[]
ZINGIS. A TRAGEDY.
[Price One Shilling and Six-pence.]
[]
ZINGIS. A TRAGEDY. AS IT IS PERFORMED AT THE THEATRE-ROYAL IN DRURY-LANE.
BY ALEXANDER DOW.
LONDON: PRINTED FOR T. BECKET AND P. A. DE HONDT, IN THE STRAND. M DCC LXIX.
ADVERTISEMENT.
[]TO thoſe who are not converſant in the hiſtory of the Aſiatic nations, it may not be improper to give in brief, the ſtory upon which the Tragedy of Zingis is founded, as it is taken from the TARICH MOGULISTAN, or Hiſtory of the Mogul Tartars, written in the Per⯑ſian language.
In the twelfth century, moſt of the Tartar Ordas, or tribes, though governed by their own chiefs, paid tribute to the king of the Orda of the Keraits, who held his court under the title of the GRAND CHAN, in the city of Caracorum, well known ſince by the name of Orda⯑balich. The famous Zingis Chan, who afterwards con⯑quered all the countries from the ſea of Canton in China to the Nile, was prince of the Niron tribe of Tartars; and from his early youth, ſerved in the armies of Aunac, the Grand Chan; and at laſt roſe to the command of all his forces. Zemouca, chief of the Siogarates, ſupplanted Zingis in Aunac's favor. Zingis was diſgraced. He retired to his Orda, which was in ſome meaſure indepen⯑dent of the Grand Chan. Aunac purſued Zingis with a ſmall force, and was defeated. In the enſuing year Aunac was, in a pitched battle, totally routed by Zingis; Zangon the prince royal was ſlain, and the only daughter of Aunac, Oviſa Lugîn, fell into the conqueror's hands. Zingis having determined to give Oviſa in marriage to his favorite ſon Octar, who afterwards ſucceeded him in the empire of all Aſia, occaſioned an inſurrection under Timur, another of his ſons, who was in love with the princeſs. Timur fell in his rebellion, Oviſa died of grief, and the unfortunate monarch, Aunac, was killed in his flight, from an action, in which he was defeated by a part of the army of Zingis.
Zingis Chan, whether we regard him as a conqueror or legiſlator, was, perhaps, the greateſt prince, that ever appeared in hiſtory. He not only ſecured the em⯑pire of all Aſia to his poſterity for ſome ages, but even to [] this day, two-thirds of that immenſe continent remains in the poſſeſſion of princes of his blood. So fortunate was he in his children and deſcendents, that many of them did not yield in abilities to him; and they would, per⯑haps, have equalled him in fame, had his ſword left them more to conquer.—The Emperor of China, the Mogul of India, the great Chan of Tartary, and the princes of the Krim Tartars, derive their blood from Zingis; and it is remarkable that, at one period, there were five hundred crowned heads of his race in Aſia.
This Day is Publiſhed,
In Two Volumes Quarto, with a new and accurate Map, and Frontiſpiece to each Volume. Price 1l. 10s. in boards.
THE Hiſtory of Hindoſtan, from the earlieſt Account of Time, to the Death of Akbar. Tranſlated from the Perſian of Mahummud Caſim Fe⯑riſhta of Delhi. Together with a Diſſertation concern⯑ing the Religion and Philoſophy of the Brahims; with an Appendix containing the Hiſtory of the Mogul Em⯑pire, from its decline in the Reign of Mahummud Shaw, to the preſent Times. By ALEXANDER DOW, Eſq
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PROLOGUE,
[]Spoken by Mr. HOLLAND.
TOO much the Greek and Roman chiefs engage
The Muſes care,—they languiſh on our Stage;
The Modern Bard, ſtruck with the vaſt applauſe
Of ancient maſters, like the painter draws
From models only;—can ſuch copies charm
The heart, or like the glow of nature warm?
To fill the ſcene, to night our Author brings
Originals at leaſt,—warriors and kings—
Heroes, who like their gems, unpoliſh'd ſhine,
The mighty fathers of the Tartar line;
Greater than thoſe, whom Claſſic pages boaſt,
If thoſe are greateſt, who have conquer'd moſt.
Such is the ſubject—ſuch the Poet's theme,
If a rough Soldier may aſſume that name;
Who does not offer you from Fancy ſtore,
Manners and men.—On India's burning ſhore,
In warlike toils, he paſs'd his youthful years,
And met the Tartar, in the ſtrife of ſpears;
But tho' he liv'd amidſt the cannons roar,
Thunder like yours he never fac'd before;
Liſten indulgent to his artleſs ſtrain,
Nor let a Soldier, quarter aſk in vain.
Dramatis Perſonae.
[]MEN.
- Zingis, emperor of Tartary,
- Mr. AICKIN.
- Aunac, the dethron'd emperor,
- Mr. PACKER.
- Timur, the ſon of Zingis,
- Mr. HOLLAND.
- Zemouca, general to Aunac,
- Mr. REDDISH.
- Cubla, Tartar Prince
- Mr. JEFFERSON.
- Zena, Tartar Prince
- Mr. PALMER.
- Nevian, prime miniſter to Zingis,
- Mr. BANNISTER.
- Sidaſco, a general in the army of Zingis,
- Mr. HURST.
WOMEN.
- Oviſa, the daughter of Aunac,
- Miſs YOUNG.
- Mila, the wife of Cubla,
- Mrs. STEPHENS.
Officers, Guards, Meſſengers, Attendants, &c.
[] ZINGIS.
ACT 1.
SCENE, The Moon ſetting behind a Hill, and the Dawn of Morning.
Enter CUBLA.
CUBLA.
THE waining moon has ſet behind the hill,
And the faint twilight of the morning ſeems
To wander o'er the Eaſt.—The ſtorms that long
Have ſhook the deſart, now are paſs'd away,
And Altay's ſtream retards the war no more;
Here Zingis forms the Nirons of the weſt;
And royal Aunac on the farther ſhore
Marſhals the Naimans, and demands his throne.
[2]Enter NEVIAN.
NEVIAN.
The emperor of Tartary commands
Thy preſence, Cubla.—
CUBLA.
Zingis ſhould have cloath'd
His haughty meſſage in leſs odious terms.
Does he preſume to hope that I will join
His rebel ſword againſt his antient lord?
Tho' near ally'd to Zingis—tho' I own
His parts unequal'd—his deſert in arms—
Nevian, my ſoul approves not of the means
By which he ſeiz'd the ſcepter of the Eaſt;
And drove great Aunac from the Tartar throne.
NEVIAN.
'Tis leſs a vaſſal's duty to approve
Than to obey his ſovereign's high commands.
CUBLA.
A vaſſal! By that honor which deſcends
From a long line of anceſtors to Cubla,
My ſoul rejects the thought.—What tho' my tribe
In Aunac's wide dominions form'd a ſtate,
And my brave fathers liſten'd to the voice
That iſſu'd from the throne, and roſe in arms
When war was in the field;—ſhall I become
The property of treaſon—be transferr'd
The mean appendage of a crown uſurp'd?
NEVIAN.
[3]Beware of treaſon—Cubla, can thy tribe,
Bold as thou art, and confident in war,
Contend with him who rules the Eaſtern world?
Zingis is king—and now that homage claims
Which thou didſt pay to the imperial throne.—
CUBLA.
Preſumptuous man!—does he preſcribe to Cubla,
Or talk of homage!—he who broke all ties
That bind the faith of ſubjects to their kings!
Whence is his right deriv'd?
NEVIAN.
He has been wrong'd—
CUBLA.
Wrong'd didſt thou ſay?—what wrongs can juſtify
His uſurpation.—Should the world permit
Private ambition thus to ſeize on crowns,
Each daring villain that diſpiſes life
Would be the king or tyrant of mankind.
NEVIAN.
Raſhly thou doſt condemn.—Does Cubla know
The Cauſe and progreſs of this bloody war?
CUBLA.
From the chill boſom of the ſtormy north,
From Corea's diſtant clime, where I have long
Employ'd my ſword againſt my country's foes;
Laſt night arriv'd amidſt domeſtic broils,
I know not aught but that my king's dethron'd.
NEVIAN.
[4]The prince of Soigara—the bold Zemouca,
Was the firſt mover of this civil war.
He, jealous of the fame and deeds of Zingis,
And that high confidence his rival held
With Aunac—to the royal ear convey'd
Malicious falſhoods, and intended treaſon.
At length the monarch liſt'ning to his voice,
Diveſted Zingis of his high command.
The chief retired, and darkly paſs'd along
To his own native tribe—the hardy Nirons—
They thought him wrong'd—they ſtarted to their arms,
Determin'd to defend him from his foes.—
Zemouca came—his hoſt was roll'd away.
The king advanc'd; in Tangut's bloody field,
The valiant Zingis triumph'd o'er his lord.
Amidſt his ruin'd armies in the fight
The ſon of Aunac, graceful Zangon, fell;
Whilſt o'er his mangl'd corſe his father fled,
And left his capital and throne to Zingis.
CUBLA.
Zemouca was to blame.—'Twas dangerous
To drive a hero to the laſt extreme.
The very coward, when bereft of hope,
Turns on the lifted ſword that threatens death.
But now let Zingis grant his ſovereign peace,
And give the nations back to Aunac's ſway;
Fame will applaud the deed. He hopes in vain
[5] The aid of Cubla to ſupport his crimes:
But ſince my ſiſter was his favourite ſpouſe,
And gave to him a ſon—the princely Timur;
For Timur's ſake I will not join his foes.
NEVIAN.
'Tis not enough. Inflexible—ſevere,
Tenacious of his power, and, like a god,
Deciſive in his councils—he declares
Himſelf the foe of temporizing friends.
Conſult thy ſafety.—Know, the Naiman prince
Betrays his ſovereign, and ſollicits peace.
CUBLA.
Betrays the king to Zingis!—Tell your lord,
Should he imbrue his hand in Aunac's blood,
Cubla muſt be his foe.—My ſafety reſts
Upon my ſword.—This day I would confer
With Zingis—quickly I will join his camp.
Haſte, and convey this anſwer to your chief.
NEVIAN.
It grieves me to behold my former friend
Thus ruſhing headlong into certain ruin.
Cubla, let me conjure thee—guard thy words,
And talk not thus of Zingis.—He is ſtern.—
I'll bear a milder anſwer to the king.
[Exit. Nev.
Enter ZENA.
ZENA.
Hail, prince of Eluth!
CUBLA.
Noble Zena, whence?
ZENA.
[6]Straight from the tents of Zingis—
CUBLA.
Zingis knows
Already Cubla's mind.—Has Zena's ſword,
With fortune, turn'd againſt his antient king?
ZENA.
Blame not thy friend, tho' the event of war
Hath made me vaſſal to ſucceſsful Zingis;
My ſoul is faithful to unhappy Aunac.
I mean to ſerve him.
CUBLA.
Darken'd is his fate—
ZENA.
Tho' few his friends ſince fortune left his ſide,
Tho' ſcarce his ſtrength his armour can ſuſtain,
Still unſubdu'd in ſoul, to Altay's banks
He leads the poor remains of former fields,
And ſtrives to raiſe his hoary head above
The cloud of his misfortunes. On thy aid
He reſts his latter hopes.
CUBLA.
The faithleſs Naiman
Betrays his king.—
ZENA.
That Cubla may prevent—
CUBLA.
Explain thy words.—
ZENA.
Zemouca will protect
His aged king—Nay more, will raiſe him high,—
[7] Again reſtore him to the Tartar throne.
He plans a daring purpoſe in his ſoul.
He near this place is ſtriding thro' the night,
Like the dark genius of devoted Zingis.
'Tis thine to point his thunder to the mark,
And rouſe diſhonour'd Timur.—
CUBLA.
Ha! diſhonour'd—
Were Timur's backward ſteps beheld in war?
Did Timur fly?
ZENA.
Untarniſh'd is his fame.
CUBLA.
Whence, then, is this unmeritted diſgrace,
That hangs ſo darkly on my ſiſter's ſon?
ZENA.
When with his ruin'd armies Aunac fled
From Tangut's bloody field, young Timur preſs'd
Upon the rear and ſeiz'd the hapleſs king,
As faint and wounded by a brook he lay,
His grey head leaning on his daughter's breaſt,
His only child, the beautiful Oviſa.
The hero ſaw—he pitied, and he lov'd—
Brought the fair captive to the Niron camp,
But gave her father's freedom to her tears;
She in return beſtow'd on him her heart.
For this, fierce Zingis from his preſence drove
His generous ſon.—The exil'd Aunac heard
Of his fair daughter's love—her choice approv'd,
And, by an embaſſy, propos'd to yield
The bright Oviſa to young Timur's arms;
To name him heir of Tartary ſhould Zingis
Conſent to end, with peace, this civil war.
CUBLA.
[8]Yet ſtill the tyrant keeps his ſword unſheath'd.—
ZENA.
He does—nay more—to-morrow Octar comes,
His favorite ſon, tho' by a ſecond bed,
To wed the weeping captive—to derive
From her a title to the Tartar throne.
