born

To mould anew the prostrate universe,
I started from my dream, join'd his career,
And shared his arduous and immortal labours.
Come, embrace our faith, reign with Mahomet,
And clothed in terrors, make the vulgar trem-
ble.

Alc. 'Tis Mahomet, and tyrants like to Mahomet,

'Tis Mirvan, and apostates like to Mirvan,
I only would make tremble!-Is it, say'st
thou,

Religion that's the parent of this rapine,
This virulence and rage?-No; true religion
Is always mild, propitious, and humane;
Plays not the tyrant, plants no faith in blood;
But stoops to polish, succour, and redress,
And builds her grandeur on the public good.
Mir. If clemency delights thee, learn it here.
Though banish'd by thy voice his native city,
Though by thy hand robb'd of his only son,
Mahomet pardons thee; nay, further, begs
The hatred burning 'twixt you be extinguish'd,
With reconciliation's generous tear.

Alc. I know thy master's arts; his generous tears,

Like the refreshing breeze, that previous fall To the wild outrage of o'erwhelming earthquakes,

Only forerun destruction.

Pha. Leagues. he will make too

Alc. Like other grasping tyrants, till he eyes A lucky juncture to enlarge his bounds; Then he'll deride them, leap o'er every tie Of sacred guarantee, or sworn protection; And when the oppress'd ally implores assist[realms, Beneath that mask, invade the wish'd-for And, from pure friendship, take them to himseli.

ance,

Mir. Mahomet fights Heaven's battles, bends the bow

[faith To spread Heaven's laws, and to subject to The iron neck of error.

Alc. Lust and ambition, Mirvan, are the springs

Of all his actions ; whilst, without one virtue, Dissimulation, like a flattering painter, Bedecks them with the colouring of them all : This is thy master's portrait-But no moreMy soul's inexorable, and my hate

Immortal as the cause from whence it sprang. Mir. What cause?

Alc. The difference between good and evil. Mir. Thou talk'st to me, Alcanor, with an air

Of a stern judge, that from his dread tribunal
Intimidates the criminal beneath him:
Resume thy temper, act the minister,
And treat with me as with th' ambassador
Of Heaven's apostle, and Arabia's king.
Alc. Arabia's king! what king! who crown'd
him?

Mir. Conquest.Whilst to the style of conqueror, and of monarch, [price Name then the Boundless trea

Patron of peace he'd add.
Of peace, and of Palmira.

|

For this good purpose.

Alc. Who? Mabomet?

[thee

Mir. Yes, he conjures thou'lt grant it.
Alc. Traitor! were I sole ruler here, in
Mecca,

I'd answer thee with chastisement!
Mir. Hot man!

I pity thy false virtue-But farewell!
And since the senate share thy power in
Mecca,

To their serener wisdoms I'll appeal. [Erit.
Alc. I'll meet thee there-Ye sacred powers,
My country's gods, that for three thousand
years
[mael!
Have reign'd protectors of the tribe of Ish-
Oh, support my spirit

In that firm purpose it has always held !
To combat violence, fraud and usurpation,
To pluck the spoil from the oppressor's jaws,
And keep my country as I found it-free!

Pal. Say, my hero,

Are my ills ended then?-They are, they are! Now Zaphna's here, I am no more a captive, Except to him-Oh, bless'd captivity!

Zaph. Those smiles are dearer to my raptured breast,

Sweeter those accents to my listening heart, Than all Arabia's spices to the sense!

Pal. No wonder that my soul was so elate, No wonder that the cloud of grief gave way, When thou, my son of comfort, wert so nigh. Zaph. Since that dire hour, when on Saberia's strand

The barbarous foe deprived me of Palmira,
In what a gulf of horror and despair
Have thy imagined perils plunged my soul!
Stretch'd on expiring corses for awhile,

To the deaf stream I poured out my complaint,
And begg'd I might be number'd with the

dead

That strew'd its banks; then, starting from despair,

With rage I flew to Mahomet for vengeance.

He, for some high mysterious purpose, known
To Hear en and him alone, at length despatch'd
The valiant Mirvan to demand a truce:
Instant, on wings of lightning I pursued him,
And enter'd as his hostage-fix'd, Palmira,
Or to redeem, or die a captive with thee.
Pal. Heroic youth!

Zaph. But how have these barbarians
Treated my fair?

Pal. With high humanity.

I in my victor found a friend-Alcanor
Has made me feel captivity in nothing
But absence from my Zaphna and my friends.
Zaph. I grieve, a soul so generous is our
foe:

But now, presented as an hostage to him,
His noble bearing and humanity
Made captive of my heart: I felt, methought,
A new affection lighted in my breast,
And wonder'd whence the infant ardour

Go, and instruct this people in my name:
That faith may dawn, and, like a morning star,
Be herald to my rising.-Lo, Palmira!

