace !-nor doubt but, crown'd with
glory, [Takes the hand of Othman and Sadi.
We soon shall meet again. But, oh! remember-
Amid the tumult's rage, remember mercy;

Stain not a righteous cause with guiltless blood! Warn our brave friends, that we unsheath the sword, Not to destroy, but save-nor let blind zeal

Or wanton cruelty e'er turn its edge

On age or innocence; or bid us strike

Where the most pitying angel in the skies,

That now looks on us from his bless'd abode,

Would wish that we should spare.

Oth. So may we prosper,

As mercy shall direct us!

Sel. Farewell, friends!

Sadi. Intrepid prince, farewell!

[Exeunt Othman and Sudi, L.

Sel. Now sleep and silence

Brood o'er the city.-The devoted sentinel
Now takes his lonely stand, and idly dreams
Of that to-morrow he shall never see.

In this dread interval, O busy thought,
From outward things descend into thyself-

Search deep my heart; bring with thee awful conscience,
And firm resolve; that, in th' approaching hour

Of blood and horror, I may stand unmov'd;
Nor fear to strike where justice calls, nor dare