But e'er to-morrow ſhould'ſt thou join thy ſword
To bold Zemouca—Aunac ſtill might reign,
And name young Timur heir to all his realms.
CUBLA.
But what intends Zemouca?
ZENA.
With the king
To croſs the Altay when the night returns,
With terrible aſſault to ruſh on Zingis
Amidſt his armies.—By a great exploit
To win the Eaſt, or loſe his noble life.
He ſent me hither—bade me to entreat
His ſiſter's huſband—his own former friend—
If yet the memory of what Aunac was—
If pity for a failing line of kings,
Who rul'd mankind with juſtice, touch thy breaſt—
CUBLA.
Go—bid the chief approach.—This great deſign
Becomes the ſpirit of the bold Zemouca.
[Exit Zen.
Th' injuſtice done to Timur—the diſgrace
Thrown on my line—the partial favor ſhown
To Octar, ſit not eaſy on my mind.
The voice of Aunac too—the dying voice
[9] Of ruin'd Majeſty is ecchoing here.—
I will ſupport him.
Enter MILA.
Partner of my life!
What anxious cares ſend Mila from her tent,
At this dull hour of darkneſs, when the world
Sleeps in the ſkirts of the retiring night?
MILA.
Why didſt thou leave me, Cubla? Is there aught
Unfriendly from the Niron?
CUBLA.
No,—retire.—
MILA.
To meditate alone, beſpeaks a mind
Not well at eaſe, let Mila ſhare the grief
That labours in thy boſom.
CUBLA.
By our loves,
I know no cauſe of grief. Determined minds
Brood not upon misfortunes; they forget
The accidents of life. When this baſe world
Shall throw diſgrace upon them, forth they ruſh,
Swift as the lightning's flaſh that wings the ſtorm,
And right themſelves.
MILA.
Has Zena then inform'd—
CUBLA.
Yes, Mila, all; I know how Cubla ſtands
With that preſumptuous man. He has diſgrac'd
Me, in my nephew Timur, yet expects
My aid in battle.
MILA.
[10]He commands it, Cubla,
Nay threatens diſobedience with thoſe frowns,
That lords aſſume to vaſſals, when they fail
In duty to the throne. This hour, Oviſa,
By private meſſage, to my ears conveyed
His gloomy purpoſe.
CUBLA.
What can he intend?
MILA.
To treat thee as a foe, ſhouldſt thou delay
to paſs beneath his ſtandard with the morn.
This tedious march from Corea's diſtant realms,
He conſtrues into treaſon; but the cauſe
Lies in his policy, thou art the lord
Of Eluth's warlike tribe. A chief of pow'r,
And dang'rous in the ſtate. The king himſelf,
The all-ſubduing Zingis, mark'd the path
Which leads to empire, and he fears that Cubla
May do with him, what he has done to Aunac.
CUBLA.
I am beſet with perils,—yet this ſtate
Suits well the active tenor of my ſoul,
Which loves to dwell in ſtorms. I have reſolv'd
To ſtretch my hand to Aunac, and ſupport
That ruin of a king.
(Noiſe within.)
But hark! what noiſeSwells in the camp of Zingis?—Go, my love—
Regain the tent—I muſt explore the cauſe
From whence this tumult roſe.—By dawn of day
[11] I'll meet thy brother to concert the plan
Of deeds more daring, than were e'er atchiev'd.
[Exit.
MILA.
'Tis done,—but ſtill my fears—
Enter ZEMOUCA.
ZEMOUCA.
My ſiſter's voice!—
MILA.
My lord Zemouca, welcome to my ſoul!
O chief of the Soigara!—from what a world
Of troubles art thou come!—
ZEMOUCA.
Yes—I have ſtrove
With ſome diſaſters, Mila, ſince the Niron
Led his rebellious tribe to Tangut's field,
And triumph'd o'er his lord. Had loyalty
Been leſs my choice—Had eaſe been more my care,
Than ſelf-approving honor, and that pride
Which lov'd to ſtand alone, when Tartary
Fell in the ſtream of conqueſt to a chief,
I once ſcarce own'd my equal, I might uſe
The day to viſit Mila, and have thrown
This cloud, I borrow, from the night, away.
MILA.
How fares it with the king?
ZEMOUCA.
Not ſuch his ſtate,
As when in Ordu-bâla's ſplendid halls
He rul'd the nations—On the farther ſide
[12] of Altay's foaming courſe, my tribe ſurrounds
The king of Tartars—narrow is the camp
Of him, who covered Aſia with his hoſts!
But ſtill this ſun which moves behind a ſtorm,
May iſſue forth, and ſhew his evening beams,
Before he ſets in night.
MILA.
Should Naima's prince
Prevail in battle—
ZEMOUCA.
May heaven's lightning blaſt
His armies and himſelf. Perfidious man!
He treats with Zingis.
MILA.
Tartary is loſt—
The houſe of Aunac trembles to its baſe,
And in its ruins will involve Zemouca.
Why doſt thou ſtand, againſt a world in arms,
With unavailing valor?
ZEMOUCA.
Hear me, Mila;
Ere next the night ſhall from theſe fields retire,
Aunac ſhall reign o'er Aſia. I have form'd
A plot with Zena, in the Niron camp.
Cubia will join us with his warlike tribe.
At the dead midnight hour, we mean to ruſh
On Zingis in his tent.
MILA.
To ruſh on Zingis!
The deed is deſperate.
ZEMOUCA.
[13]We claim thine aid
To forward our deſign. To thee is known
The love of Timur, and his late diſgrace
For the eſcape of Aunac. Thro' their tribes
The Nirons murmur for their gallant prince
Who led them often to the fields of fame.
Go to Oviſa: let her arm the ſon
Of haughty Zingis in her father's cauſe.
Thus ſhall ſhe wreſt from tyranny the world,
And rule the nations with the man ſhe loves.
MILA.
And does my brother then reſign Oviſa?
ZEMOUCA.
No—Mila, no.—She beams upon me ſtill,
Thro' all this tempeſt which involves my ſoul.
The Queen of Aſia!—But I muſt be calm,
The ſofter paſſions ſuit not with a ſtate
So deſperate as mine. Zemouca firſt
Muſt ſtretch his hand to Zingis, the event
May lead thy brother to his ſoul's deſire.
Why, Mila, why in tears?
MILA.
I'll bear, my lord,
Thy meſſage to Oviſa. But my mind
Forbodes, I never ſhall behold thee more.
ZEMOUCA.
That heaven alone can tell—my ſiſter ſtay!—
Perhaps thou'lt ne'er behold me,—and thy lord
Treads too a dangerous path. Let not our foes
In thee extend their triumph to our duſt,
[14] Take this—
[giving a dagger.
It is thy thy brother's gift.—Our houſe
Was ne'er diſhonour'd.
MILA.
Son of daring Tangor!
Our houſe was ne'er diſhonoured, nor ſhall Mila
Stain the unclouded glories of her line.
I know the purpoſe of this preſent—Here
[putting it in her boſom.
This friend ſhall reſt. I'll call it to my aid
When thou canſt not defend me from my foes.
[Exit.
CUBLA entering with CAREDI.
CUBLA.
Caredi, haſten. Call the chiefs to arms,
Rouſe my brave Eluths—I will join them ſtraight.
I like not this confuſion, this uproar,
That Zingis raiſes round him in his camp,
He may perhaps intend—My lord Zemouca,
[embraces him.
How fares it with my brother and my friend;
I fear our zeal for aged Aunac's cauſe
Shall not avail.
ZEMOUCA.
Has Cubla learn'd from whence
This tumult roſe?
CUBLA.
All night the high divan
Sat in the tent of Zingis, and gave ear
To proffered terms, from Naima's perjur'd prince.
'Tis ſaid they were axcepted. But the voice
[15] Of war reſounds thro' all the Niron camp.
The nations ſtart, with ardor, to their arms;
Some daring enterprize is formed by Zingis,
Againſt deſerted Aunac.
ZEMOUCA.
Fear not that—
Tho' Zingis loves to move thro' bloody fields,
He tries not force, where policy avails.
If Naima promis'd, with her ſovereign's blood,
To end this conteſt, Zingis will delay
To croſs the Altay.—When the night deſcends,
I will remove the king,—at once prevent
The Naiman's treachery, and rid the world
Of the uſurper.
CUBLA.
But that eagle ſits
Too watchful on his rock,—we muſt not truſt
Much to the foes neglect, for Zingis owes
To fortune leſs his greatneſs, than to ſkill
In war's extenſive art.—We are too few
To reach him, thro' his armies; we muſt raiſe
Some other ſwords to penetrate thoſe lines
The Niron draws around him.
ZEMOUCA.
Our ſucceſs
Depends not on our numbers. We command
A hardy race, the Tartars of the north,
Whoſe ſouls partake the nature of the ſtorms,
That ruſh acroſs their climate. They delight
In the abrupt deciſion of the ſword,
And love a deed of danger. Nor on them
Reſt all our hopes: the fair Oviſa arms
Diſhonour'd Timur in her father's cauſe.
[16] His late diſgrace, ambition, love, revenge,
Shall urge him on; and ſhould the chief prefer
A tame ſubmiſſion to the will of Zingis,
To Aunac's daughter, and the Tartar throne,
Our glory muſt be greater, and our fame
Ariſe proportion'd to the perils round us.
CUBLA.
Friend of the hapleſs Aunac!—In thy voice
Speaks forth the hero, and thy noble fire
Falls on my ſoul, and kindles it to flame.
Ere next the light which now burſts from the Eaſt,
Shall gleam on Altay's ſtreams, the Tartar tribes
Shall own another lord. Myſelf will rouſe
The lion Timur; if that ſpirit dwells
In him, which animates th' Eluthian line,
Diſhonour ſits not lightly on his mind.
But where, Zemouca, ſhall my tribe receive
The king to night?
ZEMOUCA.
Upon that narrow point,
Thou ſeeſt a lonely oak.—The morning ſtar
Looks thro' its wav'ring branches,—there the rock
Stretching into the Altay, breaks the ſtream,
And forms a peaceful eddy. In that place
Shall Aunac land, when the wan moon deſcends
Behind the weſtern hills.
CUBLA.
I will attend
To-day the court of Zingis, and diſguiſe
For once, a ſoul that ſcorns to hide its hate.
I will exhibit every mark of zeal,
[17] To blot ſuſpicion from his jealous mind,
And turn the keeneſs of his eye from Cubla.
But leave this camp, the dawn already gleams
Along the field. Go,—in that ſhow'r retire,
That darkly ruſhes o'er the Altay's courſe.
[Exit.
ZEMOUCA.
Whilſt this blunt warrior, void of all deſign,
Can thus encounter perils unconcern'd,
Shall I, whoſe eye is fix'd upon a crown,
And on the brighteſt ſtar that ever roſe
Upon the eaſtern world,—the fair Oviſa—
Shall I ſhrink back?—Shall I encourage doubt
To ſhake my reſolution?—Hence—away—
All further fear of death; already he
Hath ſtalk'd around me in each hideous form.—
But yet this ſtubborneſs of heart—this pride,
Which bore me up againſt this proſperous man,
Hath quite fatigued my ſoul.—I'll ſtray no more
Thro' Aſia,—every foe I raiſe to Zingis,
He adds unto his vaſſals.—On this plot
I reſt my latter hopes, and ſhould I fail,
I'll wrap me in my courage and retire
From this baſe world amidſt the ſtorms I raiſe.
[Exit.
END OF THE FIRST ACT.
ACT II.
[18]SCENE, Oviſa's Tent,
Enter OVISA, from her Tent.
OVISA.
IF e're the ſpirit of a warrior ſlain,
Journey'd in ſtorms acroſs the troubled ſky:
Laſt night, my brother Zangon paſs'd this place,
And call'd Oviſa hence. The voice was deep,
As when high Arol, ſhaking all his woods,
Speaks to the paſſing thunder.—Thro' my ſoul
A pleaſing horror runs; perhaps not long
Oviſa tarries here. The ſilent tomb
Is not the houſe of ſorrow.—Airy form
Of him who is no more! Where doſt thou dwell?
Rejoiceſt thou on golden-ſkirted clouds?
Or is thy murmur in the hollow wind?
Where ere thou art, mine ear with awful joy,
Shall liſten to thy voice!—Deſcend with night,
If thou muſt ſhun the day.—O ſtray not far
From the remains of Aunac's failing line.
Enter MILA.
MILA.
Hail bright Sultana! let a faithful friend,
[kneeling.
Thus pay the homage which ſhe owes a race
Who rul'd ſo long nations.
OVISA.
Mila, riſe;—
Belov'd companion of my better days!
[19] Why doſt thou, at this melancholly hour,
Intrude upon the ſorrows of Oviſa?
MILA.
To chace the cloud that hangs upon thy ſoul,
I come the meſſenger of Aunac's friends.
They ſent me to diſcloſe—
OVISA.
I know it all.
Octar is come!
MILA.
Far other news I bring.
Are we alone?
OVISIA.
From mortal ears remov'd.
MILA.
