I have a daughter gained, and Heaven an enemy. What should my duty do? Oh! my misguided daughter-lose not thy faith, Lus. By one short word, Reclaim thy birthright--think upon the blood To dry up all my tears, and make life welcome, Of twenty Christian kings, that fills thy veins ; Say thou art a Christian'Tis heroes' blood-the blood of saints and mar- Zar. Sir I am a Christian. tyrs !

Lus. Receive her, gracious Hearen ! and bless What would thy mother feel, to see thee thus ! her for it. She, and thy murdered brothers !-think, they call thee;

Enter ORASMIN. Think that thou seest them stretch their bloody Oras. Madam, the sultan ordered me to tell arms,

you, And weep to win thee from their murderer's bo- That he expects you instant quit this place, som,

And bid your last farewell to these vile ChrisEven in the place where thou betrayest thy God, tians. He died, my child, to save thee.—Turn thy eyes, You, captive Frenchmen, follow me; for you, And see ; for thou art near his sacred sepulchre; It is my task to answer.Thou canst not move a step, but where he trod! Chat. Still new miseries! Thou tremblest-Oh! admit me to thy soul; How cautious man should be, to say, I'm happy! Kill not thy aged, thy afflicted father;

Lus. These are the times, my friends, to try Take not thus soon, again, the life thou gavest our firmness, him :

Our Christian firmness. Shame not thy mother-nor renounce thy God. 2ar. Alas, sir! Oh! 'Tis past—Repentance dawns in thy sweet eyes; Lus. Oh, you !--I dare not name you ! I see bright truth descending to thy heart, Farewell--but, come what may, be sure rememAnd now, my long-lost child is found for ever!

ber Ner. Oh, doubly blest! a sister, and a soul, You keep the fatal secret! for the rest, To be redeemed together!

Leave all to Heaven--be faithful, and be blest. Zar. Oh, my father!

Ercant Dear author of my life! inform me, teach me,

ACT III.

SCENE I.

Oras. But, sir-should Lewis
Enter Osman and Orasmin.

Osm. Tell Lewis, and the world—it shall be

SO: Osm. Orasmin, this alarm was false and Zara proposed it, and my heart approves : groundless;

Thy statesman's reason is too dull for love! Lewis no longer turns his arms on me;

Why wilt thou force me to confess it all? The French, grown weary by a length of woes, Though I to Lewis send back Lusignan, Wish not at once to quit their fruitful plains, I give him but to Zara– I have grieved her; And famish on Arabia's desart sands.

And owed her the atonement of this joy. Their ships, 'tis true, have spread the Syrian seas; Thy false advices, which but now misled And Lewis, hovering o'er the coast of Cyprus, My anger, to confine those helpless Christians, Alarms the fears of Asia-But I've learnt, Gave her a pain ; I feel for her and me: That, steering wide from our unmenaced ports, But I talk on, and waste the smiling moments. Ile points his

thander at the Egyptian shore. For one long hour I yet defer my nuptials; There let him war, and waste my enemies; But, 'tis not lost, that hour ! 'twill be all hers! Their mutual conflict will but fix my throne. She would employ it in a conference Release those Christians—I restore their free With that Nerestan, whom thou know'st—that

Christian. 'Twill please their master, nor can weaken me; Oras. And have you, sir, indulged that strange Transport them at my cost, to find their king;

desire? I wish to have him know me: carry thither Osm. What meanest thou? They were infant This Lusignan, whom, tell him, I restore,

slaves together:
Because I cannot fear his fame in arms; Friends should part kind, who are to meet no
But love him for his virtue and his blood.
Tell hiin, my father, having conquered twice, When Zara asks, I will refuse her nothing :
Condemned him to perpetual chains; but I Restraint was never made for those we love.
Have set him free, that I might triumph more. Down with those rigours of the proud seraglio;

Oras. The Christians gain an army in his name. I hate its laws where blind austerity
Osm. I cannot fear a sound.-

Sinks virtue to necessity. My blood

doin;

inore.

