Parthian and Tartarian Soldiers.-Mutes belonging to Bajazet.-Other Attendants. SCENE.-Tamerlane's Camp, near Angoria in Galatia.
Of all the muse's various labours, none
Have lasted longer or have higher flown,
Than those that tell the fame by ancient he-
With pleasure, Rome and great Augustus
heard
Arms and the man sung by the Mantuan bard.
In spite of time the sacred story lives,
And Cæsar and his empire still survives.
Like him (though much unequal to his flame)
Our author makes a pious prince his theme. High with the foremost names, in arms he stood, [good, Had fought, and suffer'd for his country's Yet sought not fame, but peace, in fields of blood.
Safe under him his happy people sat, And griev'd, at distance, for their neighbours' fate; [crown'd, Whilst with success a Turkish monarch Like spreading flame, deform'd the nations
With sword and fire he forc'd his impious way
To lawless power and universal sway.
Some abject states, for fear, the tyrant join,
Others for gold their liberties resign,
And venal princes sold their right divine:
Till Heaven, the growing evil to redress,
Sent Tamerlane to give the world a peace.
The hero rous'd, asserts the glorious cause,
And to the field the cheerful soldier draws.
Around, in crowds, his valiant leaders wait,
Anxious for glory and secure of fate;
And leave no object in the vast horizon,
But glittering arms, and skies.
Zam. Our Asian world,
From this important day expects a lord;
This day they hope an end of all their woes,
Of tyranny, of bondage and oppression,
From our victorious emp'ror, Tamerlane.
Mir. Well has our holy Alha mark'd him
out,
The scourge of lawless pride and dire ambition,
The great avenger of the groaning world.
Well has he worn the sacred cause of justice
Upon his prosperous sword. Approving
[cess;
Still crown'd the righteous warrior with suc-
As if it said, Go forth, and be my champion,
Thou, most like me of all my works below.
Pr. No lust of rule, the common vice of
kings,
No furious zeal, inspir'd by hot-brain'd priests,
Ill hid beneath religion's specious name,
E'er drew his temperate courage to the field:
But to redress an injur'd people's wrongs,
To save the weak one from the strong op-
pressor,
Is all his end of war. And when he draws
The sword to punish, like relenting Heaven,
He seems unwilling to deface his kind.
Mir. So rich his soul in every virtuous grace,
That, had not nature made him great by birth,
Yet all the brave had sought him for their
friend.
The Christian prince, Axalla, nicely bred
In polish'd arts of European courts,
For him forsakes his native Italy,
And lives a happy exile in his service.
Pr. Pleas'd with the gentle manners of that
prince,
Our mighty lord is lavish to his friendship;
Though Omar and the Tartar lords repine,
And loudly tax their monarch as too partial.
Zam. Ere the mid-hour of night, from tent
to tent,
Just and unjust, by an unbounded will;
By whom religion, honour, all the bands
That ought to hold the jarring world at peace,
Were held the tricks of state, snares of wise
princes,
To draw their easy neighbours to destruction.
Mir. Thrice, by our law and prophet, has he
By the world's Lord and Maker, lasting peace,
With our great master, and his royal friend
The Grecian emperor; as oft, regardless
Of plighted faith, with most unkingly baseness,
Has ta'en th' advantage of their absent arms,
Without a war proclaim'd, or cause pretended,
To waste with sword and fire their fruitful
fields:
[hell,
Like some accursed fiend, who, 'scap'd from
Poisons the balmy air through which he flies,
He blasts the bearded corn, and loaded
branches,
The lab'ring hind's best hopes, and marks his
way with ruin.
Pr. But see his fate! The mighty Tamerlane
Comes, like the proxy of inquiring Heaven,
To judge and to redress. [Flourish of trumpets.
Enter TAMERLANE, guards, and other attendants.
Tam. Yet, yet a little, and destructive
slaughter
Shall rage around, and mar this beauteous
prospect;
[lives
Pass but an hour, which stands betwixt the
Of thousands and eternity, what change
Shall hasty death make in yon glittering plain,
Oh, thou fell monster, war! that in a moment
Lay'st waste the noblest part of the creation,
The boast and master-piece of the great Maker
That wears in vain th' impression of his image,
Unprivileg'd from thee.