The ſate of royal Aunac now depends
Upon Oviſa.—Should ſhe lend her aid,
The king might reign.—
OVISA,
Then he already ſits
Upon the Tartar throne. Why doſt thou think
So poorly of Oviſa? Haſte, explain
This myſtery,—for doubts begin to blaſt
Then ſudden joy that lighten'd o'er my ſoul.
MILA.
A plot is forming in the Niron camp,
By Omrahs of renown, whom Cubla joins
With all his Eluths. By the midnight hour,
The king, thy father, with Zemouca, comes
To head the bold conſpiracy, and ruſh
On Zingis 'midſt his armies.
OVISA.
[20]'Tis a deed
Of deſp'rate daring.—Didſt thou ſay to night?
Aſſiſt them heaven! But what avails the aid
Of deſolate Oviſa!
MILA.
Much.—Thy hands
Already hold the balance of the Eaſt.
Ten thouſand ſwords, obedient to thy call,
May be unſheath'd for Aunac. In this camp
The Tartars murmur thro' their martial lines,
For the diſgrace of Timur. Arm the prince
Againſt his father.
OVISA.
Ha! I'll hear no more—
To recommend a crime my ſoul abhors,
To make a parricide of him I love,
Suits not the feelings of Oviſa's mind.
By private ſtratagem, by open war,
By any means, let cruel Zingis fall;
But let him fall by foes—The fame of Timur
Muſt not be tarniſh'd;—nor ſhall I adviſe
A deed of ſuch complexion. Mila, know
I may be wretched—but muſt not be baſe.
MILA.
Then let Oviſa triumph in a heart
That feels for Nirons. Did the cruel race
Once melt at the misfortunes of her houſe,
Or ſpare the line that rul'd the eaſtern world?
By him thy brother fell—By him the throne
Of Aunac was uſurp'd.—Thy father driven,
[21] A feeble exile thro' the Tartar tribes,
Thyſelf a captive.—But Oviſa feels!—
Heavens! Is it any crime to rid the world
Of him, who riots in the blood of nations,
And makes a paſtime of dethroning kings?
His guilt Oviſa—
OVISA.
It is more than common;
And heaven ſome ſignal vengeance has prepar'd
For him who widows Aſia with his ſword:
But let us not, in puniſhing, give birth,
To greater crimes than his.
MILA.
Unhappy maid,
Thou know'ſt not half the horrors of thy ſtate.
To day diſhonour'd Timur muſt retire,
A lonely exile from the Niron camp.
Tomorrow Octor comes with brutal luſt,
To force thee to his arms. To night thy father—
OVISA.
Mila, proceed—
MILA.
Muſt welter in his blood.
The price is fix'd for Aunac's ſacred head,
A peace to Naima. Soon as night returns,
Perfidious Tajan will ſurround the king.
OVISA.
No more—I know the reſt—misfortunes crowd
Too much upon me. What ſhould I reſolve,
Hemm'd in on every ſide? I'll urge the prince,
And yet he muſt abhor me.
MILA.
[22]Timur comes,
As if by heaven directed to our aid.
This is the time.—Remember thy condition.
[Exit.
OVISA.
He comes.—With undiminiſh'd pomp he moves
Behind his cloud—As when the ſun thro' miſt
Rolls on his faded orb. He greater ſeems,
Tho' loſt to half his beams. And ſhall I plunge
This god in parricide?
Enter TIMUR.
TIMUR.
I did reſolve—
But cannot ſpeak the tumult of my ſoul.—
Queen of the Eaſt!
OVISA.
That title ill becomes
A ſtate like mine.—This inſtant leave me, Timur,
If thou regard'ſt thy peace.
TIMUR.
What means, Oviſa?
Where dwells the peace of Timur, but with her
Who reigns within his ſoul?
OVISA.
Have we not prince—
The houſe of Aunac—have we not involv'd
Thee in misfortunes? Pinion'd down thy fame
That ſpread to heaven? Cover'd thee with ſhame?
And thrown diſgrace upon the firſt of men.
We made thee no return,—for kings dethron'd.
[23] No ſavuors can beſtow. Oviſa gave,
'Twas all ſhe had to give—her heart to Timur.
TIMUR.
'Twas all that Timur wiſh'd, thou matchleſs maid—
But whence is this diſtreſs—this ſudden grief
That labors in thy boſom? Tell me all;
My ſoul is up in arms againſt thoſe ills
That preſs upon thee.
OVISA.
Timur would not chuſe
To hate Oviſa.
TIMUR.
No.—
OVISA.
Then let him not
Enquire into her griefs. She may propoſe
A dreadful taſk. O leave me to myſelf,
My ſoul is young in miſchief and demands
Some time to harden ere it can reſolve
On what my ſtate requires.
TIMUR.
Speak but the word,
Thou bright divinity that rul'ſt my ſoul;
And then I will—what will not Timur do?
I will—I know not what—but ſomething more
Than ever mortal did.
OVISA.
Take heed young prince!
Be not too raſh to promiſe—Timur's word
Is like a god's, irrevocably fix'd:—
But were my ſuit once known, 'twere criminal
[24] Not to refuſe it.—Daring ſon of Zingis!—
I know thy lion-heart delights in perils,
When honor leads thee to her bloody fields,
Yet what I would propoſe would throw a damp
On all thy courage. In Oviſa's cauſe
There's more than danger—Guilt.—Thou ſhrinkeſt back.
I thought it would offend.—My ſoul approves
The noble horror that invades his mind.
I leave him to his virtue.
[Going.
TIMUR.
Stay—by heavens!—
Thou muſt not thus depart.—Oviſa—ſpeak,
Speak all thy wiſhes and they ſhall be done.—
Propoſe the peril.—Guilt can never dwell
In ſuch a cauſe as thine.
OVISA.
Then know, my ſtate,
Uncommon in its horrors, now demands
The ſword of Timur.—Zingis ſhuts the door
Of hope againſt thee.—Octar comes to-morrow—
What ſhall I do?
TIMUR.
I will defend—
OVISA.
Alas!—
Who ſhall ward off the hand of death from Aunac?
To-night he falls.—The cruel Zingis gives
A peace to Naima, for her ſovereign's head.
A midſt the ruins of a falling line
Oviſa ſtands alone.
TIMUR.
[25]I know thy ſoul,
And quickly will reſolve.—
OVISA.
No—Timur—no.
Recall the thought, and be thyſelf again.
Oviſa loves thy virtues, not thy crimes,
And ſhould'ſt thou ſtain thine honor, who can tell
What ſhe would think of thee?
[Exit.
TIMUR.
The light is gone
And left me darken'd, on a ſtormy ſea
Of various paſſions toſs'd.—What ſhould I do?
To hide me in the cloud of my diſgrace,
And leave Oviſa and the world to Octar;
Death dwells upon the thought. But to aſcend
A throne, beſmear'd with blood,—a father's blood,
And reign a horrid parricide in Aſia,
Suits not a ſoul like mine.—
Enter CUBLA.
CUBLA.
While others watch the motions of the foe,
Marſhal their tribes, or furbiſh up their ſteel
For battle. Timur, whiles his time away
Before the ſhrine of beauty.—Bluſh, young man,
Theſe are not arts in which our race excell'd,
Nor theſe the means by which they roſe to fame.
TIMUR.
Is Cubla, like the world, whoſe cenſure falls
Not on the guilty, but unfortunate?
[26] As if ſucceſs could recommend each crime,
We only call the proſperous villain great.—
Let Cubla judge of Timur, by himſelf,
By the high ſpirit, which deſcends to both
From Eluth's line of kings; and he may know
Diſgrace, unmerited, can never damp
The vigour of my ſoul.
CUBLA.
Yet ſtill thou bear'ſt,
With tameneſs, which but ill becomes our race,
This weight of infamy, by Zingis, thrown
Upon thee, in his wrath.
TIMUR.
Could Timur break
Thro' honor and his duty, he might raiſe
A flame, the billowy Caſpian ſhou'd not quench.
But tho' my ſoul, undaunted in the field,
Swells at the growth of danger and demands
More than my ſhare of battle; there are things
Which make me ſhudder, Cubla, and betray
A woman's weakneſs. Dark conſpiracies,
Frauds cover'd o'er with art—thoſe devious paths,
That lead the villains of the world to power,
Pleaſe not the open ſpirit of my mind.
I hate pre-eminence that ſprings from guilt,
And never, but thro' honor, would be great.
CUBLA.
Timur farewel.—A man that can ſubmit
To ſuch indignities, as thou haſt borne,
Deſerves not my attention.—Hence—away—
Involve thee in obſcurity.—It ſuits
The tame morality of Timur's mind.
[27] Go—leave the throne to Octar—To his arms
Give up Oviſa.
TIMUR.
Ha! that ſtrikes me home.
Say, what doſt thou adviſe?
CUBLA.
To draw thy ſword
Againſt thy father—Zingis—that proud man—
That tyrant of the Eaſt.—Thou ſtarteſt, Timur,
His crimes, indeed, may ſhock a ſoul like thine.—
He, who without remorſe, has trod on kings,
Has broke all ſacred ties that bind mankind—
Has ruin'd nations to be reckon'd great,
And is unjuſt, not only to his foes,
But to his ſon.—
TIMUR.
My heart with horror ſhrinks
From ſuch a deed.—
CUBLA.
So feels the feeble mind,
That trembles at the thought of arduous deeds,
And would impoſe its fears upon the world,
As the effects of virtue.—Go—weak boy,
I did adviſe thee.—Nay—I dare do more.
Go, tell thy father, Cubla is his foe:
This very night, in concert with his friends,
He means to prove it; but his friends are ſuch
As ſhudder not at danger.
TIMUR.
He who doubts
My courage, ſhould prepare to reſt his hand
Upon his ſword.—No mortal man but Cubla
[28] Durſt thus.—But I'm too warm.—Thou ſaid'ſt to night—
My ſoul is dark, and ſecret as the tomb.
Unfold thy purpoſe.
CUBLA.
Yes—to night, I meant,
But thy officious virtue interferes,
To raiſe thee high in Aſia.—To thy arms
To give Oviſa—Place thee next to him,
Who ought to rule the Eaſt.—To make thee heir
To Aunac's vaſt dominions. Doſt thou ſtill
Harbour a doubt? What darkneſs travels o'er
Thy thoughtful features? Is the fair Oviſa
Indifferent to Timur?
TIMUR.
Cubla—Stay,
I muſt conſider.
CUBLA.
Time is on the wing.
We muſt reſolve.—But ruin'd are my hopes!
There Nevian comes, and he muſt not perceive
That we confer. Long practis'd in the arts
Of policy, and guile,—from every word
And motion of the eye, he draws concluſions.
I'll ſoon return.
[Exit.
Enter NEVIAN.
NEVIAN.
Hail! gallant ſon of Zingis!
I come not ſobbing like thy other friends,
With ſad condolance and a woeful face,
To teaze thee with my pity.—No, I bring
Thy pardon, Timur.
TIMUR.
[29]Pardon, didſt thou ſay?
NEVIAN.
Yes, full forgiveneſs from the king thy father.
I thought it would ſurprize.—
TIMUR.
It does indeed.—
NEVIAN.
I did it all—inexorable long
On my addreſs, the lord of nations frown'd,
But ſtill I urg'd.—At length he heard my ſuit,
And bade me call young Timur to his preſence.
A fair occaſion offers to retrieve
The honour thou haſt loſt—thy injur'd fame.
He now reſtores thee to thy former rank,
And ſends thee forth, with half his warlike tribes,
To give the final blow to exil'd Aunac.
The troops, already marſhal'd in the camp,
With ſhouts await thy orders.
TIMUR.
Let them ſhout—
Timur ſhall wait his time.
NEVIAN.
What do I hear?
Is this th' impetuous Timur? He whoſe ſoul
Ruſh'd on before him to the fields of fame?
And does he heſitate?
TIMUR.
Begone, old man,
Leaſt in my rage—
NEVIAN.
What means the ſon of Zingis?
[30] This is the very frenzy of the mind.
I am the friend of Timur.
TIMUR.
Hence—away—
I'll follow ſoon.
NEVIAN.
His late diſgrace diſturbs
His reaſon. When the angry lion roars,
There is no ſafety near him. To the tribes
I'll bear the welcome news of thy return.
[Exit.
TIMUR.
Was ever mind ſo agitated, torn
With ſuch contending paſſions, as aſſail
At once the ſoul of Timur? To reject
The proffer'd ſervice, puts immediate end
To all my hopes. The king can not eſcape—
Should I decline, another foe will riſe
Againſt ill fated Aunac.—Here ſhe comes!
Diſtraction—let me fly.—She bade me ſhield
Her ruin'd father, from the hand of death;
And I, in my humanity, aſſume
The office of his murderer.
Enter OVISA.
OVISA.
He ſtarts!
Is then the preſence of the loſt Oviſa
Hateful to Timur? Prince, I do not come
To make thee deviate from the ſplendid path
Thy ſoul delights to follow.
[going.
TIMUR.
