Revive the languid flow'rs; thus nature shone
New from the maker's hand, and fair array'd
In the bright colours of primæval spring;
When purity, while fraud was yet unknown,
Play'd fearless in th' inviolated fhades.
This elemental joy, this gen'ral calm,
Is fure the fmile of unoffended heav'n.
Yet! why-

MAID.

Behold, within th' embow'ring grove

Afpafia ftands

IRENE.

With melancholy mien,

Penfive, and envious of Irene's greatnefs. Steal unperceiv'd upon her meditationsBut fee, the lofty maid, at our approach, Refumes th' imperious air of haughty virtue. Are these th' unceasing joys, th' unmingled pleasures [To Afpafia. For which Afpafia fcorn'd the Turkish crown? Is this th' unfhaken confidence in heav'n? Is this the boafted blifs of conscious virtue? When did content figh out her cares in fecret? When did felicity repine in deferts?

ASPASIA.

III fuits with guilt the gaieties of triumph;
When daring vice infults eternal justice,
The minifters of wrath forget compaffion,
And fnatch the flaming bolt with hafty hand.

IRENE.

Forbear thy threats, proud prophetess of ill,
Vers'd in the fecret counfels of the sky.

ASPASIA.

Forbear-But thou art funk beneath reproach;
In vain affected raptures flush the cheek,
And fongs of pleasure warble from the tongue,
When fear and anguish labour in the breast,
And all within is darkness and confufion
Thus on deceitful Etna's flow'ry fide,
Unfading verdure glads the roving eye,
While fecret flames, with unextinguish'd rage,
Infatiate on her wafted entrails prey,

And melt her treach'rous beauties into ruin.

[Enter Dem.

SCENE III.

ASPASIA, IRENE, DEMETRIUS.

DEMETRIUS.

Fly, fly, my love, deftruction rushes on us,
The rack expects us, and the fword pursues.

ASPASIA.

Is Greece deliver'd? is the tyrant fall'n?

DEMETRIUS.

Greece is no more, the profp'rous tyrant lives, Referv'd, for other lands, the fcourge of heav'n.

ASPASIA.

ASPASIA.

Say, by what fraud, what force were you defeated? Betray'd by falfehood, or by crowds o'erborn?

DEMETRIUS.

The preffing exigence forbids relation.

Abdalla.

ASPASIA.

Hated name! his jealous rage

Broke out in perfidy-Oh curs'd Afpafia,
Born to complete the ruin of her country;
Hide me, oh hide me from upbraiding Greece,
Oh, hide me from myself!

DEMETRIUS.

Be fruitless grief

The doom of guilt alone, nor dare to seize
The breaft where virtue guards the throne of peace.
Devolve, dear maid, thy forrows on the wretch,
Whose fear, or rage, or treachery betray'd us.

IRENE ASIDE.

A private station may discover more;
Then let me rid them of Irene's prefence:
Proceed, and give a loose to love and treafon.

Yet tell.

ASPASIA.

[Withdraws.

DEMETRIUS.

To tell, or hear, were waste of life.

ASPASIA.

The life, which only this defign fupported,
Were now well loft, in hearing how you

DEMETRIUS.

fail'd,

Or meanly fraudulent, or madly gay,
Abdalla, while we waited near the palace,
With ill-tim'd mirth propos'd the bowl of love.
Just as it reach'd my lips, a fudden cry

Urg'd me to dafh it to the ground untouch'd,
And feize my fword with difencumber'd hand.

ASPASIA.

What cry? The ftratagem? Did then Abdalla

DEMETRIUS.

At once a thoufand paffions fir'd his cheek!
Then all is paft, he cried-and darted from us;
Nor at the call of Cali deign'd to turn.

A S P A S IA.

Why did you stay? deferted and betray'd?
What more could force attempt, or art contrive?

DEMETRIUS.

Amazement feiz'd us, and the hoary Baffa
Stood torpid in fufpence; but foon Abdalla
Return'd with force that made refiftance vain,
And bade his new confederates feize the traitors.
Cali difarm'd was borne away to death;
Myfelf efcap'd, or favour'd, or neglected.

ASPASIA.

O Greece! renown'd for fcience and for wealth, Behold thy boafted honours fnatch'd away.

DEMETRIUS.

DEMETRIUS.

Though difappointment blaft our general scheme,
Yet much remains to hope. I fhall not call
The day difaft'rous that fecures our flight;
Nor think that effort loft which rescues thee.

[Enter Abd.

SCENE IV.

IRENE, ASPASIA, DEMETRIUS, ABDALLA.

ABDALLA.

At length the prize is mine-The haughty maid
That bears the fate of empires in her air,

Henceforth fhall live for me; for me alone

Shall plume her charms, and, with attentive watch, Steal from Abdalla's eye the fign to smile,

DEMETRIUS.

Ceafe this wild roar of favage exultation;
Advance, and perish in the frantick boaft.

ASPASI A.

Forbear, Demetrius, 'tis Afpafia calls thee;
Thy love, Afpafia, calls; reftrain thy fword;
Nor rush on useless wounds with idle courage.