Health to our friends, and to our arms success,
[To the PRINCE, ZAMA, and MIRVAN.
Such as the cause for which we fight deserves !
Pr. Nor can we ask beyond what Heaven
bestows,
Unwearied, through the numerous host he past,
Viewing with careful eyes each several quar-Preventing still our wishes. See, great Sir,
The universal joy your soldiers wear,
Whilst from his looks, as from divinity,
The soldiers took presage, and cried, Lead on, Omen of prosperous battle.
Great Alha, and our emperor, lead on,
To victory, and everlasting fame.
Mir. Hear you of Bajazet?
Pr. Late in the evening,
A slave of near attendance on his person
'Scap'd to our camp. From him we learn'd,
the tyrant,
With rage redoubled, for the fight prepares;
Some accidental passion fires his breast,
(Love, as 'tis thought, for a fair Grecian cap-
tive,)
And adds new horror to his native fury.
For five returning suns, scarce was he seen
By any, the most favour'd of his court,
But in lascivious ease, among his women,
Liv'd from the war retir'd; or else alone,
In sullen mood, sat meditating plagues
And ruin to the world; 'till yester morn,
Like fire that lab'ring upwards rends the earth,
He burst with fury from his tent, commanding
All should be ready for the fight this day.
Zam. I know his temper well, since in his
court,
Companion of the brave Axalla's embassy,
I oft observ'd him proud, impatient
Of aught superior, even of Heaven that made
Fond of false glory of the savage power
Of ruling without reason, of confounding
Impatient of the tedious night, in arms
Watchful they stood, expecting opening day;
And now are hardly by their leaders held
From darting on the foe. Like a hot courser,
That bounding paws the mouldering soil, dis-
daining
The rein that checks him, eager for the race.
Tum. Yes, prince, I mean to give a loose to
This morn Axalla, with my Parthian horse,
Arrives to join me. He, who, like a storm,
Swept, with his flying squadrons, all the plain
Between Angoria's walls and yon tall moun-
[comes,
That seem to reach the clouds; and now he
Loaden with spoils and corquest, to my aid.
[Flourish of trumpets
Zam. These trumpets speak his presence
Enter AXALLA, who kneels to TAMERLANE.
Tam. Welcome! thou worthy partner of my
laurels,
Thou brother of my choice, a band more sacred
Than nature's brittle tie. By holy friendship!
Glory and Fame stood still for thy arrival;
My soul seem'd wanting in its better half,
And languish'd for thy absence; like a prophet,
That waits the inspiration of his god.
Ax. My emperor! My ever royal master! To whom my secret soul more lowly bends, Than forms of outward worship can express; How poorly does your soldier pay this goodness,
Who wears his every hour of life out for you! Yet, 'tis his all, and what he has he offers; Nor now disdain t' accept the gift he brings,
Enter SELIMA, MONESES, STRATOCLES, Prisoners; Guards, Mutes, &c. &c.
This earnest of your fortune. See, my lord,
The noblest prize that ever grac'd my arms!
Approach, my fair-
Tam. This is indeed to conquer,
And well to be rewarded for thy conquest;
The bloom of opening flowers, unsullied
beauty,
Softness, and sweetest innocence she wears,
And looks like Nature in the world's first
But say, Axalla-
[spring.
[Kneeling to TAM.
Look with compassion on a captive maid,
Though born of hostile blood; nor let my birth,
Deriv'd from Bajazet, prevent that mercy,
Which every subject of your fortune finds.
War is the province of ambitious man,
Who tears the miserable world for empire;
Whilst our weak sex, incapable of wrong,
On either side claims privilege of safety.
Tam. [Raising her.] Rise, royal maid! the
pride of haughty power
Pays homage, not receives it from the fair.
Thy angry father fiercely calls me forth,
And urges me unwillingly to arms.
Yet, though our frowning battles menace death
And mortal conflict, think not that we hold
Thy innocence and virtue as our foe.