By the light,
[31] That, from thy beauties, beams upon thy ſoul.—
Thou muſt not leave me.—But thou muſt—away—
Denounce thy curſes on me.—In thy words
Of ſoftneſs dwells unutterable pain.
O turn from Timur theſe indulgent eyes,
That ſhed ſoft pity, from their lucid orbs—
For I do not deſerve it.—Falſe to thee—
Falſe to my word—A traitor to my love—
Thy father's murderer.
OVISA.
What means the prince,
He is not dead?
TIMUR.
But he muſt die Oviſa,
And by theſe hands. The cruel Zingis grants
My pardon, and commands me to the war:
To lead the Nirons o'er the Altay's ſtream,
To ruſh upon thy father in his camp,
And end this conteſt, that inflames the world.
[Shout.
Hark!—The impatient troops proclaim their joy
To ſee their prince reſtor'd, and ſhout for battle.
I come.—Oviſa—
OVISA.
Timur, leave me.—Go—
And, on the ruins of our falling race,
Rear to thyſelf a monument of fame.
Think not I ſeize thy ſkirts to keep thee here.
Think not I weep, theſe eyes are only dim
Think not I breath a ſigh.
TIMUR.
Should guilty ſouls
Feel all my pangs—A moment of their woe
Might expiate the crimes of half a world.
[32] But Nevian comes!—I muſt away—My love,
Canſt thou forgive me.—No—Oviſa—No—
Let not thy tenderneſs of ſoul extend
To ſuch a wretch as Timur.—Yet his fate
Is moſt to blame.
OVISA.
Then hear me ſon of Zingis!
As love cannot detain thee—On my knees,
Once more, I beg an aged parents life.
O ſpare him, Timur; touch not his grey hairs,
Let him eſcape;—for Zingis will not long
In Aunac have a rival to his power.
The king, my father, worn with grief and years,
Already haſtens to the ſilent tomb.
TIMUR.
By him that reigns above, he ſhall not die.
[Exit.
OVISA.
He's gone, and left me lonely to my woes.—
Haſten thy journey, ſun—and gracious night,
Receive me to the boſom of thy gloom.
The ruſtling wind, that whiſtles thro' thy trees,
The ſolemn, ſerious, melancholly notes
Of thy own bird, are muſic to mine ear,
And pleaſe the dreary horrors of my ſoul.
Enter MILA.
Mila, thy tears will flow in vain.—My grief
Admits not of thy comfort.
MILA.
[33]Did my pow'r
Equal my wiſhes, ſoon the light of joy
Would brighten on thy forehead. But my voice
Muſt now be like the raven's to thine ear.
The van of Octar's army, from the hill,
Is ſeen to pour along in clouds of duſt;
Edg'd round with gleaming arms, a choſen troop
On lightning hoofs come flying to the camp.
It muſt be he.—
OVISA.
Where ſhall I hide my head?
Timur where art thou? Call him to protect
The loſt Oviſa—Timur.—He is gone!
But why ſhould I complain? High heaven decree [...]
At once the fall of our devoted houſe;
Oviſa will not ſtay—a feeble light,
Behind the ſitting glories of her line.
[Exeunt.
END OF THE SECOND ACT.
ACT III.
[34]ZINGIS's Pavilion.
ZINGIS and Attendants diſcovered on a Throne.
A Flouriſh of Trumpets.
ZINGIS.
GO, Nevian, iſſue forth our high decree
To all the princes, potentates and kings,
O'er whom the ſcepter of our power extends,
On the firſt morning of the enſuing year
To meet in Ordu-balâ's regal halls.
We mean to publiſh laws to rule mankind—
To bind the nations in one general chain
Of policy—to mark, with ſtrict regard,
The bounds of juſtice between man and man,
We call this council—not that we require
Advice, but proofs of their allegiance due,
And prompt obedience to the will of Zingis.
NEVIAN.
The king ſhall be obey'd—his high commands
Will be receiv'd thro' Tartary with awe,
And all its princes haſten to the throne.
[Exit.
ZINGIS.
Suida, prepare thyſelf. We ſend thee hence
To diſtant regions, near the riſing ſun—
To great Canbâla—ſeat of Altun Chan,
Who ſtiles himſelf the monarch of Cathay.—
Make full demands for all his ravages
[35] In theſe our kingdoms, when they ſhrunk away
From every bold invader's ſword—and groan'd
Beneath that worſt of tyranny—a race
Of timid miniſters, and feeble kings.
SUIDA.
Proud of the truſt, and zealous to obey
The lord of nations, Suida ſtands prepar'd.
[Exit.
ZINGIS.
And thou, Jelizou, haſten to the weſt,
Where Mâhmud, the Charizmian, has confin'd
The Caſpian, in the circle of his empire.
Tell him, while, as a ſon, he ſhall revere
Our pleaſure, we will act a father's part.
That now it is our ſovereign will the doors
Of commerce ſhould be open'd with our realms.
Not leſs on means that civilize mankind
We reſt our glory, than on fame in arms.
But, in the pride of hoſts, ſhould Mâhmud ſcorn
Our proffer'd friendſhip—call him forth to war;
That he may ſee his kingdoms weeping blood
Beneath the ſword of Zingis
JELIZOU.
Too well the pow'r of him who rules the eaſt
Is known by Mâhmud, to reject his friendſhip.
[Exit.
Enter an Officer.
OFFICER.
Letters from Rizia, empreſs of the ſouth,
To whom the ſable Indian nations kneel,
With preſents her ambaſſadors attend,
And long to greet the ſovereign of the world.
ZINGIS.
[36]They ſhall have audience.—Say, what tidings bring
The meſſengers of Octar?
OFFICER.
We deſcry
His ſtandards high erected on the plain.
This morning his aſtrologers preſag'd
Some dire misfortune threaten'd by the ſtars,
Which ſtops his progreſs.—
ZINGIS.
Should the ſtars preſage,
And join their influence as they roll above
To aid the foes of Zingis—he would truſt
More to the proweſs of a ſingle arm
Than he ſhould fear from them.—But what of Timur?
OFFICER.
We ſaw his warrior's covering Altay's courſe,
And Aunac's banners waving on the ſhore—
Soon the loud roar of war—
Enter Officer.
OFFICER.
The prince returns
Victorious from the field. He brings in chains
A captive train.—The aged monarch, Aunac,
Stood in the front of battle, till his lines
Grew thin by Timur's ſword.—A choſen band,
That fought around their king—when all was loſt,
Bore their unwilling ſovereign from the field;
The fierce Sidaſco, preſſing on the rear,
Purſues his flight.
ZINGIS.
[37]Did not the Naiman prince
Support the king, for whom he roſe in arms?
He bore a ſpecious cauſe upon his ſword,
Yet ſhrunk from danger: ſo I knew him ſtill
A dark, deſigning, and deceitful man,
Expert in policy, but cold in war.
Theſe are not means to gain the terms he claims.
He knows us not—a coward never finds
A friend in Zingis.
Enter TIMUR, with Priſoners.
Thou are welcome, Timur,
This ſtrict obedience to our ſovereign will,
Confirms thee in our favour.—Such exploits
Become the ſon of Zingis.—Who are theſe?
We want no captives—thou art young in war.—
Ye bold, rebellious men, who did inſult
[To the priſoners.
Our pow'r with feeble hands—who durſt contemn
Repeated offers of our royal grace,
Which, thro' our vaſt dominions, were proclaim'd,
Muſt periſh in your folly—bear them hence,
And execute our judgment.—
TIMUR.
It muſt not be.—Let Timur intercede
For theſe unhappy men—my word is paſs'd
To ſave their lives—my honor was engag'd
When they reſign'd their unavailing ſwords.
ZINGIS.
Audacious boy—no more—didſt thou preſume
To pardon traitors?—Know'ſt thou not that Zingis
[38] Is ſovereign here, and that he delegates
His pow'r to none?—Say,—when didſt thou per⯑ceive
By art, by argument, by open force,
Our reſolutions alter'd?—hence, away,
[To his guards.
And lead them to their fate.
TIMUR,
drawing.
Stand off, ye ſlaves!—
By heavens they ſhall not periſh.—Thus oppreſs'd,
I muſt forget that paſſiveneſs of ſoul—
My duty to a father—with my blood
I will protect them.
ZINGIS.
Ha!—thus to my face—
Doſt thou not fear?—Should Zingis ſacrifice
This victim to his fury?—Or—begone—
I will not ſlay thee—take thy captives hence,
I give them to thy pride.—This inſolence
Shall not unpuniſh'd go. Our ſteps to fame,
To the dominion of the eaſtern world,
Muſt not be thus retarded by a ſon,
Who, in his diſobedience, throws diſgrace
Upon the power of Zingis.—From our preſence
We muſt remove examples that ſuggeſt
Rebellion to our ſubjects. To the north
We ſend thee hence to-morrow—to a clime
Tempeſtuous as the temper of thy ſoul.
In Tuba's foreſts, and thoſe ſpacious vales
Where dark Selânga roars into the main;
Compel the haughty Tomats to obey:
[39] The ocean only ſhall our empire bound.
Enter SIDASCO.
My bold Sidaſco!—
SIDASCO.
Sovereign of the world!
The war is ended—Aunac comes in chains.
ZINGIS.
Our faithful chief, to thee—
Enter OVISA ſuddenly, and kneels.
Who durſt admit
The princeſs?—Let the captain of our guards
This inſtant be arreſted.—Riſe, Oviſa—
Why doſt thou kneel?—What wouldſt have from Zingis?
OVISA.
If e'er thy heart was ſoften'd by diſtreſs,
If e'er thy ſoul rejoic'd in generous deeds,
O ſpare my father; let him die in peace—
[Zingis is retiring, ſhe ſeizes his ſkirt.
Thou muſt not leave me, Zingis. O pronounce
The words of mercy.—Aunac's ſtrength has fail'd,
His friends forſook him; he is left alone,
A poor old man!—No cauſe for fear remains.
The brave are never cruel—they delight
To ſtretch their hand to raiſe a fallen foe,
To ſpeak the words of comfort—There he comes!
What, Timur, haſt thou done? Is this thy faith,
Thy plighted faith to me? Like all thy race,
Art thou perfidious!—Timur, 'twas not well
Thus to betray the poor, the loſt Oviſa!—
TIMUR.
[40]Hear me, Oviſa, e'er thou ſhalt condemn.
OVISA.
Hear thee, falſe man!—
Enter AUNAC, in Chains.
Look there—behold him there—
Theſe are thy works—the ruin thou haſt made.
O Zingis! Zingis! wilt thou ſlay the king,
The king that lov'd thee—cheriſh'd thee?—alas!
The tyrant is inexorable.—Thou
Alone who pitieſt the diſtreſs'd Oviſa,
O king! O father!—to thy friendly tomb
Receive thy daughter.
AUNAC.
Welcome to my arms—
Thou lovely beam, that gild'ſt my parting hour!
My eyes are bleſt—my wiſhes at an end.
Theſe hairs have long been whiten'd o'er with years,
And my diſaſters bend me to the duſt.
Why ſhould I wiſh to live? to haunt this world
The ghoſt of what I was?—But thou art young—
Yet, can I leave thee lonely midſt thy foes?
Shall thoſe who riot in thy father's blood
Derive from thee a title to his throne?—
Yet, what ſhould I adviſe?
OVISA.
I know thy ſoul,
And have reſolv'd—Yes—all the fated line
Shall fall at once, and leave the Eaſt to Zingis.
[41] My heart, indignant, ſpurns this world away;
My riſing ſpirit ſtruggles to be free.
ZINGIS.
No more! Sidaſco—lead thy captive hence—
TIMUR.
I would entreat—but ſtern in his reſolves;
[To Aunac.
He melts not at diſtreſs—nor lends an ear
To thoſe whom fortune left.
AUNAC.
O generous youth,
Plunge not in our misfortunes.—In thy breaſt
Thy father's rigour dwells not. Brave, yet mild.
I had a ſon like thee, whoſe riſing fame
Shone thro' the gloomy winter of my age.
But he is fallen, and of our royal houſe
She now remains alone.—Oviſa, come—
Embrace thy father—tho' my breaſt is cold
To all the world—my ſpirit burns for thee.
TIMUR,
aſide.
It is too much—Tho' ruin muſt enſue,
I will obey the impulſe of my ſoul.
[Exit.
ZINGIS,
to Sidaſco.
Why am I d'ſobey'd!—
AUNAC.
Omrah, lead on—
This preſence is unworthy of a king—
We leave him to the horrors of his ſoul.
But we will not upbraid—Yet know, we ſcorn
Thy utmoſt rage. For he who longs for death,
[42] Like us, may ſmile at tyrants when they frown,
Oviſa, one embrace—It is the laſt—
OVISA.
We muſt not part—together let us die.
ZINGIS.
Conduct her to her tent.
OVISA.
Doſt thou refuſe
This little boon—this privilege of death?
Relentleſs tyrant—know, thou ſhalt not long
Divide Oviſa from her fallen race.
[Both carried off.
ZINGIS.
Something like pity ſhakes my firm reſolves,
And almoſt melts the iron heart of Zingis.
