He tires his fav'rites with Irene's praise, CALI. Why should the Sultan shun the joys of beauty, Or arm his breast against the force of love? Love, that with sweet vicissitude relieves The warrior's labours and the monarch's cares. But will she yet receive the faith of Mecca? MUSTAPHA. Those pow'rful tyrants of the female breast, Fear and Ambition, urge her to compliance; Dress'd in each charm of gay magnificence, Alluring grandeur courts her to his arms, Religion calls her from the wish'd embrace, Paints future joys, and points to distant glories. CALI. Soon will th' unequal contest be decided, Prospects, obscur'd by distance, faintly strike; Each pleasure brightens at its near approach, And ev'ry danger shocks with double horror. MUSTAPHA. How shall I scorn the beautiful apostate; How will the bright Aspasia shine above her! CALI. Should she, for proselytes are always zealous, With pious warmth receive our prophet's law MUSTAPHA. Heav'n will contemn the mercenary fervour, Which love of greatness, not of truth, inflames. CALI. Cease, cease thy censures; for the Sultan comes Alone, with am'rous haste to seek his love. SCENE IV. MAHOMET, CALI BASSA, MUSTAPHA, CALI. Hail! terror of the monarchs of the world, MAHOMET. But, Cali, let Irene share thy prayers; CALI, O may her beauties last unchang'd by time, MAHOMET. Each realm where beauty turns the graceful shape, MUSTAPHA. Forgive, great Sultan, that intrusive duty The Grecian counsellor. MAHOMET. Go see him die; His martial rhet'rick taught the Greeks resistance; Had they prevail'd, I ne'er had known Irene. [Exit Mustapha. SCENE V. MAHOMET, CALI. MAHOMET. Remote from tumult, in th' adjoining palace, CALI. These years, unconquer'd Mahomet, demand MAHOMET. What! think of peace while haughty Scanderbeg, Elate with conquest, in his native mountains, Prowls o'er the wealthy spoils of bleeding Turkey! While fair Hungaria's unexhausted valleys Pour forth their legions, and the roaring Danube Rolls half his floods unheard through shouting camps! Nor could'st thou more support a life of sloth Than Amurath CALI. Still full of Amurath. MAHOMET. Than Amurath, accustom'd to command, Could bear his son upon the Turkish throne. CALI. This pilgrimage our lawgiver ordain'd [Aside. MAHOMET. For those who could not please by nobler service,- CALI. This regal confidence, this pious ardour, MAHOMET. Preach thy dull politicks to vulgar kings, Then dream of prayer, and pilgrimage, and peace. [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I. ASPASIA, IRENE, IRENE. ASPASIA, yet pursue the sacred theme; Exhaust the stores of pious eloquence, Exalts my soul, and fortifies my heart. ASPASIA. Let nobler hopes and juster fears succeed, Against returning guilt. IRENE. When thou art absent, Death rises to my view, with all his terrors; ASPASIA. Since fear predominates in ev'ry thought, And sways thy breast with absolute dominion, So shall Timidity assist thy reason, And Wisdom into yirtue turn thy frailty. IRENE. Will not that Power that form'd the heart of woman, ASPASIA. The weakness we lament, ourselves create; IRENE. Not all like thee can brave the shocks of fate, |