Here, till the fate of Asia is decided,
In safety stay. To-morrow is your own.
Nor grieve for who may conquer, or who lose;
Fortune on either side shall wait thy wishes.
Sel. Where shall my wonder and my praise
begin?
Sel. Most renown'd in war,
From the successful labours of thy arms;
Or from a theme more soft, and full of peace,
Thy mercy and thy gentleness? Oh, Tamer-
lane!
What can I pay thee for this noble usage,
But grateful praise? So Heaven itself is paid.
Give peace, ye powers above, peace to man-
Nor let my father wage unequal war [kind;
Against the force of such united virtues.
Tum Heaven hear thy pious wish!-But
since our prospect
Looks darkly on futurity, till fate
Determine for us, let thy beauty's safety
Be my Axalla's care; in whose glad eyes,
I read what joy the pleasing service gives
him.
Is there amongst thy other pris'ners aught
Worthy our knowledge!
Ax. This brave man, my lord, [Pointing to MoN. With long resistance held the combat doubtful. [faint, His party, press'd with numbers, soon grew And would have left their charge an easy prey;
Whilst he alone, undaunted at the odds, Though hopeless to escape, fought well and firmly;
Nor yielded, till o'ermatc''d by many hands, He seem'd to shame our conquest whilst he own'd it.
Tam. Thou speak'st him as a soldier should a soldier,
Just to the worth he finds. I would not war [To MON. With aught that wears thy virtuous stamp of greatness.
[more, Thy habit speaks thee Christian-Nay, yet My soul seems pleas'd to take acquaintance with thee,
As if allied to thine: perhaps 'tis sympathy Of honest minds; like strings wound up in music, [harmony. Where, by one touch, both utter the same Why art thou then a friend to Bajazet? And why my enemy?
Mon. If human wisdom
Could point out every action of our lives,
And say, Let it be thus, in spite of fate
Or partial fortune, then I had not been
The wretch I am.
Tum. The brave meet every accident
With equal minds. Think nobler of thy foes,
Than to account thy chance in war an evil.
Mon. Far, far from that: I rather hold it
grievous
That I was forc'd even but to seem your enemy; Nor think the baseness of a vanquish'd slave Moves me to flatter for precarious life,
Or ill-bought freedom, when I swear by Heaven!
Were I to choose from all mankind a master, It should be Tamerlane.
Dwells with the brave, unknown to fawning sycophants,
And claims a privilege of being believ'd.
I take thy praise as earnest of thy friendship.
Mon. Still you prevent the homage I should
offer,
O, royal Sir! let my misfortunes plead
And wipe away the hostile mark i wore.
I was, when not long since my fortune hail'd
Bless'd to my wish, I was the prince Moneses; Born, and bred up to greatness: witness the blood,
Which through successive heroes' veins, allied To our Greek emperors, roll'd down to me, Feeds the bright flame of glory in my heart. Tam. Even that, that princely tie should bind thee to me,
If virtue were not more than all alliance.
Mon. I have a sister, oh, severe remem-
brance!
Our noble house's, nay, her sex's pride
Nor think my tongue too lavish, if I speak
Fair as the fame of virtue, and yet chaste
As its cold precepts; wise beyond her sex
And blooming youth; soft as forgiving mercy,
Yet greatly brave, and jealous for her honour:
Such as she was, to say I barely lov'd her,
Is poor to my soul's meaning. From our in-
fancy
There grew a mutual tenderness between us,
Till not long since her vows were kindly
plighted
To a young jord, the equal of her birth.
The happy day was fix'd, and now approach-
ing,
When faithless Bajazet (upon whose honour, In solemn treaty given, the Greeks depended) With sudden war broke in upon the country, Secure of peace, and for defence unready.
Tam. Let majesty no more be held divine, Since kings, who are call'd gods, profane themselves.
Mon. Among the wretches, whom that | And adds to the misfortune by repeating; deluge swept
Away to slavery, myself and sister,
Then passing near the frontiers to the court,
(Which waited for her nuptials) were surpris'd,
And made the captives of the tyrant's power.