[Exeunt HERCIDES, AMMON, and ALI. Her angel-face, with unfeign'd blushes spread,

Proclaims the purity that dwells within.

Enter MIRVAN, ZAPHNA, and PALMIRA.

The hand of war was ne'er before so barbarous,

Never bore from me half so rich a spoil, As thee, my fair. [TO PALMIRA. Pal. Joy to my heavenly guardian! Joy to the world, that Mahomet's in Mecca! Muh. My child, let me embrace thee-How's this? Zaphna!

Thou here !

Zaph. [Kneels.] My father, chief, and boly pontiff!

The god, that thou'rt inspired by, march'd before me. [ger, Ready, for thee, to wade through seas of danOr cope with death itself, I hither hasten'd To yield myself an hostage, and with zeal Prevent thy order.

Mah. 'Twas not well, rash boy!

He that does more than I command him, errs
As much as he who falters in his duty.
I obey
My god-implicitly obey thou me.

Pal. Pardon, my gracious lord, his wellmeant ardour,

Brought up from tender infancy, beneath
The shelter of thy sacred patronage,
Zaphna and I've been animated still
By the same sentiments.

Mah. Palmira, 'tis enough; I read thy Be not alarm'd; though burden'd with the heart[cares Of thrones and altars, still my guardian eye Will watch o'er thee, as o'er the universe. Follow my generals, Zaphna. Fair Palmira, Retire, and pay your powerful vows to Heaven,

And dread no wrongs, but from Alcanor.
[Exeunt ZAPHNA and PALMIRA.

Mirvan-
Attend thou here. "Tis time, my trusty soldier,
The close resolves and councils of my heart.
My long-tried friend, to lay unfolded to thee
Prepossession, friend,

Reigns monarch of the million-Mecca's crowd
Gaze at my rapid victories, and think

Some awful power directs my arm to conquest;

But whilst our friends once more renew their efforts

To win the wavering people to our interest, What think'st thou, say, of Zaphna and Palmira?

Mir. As of thy most resign'd and faithful vassals.

Mah. Oh, Mirvan! They're the deadliest of my foes!

Mir. How ?

Mah. Yes, they love each other.

Mir. Well-what crime?

Mah. What crime, dost say? learn all my frailty, then

My life's a combat: keen austerity
Subjects my nature to abstemious bearings:
Or on the burning sands, or desert rocks,
With thee I bear the inclemency of climates,
Freeze at the pole, or scorch beneath the line,

For all these toils love only can retaliate,
The only consolation or reward,
Fruit of my labours, idol of my incense,
And sole divinity that I adore;

Know then that I prefer this young Palmira,
To all the ripen'd beauties that attend me,
Dwell on her accents, dote upon her smiles,
And am not mine but hers. Now judge, my
friend,

How vast the jealous transports of thy master,
When, at his feet, he daily hears this charmer,
Avow a foreign love, and, insolent,
Give Mahomet a rival!

Mir. How! and Mahomet

Not instantly revenge

Mah. Ah! should he not?

But, better to detest him, know him better: Learn then, that both my rival and my love, Sprang from the loins of this audacious tyrant. Mir. Alcanor!

Mah. Is their father; old Hercides,
To whose sage institution I commit
My captive infants, late reveal'd it to me.
Perdition! I myself lit up their flame,
And fed it till I set myself on fire.
Well, means must be employ'd: but see, the
father;

He comes this way, and launches from his eye
Malignant sparks of enmity and rage.
Mirvan, see all ta'en care of; let Hercides,
With his escort, beset yon gate; bid Ali
Make proper disposition round the temple;
This done, return and render me account
Of what success we meet with 'mongst the peo-
ple:

Then, Mirvan, we'll determine or to loose
Or bridle in our vengeance as it suits.
[Exit MIRVAN.

Enter ALCANOR.

Why dost thou start, Alcanor? whence that horror? [Heaven, Approach, old man, without a blush, since For some high end, decrees our future union. Alc. I blush not for myself, but thee, thou tyrant;

[guile,

For thee, bad man! who com'st with serpent To sow dissention in the realms of peace. Thy very name sets families at variance, 'Twixt son and father bursts the bonds of nature, [pillow! And scares endearment from the nuptial And is it, insolent dissembler! thus Thou com'st to give the sons of Mecca peace, And me an unknown god?

Mah. Were I to answer any but Alcanor, That unknown god should speak in thunder for me;

But here with thee I'd parley as a man.
Alc. What canst thou say? what urge in thy
defence ?
[faiths,
What right hast thou received to plant new
Or lay a claim to royalty and priesthood?
Mah. The right that a resolved and tower-
ing spirit
[gar-
Has o'er the grovelling instinct of the vul-
Alc. Patience, good Heavens! have I not
known thee, Mahomet,
When void of wealth, inheritance, or fame,
Rank'd with the lowest of the low at Mecca?
Mah. Dost thou not know, thou haughty,
feeble man,

That the low insect, lurking in the grass,
And the imperial eagle, which aloft
Ploughs the ethereal plain, are both alike
In the eternal eye?