Disclaims your Asian jealousy ;-I hold

Ner. To hate the happiness of Osman's throne, The fierce, free plainness of my Scythian ancestors, And love that God, who, through his maze of Their open confidence, their honest hate,

woes, Their love unfearing, and their anger bold. Has brought us all, unhoping, thus together. Go—the good Christian waits conduct him to For meI am a soldier, uninstructed, her;

Nor daring to instruct, though strong in faith : Zara expects thee-What she wills, obey. But I will bring the ambassador of Heaven,

(E.rit Osman. To clear your views, and lift you to your God! Oras. Ho! Christian ! enter-wait a moment Be it your task to gain admission for him. here,

But where? for whom?-Oh! thou immortal

Power!
Enter Nerestan.

Whence can we hope it, in this cursed seraglio? Zara will soon approach-I go to find her. Who is this slave of Osman ? Yes, this slave!

[Exit Oras. Does she not boast the blood of twenty kings ? Ner. In what a state, in what a place, I leave Is not her race the same with that of Lewis? her?

Is she not Lusignan's unhappy daughter? Oh, faith! ob, father! oh, my poor lost sister ! A Christian, and my sister?-yet a slave ! She's here

A willing slave !—I dare not speak more plainly,

Zar. Cruel! go on-Alas! you do not know Enter Zara.

me ! Thank Heaven, it is not, then, unlawful At once, a stranger to my secret fate, To see you, yet once more, my lovely sister ! My pains, my fears, my wishes, and my power ; Not all so happy!

-We, who met but now, I am-I will be Christian—will receive Shall never meet again for Lusignan- This holy priest, with his mysterious blessing; We shall be orphans still, and want a father, I will not do, nor suffer, aught unworthy Zar. Forbid it Heaven !

Myself, my father, or my father's race. Ner. His last sad hour's at hand

But, tell menor be tender on this pointThat flow of joy, which followed our discovery, What punishment your Christian laws decree Too strong and sudden for his age's weakness, For an unhappy wretch, who, to herself Wasting his spirits, dried the source of life, Unknown, and all abandoned by the world, And nature yields him up to time's demand. Lost and enslaved, has, in her sovereign master, Shall he not die in peace?--Oh! let no doubt Found a protector, generous as great, Disturb his parting moments with distrust; Has touched his heart, and given him all her Let me, when I return to close his eyes,

own? Compose his mind's impatience too, and tell him, Ner. The punishment of such a slave should be You are confirmed a Christian !

Death in this world-and pain in that to come. Zar. Oh! may his soul enjoy, in earth and Zar. I am that slave-strike here—and save heaven,

my shame! Eternal rest! nor let one thought, one sigh, Ner. Destruction to my hopes! Can it be you? One bold complaint of mine, recall his cares ! Zar. It is—Adored by Osman, I adore him: But you have injured me, who still can doubt.- This hour the nuptial rites will make us one. What! am I not your sister and shall you Ner. What ! marry Osman !-Let the world Refuse me credit? You suppose me light; You, who should judge my honour by your own, That the extinguished sun may hide thy shame! Shall you distrust a truth I dared avow,

Could it be thus, it were no crime to kill thee! And stamp apostate on a sister's heart !

Zar. Strike, strike-I love him-yes, by HeaNer. Ah! do not misconceive me !-if I erred, ven I love him. Affection, not distrust, misled my fear;

Ner. Death is thy due--but not thy due from Your will may be a Christian, yet not you; There is a sacred mark-a sign of faith,

Yet, were the honour of our house no barA pledge of promise, that must firm your claim, My father's fame, and the too gentle laws Wash you from guilt, and open Heaven before of that religion which thou hast disgraced — you.

Did not the God thou quittest hold back my Swear, swear by all the woes we all have borne, By all the martyred saints, who call you daughter, Not there--I could not there—but, by my soul, That you consent, this day, to seal our faith, I would rush, desperate, to the sultan's breast, By that mysterious rite which waits your call

. And plunge my sword in his proud heart, who Zar. I swear by Heaven, and all its holy host,

damns thee! Its saints, its martyrs, its attesting angels, Oh! shame! shame! shame! at such a time as And the dread presence of its living author,

this!
To have no faith but yours ;-to die a Christian ! When Lewis! that awakener of the world,
Now, tell me what this mystic faith requires. Bencath the lifted cross makes Egypt pale,
Vol. I.