The king is old; yet may ambitious men
Hold forth a cauſe ſo ſpecious—whilſt he lives,
Some dark conſpiracies may riſe around us.
But to imbrue our hands in Aunac's blood,
Would tarniſh half the glories of our reign.
Enter TIMUR and an Attendant.
What wouldſt thou, Timur? Go;—thy looks beſpeak
Thy purpoſe—go—while Zingis rules the world,
He rules himſelf—is abſolute in mind,
And none ſhall alter his determin'd will.
[Exit Zingis, &c.
TIMUR.
In vain he rages; Aunac has eſcap'd;
My choſen troop have reſcu'd him from death,
[43] And bear him far from danger.—Haſte—away;
[To his attendant.
Inform Oviſa—leſt in her deſpair—
Tell her what Timur for her love has done—
[Exit attendant.
But ruin follows.—What ſhou'd I reſolve?
My father's rage is deadly. Should I fly,
And bear Oviſa to the Caſpian ſhores?
This ſword is my inheritance—the world
Is wide enough for conqueſt: other thrones
Will riſe for her in Aſia.—
Enter ZEMOUCA.
Who art thou,
That thus intrud'ſt upon me?
ZEMOUCA.
Not unknown
In Aſia is Zemouca—
TIMUR.
Hapleſs man!
Why doſt thou tarry?—hence,—away—ſhould Zingis
Hear of his mortal foe—not half the Eaſt
Could ſave thee from his fury—Leave this camp;
To thee it is the hungry lion's den.
ZEMOUC
In my proſperity I harbour'd not
A fear of death.—Why ſhould he now begin
To ſhew more dreadful to me, thro' this cloud
Which has involv'd my ſtate?—To thee I owe
My life in battle. Thou haſt ſav'd it here,
Among thy captives, at the riſque of thine,
And I do mean to make thee ſome return.
TIMUR.
[44]I want it not.—A generous action brings
Its own reward,—a feeling of the ſoul
Of greater value, than aught thou canſt give.
Zemouca leave me,—there is danger here
To thee—To Timur, ſhould it once be known,
That he preſerv'd the greateſt foe of Zingis.
ZEMOUCA.
Time hurries on, and thou conſider'ſt not,
That ſorrow haſtes apace. With morning comes
Thy brother Octar, Towards the ſtormy north
Thy troops file off already.—Wilt thou leave
Oviſa and the empire?
TIMUR.
Doſt thou mean
To urge me on to parricide?
ZEMOUCA.
I urge
Thee, not to parricide but open war,
A foe invades thee, ſeizes on a throne,
By juſtice thine; nay, forces from thy arms,
The firſt of women. Timur has the pow'r
To right himſelf, yet paſſive in his ſoul
He in the tyrant ſtill beholds the father.
TIMUR.
Zemouca, thou preſum'ſt on thy condition,
And therefore art ſo bold. I know from whence
This zeal ariſes, and behind thy words,
Perceive the gloomy workings of thy ſoul.—
I blame thee not, my father is thy foe,
And Timur is the rival of thy love,
[45] Both then ſhould periſh.—But thou know'ſt me not,
I am not made by nature for thy purpoſe,
I look thro' artful men, and hate deceit,
As I abhor the crimes thou doſt ſuggeſt.
[Exit Timur.
ZEMOUCA.
Curſe on the virtues of this haughty boy,
They level my deſigns.—I hop'd to rouze
To ſtrife, the hateful family of Zingis,
And from the boſom of the ſtorm to ruſh,
To ſeize Oviſa, and the Tartar throne.
But ſtill ſome means are left.
Enter ZENA.
ZENA.
Ill-fated prince,
Why doſt thou loiter here,—for Zingis knows
Of thy eſcape from death. From poſt to poſt
He ruſhes in his rage.
(Flouriſh.)
Away,—he comes,—Retire Zemouca, I will meet thee ſoon,
Beſide the rock, that with its crooked pines,
Sounds to the paſſing Altay.
ZEMOUCA.
Draw thy ſword.
Why ſhould I fly,—Is Zingis more than man?
But yet this headlong fury—this deſpair—
Suits not the brave;—not he alone muſt die,
This mighty fabrick he has raiſed, ſhall fall,
And whelm his race in ruin.
[Exit.
[46]Enter ZINGIS attended.
ZINGIS.
To defend
Our mortal foe Zemouca from our rage,
To favour Aunac's flight, and in this war
To lengthen the misfortunes of the Eaſt,
Are crimes beyond our mercy. Haſte Sidaſco,
[Exit Sidaſco,
Purſue the king.—Bold treaſon is awake,
Let all our guards be doubled,—let our ſpies
Beſet the tent of every prince and chief.
Call Timur hither,—He muſt be ſecured.
Oviſa's beauty is the ſecret ſource
From whence theſe deeds of diſobedience ſpring.
The cauſe muſt be remov'd. Let her be ſent
Without delay, to Octar. Zena, thou
Conduct her hence. To thy command we give
The troops of Timur: lead them to the north.
ZENA.
The lord of Tartary ſhall be obeyed.
Enter TIMUR.
ZINGIS.
Have we not, Timur, with a father's care,
Rear'd thee to manhood? Have we not with pow'r
And princely dignities inveſted thee?
Have we impos'd reſtraint upon thy will?
Or enviouſly witheld thy ſteps from fame?
Yet thou haſt theſe indulgences return'd
With diſobedience, treachery, and treaſon.
Twice haſt thou ſuffer'd Aunac to eſcape,
[47] Once ſav'd our greateſt foe,—retarding thus
Our courſe to glory;—doſt thou think ſuch crimes
Can be forgiven thee?
TIMUR.
Timur does not mean
To juſtify his conduct, or aſſign
The rigor of his father, as the cauſe
Of diſobedience to his high commands.
But in my ſoul, ſome other paſſions dwell,
Than thoſe that tend to deſolate the world;
I feel for the diſtreſs'd.—How could I ſee
Oviſa's father ſlain amidſt her tears!
The king, who gave his daughter to my love,
With all his realms—
ZINGIS.
Doſt thou preſume to claim
The kingdoms conquer'd by the ſword of Zingis?
Rebellious boy—forbear.—
TIMUR.
Let Octar reign,
I claim not aught but her,—the fair remains
Of the long line that rul'd the eaſtern world.
ZINGIS.
Thou ſhalt not ſhake thy father's firm reſolves—
Know that our mind hath been diveſted long,
Of all thoſe feeble feelings, that might ſtop
Our progreſs to dominion.—On a plan,
Extenſive as the object we purſue,
Is form'd our conduct,—which nor perils ſway,
Nor thoſe ſoft paſſions, that are better nam'd
The frailties, than the virtues of a king.
[48] Zena, to-night, conduct her hence,—thy rout
Lies thro' the camp of Octar.
TIMUR.
Chief, beware,
There's danger in the ſervice. Touch her not,
Should I complain,—a tempeſt might ariſe,
Which would involve in ruin and in death,
The hoſt of Zingis.
ZINGIS.
Ha! he utters treaſon,—
Seize him.—
TIMUR.
The man who dares approach me firſt,
Shall periſh in his inſolence. This ſword,
Which Zingis gave, ſhall nver be reſign'd,
To other hands than his.
[Giving his ſword to Zingis.
You now may come
And execute the orders of the king.
ZINGIS,
to his guards.
Forbear,—the race of Ogus, firſt of men,
Were ne'er diſgrac'd with fetters, like their ſouls,
Their bodies ſtill were free. Take back thy ſword,
A ſoldier's ſpirit dwells upon his arms.
Know, Timur, tho' thy crimes excite our rage,
We'll ſooner take away the life we gave,
Than break the manly vigor of thy ſoul.
But hope not our forgiveneſs. Leave this camp,
The deſart is before thee. Should the ſun
Riſe on thee here, with death, and what is worſe,
With infamy we puniſh thy delay.
[Exit Zingis, &c.
TIMUR,
[49]to an attendant.
Tamuzin, haſten to th' Eluthian lines,
Bid Cubla meet me at the water-fall,
Soon as the ſun ſhall hide his ſplendid orb
Behind the hills.—'Tis done,—the ſtorm is o'er,
[Exit Tamuzin.
But the high heaving deep unſettled round,
Wears ſtill a face of ruin. Should Oviſa
Conſent to ſhare my fate, I ſcarce could call
My father cruel. See, the princeſs comes!
She comes! and glads my ſoul, as when by night,
The weary traveller ſees a friendly beam
To light him o'er the deſart.
Enter OVISA.
OVISA.
To thy arms
Receive me, Timur,—Why did I offend,
I knew not all thy nobleneſs of ſoul.
Forgive the error of a mind oppreſs'd
With more than common ills;—to thee I owe
My father's life.
TIMUR.
Thy tears more powerful were,
Than the commands of him who rules the Eaſt.
OVISA.
Dark in his wrath, thy father paſs'd from hence.
TIMUR.
And all his rage is turn'd againſt his ſon.
In me Oviſa ſees a baniſh'd man,
This night I quit this camp.
OVISA.
[50]Unhappy prince,
Involv'd in the misfortunes of our houſe,
Thy ſplendid glories ſet. It muſt not be,—
Timur ſhall not be ruin'd.—Go, inform
The tyrant, that his rigor has prevailed:
I will compleat the purpoſe of his ſoul,
And give my hand to Octar.
TIMUR.
To my brother!
Was it Oviſa ſpoke!
OVISA.
I will reſtore
Thee to the love of Zingis,—to that ſphere,
In which thou ought'ſt to move, and then purſue
That courſe my ſtate requires.
TIMUR.
Farewel—
OVISA.
My lord,
Thou doſt not mean to leave me!—
TIMUR.
The commands
Of Zingis were, that I ſhould leave this camp,
Thou know'ſt how ſtern he is.
OVISA.
O turn not thus,
Thy wild determin'd look upon the ground.
Timur—
TIMUR.
I muſt be gone,—the hour is near
For my departure hence.—With ſmall regret
I plunge into the horrors which ſurround
The fortune of an exile. Since Oviſa—
[51] But I will not upbraid.—A prince diſgraced,
Ought not to hope the favor of mankind
Should follow him thro' ruin.—
[Going.
OVISA.
Son of Zingis!
I'll not be left unheard—nay then—I'm urg'd
The ſooner to my purpoſe.—I reſolv'd
To place thee high,—to give thee back to fame,
To all thy dignities, and then demand
An end to grief from this.—
[Drawing a dagger.
TIMUR,
taking it from her.
Oviſa—hold—
Sultana of my ſoul,—thou muſt not thus
Withdraw from Timur. Thy auſpicious light
Muſt mildly ſhine upon me thro' this gloom.
Forgive the jealous tranſports of a mind
O'erwhelm'd with love. Have I condemn'd unheard
The firſt of women!—
OVISA,
leaning on Timur.
O I'm ſick at heart,
My ſorrows, Timur, crowd too much upon me.
TIMUR.
Still there is hope,—ſome valiant friends remain,
Whoſe firm affections no misfortunes change,
Devoted to my ſervice.—They ſhall guard
Oviſa hence.—To-night we urge our flight
Acroſs the deſart, to the Caſpian ſhores.
And meet what fate decrees.—My ſoul delights
To ſtrive with fortune, in her gloomy hour,
To triumph o'er her frowns,—and to my ſword
To owe my greatneſs, rather than derive
From anceſtry a title to the world.
THE END OF THE THIRD ACT.
ACT IV.
[52]SCENE, The Camp of Zingis.
ZEMOUCA
alone.
THE ſun, deſcending from the clouded weſt,
Hides in the billowy Caſpian half his orb.
Night comes apace. High Tugra, in a ſtorm
Involves his ſummits. Thro' the aged trees,
That bend o'er Altay, from its rocky banks,
Howls the unfrequent wind. The murm'ring voice
Of Aſia's gathered nations, mounts the ſky,
And dignifies with awful pomp, a ſcene
That pleaſes well a ſoul reſolv'd like mine,
To puſh its lofty paſſions to extremes.
Enter ZENA.
ZENA.
My lord Zemouca, give thy ſoul to joy,
Still there is hope.—The baniſh'd Timur bids
His friends aſſemble near Oviſa's tent,
'Tis thought that he will join.
ZEMOUCA.
Does Timur the [...]
Conſpire with us? I would he had remain'd
Firm to the Niron cauſe.
ZENA.
Thy words ſurprize—
ZEMOUCA.
So will my deeds. This inſtant I'll diſcloſe
This plot to Zingis.—
ZENA.
[53]Ha! What madneſs clouds
The reaſon of Zemouca? Doſt thou mean
To ruin all thy friends,—to purchaſe peace
And infamous forgiveneſs, with the blood
Of thoſe who would ſupport thee—Draw thee forth
From the misfortunes which obſcure thy life?
Go—ruin'd prince—A mind ſo broke as thine,
Deſerves no change of fortune.
[Going.
ZEMOUCA.
Chief of Kergis,
Thou muſt not go—
ZENA.
Unhand me,—or, by heavens
I may prevent the meaneſs thou intend'ſt,
And to preſerve thy fame, commit a deed
I ſhould perhaps repent.—
ZEMOUCA.