Alc. What sacred truth! from what polluted lips! [Aside. Mah. Hear me; thy Mecca trembles at my

name;

If therefore thou wouldst save thyself or city, Embrace my proffer'd friendship.-What to-day

I thus solicit, I'll command to-morrow.

Alc. Contract with thee a friendship! frontless man!

Know'st thou a god can work that miracle?
Mah. I do-necessity-thy interest.

Alc. Interest is thy god, equity is mine.
Propose the tie of this unnatural union;
Say, is't the loss of thy ill-fated son,
Who in the field fell victim to my rage;
Or the dear blood of my poor captive children,
Shed by thy butchering hands?

Mah. Ay, 'tis thy children. [secret, Mark me then well, and learn the important Which I'm sole master of Thy children live.

Alc. Live!

Mah. Yes-both live.

Alc. What say'st thou? Both?
Mah. Ay, both.

Alc. And dost thou not beguile me?
Mah. No, old man.

Alc. Propitious Heavens! Say, Mahomet, for now [thee, Methinks I could hold endless converse with Say what's their portion, liberty or bondage? Mah. Bred in my camp, and tutor'd in my I hold the balance of their destinies; law,

And now 'tis on the turn-their lives or deaths

'Tis thine to say which shall preponderate. Alc. Mine! can I save them? name the mighty ransom

If I must bear their chains, double the weight, And I will kiss the hand that puts them on; Or if my streaming blood must be the purchase,

Drain every sluice and channel of my body; My swelling veins will burst to give it passage!

Mah. I'll tell thee then :-Renounce thy pa. gan faith,

Abolish thy vain gods, and-
Alc. Ha!

Mah. Nay, more:

Surrender Mecca to me, quit this temple,
Assist me to impose upon the world,
Thunder my koran to the gazing crowd,
Proclaim me for their prophet and their king,
And be a glorious pattern of credulity
To Korah's stubborn tribe. These terms per-
form'd,

Thy son shall be restored, and Mahomet's seli
Will deign to wed thy daughter.
Alc. Hear me, Mahomet-

I am a father, and this bosom boasts
A heart as tender as e'er parent bore.
After a fifteen years of anguish for them,
Once more to view my children, clasp them to
me,

And die in their embraces-melting thought!
But were I doom'd or to enslave my country,
And help to spread black error o'er the earth,
Or to behold these blood embrued hands
Deprive me of them both-know me then, Ma-
homet,

I'd not admit a doubt to cloud my choice[Looks earnestly at MAHOMET for some time before he speaks.

Farewell!

[Exit.

Alcanor

Again is Mecca's master, and has vow'd
Destruction on thy head; the senate too
Have pass'd thy doom.

Mah. Those heart-chill'd, paltry babblers, Placed on the bench of sloth, with ease can nod, [cowards And vote a man to death. Why don't the Stand me in yonder plain ?--With half their numbers, [ter. I drove them headlong to their walls for shelPerish Alcanor!

He marbled up, the pliant populace,
Those dupes of novelty, will bend before us,
Like osiers to a hurricane.

Mir. No time

Is to be lost.

Mah. But for a proper arm

Mir. What think'st thou then of Zaphna?
Mah. Of Zaphna, say'st thou ?
Mir. Yes, Alcanor's hostage.

He can in private do thee vengeance on him:
He's a slave

To thy despotic faith; and, urged by thee,
However mild his nature may appear,
Howe'er humane and noble is his spirit,
Or strong his reason, where allow'd to reason.
He would, for Heaven's sake, martyr half
mankind.

Mah. The brother of Palmira ?
Mir. Yes, that brother,

The only son of thy outrageous foe,
And the incestuous rival of thy love.

Mah. I hate the stripling, loathe his very

name;

The manes of my son too cry for vengeance On the cursed sire; but then thou know'st my love,

Know'st from whose blood she sprang: this staggers, Mirvan;

And yet I'm here surrounded with a gulf
Ready to swallow me; come too in quest
Of altars and a throne-what must be done?-
My warring passions, like contending clouds,
When fraught with thunder's fatal fuel, burst
Upon themselves, and rend me with the shock.
Mirvan, sound this youth.

Touch not at once upon the startling purpose,
But make due preparation.

Mir. I'll attack him

With all the forces of enthusiasm.
There lies our strength.