3 L

grow dark,

me:

arm

And draws the sword of Heaven to spread our | To thy hard laws I render up my soul : faith,

But, oh! demand it back--for now 'tis Osman's Now to submit to see my sister doomed

Enter Osman, A bosom slave to him, whose tyrant heart But measures glory by the Christian's woe! Osm. Shine out, appear, be found, my lovely Yes--I will dare acquaint our father with it;

Zara! Departing Lusignan may live so long,

Impatient eyes attend—the rites expect thee; As just to hear thy shame, and die to escape it. And my devoted heart no longer brooks Zar. Stay—my too angry brother-stay--per- This distance from its softener !-all the lamps haps,

Of nuptial love are lighted, and burn pure, Zara has resolution great as thine :

As if they drew their brightness from thy blushes: 'Tis cruel and unkind.—Thy words are crimes; The holy mosque is filled with fragrant fumes, My weakness but misfortune. Dost thou suffer? Which emulate the sweetness of thy breathing: I suffer more;-Oh! would to Heaven this blood My prostrate people all confirm my choice, Of twenty boasted kings would stop at once, And send their souls to Heaven in prayers for And stagnate in my heart !-- It then no more

blessings. Would rush, in boiling fevers, through my veins, Thy envious rivals, conscious of thy right, And every trembling drop be filled with Osman. Approve superior charms, and join to praise thee; How has he loved me! how has he obliged me! The thronc, that waits thee, seems to shine inore I owe thee to him! What has he not done,

richly, To justify his boundless power of charming? As all its gems, with animated lustre, For me, he softens the severe decrees

Feared to look dim bencath the eyes of Zara ! Of his own faith ;-and is it just that mine Come, my slow love! the ceremonies wait thee; Should bid me hate him, but because he loves Come, and begin from this dear hour my triumph. me?

Zar. Oh, what a wretch am I! Oh, grief! Oh, No-I will be a Christian- -but preserve

love! My gratitude as sacred as my faith;

Osm. Come- -comeIf I have death to fear for Osman's sake,

Zar. Where shall I hide my blushes ? It must be from his coldness, not his love. Osm. Blushes-here, in my bosom, hide them.

Ner. I must at once condemn and pity thee; Zar. My lord ! I cannot point thee out which way to go,

Osm. Nay, Zara-give me thy hand, and But Providence will lend its light to guide thee. That sacred rite, which thou shalt now receive, Zar. Instruct me, Heaven ! Will strengthen and support thy feeble heart, What should I say-Alas! I cannot speak. To live an innocent, or die a martyr :

Osm. Away—this modest, sweet reluctant Here, then, begin performance of thy vow;

trifling Here, in the trembling horrors of thy soul, But doubles my desires, and thy own beauties. Promise thy king, thy father, and thy God, Zar. Ah, me! Not to accomplish thy detested nuptials,

Osm. Nay--but thou shouldst not be too cruel. Till first the reverend priest has cleared your Zar. I can no longer bear it-Oh, my lord eyes,

Osm. Ha !What?—whence ?-how-
Taught you to know, and given you claim to Ear. My lord ! my sovereign !
Heaven.

Heaven knows this marriage would have been a Promise me this

bliss Zur. So, bless me, Heaven! I do.

Above iny humble hopes !—yet, witness love ! Go-hasten the good priest, I will expect him; Not from the grandeur of your throne, that bliss, But first return-cheer my expiring father, But from the pride of calling Osman mine. Tell him I am, and will be, all he wishes me: Would you had been no emperor! and I Tell him, to give him life 'twere joy to die. Possessed of power and charms deserving you ! Ner. Igo-Farewell-farewell, unhappy sister! That, slighting Asia's thrones, I might alone

(Erit Nerestan. Have left a proffered world, to follow you Zar. I am alone--and now be just, my heart! Through deserts, uninhabited by men, And tell me, wilt thou dare betray thy God? And blessed with ample room for peace and love: What am I? What am I about to be?