My gallant friend!
Let me explain myſelf.—Place not to fear
The ſudden reſolution of a mind,
Frantic with its misfortunes.—What avails
The fall of Zingis, if his ſon ſhould reign?
Nay—have Oviſa.—The deteſted thought
Diſtracts my ſoul.—No more—no more of Timur.
ZENA.
Yet thou didſt once approve—
ZEMOUCA.
While there remain'd
A king to fill the vacant throne of Zingis,
I urg'd his ſon to arms: but the reward
Of his rebellion, ſhould we now ſucceed,
Is the dominion of the eaſtern world,
For Aunac is no more.—
ZENA.
[54]Our ſovereign dead!
ZEMOUCA.
Murder'd by fierce Sidaſco, who o'ertook
His flight acroſs the deſart. Aunac ſcorn'd
To yield to rebels. With his little troop
He long ſuſtain'd the fight, till cover'd o'er
With mortal wounds—he bow'd his hoary head,
And breath'd his ſacred ſpirit on the winds.
ZENA.
Perdition ſeize the traitors.—But let rage
Give place to great revenge. We muſt enlarge
This breach among the Nirons—Urge the prince
With hopes of empire—Blow into a flame
Each paſſion in his boſom, that may tend
To rid the Eaſt of tyranny and Zingis.
And then—
ZEMOUCA.
Proceed.—
ZENA.
When the loud ſtorm ſhall riſe,
And tumult riots thro' the gloom of night.
While the young parricide, beſmear'd with blood,
Bends o'er his father.—Haſt thou not a ſword?—
ZEMOUCA.
A truſty one—
ZENA.
Then plunge it in his breaſt,
And thro' the dark confuſion of the ſcene,
Aſcend the throne. The nations, ſtruck with awe,
Will ſettle in thy preſence, and look up,
As to a god, to him who dares to ſeize
The crown, as due to his ſuperior parts;
Tho' not tranſmitted by a line of kings.
ZEMOUCA.
[55]My zealous friend—In other times than theſe
Thy words would much offend.—Diſtracted—fall'n
From every hope, ambition, love, revenge,
May drive me to a deed my ſoul abhors,
And ſtain my name with murder.—Had I been
By fortune plac'd on leſs unequal terms,
I would e'en ſcorn to be unjuſt to Zingis.
Enter CUBLA haſtily.
CUBLA.
Zemouca—Zena—hence—away, with ſpeed
Alarm our friends.—The tyrant in his rage,
Haſtens from poſt to poſt, and is inform'd
Of our conſpiracy.—
ZENA.
Then all is loſt!
ZEMOUCA.
Let not deſpair aſſail your gallant minds,
One bold reſource remains. Prepare your tribes
To join the fortune of Zemouca's ſword.
Between this rock and Altay's ruſhing flood,
On a green narrow plot, conceal'd from view,
The brave remains of Timur's waſteful ſword;
A few determin'd friends now ſtand in arms,
And wait my orders for a daring deed.
Go—quickly arm—you ſoon ſhall hear of me.—
[Exit.
(Enter an OFFICER in haſte.)
OFFICER.
Ye Tartars princes—He who rules the world,
Commands your preſence.
ZENA.
[56]We obey the king.
[Exit Officer.
CUBLA.
By the long honors of my noble race,
I will not go—beneath a traitor's name
To fall by Zingis. I will arm my tribe,
Avow my hatred—call the tyrant forth,
And die or conquer in an open war.
ZENA.
Ha! Would'ſt thou plunge thyſelf, thy friends, thy hopes,
In certain ruin?—Let us hence with ſpeed
And face the tyrant.—Zingis will avoid
To ſeize on bare ſuſpicion chiefs of power.
CUBLA.
But his ſuſpicion is immediate death;
Deciſively ſevere, he ſingles out
The object of his wrath, and like the flaſh
That burſts from heaven, blaſts it e're the world
Perceive the ſtorm is near.
ZENA.
Should he accuſe,
Thro' his aſtoniſh'd guards our ſwords ſhall hew
A bloody paſſage to his life, and give
His guilty ſpirit to the ruſhing winds.
CUBLA.
It ſhall be ſo.—
[Exeunt.
(Enter MILA from the other ſide the ſtage.)
MILA.
My lord—my huſband—Cubla—
Ha! do'ſt thou then forbid me to partake
[57] The perils which ſurround thy noble life.
But he is gone, and left me to my fears.
How awful is this moment—On its wings
Hangs the uncertain fate of all I prize.
Enter OVISA.
OVISA.
Where is the ſon of Zingis?—Whither turn'd
The ſteps of Timur?—At an hour like this,
Oppreſs'd by fortune, and o'erwhelm'd by woe,
My ſoul demands his preſence.
MILA.
Has the queen
Heard of—
OVISA.
The murder of my father, Mila—
Do I ſeem unconcern'd? Have not mine eyes
Some tears upon them? Do not ſighs extend
At times my boſom? Dwell no ſigns of woe
Upon my features? Yes—my heart is hard,
Elſe from my grief, thou ought'ſt to have perceiv'd
That I had loſt a father whom I lov'd.
[Weeps.
MILA.
Alas forbear—
OVISA.
Disfigur'd, from his throne
The king of Aſia fell,—of a long race,
Who ſat aloft in Tartary, and rul'd,
Like gods, with juſtice—Aunac was the laſt:—
For what am I?—A ſolitary beam,
Left by that ſun behind—to ſhine a while
A faint memorial of our ſplendid line,
And then to fade in night.
MILA.
[58]Tho' loth to add
To ſorrows great like thine—to wound a ſoul
That feels too much already, I muſt tell
Some further cauſe of grief.
OVISA.
No—Mila—no,
Thou can'ſt not add to ſorrows great like mine,
Forſake me—leave me—my diſaſt'rous ſtate,
Drives me beyond the reach of further woes.
Alas my father! Pale and cold he lies
On the bare ground, beneath the chilly blaſt
That howls acroſs the deſart!—Will no friend
Direct me—lead me—bear me to the place
Where murder'd Aunac bleeds in all his wounds,
Some faint remains of life may wander ſtill
Along his cheek—may faulter on his tongue.
O let me preſs him in my warm embrace,
Let poor Oviſa cloſe his dying eyes.
MILA.
Forbear Oviſa—tho' perhaps this hour
Decrees the fall of all I hold moſt dear.
Such is thy ſtrain of ſorrow, that my heart
Melts at thy woes, forgetful of my own.—
All may be well again.—
OVISA.
Yes—Mila, all—
But 'tis beyond the grave. This world preſents
But ſcenes of woe, and horror to my ſoul.
MILA.
My brother comes,—how deſp'rate is his ſtate,
I know his purpoſe—my divided love
Would rend my heart: I muſt not tarry here.
[Exit.
[59]Eenter ZEMOUCA.
ZEMOUCA.
Thou fair ſultana of the eaſtern world,
Behold thy ſlave Zemouca—On his knees
He pays that homage which a ſubject owes
To the remains of Aunac's royal line.
OVISA.
Ariſe thou friend of him who is no more.
The wayward fortune of our royal houſe,
Has fall'n too heavy on the faithful few,
Who follow'd us thro' ruin. Hapleſs prince,
The camp of Zingis is no place for thee,
Retire, and ſave thy life.—The royal cauſe
With Aunac fell forever.
ZEMOUCA.
That depends
On Aunac's daughter. If that ſpirit dwells
In that white boſom, and I truſt it does,
Which mark'd the genius of thy noble line,
Oviſa, in her beauty, may aſcend,
From the misfortunes which obſcur'd her race,
And rule the nations on her father's throne.
OVISA.
No more—Zemouca—Such deluſive hopes
Shall not betray me from the paths of grief.
Let me indulge my woes.—A captive here,
What can Oviſa do!
ZEMOUCA.
Not far from hence
My faithful tribe, ſtands ready to convey
Their beauteous ſovereign.—Ere the morning dawns
[60] We ſhall be far from Zingis. In the Weſt
The tyrant has a foe—Charizmian Mâhmud,
Who, thund'ring round his Caſpian, now prepares
For war againſt the Niron.—
OVISA.
Prince—no more!
I will not hence.—To move around the world,
To raiſe the ſcorn or pity of mankind;
For majeſty in ruins, ill becomes
Oviſa's ſex and dignity of ſoul.
ZEMOUCA.
Timur detains thee—Yes—thy father's foes,
His murderers, the baſe uſurper's race,
Alone have influence with the loſt Oviſa.
The faithful few—his friends in his diſtreſs,
His only friends, amidſt a rebel world,
The ſole ſupporters of his falling houſe,
Muſt not expect his daughter's grateful hand
To draw them forth from ruin.
OVISA.
Is it well
Thus to upbraid me in an hour of woe?
I thought thee gen'rous.—Can'ſt thou wound a heart
That feels too much already.—
ZEMOUCA.
Time is loſt.—
We muſt away—Thy inexperienc'd youth—
My loyalty for Aunanc's race—the love
That fires this boſom—ſhall excuſe the deed—
I muſt determine for thee—bear thee hence—
[Seizing her hand.
Our hope, our cauſe muſt not be loſt.—This ſword
[61] Is thy protection.—Yield not to thy fears;
Why doſt thou tremble? Struggle not my love—
Hence—hence—away—
OVISA.
Preſumptuous man—forbear
This, to thy queen?—Is this thy boaſted love?
Thy faith to Aunac and his royal line?
Doſt thou not fear me?—hence—unhand me ſtraight,
Or this thy ſword—
[Seizing his ſword.
Enter TIMUR, who draws and ruſhes for⯑ward, Oviſa interpoſes.
O ſpare him, daring Timur!
Unhappy man, he was the friend of Aunac,
In the misfortunes of our houſe he falls—
Deſpair invades his ſoul. Tho' great his crime,
Why ſhould it cancel all? I muſt forgive,—
I dare not be ungrateful. Son of Zingis!
Wilt thou not hear me?
TIMUR.
Not with more regard
A voice from heaven.—Begone,—had not this place
[to Zemouca.
Been ſacred like the preſence of a god;
Were not Oviſa here,—thy inſolence
Would meet with its deſert. Go, force me not
To take that life I lately ſpared in war.
ZEMOUCA.
It ſhall be ſo,—a vengeance more compleat
Becomes the ſpirit of Zemouca's mind.
My deſperate ſtate demands deciſive means
To end theſe ills that compaſs me around.
[Exit.
TIMUR.
[62]Away—vain man,—thy ſecret ſchemes avail
As little, as thy valor in the field.
Come lovely mourner,—come into my arms,
O ſooth a while thy fluttering ſoul to peace;
All is not loſt. Tho' fate has been unkind,
One ſtill remains to ſhield thee from thy foes.
Oviſa,—let us hence,—ſome faithful friends
Wait on the Altay's bank.
OVISA.
No—Timur—no,—
Determin'd to remain,—my ſoul is fix'd
On death or great revenge!—Shall he,—ſhall Zingis,—
The murderer of my father,—of my race—
Weild Aunac's ſcepter—while Oviſa lives?
No—ſhould mankind in meanneſs bow the neck
To tyranny,—a woman's bolder hand
Shall free herſelf,—nay more,—ſhall free the world.—
Thus—thus oppreſs'd,—the ſoftneſs of my ſex
Muſt ſink beneath the greatneſs of my ſoul.
TIMUR.
What horrid gulph is opening to my view?—
What ſhould I do?—Here, hurried on to guilt,
By all my wrongs,—by all the pow'r of love,
And there witheld by virtue.—
OVISA.
Turn away
Theſe dark, diſorder'd looks that pierce my ſoul.
Reject me,—leave me,—tear me from thy heart,
I ſtain thy virtue, ruin all thy fame.—
[63] I turn thy ſword againſt thy father's life.
Throw the perſuaſive miſchief from thy arms.
Alas! why am I ſo oppreſs'd by fate,
That I muſt urge to crimes I muſt abhor!—
Ha! we muſt part,—I am demanded hence,
I know the dreadful courſe I muſt purſue,
To calm this tempeſt that inflames my ſoul.
[going.
TIMUR.
O leave me not,—I will determine ſtraight,—
The thought is dreadful,—muſt I raiſe theſe hands,
Theſe impious hands, againſt a father's life,
The king of Aſia—
OVISA.
Aſia's king is dead,—
And Aſia's tyrant triumphs in his fall.—
No ſon was left by Aunac to revenge
His wrongs,—his blood. The poor, diſtreſs'd Oviſa
Is faint,—is feeble,—has not aught but tears
To ſooth the ſpirits of her murder'd race.
O quickly call me hence, ye friendly ſhades
Of thoſe that are no more. Receive the laſt,
And the moſt wretched of a hapleſs race.
I come,—farewel—what darkneſs falls around!
Support me Timur.
TIMUR.
Empreſs of my ſoul!
I will ſupport thee.—O'er her ſhaded brow
Life faintly ſtrays.—Awake, my love, awake;
O leave me not to horror and diſpair.
She comes,—ſhe breaths,—my ſoul is fill'd with joy.
