And torments are my doom. Yet, ere I die, I'll strike thy soul with horror. Off, vile habit! [Throws off his disguise. Now view me! Hear me, tyrant! while, with voice More terrible than thunder, I proclaim, That he who aim'd the dagger at thy heart Is Selim! Zap. O, heav'n!-My son! my son ! [Faints. [Runs to embrace her. Bar. Tear them asunder! [Guards separate them. Sel. Barb'rous, barb'rous ruffians! Bar. Slaves, seize the traitor. [They offer to seize him. Sel. Off, ye vile slaves!-I am your king!-Retire, And tremble at my frowns. That is the traitorThat is the murd'rer-tyrant ravisher! Seize him, And do your country right. Bar. Ah, coward dogs! Start ye at words? Or seize him, or by hell, This dagger sends you all [They seize him. Sel. Dost thou revive, unhappy queen? Now arm my soul with patience. Zap. My dear son! Do I then live, once more to see my Selim? But, O, to see thee thus! Sel. Canst thou behold Her speechless agonies, and not relent? Bur. (c.) At length revenge is mine. Slaves, force her hence! Sel. Lo, Barbarossa, thou at length hast conquer'd. Behold a hapless prince, o'erwhelm'd with woes, [Kneels. Prostrate before thy feet! Not for myself I plead-Yes, plunge the dagger in my breast,— Bar. Have I, then, bent thy pride? Why, this is conquest e'en beyond my hope. Arouse thee from thy posture ! Sel. Dost thou insult my griefs ?-Unmanly wretch ! Curse on the fear that could betray my limbs, [Rising. My coward limbs, to this dishonest posture ! Long have I scorn'd-I now defy thy pow'r. Bar. I'll put thy boasted virtue to the trial. Slaves, bear him to the rack. [Slaves seize hold of Selim. D Zap. (L. c.) O, spare my son! Sure, filial virtue never was a crime. Save but my son, I yield me to thy wish. What do I say?-The marriage vow--O, horror! Sel. What! doom thyself The guilty partner of a murd'rer's bed, Whose hands yet reek with thy dear husband's blood! The curses of mankind!-By Heav'n, I swear, This hated life! Bar. (c.) Or yield thee, or he dies! Zap. The conflict's past-I will resume my greatness: We'll bravely die, as we have lived-with honour! [Embracing. Sel. Now, tyrant, pour thy fiercest fury on us! Now see, despairing guilt, that virtue still Shall conquer, though in ruin ! Bar. Drag them hence: Her to the altar-Selim to his fate. [Guards seize them. Sel. One lást embrace. Farewell!-farewell for ever! [Guards struggle with them. Zap. One moment yet!-Pity a mother's pangs! O, Selim ! Sel. O, my mother! [Exeunt Barbarossa, Zaphira, and Guards, R., and Selim and Guards, L. END OF ACT IV. ACT V. SCENE I.-The Palace. Enter BARBAROSSA and ALADIN, L. S. E. Bar. (c.) Is the watch doubled ?—Are the gates secur'd Against surprise? Ala. (L C.) They are, and mock th' attempt Of force or treachery. Bar, This whisper'd rumour Of dark conspiracy Seems but a false alarm. Our spies sent out Has wrapp'd the city. Ala. But, while Selim lives, Destruction lurks within the palace walls. Bar. Right, Aladin. How goes the night? His hour of fate approaches. Whene'er it rings, the traitor dies: Ala. The second watch is near. Bar. 'Tis well. So hath my will ordain'd. I'll seize th' occasion, While I may fairly plead my life's defence. Yet first the rack shall rend Each secret from his heart. Go tell him, that destruction and the sword Stubborn fortitude! [Exit Aladin, L. Had he not interpos'd, success had crown'd My love, now hopeless. Then let vengeance seize him. Enter IRENE, r. Ire. (c.) O, night of horror!-Hear me, honour'd father: If e'er Irene's peace was dear to thee, Bar. Impious-Dar'st thou disobey! Bar. What wouldst thou say? Ire. For a brave unhappy prince, Sentenc'd to die.. Bar. And justly. But this hour The traitor half fulfill'd thy dream, and aim'd His dagger at my heart. Ire. Wouldst thou not love the child, whose fortitude Should hazard life for thee?-O, think on that: The noble mind hates not a virtuous foe. His gen'rous purpose was to save a mother. Bar. Damn'd was his purpose; and accurs'd art thou, Whose perfidy would save the dark assassin, Who sought thy father's life. Hence from my sight! Ire. O, never, till thy mercy spare my Selim! Ire. Thou know'st-by gratitude He's mine. Had not his gen'rous hand redeem'd me, What, then, had been Irene?-Oh, but spare the gen'rous youth, Who sav'd me from dishonour! Bar. By the pow'rs [Takes his hand. Of great revenge, thy fond entreaties seal [Retires to the back of stage, L. Ire. O, Selim, gen'rous youth! how have my fears Betray'd thee to destruction! Inhuman father!-Generous, injur'd prince! Vain are my tears and prayers!-At least, I'll die! Bar. (c.) 0, torment, torment! E'en in the midst of pow'r-the vilest slave Whom my love cherish'd from her infant years, E'en to this giddy height where now I stand, In whom my soul can trust! Now, Aladin, Enter ALADIN, L. Hast thou seen Othman? He will not, sure, conspire against my peace? Ala. (c.) He's fled, my lord. I dread some lurking ruin. The sentinel on watch says, that he pass'd The gate, since midnight, with an unknown friend : Now farewell, bloody tyrant! Bar. Slave, thou liest. He did not dare to say it; or, if he did, Why dost thou wound my ear By the foul repetition? What's to be done? Some mischief lurks unseen. Ala. Prevent it, then Bar. By Selim's instant death Is the rack prepar'd? Ala. "Tis ready. Along the ground he lies, o'erwhelm'd with chains : Thy last command. Bar. Once more I'll try to bend His stubborn soul.-Conduct me forthwith to him; [Exeunt, L. SCENE II.-A Prison in the Palace. SELIM discovered in chains, lying on the ground, before a rack, at the back of the stage, c.; Executioners and Officers standing round the rack. Sel. I pray you, friends, When I am dead, let not indignity Insult these poor remains; see them interr'd Close by my father's tomb. I ask no more. Offi. They shall. Sel. How goes the night? Offi. Thy hour of fate, The second watch, is near. Sel. Let it come on: I am prepar❜d. Enter BARBAROSSA, and Guards, L. Bar. (L.) So-raise him from the ground. [They raise him; he goes forward. Perfidious boy! behold the just rewards Of guilt and treachery! Didst thou not give Thy forfeit life, whene'er I should behold Selim's detested face? Sel. Then take it, tyrant. Bar. Didst thou not aim a dagger at my heart? Bar. Yet heav'n defeated thy intent; And sav'd me from the dagger. Sel. (c.) 'Tis not our's To question heav'n. Th' intent and not the deed Bar. Yet bethink thee, stubborn boy, What horrors now surround thee |