But, as it is these ChristiansDaughter of Lusignan-or wife to Ostnan? Osm. Christians! What ! Am I a lover most, or most a Christian? How start two images into thy thoughts, Would Selima were come ! and yet 'tis just, So distant as the Christians and my love! All friends should fly her who forsakes herself. Zar. That good old Christian, reverend LusigWhat shall I do? What heart bas strength to

nan, bear

Now dying, ends his life and woes together. These double weights of duty ?-IIelp me, Ilea- Osm. Well! let him die-What has thy heart ven!

to feel,

come

Thus pressing, and thus tender, from the death Didst thou observe the language of their eyes? Of an old wretched Christian ? --Thank our pro- Hide nothing from me—Is my love betrayed ? phet,

Tell me my whole disgrace: nay, it thou tremThou art no Christian ! -Educated here,

blest,
Thy happy youth was taught our better faith : I hear thy pity speak, though thou art silent.
Sweet as thy pity shines, 'uis now mis-timed. Oras. Í tremble at the pangs I see you suffer.
What! though an aged sufferer dies unhappy, Let not your angry apprehension urge
Why should his foreign fate disturb our joys? Your faithful slave to irritate your anguish;
Žar. Sir, if you love me, and would have me I did, 'tis true, observe some parting tears;
think

But they were tears of charity and grief :
That I am truly dear-

I cannot think there was a cause deserving
Osm. Heaven! if I love!

This agony of passion-
Zar. Permit me--

Osm. Why noI thank thee-
Osm. What?

Orasmin, thou art wise! It could not be
Zar. To desire-

That I should stand exposed to such an insult.
Osm. Speak out.

Thou know'st, had Zara meant me the offence, Zar. The nuptial rites

She wants not wisdom to have hid it better : May be deferred uill

How rightly didst thou judge !-Zara shall know it,
Osm. What!-Is that the voice

And thank thy honest service-After all,
Of Zara?

Might she not have some cause for tears, which I
Zar. Oh, I cannot bear his frown!

Claim no concern in—but the grief it gives her? Osm. Or Zara!

What an unlikely fear-from a poor slave, Zar. It is dreadful to my heart,

Who goes to-morrow, and, no doubt, who wishes,
To give you but a seeming cause for anger; Nay, who resolves, to see these climes no more.
Pardon my grief-Alas! I cannot bear it; Oras. Why did you, sir, against our country's
There is a painful terror in your eye,

custom,
That pierces to my soul-hid from your sight, Indulge him with a second leave to come?
I go to make a moment's truce with tears, He said, he should return once more to see her.
And gather force to speak of my despair.

Osm. Return ! the traitor! he return !-Dares [Erit disordered.

he
Osm. I stand immoveable, like senseless mar- Presume to press a second interview?

Would he be seen again ?-He shall be seen;
Ilorror had frozen my suspended tongue; But dead.-I'll punish the audacious slave,
And an astonished silence robbed my will

To teach the faithless fair to feel my anger.
Of power to tell her that she shocked my soul ! Be still, my transports; violence is blind :
Spoke she to me?-Sure I misunderstood her! I know my heart at once is fierce and weak;
Could it be ine she left ?-What have I seen! I feel that I descend below myself ;

Zara can never justly be suspected;
Enter Orasmin.

Her sweetness was not formed to cover treason :
Orasmin, what a change is here !-She's gone, Yet, Osman must not stoop to woman's follies;
And I permitted it, I know not how.

Their tears, complaints, regrets, and reconcileOras. Perhaps you but accuse the charming ments, fault

With all their light, capricious roll of changes, Of innocence, too modest oft in love.

Are arts too vulgar to be tried on me.
Osm. But why, and whence those tears?—those It would become me better to resume
looks ? that flight?

The empire of my will. Rather than fall
That grief, so strongly stamped on every feature? Beneath myself, I must, how dear sue'er
If it has been that Frenchman !What a thought! It costs me, rise--till I look down on Zara !-
How low, how horrid a suspicion that!

Away—but mark me—these seraglio doors, The dreadful flash at once gives light and kills Against all Christians be they henceforth shut, me;

Close as the dark retreats of silent death.
My too bold confidence repelled my caution-

[Erit Orasmin. An infidel! a slave !-a heart like mine

What have I done, just Heaven! thy rage to Reduced to suffer from so vile a rival !

move, But tell me, didst thou mark them at their part- That thou shouldst sink me down, so low to love? ing?

[Erit.

ble;

ACT IV.

soul :

your father!

not see

me.

SCENE I.

Sel. Ah ! despair not;

Trust your eternal helper, and be happy.
ZARA, SELIMA.

Zar. Why—what has Osman done, that he too Sel. Au, madam! how at once I grieve your should not ? fate,

Has Heaven so nobly formed his heart to hate it? And how admire your virtue !-Heaven permits, Generous and just, beneficent and brave, And Heaven will give you strength, to bear mis- Were he but Christian-What can man be more? fortune;

I wish, methinks, this reverend priest were come, To break these chains, so strong, and yet so dear. To free me from these doubts, which shake my Zar. Oh, that I could support the fatal struggle!

Yet know not why I should not dare to hope, Sel. The Eternal aids your weakness, sees your That Heaven, whose mercy all confess and feel, will,

Will pardon and approve the alliance wished : Directs your purpose, and rewards your sorrows. Perhaps it seats me on the throne of Syria,, Zar. Never had wretch more cause to hope he To tax my power for these good Christians' comdoes,

fort. Sel. What! though you here no more behold Thou know'st the mighty Saladine, who first

Conquered this empire from my father's race, There is a Father to be found above,

Who, like my Osinan, charmed the admiring Who can restore that father to his daughter.

world, Zar. But I have planted pain in Osman's bo- Drew breath, though Syrian, from a Christian som;

mother. He loves me, even to death! and I reward him Sel. What mean you, madam! Ah! you do With anguish and despair.—How base! how cruel!

Zar. Yes, yes, I see it all; I am not blind: But I deserved him not; I should have been I see my country and my race condemn me; Too happy, and the hand of Heaven repelled I see, that spite of all, I still love Osman.

What if I now go throw me at his feet, Sel. What ! will you then regret the glorious And tell him there sincerely what I am? loss,

Sel. Consider—that might cost your brother's And hazard thus a victory bravely won?

life, Zar. Inhuman victory !-thou dost not know Expose the Christians, and betray you all. This love so powerful, this sole joy of life, Zar. You do not know the noble heart of Ose This first, best hope of earthly happiness, Is yet less powerful in my heart than Heaven ! Sel. I know him the protector of a faith, To him who made that heart I offer it;

Sworn enemy to ours—The more he loves, There, there, I sacrifice my bleeding passion; The less he will permit you to profess I pour before him every guilty tear;

Opinions which he hates: to-night the priest, I beg bim to etface the fond impression, In private introduced, attends you bere; And fill with his own image all iny soul : You promised him admissionBut, while I weep and sigh, repent and pray,

Zur. Would I had not !
Remembrance brings the object of my love, I promised, too, to keep this fatal secret;
And every light illusion floats before him. My father's urged command required it of me;
I see, I hear him, and again he charms !

I must obey, all dangerous as it is ;
Fills my glad soul, and shines 'twixt me and Compelled to silence, Osman is enraged,
Heaven !

Suspicion follows, and I lose his love.
Oh, all ye royal ancestors! Oh, father!
Mother! You Christians, and the Christians'

Enter Osman.
God!

Osm. Madam! there was a time when my You who deprive me of this generous lover!

charmed heart If you permit me not to live for him,

Made it a virtue to be lost in love; Let me not live at all, and I am blessed : When, without blushing, I indulged my flame, Let me die innocent; let his dear hand

And every day still made you dearer to me. Close the sad eyes of her he stooped to love, You taught me, madam, to believe my love And I acquit my fate, and ask no more. Rewarded and returned--oor was that hope, But he forgives me not-regardless now, Methinks, too bold for reason. Emperors, Whether or how I live, or when I die.

Who chuse to sigh devoted at the feet lle quits me, scorns me—and I yet live on, Of beauties, whom the world conceive their slaves, And talk of death as distant !

Ilave fortune's claim, at least, to sure success :

man.