[64]Enter NADIR, in terror.
What woud'ſt thou Nadir?
NADIR.
Prince thou art betray'd,
A thouſand warriors, by the king's command
ſurround this place,—thy train already ſeiz'd,
Are led in chains; fierce Zena has poſſeſs'd
Each paſs from hence.—At ſuch a time of peril,
Can Nadir ſerve thee with his ſword,—his life?
Command them freely.
TIMUR.
Leave me, generous youth,
Why ſhouldſt thou fall,—perhaps I may demand
Thy valor in a more auſpicious hour,
But now away.
[Exit Nadir.
Retire,—my love,—retire,
[to Oviſa.
Regain the tent. The tumult of the ſcene
Suits not the feelings of a ſoul like thine.
I have ſome friends among the warlike lines,
That threaten us around. I ſtill may raiſe
Their virtue in my favor, turn the ſcale
Of fate, and ſave the firſt of womankind.
OVISA.
Stay, Timur, ſtay—
TIMUR.
The moment's on the wing
That may preſerve us both.—
OVISA.
I know thy purpoſe.
Thou plan'ſt ſome deſperate deed, and wil't retire
From thy misfortunes in the way thou lov'ſt.
[65] And wilt thou leave me in the midſt of foes,
Depriv'd, perhaps, of means to end my grief?
It muſt not be,—a ſoul oppreſs'd like mine,
Throws off a woman's weakneſs, and demands
My ſhare of danger—with the man I love.
TIMUR.
It ſhall be ſo, ſultana of my ſoul,
I will remain.
Enter Zena, with guards.
ZENA.
Go ſoldiers,—ſeize the prince,
It is the will of Zingis.
TIMUR.
Faithleſs man;
Doſt thou preſume?—Doſt thou not fear this ſword?
Provoke me not.—With blood ſo baſe as thine,
It has not been diſhonor'd.
ZENA.
Prince, forbear.—
I will not anſwer unavailing rage:
Now to reſiſt, were folly.—Thouſands gird
This place with an impenetrable line:
Reſign thy ſword.—Suſpicions darkly paſs
Along the ſoul of Zingis,—he commands,
That, for this night, his ſon may be confin'd
Among the warlike Kergis.
OVISA.
Timur, yield—
Alas, they are an army. Let me not
Behold the hope of Aſia in his blood.
TIMUR.
[66]My ſpirit yields not,—but thy tears prevail.
Nadir, advance; I ſaw thee in the field
Act well a ſoldier's part: receive my ſword,
It is a preſent which I ſcorn to give
To any but a ſoldier. Chief of Kergis,
Thy honourable ſervice is perform'd,
Conduct me hence.—
ZENA.
The orders of the king
Extend to fair Oviſa;—thro' the night,
I muſt convey her to the camp of Octar;
So Zingis has commanded.
TIMUR.
He who dares
To touch this goddeſs, with unhallowed hands,
Shall periſh in her preſence.—Ha! my ſword,—
'Tis gone,—the moment of revenge is paſt,
Unhappy Timur cannot die with fame.
And ſhall ſhe thus be ſevered from my heart?
Oviſa!
OVISA.
Timur,—fare has done its worſt,
And we muſt part,—Lead Omrah, lead me hence.—
Detain me not,
[to Timur.]
alas, to ſtrive is vain,—Farewel, my lord,—thou ſoon ſhalt hear of me.—
Perhaps thy cruel father will relent,
When he ſhall hear his rigor laid me low;
Perhaps he then may liſten to thy grief,
And give what was Oviſa, to thy tears.
O place me by my father,—let his hand,
[67] Cold as it is, ſupport his daughter's head,
Thro' her long ſlumbers in the peaceful grave.
[Exeunt Zena and guards, with Oviſa.
TIMUR
alone.
Where am I?—whither ſhall I turn my ſteps?
I'm here in darkneſs,—the fair light is gone,
That gilded o'er my melancholy ſtate.—
I muſt reſolve, ſhe ſhall not thus be torn
From Timur's ſide.—I'll wake his armies round,
Proclaim my wrongs,—demand their aid aloud,
And ſave Oviſa, or my life reſign.
[Going.
Enter CUBLA.
CUBLA.
'Twas nobly ſpoke, at length thou haſt reſolv'd.—
This is the time to right thyſelf,—thy love;—
To gain the ſcepter wreſted from thy hand,—
To ſave Oviſa.—
TIMUR.
Let us hence, with ſpeed—
She ſhall be reſcued, or this arm ſhall fail.—
CUBLA.
Stop, ſon of Zingis,—know, the queen is ſafe.
The mounted ſquadrons wait thy laſt reſolves,
Ere they convey her hence.—Brave Zena ſtill
Is Timur's friend,—if Timur will be bold.
He ſends thy ſword to teſtify his zeal.
Thou wer't irreſolute,—and he perform'd
Thy father's orders,—will obey him ſtill,
Shouldſt thou thy tame morality purſue.—
TIMUR.
[68]It ſhall be ſo,—all further thought away.
Haſte, arm the tribes,—let all the gallant chiefs
Who draw the ſword for Timur, ſtraight convene
Before Oviſa's tent.—The fire that long
Within this boſom pent, convuls'd my frame
Shall burſt in thunder forth,—and ſhake the world.
[Exeunt.
END OF THE FOURTH ACT.
ACT V.
[69]Enter TIMUR.
TIMUR.
TH' appointed time draws near.—The ſilent moon,
Now, cold and wan, rolls down the hazy weſt,
And haſtes to hide her half-enlighten'd orb.
At ſuch a dreary, undiſtinguiſh'd hour,
The guilty ought to perpetrate ſuch crimes
As ill can bear the ſplendid eye of day.
Yet I am urg'd with ſuch uncommon force—
By love, by wrongs, by all a father's crimes—
To uſe the ſword—that, partial to my ſtate,
Mankind will pity, where they can't approve.
Enter CUBLA, ZENA, and Conſpirators.
Hail, gallant chiefs. Are all the tribes in arms?
CONSPIRATORS.
All under arms.
CUBLA.
We only wait to know
The poſt aſſign'd to each.—Thy high commands,
To point the line of action thro' the night.
TIMUR.
Our daring enterprize, my friends, demands
Conduct as well as valor.—On that hill
No feeble foe ſecurely dreams in night.
To wreſt the world from Zingis, is a deed
As full of peril as it is of fame.
[70] Cubla, the haughty Nirons, who are form'd
Before the royal ſquare—and boaſt the blood
Of Zingis, muſt be vanquiſh'd by the ſpear.
To the bold Tomats, who defend the paſs
Along the river—Zena, we oppoſe
Thy hardy tribe.—To bold Jeſſugi's ſword
Aſſign the ſtubborn Vigurs on the left.
To thee, Togai, the noble taſk we give
To break the Munguls, marſhall'd in the rear.
Araptan, ſtrike confuſion and diſmay
Thro' all the nations that extend their lines
Towards the mountains.—Timur draws the ſword
Againſt the choſen Toman*, that aloft
Look forward from their ſhields thro' duſky night,
And guard their ſovereign with a wall of ſteel.
CUBLA.
What is the ſignal?
TIMUR.
When you thrice ſhall hear
The midnight watch reſounding from the rock
Where Zingis ſtands in arms—on every ſide
Exalt the ſhout of war—aſſail at once
Th' embattl'd Nirons.—Thro' the ſtorms we raiſe,
Aſcend victorious; or by noble deaths
Avoid diſhonour.
ALL.
Victory and Timur!
[Exeunt Conſpir.
TIMUR.
'Tis done—Amidſt his armies Zingis falls.
But yet, to ſit upon the Tartar throne,
Red with a father's blood, and to derive
[71] My title from rebellion—is a ſtate
My ſoul approves not.—
Enter OVISA.
Bright ſultana, come,
And, like a ſunbeam ſeen before a ſtorm,
Diffuſe a pleaſing melancholy light
Along a mind that's ſhadow'd o'er with woe.
OVISA.
Alas, Oviſa is the guilty cauſe
Of all the griefs that ſhadow o'er thy ſoul.
'Twas I diſgrac'd thee: 'twas the adverſe fate
Of the devoted line, that, like a blaſt,
Paſs'd o'er thy blighted honors—laid thee low,
To wither in thy prime. To ruin Timur
Was not enough—I made a parricide
Of him I lov'd.
TIMUR.
Forbear, my ſoul's delight!
I blame thee not, thou firſt of womankind!
Fate urg'd me on—a concourſe of events
Decrees his fall—
OVISA.
The tyrant ſhould have dy'd
But by theſe hands—the laſt—the poor remains
Of Aunac's houſe—his murder'd ſovereign's race
Should rid the world of Zingis—ſhould revenge
The treachery, the treaſons, and the blood
By which he roſe into the Tartar throne.
I have offended—he's thy father, Timur;
Forgive the rage, the madneſs, the deſpair
Of one, ſo broken with uncommon woes.
[Weeps.
TIMUR.
[72]O harraſs not a ſoul ſo ſoft as thine
With dire viciſſitudes of grief and rage.—
All may be well—becalm thy mind awhile;
Our time is ſhort—this hour—
OVISA.
May be the laſt
We ere ſhall meet—I know it, ſon of Zingis;
And have reſolv'd.—The ſpirit of our race
Has not forſaken this diſtracted breaſt.
Should Timur fall—and my foreboding heart
Still dreads the worſt—why ſhould I ſtay behind?
To loſe again my father, brother, friends,
All theſe art thou to deſolate Oviſa.
TIMUR.
How ſhall I ſooth to reſt thy mournful mind?
Let heaven diſpoſe of me—
[The firſt watch ſounds.
That calls me hence—
This one embrace—it ſhall not be the laſt.
Compoſe thy ſoul, my love;—O let not grief
Diſſolve thee thus—convulſe thy tender frame—
Again—
[Second ſound.
Be not too raſh.—This dreary place—
The deed a doing, and the gloom of night
Replete with horrors, may awake deſpair.
O think on Timur—think upon his woes.
Should he behold—
[Third ſound.
I come—I come—Farewel.
[Exit.
OVISA.
He's gone—for ever vaniſh'd from my eyes?
O king—O father—if thy ſpirit ſtrays
[73]On the dark winds that whiſtle round my head—
Are theſe thy paſſing ſteps that ſound aloft
Along the ruſtling branches of that oak?
Look on Oviſa.—Have I not reveng'd
Thy murder—thy ſlain ſon—thy kingdom loſt—
The ruin'd glories of a line of kings?
I arm'd his ſon againſt thy cruel foe;
Plung'd into guilt, for thee, the firſt of men;
And riſk'd a life much dearer than my own,
Art thou not ſatisy'd—
Enter MILA.
MILA.
Alas, Oviſa, we are left alone.
The hill is bare of troops.—The waining moon
Has diſappear'd—the melancholy blaſt
Of midnight, mixing with the Altay's roar,
Sounds thro' the lonely tents. The night is dark—
With horror fill'd—
OVISA.
It ſuits my ſtate of mind.
Mila, the long diſaſters of our houſe
Are drawing to concluſion.—I obſerv'd
A brother's preſent in thy boſom hid—
Thy queen demands it.—
MILA.
Ha! what means Oviſa!
OVISA.
That dagger, Mila—
[Snatching a dagger from Mila's boſom.
My ſuperior woes,
[72] [...][73] [...][74] My rank commands priority in death—
[Noiſe at a diſtance.
The dreadful ſtrife is ſwelling in the wind—
[Kneeling.
Thou ſoul divine, that doſt pervade the world,
If from thy aweful dwelling in the ſkies,
Where round thy throne the murm'ring thunder walks,
The ready miniſter of thy commands,
Thou look'ſt thro' the breaches of thy ſtorms,
At times, on earth. O turn thine eyes on Timur:
Ward off the hand of death—
[The noiſe increaſes; Oviſa ſtarts up.
Perhaps his ſoul
This very inſtant iſſued thro' his wounds.
MILA.
Alas, my queen, what horrors ſhake thy frame!
What wildneſs flaſhes from Oviſa's eyes!
All may be well—forbear—
OVISA.
I ſhall be firm—
Firm as the ſon of Aunac—he who fell
Amidſt his ruin'd armies—On that rock
Which bends its moſſy forehead o'er the ſtream,
There ſtands a tree; it murmurs to the wind.
Shrill in its top, laſt night, I heard the voice
Of paſſing Zangon—thou ſhalt find me there.
Go, bid my ſlaves, if any yet attend
The deſolate Oviſa, to obſerve
The progreſs of events—to mark the time
When Timur falls—If Aſia's hope muſt die.
That thro' the dreary horrors of the night,
My ſoul may join the lord of my deſires.
[Exeunt.
[75]
SCENE changes to the Royal Pavilion.
Enter ZINGIS, NEVIAN, Officers and Attendants.
Shouts at a Diſtance.
ZINGIS.
This is the feeble effort of deſpair.
Zemouca ſeeks for death. His haughty ſoul,
Bereft of hope, awakes this tumult round,
And in a daring action longs to leave
The world it fail'd to rule—
Enter OFFICER in haſte,
OFFICER.