Soon as we reach'd his court, we found our
usage
Beyond what we expected, fair and noble,
Twas then the storm of your victorious arms
Look'd black, and seem'd to threaten, when
he press'd me
(By oft repeated instances) to draw
My sword for him: but when he found my soul
Disdain'd his purpose, he more fiercely told me,
That my Arpasia, my lov'd sister's fate
Depended on my courage shown for him.
I had long learn'd to hold myself at nothing;
But for her sake, to ward the blow from her,
I bound my service to the man I hated.
Six days are past, since by the sultan's order,
I left the pledge of my return behind,
And went to guard this princess to his camp:
The rest the brave Axalla's fortune tells you.
Tam. Wisely the tyrant strove to prop his
By leaguing with thy virtue; but just Heaven
Has torn thee from his side, and left him
naked
To the avenging bolt that drives upon him.
Forget the name of captive, and I wish
I could as well restore that fair one's freedom,
Whose loss hangs heavy on thee; yet ere
night,
Perhaps, we may deserve thy friendship nobler;
Th' approaching storm may cast thy ship-
wreck'd wealth
Back to thy arms: till that be past, since war
(Though in the justest cause) is ever doubtful,
I will not ask thy sword to aid my victory,
Lest it should hurt that hostage of thy valour
Our common foe detains.
Bend to his yoke repining slaves by force;
You, Sir, have found a nobler way to empire,
Lord of the willing world.
Tam. Oh, my Axalla!
Thou hast a tender soul, apt for compassion,
And art thyself a lover and a friend."
Does not this prince's fortune move thy tem-
per?
Ax. Yes, Sir, I mourn the brave Moneses'
The merit of his virtue hardly match'd [fate,
With disadventurous chance: yet, prince,
allow me,
Allow me, from th' experience of a lover,
To say, one person, whom your story men-
tion'u
(If he survive) is far beyond you wretched:
You nam'd the bridegroom of your beauteous
sister.
Mon. I did. Oh, most accurs'd!
Ar. Think what he feels,
Dash'd in the fierceness of his expectation:
Then, when th' approaching minute of posses-
Had wound imagination to the height,
Think if he lives!
Mon. He lives, he does: 'tis true
He lives! But how? To be a dog, and dead,
Were Paradise to such a state as his :
He holds down life, as children do a potion,
With strong reluctance and convulsive strug-
glings,
Whilst his misfortunes press him to disgorge it.
Tam. Spare the remembrance, 'tis a useless
grief,
The revolution of a day may bring
Such turns, as Heaven itself could scarce have
promis'd,
[thee.
Far, far beyond thy wish: let that hope cheer
Haste, my Axalla, to dispose with safety
Thy beauteous charge, and on the foe revenge
The pain which absence gives; thy other care,
Honour and arms, now summon thy attend-
Now do thy o'tice well, my soul! Remember
Thy cause, the cause of Heaven and injur'd
earth.
thou supreme! if thy great spirit warms
My glowing breast, and fires my soul to arms.
Grant that my sword, assisted by thy power,
This day may peace and happiness restore,
That war and lawless rage may vex the world
[Exeunt TAMERLANE, MONESES, STRATOCLES, PRINCE of TANAIS, ZAMA, MIRVAN, and Attendants.
dx. The battle calls, and bids me haste to
leave thee;
Oh, Selima !—But let destruction wait,
Are there not hours enough for blood and
slaughter?
[it
This moment shall be love's, and I will waste
In soft complainings, for thy sighs and cold-
For thy forgetful coldness; even at Birza,
When in thy father's court my eyes first own'd
thee,
Fairer than light, the joy of their beholding
Even then thou wert not thus.
Sel. Art not thou chang'd,
Christian Axalla? Art thou still the same?
Those were the gentle hours of peace, and
thou
Ljoin
The world's good angel, that didst kindly
Its mighty masters in harmonious friendship:
But since those joys that once were ours are
lost,
Forbear to mention 'em, and talk of war;
Talk of thy conquests and my chains, Axalla.
Ax. Yet I will listen, fair, unkind upbraider!
