SCENE VII. [Enter MUSTAPHA, meeting and stopping her.] MUSTAPHA. Fair Falsehood, stay. IRENE. What dream of sudden power Has taught my slave the language of command! MUSTAPHA. Who calls for pardon from a wretch condemn'd? IRENE. Thy look, thy speech, thy action, all is wildness- MUSTAPHA.. Who charges guilt! Ask of thy heart; attend the voice of ConscienceWho charges guilt! lay by this proud resentment That fires thy cheek, and elevates thy mien, Nor thus usurp the dignity of virtue, Review this day. IRENE. Whate'er thy accusation, The Sultan is my judge. MUSTAPHA. That hope is past; Hard was the strife of justice and of love; But now 'tis o'er, and justice has prevail'd. IRENE. Bold slave, I know them both-I know them traitors. Perfidious! - y'es traitors. MUSTAPHA. too well thou know'st them IRENE. Their treason throws no stain upon Irene. MUSTAPHA. The Sultan knows it, He knows how near apostacy to treason— I go, [Exit Mustapha. IRENE, to her attendants. Go, blust'ring slave-He has not heard of Murza. That dextrous message frees me from suspicion. SCENE VIII. Enter HASAN, CARAZA, with Mutes, who throw the black robe upon IRENE, and sign to her at tendants to withdraw. HASAN. Forgive, fair Excellence, th' unwilling tongue, IRENE. What wild mistake is this! Take hence with speed Your robe of mourning, and your dogs of death. Quick from my sight, you inauspicious monsters, Nor dare henceforth to shock Irene's walks. HASAN. Alas! they come commanded by the Sultan, IRENE. Are these the rapid thunderbolts of war, And spread their flames resistless o'er the world? CARAZA. We come, bright Virgin, though relenting Nature IRENE. Whence is this rage? what barb'rous tongue has wrong'd me? What fraud misleads him ? or what crimes incense? HASAN. Expiring Cali nam'd Irene's chamber, IRENE. Irene's chamber! from my faithful bosom CARAZA. "Tis ours, alas! to punish, not to judge, Not call'd to try the cause, we heard the sentence, Ordain'd the mournful messengers of death. IRENE. Some ill-designing statesman's base intrigue! There dauntless truth shall blast the vile accuser; [Enter Abdalla: he stops short and listens. SCENE IX. IRENE, HASAN, CARAZA, ABDALLA. All is not lost, Abdalla; see the queen, CARAZA. Unhappy fair! compassion calls upon me ABDALLA. Is then your sov'reign's life so cheaply rated, IRENE. O let me but be heard, nor fear from me ABDALLA. I mark'd her wily messenger afar, And saw him skulking in the closest walks: HASAN. Then call it not our cruelty, nor crime; IRENE. O, name not death! Distraction and amazement, CARAZA. Could we reverse the sentence of the Sultan, [The Mutes at the sign lay hold of her, ABDALLA. Dispatch, ye ling'ring slaves; or nimbler hands, IRENE. Grant me one hour, O grant me but a moment, CARAZA. The prayer I cannot grant-I dare not hear. |