Zemouca, Zena,
The Soigarates—the Kergis—all in arms,
Attack the troops upon the Altay's banks,
And ruſh upon the line—the guards o'erwhelm'd,
From poſt to poſt roll back upon the ſquare;
The gallant prince, Caredi, with his tribe,
Stems the rude torrent—but he ſoon muſt fall,
Unleſs ſupported—This from him to Zingis.
ZINGIS, to an Officer.
Balin, this inſtant haſten and repel
This impotent attack—But ſince mankind
Are ſlaves to fear, and armies by ſurprize
Have fall'n before a deſpicable foe,
We ſhall not fail in prudence—Sound to arms.
[Trumpet ſounds.
OFFICER.
[76]We are begirt with foes—On every ſide
Bold treaſon walks thro' night—Confuſion, fear,
Run thro' our lines—I heard the dreadful voice
Of Timur thundring thro' the horrid gloom;
While Cubla from amidſt the war replies—
Half of the tribes are rebels—Up the hill,
Thro' men and arms, they hew their bloody way
Towards the royal tents.
ZINGIS.
Thy fears, young man,
Have magnify'd the danger.—Let our guards
Stand to their arms within the royal ſquare.
The ſon of Zingis muſt not be deſpis'd.
Timur is brave—he only durſt attempt
A deed ſo great. Demand his father forth,
And in the boſom of the midnight cloud
Contend with him for Aſia.
Enter SIDASCO, wounded.
SIDASCO.
All is loſt—
The line is broke—within the royal ſquare
Death ravages at large—Our braveſt chiefs,
The firm ſupporters of the fame of Zingis,
Are ſtruck with fear, and fly.
ZINGIS.
Away—'tis time
For Zingis to appear.
SIDASCO.
It is too late—
NEVIAN.
The camp of Octar—
ZINGIS.
[77]What of Octar's camp?
NEVIAN.
Let us retreat—
ZINGIS.
Preſumptuous man—no more—
Foe to my fame—doſt thou—ſhall Aſia's lord
Shrink from the face of danger—blood ſhall ſwell
The Altay's ſtream—the Eaſt—the world ſhall groan
Beneath the ſhock of armies, ere from war
The backward ſtep of Zingis ſhall be ſeen.
[Exeunt, except Sidaſco.
Enter TIMUR, CUBLA, and other Conſpirators, with drawn Swords.
TIMUR.
The tent of Zingis!—Spare the hero's life;
The conqueror of Aſia muſt not fall.
Stain not with horrid parricide the fame
We have acquir'd.—Sidaſco, in his blood!
On thee the death of Aunac is reveng'd.
Relentleſs, cruel Omrah.—Where is Zingis?
SIDASCO.
Fled to the camp of Octar.
TIMUR.
Thou betray'ſt
Thy ſovereign's fame—my father never fled.
If, in the carnage of this dreadful night,
Some ſpot is cover'd with uncommon heaps
Of ſlaughter'd warriors, there the king of Nirons
[78] Lies pale upon his ſlain.—Convey him hence.
We war not with the vanquiſh'd.—Haſte, Togai,
And with the muſic of the Tomans bring
The bright Oviſa: ſhe ſhall rule the Eaſt.
CUBLA.
The troops muſt have a king—they look aloft
To him who pull'd the tyrant from his ſphere.
This land of heroes to the ſword alone
Will yield obedience. How can female hands
Ere wield the ſcepter Zingis could not hold!
CHIEFS.
Let Timur reign!
CUBLA.
The moment's on the wing.
Then ſeize it prince, ere wild diſſentions riſe.
Mankind are ſtruck with novelty, and he,
Who, thro' the rude diſorders of the night,
Has courage to aſcend the Tartar throne,
Will be ſupported,—Timur king of Tartars!
CHIEFS.
Timur, king of Tartars!
TIMUR.
Since then the public voice—
Enter ZEMOUCA, with his Party, haſtily, with his ſword drawn.
ZEMOUCA.
The man who dares
To mount this throne, ſhall periſh in his crime.
The race of Aunac ſhall the Tartars rule.
Oviſa only has a right to reign.
TIMUR.
[79]Preſumptuous man, who in this thin diſguiſe
Of loyalty, doſt hide thy own deſigns,
Thy inſolence forbear,—or elſe this ſword—
ZEMOUCA.
Vain are thy threats,—the baſe uſurping Niron,
Who rais'd himſelf, as every villain may,
By perfidy, by treaſon, and by blood,
Is now removed, thou patricide, by thee.—
Nor ſhall the tyrant's race—
TIMUR.
Audacious, ſlave!
Thus Timur anſwers—
[They fight.
ZEMOUCA.
Niron, at thy heart—
Thus periſh all—Ha! ſtill his adverſe fate
Purſues Zemouca,—Faithleſs to my hand,
[Throwing away his ſword.
Hadſt thou but done my purpoſe.—Unreveng'd
I die.—
[Falls.
The Niron's fortune ſtill prevails.
The world, for which I fought and toil'd ſo long,
Is now ſecur'd to Timur.—Bright Oviſa,
She too is his.—The kingdoms of my fathers
Are fall'n for ever. But my ſoul is free.—
[Dies.
CUBLA.
Why totter thus thy weak, unſteady ſteps?
What Paleneſs, Timur, wanders o'er thy face?
How fares it with the prince?
TIMUR.
Does Zingis live?
CUBLA.
[80]What means my lord?
TIMUR.
Go graſp his royal knees,
If yet he wanders thro' his ruin'd lines,—
He may forgive you. Heaven reveng'd his wrongs
On his rebellious ſon.
CUBLA.
He bleeds to death—
TIMUR.
If, midſt his hoſts, the lord of Aſia fell,
Repair to Octar,—he alone can hold
The ſcepter of his father. Let him not—
I knew him generous, let not Octar uſe
His pow'r againſt Oviſa—Let her will
Be free amidſt the horrors of her ſtate.
Enter an OFFICER haſtily.
All, all is loſt!
CUBLA.
Explain thy fears.
OFFICER.
The king—
Zingis, advancing with his Niron guards,
Broke our victorious troops, and pour'd their flight
Down the ſteep ſtill. A while the valiant Zena
Flam'd in the front of war, and ſtop'd the foe
Till ſlain by Zingis.—Round the royal ſquare
Each paſs is ſeiz'd.
CUBLA,
[81]to Timur.
Thy preſence may recal
The flying tribes.
TIMUR.
What now remains of life,
Cannot convey me hence.—My adverſe fate
Lies heavy on my friends. Retire with ſpeed,
Avoid the lord of Aſia in his rage.
[Exeunt conſpirators, except Cubla.
CUBLA.
Let them avoid who fear him—Hapleſs prince;
I did adviſe thee to this daring deed,
And will ſupport thee to the laſt extream.—
This to my fame I owe, and this to thee,
And to a ſpirit that diſdains to yield.
Enter ZINGIS and his Party.
Flouriſh of Trumpets,
ZINGIS.
Purſue the traitors. Thou rebellious youth,
That durſt call forth thy father—ſhake his throne,
And make him anxious for the world he rul'd.
Ha! doſt thou tremble? Art thou only bold
When fortune favors in the gloom of night?
Degenerate boy! We ſooner could forgive
Thy crimes than fears.—
TIMUR
falling.
My father is reveng'd.—
ZINGIS.
Ha! is it thus.—Has the rude chance of war
O'ertaken Timur in a deed like this?
[82] Hadſt thou with fame, with honor cover'd o'er
Thy latter field,—In other wars expir'd,
Theſe tears would flow from a more noble cauſe,
Than pity for a ſon.
TIMUR.
Will Zingis grant
My laſt requeſt.—Yet I have known ſo long
Th' unalter'd rigor of a father's will,
That Timur has no hopes.—I leave my friends,
Whom their affections liſted in my cauſe,
Involv'd in ruin.—Spare them—O protect
A poor diſaſtrous mourner in her tears.—
Daughter of Aunac! Let thy pride forgive
The feelings of a heart that's wholly thine.
I'll not ſollicit.—No,—Oviſa, no.
I will not wound thy dignity of ſoul,
By a requeſt to foes. Yet Timur now
Can not defend—Oviſa—Oh—farewel.
[Dies.
ZINGIS.
I was to blame.—He ought to rule the Eaſt;
For when my ſpirit ſhould forſake the world,
His milder genius would have reconcil'd
The vanquiſh'd nations to the houſe of Zingis.
Enter OVISA, led by TOGAI.
OVISA.
I am betray'd—Perfidious man! Is this—
Is this the king to whom thou lead'ſt Oviſa?
ZINGIS.
Remove the princeſs.
OVISA.
[83]Yes.—This ſcene of death.
Becomes this preſence—Was it not enough,
O thou deſtroyer of Oviſa's race!
To ſlay my brother—In his failing years
To murder Aunac.—Could not nature hold
Thy hand from Timur?—Murderer of thy ſon!—
Ah! whither wanders my diſtracted ſoul?
By me he fell—'Twas my ill-fate'd love
Brought him to this—made all this ruin here.—
O Timur, Timur!
[Throwing herſelf on Timur's body.
No thou ſhalt not force
Her lord from poor Oviſa.—I reſign
My claim to Aſia.—Does thy iron heart
Deny me this—a portion of his grave?
ZINGIS.
Nevian, convey her hence.—This ſcene of blood
Diſturbs her reaſon.
[Oviſa ſtarting up.
OVISA.
Tyrant, do thy worſt.—
This world is thine.—There is a place beyond
The limits of thy empire.—It becomes
The laſt remaims of Aunac's royal line.
Thus—thus—to free herſelf—
[Stabs herſelf.
ZINGIS.
Prevent her Nevian.—
NEVIAN.
It is too late—
OVISA.
O thou for whom alone
I could have borne to live—it was not kind
[84] To leave me lonely thus: My murder'd lord!—
If ſtill thy ſpirit hovers in the wind,
O let me hear thy voice—A while delay—
My ſoul is fluttering on its parting wings—
I ſee thee faintly, Timur!—Ha!—that cloud
Comes in between—O—leave me not my love.—
[Dies.
ZINGIS.
Nevian convene our chiefs within the ſquare,
We have commands to give.—We muſt reſtore
From this rude ſtorm that has paſs'd o'er our camp,
Our intermitted pow'r. Tomorrow war
Shall roll this ſcene of ſorrow from our mind.—
And Zingis, like the ſun thro' cloudleſs heaven,
Shall urge his courſe to conqueſt. Chief of Eluths,
[To Cubla.
It was not well to arm our ſon againſt us.
But there's enough of blood.—Go—hence—away.—
And yet the generous paſſions of the ſoul,
Thoſe homely virtues of a private life,
Suit not our great deſigns.—We ſit aloft,
In thunder and in clouds, to awe the world,
And firſt muſt conquer, e're we bleſs mankind.
THE END.
Appendix A EPILOGUE,
[]Spoken by Mrs. ABINGTON.
I'M ſent, good folks, to ſpeak the Epilogue,
But 'tis ſo dull—I'll cheat the ſcribling rogue;
Among ourſelves, your loſs will be but ſmall,—
YOU'RE
to the Boxes.
too polite for Epilogue to call;But as for YOU
to the Gallery.
,—it is your joy and pride,Ever to call—but never ſatisfied.—
Will you, ye Criticks, give up Rome and Greece?
And turn Mahometans, and ſave this Piece?
What, ſhall our ſtage receive this Tartar race,
Each whiſker'd hero with a copper face?
I hate the Tartars,—hate their vile religion,—
We have no ſouls forſooth—that's their deciſion!
Theſe brutes, ſome horrid prejudice controuls;
Speak, Engliſh huſbands—have your wives no ſouls?
Then for our perſons—ſtill more ſhameful work,
A hundred women wed a ſingle Turk!
Again, ye Engliſh huſbands, what ſay you?
A hundred wives! you wou'd not wiſh for Two.
Romans and Greeks for me!—O that dear Sparta!
Their women had a noble Magna Charta!
There a young hero, had he won fair fame,
Might from her huſband, aſk a lovely dame;
The happy huſband of the honour vain,
Gave her with joy, took her with joy again;
The choſen dame, no ſtruggles had within,
For to refuſe had been a public ſin.—
[] And to their honour, all hiſtorians ſay,
No Spartan lady, ever ſinn'd that way.—
Ye Fair, who have not yet thrown out your bait,
To tangle captives in the marriage ſtate;
Take heed, I warn you, where your ſnares you ſet,
O let not Infidels, come near your net.
Let hand in hand with prudence go your wiſhes,
Men are in general, the ſtrangeſt fiſhes!
Do not for miſery your beauty barter,
And, O take heed,—you do not catch a Tartar.
Notes
*
A body of ten thouſand men.
- Zitationsvorschlag für dieses Objekt
- TextGrid Repository (2020). TEI. 4252 Zingis A tragedy As it is performed at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane By Alexander Dow. University of Oxford Text Archive. . https://hdl.handle.net/21.T11991/0000-001A-61C0-D