Yet I will listen to thy charming accents,
Although they make me curse my fame and
fortune,
[phies,
My laurel wreaths, and all the glorious tro
For which the valiant bleed-Oh, thou unjust
Dost thou then envy me this small return
My niggard fate has made for all the mourn-
ings,
For all the pains, for all the sleepless nights
That cruel absence brings?
I will not hear thy soothing. Is it thus
That Christian lovers prove the faith they
swear?
Are war and slavery the soft endearments
With which they court the beauties they ad-
mire?
Ling
"Twas well my heart was cautious of believ-
Thy vows, and thy protesting. Know, my
[lima;
Thy sword has vanquish'd but the half of Se-
Her soul disdains thy victory.
Ax. Hear, sweet Heaven!
Hear the fair tyrant, how she wrests love's
As she had vow'd my rain! What is con-
quest?
What joy have I from that, but to behold thee,
To kneel before thee, and with lifted eyes
To view thee, as devotion does a saint,
With awful, trembling pleasure; then to
Thou art the queen and mistress of my soul?
Has not even Tamerlane (whose word, next
Heaven's,
Makes fate at second-hand) bid thee disclaim
Thy fears? And dost thou call thyself a slave;
Only to try how far the sad impression
Can sink into Axalla?
Sel. Oh, Axalla! Ought I to hear you?
Ax. Come back, ye hours,
And tell my Selima what she has done!
Bring back the time, when to her father's
I came ambassador of peace from Tamerlane; When, hid by conscious darkness and disguise, I past the dangers of the watchful guards, Bold as the youth who nightly swam the Hellespont:
Then, then she was not sworn the foe of love; When, as my soul confess'd its flame, and sued In moving sounds for pity, she frown'd rarely, But, blushing, heard me tell the gentle tale; Nay, even confess'd, and told me softly, sighing, She thought there was no guilt in love like mine.
Sel. Young, and unskilful in the world's false arts,
I suffer'd love to steal upon my softness,
And warm me with a lambent guiltless flame:
Yes, I have heard thee swear a thousand times,
And call the conscious powers of Heaven to
witness
The tenderest, truest, everlasting passion.
But, oh! 'tis past; and I will charge remem-
brance
To banish the fond image from my soul.
Since thou art sworn the foe of royal Bajazet,
I have resolv'd to hate thee.
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Ax. By the sacred majesty [thee; Of Heaven, to whom we kneel, I will obey Yes, I will give thee this severest proof Of my soul's vow'd devotion; 1 will part with thee, [thee, (Thou cruel, to command it!) I will part with As wretches that are doubtful of hereafter Part with their lives, unwilling, loath and fearful,
[thing, And trembling at futurity. But is there noNo small return that honour can afford For all this waste of love?
That at thy coldness languish'd in my breast: So breathe the gentle zephyrs on the spring, And waken every plant and odorous flower, Which winter frost had blasted, to new life.
Sel. To see thee for this moment, and no
Oh! help me to resolve against this tenderThat charms my fierce resentment, and presents thee
Not as thou art, mine and my father's foe,
But as thou wert, when first thy moving ac-
Won me to hear; when, as I listen'd to thee,
The happy hours pass'd by us unperceiv'd,
So was my soul fix'd to the soft enchantment.
Ax. Let me be still the same; I am, I must
If it were possible my heart could stray, [be;
One look from thee would call it back again,
And fix the wanderer for ever thine.
Sel. Where is my boasted resolution now?
[Sinking into his arms.
Oh, yes! thou art the same; my heart joins
with thee,
And to betray me will believe thee still :
It dances to the sounds that mov'd it first,
And owns at once the weakness of my soul.
So, when some skilful artist strikes the strings,
The magic numbers rouse our sleeping pas-
sions,
And force us to confess our grief and pleasure.
Alas! Axalla, say- -dost thou not pity
My artless innocence, and easy fondness?
Oh! turn thee from me, or I die with blush-
ing.
Ax. No, let me rather gaze, for ever gaze, And bless the new-born glories that ador thee;
From every blush that kindles in thy cheeks, Ten thousand little loves and graces spring
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