Mah. First then, a solemn vow

To act whatever Heaven by me enjoins him; Next, omens, dreams, and visions may be pleaded;

Hints too of black designs by this Alcanor
Upon Palmira's virtue, and his life-

But to the proof-Be now propitious, fortune;

Then love, ambition, vengeance, jointly triumph. [Exeunt.

me

Against this rebel to our faith and prophet,
I have held me happy in his friendship,
And bondage wore the livery of choice.
Pal. How has heaven fraught our love-
link'd hearts, my Zaphna,

With the same thoughts, aversions, and desires!

But for thy safety and our dread religion,
That thunders hatred to all infidels,
With great remorse I should accuse Alcanor.
Zaph. Let us shake off this vain remorse,
Palmira,
[sure.
Resign ourselves to Heaven, and act its plea-
The hour is come that I must pledge my vow:
Doubt not but the Supreme, who claims this
service,

Will prove propitious to our chaste endear

"Tis he! 'tis Mahomet himself! kind Heaven
Has sent him to my aid.-My gracious lord!
Protect the dear, dear idol of my soul;
Save Zaphna; guard him from-

Mah. From what?-why, Zaphna?
Whence this vain terror? Is he not with us?
Pal. Oh, Sir, you double now my apprehen-
sions!

Those broken accents, and that cager look, Show you have anguish smothering at the heart,

And prove for once that Mahomet's a mortal.
Mah. Ah! shall I turn a traitor to myself?
[Aside.
Oh, woman! woman!-Hear me-ought I not
To be enraged at thy profane attachment!
How could thy breast, without the keenest
sting,

Harbour one thought not dictated by me!
Is that young mind, I took such toil to form,
Turn'd an ingrate and infidel at once?
Away, rebellious maid!

Pal. What dost thou say,

My royal lord? thus, prostrafe at your feet,
Let me implore forgiveness, if in aught
I have offended: talk not to me thus;
A frown from thee, my father and my king,
Is death to poor Palmira. Say then, Maho-
met,

Didst thou not, in this very place, permit him
To render me his vows?

Muh. How the soft traitress racks me ![Aside.] Rise, Palmira

Down, rebel love! I must be calm. [Aside.]

come hither:

Beware, rash maid, of such imprudent steps; They lead to guilt. What wild, pernicious

errors

Mayn't the heart lead to if not greatly watch'd! Pal. In loving Zaphna, sure it cannot err. Mah. Zaphna again! Furies! I shall relapse,

Pal, Sir!

[Aside.

What sudden start of passion arms that eye? Mah. Oh, nothing: pray retire awhile: take courage:

I'm not at all displeased: 'twas but to sound The depth of thy young heart. I praise thy choice:

Trust then thy dearest interest to my bosom ; But know, your fate depends on your obedience.

If I have been a guardian to your youth,
If all my lavish bounties past weigh aught,
Deserve the future blessings which await you.
Howe'er the voice of Heaven dispose of
Zaphna,

Confirm him in the path where duty leads,
That he may keep his vow, and merit thee.
Pal. Distrust him not, my sovereign; noble
Zaphna,

Disdains to lag in love or glory's course.
Mah. Enough of words-

Pal. As boldly I've avow'd
The love I bear that hero at your feet,
I'll now to him, and fire his generous breast,
To prove the duty he has sworn to thee.

[Exit. Mah. What could I say! Such sweet simplicity

Lured down my rage, and innocently wing'd The arrow through my heart. And shall I

bear this?

Be made the sport of cursed Alcanor's house?
Check'd in my rapid progress by the sire,
Supplanted in my love by this rash boy,
And made a gentle pander to the daughter?
Perdition on the whole detested race!

Enter MIRVAN.

Mir. Now, Mahomet, is the time to seize on
Mecca;

Crush this Alcanor, and enjoy Palmira !
This night the old enthusiast offers incense
To his vain gods, in sacred Caaba : [thee,
Zaphna, who flames with zeal for Heaven and
May be won o'er to seize that lucky moment.
Mah. He shall; it must be so; he's born to

act

The glorious crime; and let him be at once
The instrument and victim of the murder.
My law, my love, my vengeance, my own safe-
ty,
[think
Have doom'd it so.-But, Mirvan, dost thou
His youthful courage, nursed in superstition,
Can e'er be work'd-

Mir. I tell thee, Mahomet,
He's tutor❜d to accomplish thy design.
Palmira too, who thinks thy will is Heaven's,
Will nerve his arm to execute thy pleasure.
Mah. Didst thou engage him by a solemn
YOW?

Mir. I did, with all the enthusiastic pomp Thy law enjoins; then gave him, as from thee, A consecrated sword to act thy will. Oh, he is burning with religious fury! Mah. But hold! he comes

Re-enter ZAPHNA.

[Exit MIRVAN.

Child of that awful and tremendous power, Whose laws I publish, whose behests proclaim,

Listen whilst I unfold his sacred will: