* And see him well secured, till Mahomet Pal. Villain, hold! [Laying hold of ZAPHNA. Zaph. Just, just reward of my credulity! Pal. Let me go with him; I will share thy Unhappy Zaphna, for I share thy guilt- [Looking back at ALCANOR. Pal. [Aside.] Oh death! deliver me from such Mir. If you would aught to save the destined Follow me to the prophet; you may move him You this way. [To the soldiers who hold ZAPHNA. [To PALMIRA. SCENE I. Enter MAHOMET and MIRVAN. Zaph. Pardon Pal. Oh, pardon [They are led off by degrees, looking alternately at their father and each other. Alc. Oh, insupportable! Both from me torn, then, when I wanted most Their consolation! Pha. Hark! [A shout. The citizens are roused, and all, in arms, Alc. Pharon, support me Some moments longer.-Help, conduct me towards them; Bare this wound to them; let that speak the cause, The treacherous cause-for words begin to fail me; Then, if in death I can but serve my country, ACT V. Mah. Wrong will be ever nursed and fed with blood! So this boy bigot held his pious purpose? Mah. What reasonless machine Mir. This moment he expired, and Mecca's youth In vain lament their chief. To the mad crowd Think And only wished he'd died among the faithful, Mah. Excellent Mirvan! Mir. We, then, both at large Descanted on thy clemency and bounty. On that the silent and desponding crowd roke out in murmurs, plaints, and last in shouts, And each mechanic grew a mussulman. The weak remaining billows of this storm Mir. Safe in a dungeon, where he dies apace. Mah. I would be kind, and let him die deceived, Nor know that parent-blood defiles his soul. Mah. Unhappy Zaphna! Something like pity checks me for thy death. But why-I must not think that way-shall Mahomet Give a new paradise to all mankind, And let remorse of conscience be the hell On themes of guilt, when that pure angel's near? Mir. The weeping fair, led on by flattering hope Of Zaphna's life, attends your sacred will: She droops her head and locks up all her sweets. Enter MIRVAN. Mir. Oh, Mahomet, all's lost, thy glory tarnished, And the insatiate tomb ripe to devour us! Let them attend me straight. [Erit MIRVAN. | Rage all his strength. Spite of the deadly draught, Enter PALMIRA with attendants. Pal. [Apart.] Where have they led me? Methinks each step I take, the mangled corse Of my dear father (by poor Zaphna mangled) Lies in my way, and all I see is blood [Starting. 'Tis the impostor's self!-Burst, heart, in silence. Mah. Maid, lay aside this dread. Palmira's fate, And that of Mecca, by my will is fixed. suffer This sacrilegious hypocrite, this spoiler, [Aside. [Aside. Mah. Child of my care, Fraud is thy law, the tomb thy only bounty, The venerable prophet I revered, Where Zaphna's, where Palmira's innocence? Blasted by thee, by thee, infernal monsterThou found'st us angels, and hast made us fiends; Give, give us back our lives, our fame, our virtue: Thou canst not, tyrant--yet thou seek'st my love, Seek'st with Alcanor's blood his daughter's love! Mah. [Apart.] Horror and death! the fatal secret's known. He holds in life but to make sure of vengeance. Mah. What dost thou here, then? instant with our guards, Attempt to stem their progress, till the arrival Of Omar with the troops. Mir. I haste, my lord. [Exit MIRVAN. Pal. Now, now, my hour's at hand! Hear'st thou those shouts, that rend the ambient air? Seest thou those glancing fires, that add new horrors To the night's gloom? fresh from thy murdering poignard, My father's spirit leads the vengeful shades I see them raise their unsubstantial arms Mah. [Aside.] What terror's this, that hangs upon her accents? I feel her virtue, though I know her weakness. Pal. Thou ask'st my love; go seek it in the Are all cut off, and valiant Mirvan's self, Struck with the common phrenzy, vow thy ruin, Ali. See, thy few friends, whom wild despair (But armed in vain) are come to die beside thee. ■ Enter ZAPHNA, PALMIRA, and PHARON, with citizens, and the body of ALCANOR on a bier. Zaph. See, see, my friends, where the Impostor stands, With head erect, as if he knew not guilt, Mah. Impious man! Is it not enough to have spilt thy parent-blood, The pestilence, the famine; such art thou; Zaph. Well thou upbraid'st me; for to parley Some cruel power unnerves my willing arm, Blasts my resolves, and weighs me down to earth. Mah. Such be the fate of all, who brave our law. Nature and death have heard my voice, and now [Sinking down by ALCANOR's body, and leaning on the bier, PHARON kneeling down with him, and supporting him. Down, down, good Pharon-Thou poor injured corse, May I embrace thee? Won't thy pallid wounds Zaph. In vain's the guiltless meaning of my heart; High heaven detests the involuntary crime, ven, Guide her, and-oh! [Dies. Pal. Think not, ye men of Mecca, This death inflicted by the hand of heaven; 'Tis he-that viper―― Mah. Know, ye faithless wretches! 'Tis mine to deal the bolts of angry heaven; Behold them there, and let the wretch, who doubts, Tremble at Zaphna's fate; and know, that Mahomet Can read his thoughts, and doom him with a look. Go then, and thank your pontiff and your prince For each day's sun he grants you to behold. Hence to your temples, and appease my rage! [The people go off. Pal. Ah, stay! my brother's murdered by this tyrant: By poison, not by piety, he kills. Mah. 'Tis done Thus ever be our law re- Now, fair Palmira—— Pal. Monster! is it thus Thou mak'st thyself a god, by added crimes, Mah. Think, exquisite Palmira! for thy sake- race. See where Alcanor, see where Zaphna, lies; Palmira's saved for something worse than death; | Oh! snatch me from that sight; quick, quick This to prevent- -Zaphna, I follow thee. [Stabs herself with ZAPHNA'S sword. Mah. Farewell, dear victim of my boundless passion! The price of treachery, the reward of murder, Sink with thee to the earth- -Oh, justice, justice! In vain are glory, worship, and dominion! And, by the world adored, dwell with the damned! My crimes have planted scorpions in my breast; transport me To nature's loneliest mansion, where the sun Ali. Heavens! help, hold him! Mah. Paltry dastards! [ALI, &c. disarm him. You fled the foe, but can disarm your master! Angel of death, whose power I've long proclaim ed, Now aid me, if thou canst; now, if thou canst, Pha. Oh! what a curse is life, when self-conviction Flings our offences hourly in our face, EPILOGUE. LONG has the shameful licence of the age scene; From all the sad solemnity of woe Then, as the loosest airs she had been gleaning, Coquette the fan, and leer a double meaning! The bold but honest author of to-night TANCRED AND SIGISMUNDA. BY THOMSON. PROLOGUE. BOLD is the man, who, in this nicer age, |