My ravish'd soul? where didst thou learn the art
To stop the tide of grief in its full flow,
And triumph o'er despair?

Al. In you I triumph.

Tho' rackt and torn with more than mortal grief,
Amidst the pangs of disappointed love

And suff'ring friendship, do I not behold thee,
Still constant as the sun, that keeps its course,
Tho' storms and tempests vex the nether sky,
And low'ring clouds a while obscure his brightness.
Scan. Excellent, heavenly maid! thou robb'st
thyself,

And attribut'st to me thy own perfections.

[part

Al. Have you once question'd whether you should With two the dearest things to man on earth, A friend and mistress; or renounce your faith, The int'rest of mankind and cause of virtue ?

Scan. That were to purchase ev'n thee too dear : That were a misery beyond thy loss:

That were, my princess! to deserve to lose thee.
Al. That gracious power that wrought you for
this purpose,

That made you great to struggle with adversity,
And teach luxurious princes, by example,

What kings should be, and shame 'em into virtue ;
Behold with pleasure, you discharge the trust,
And act up to the dignity you're form'd for.

Scan. O whither would thy dazzling virtue soar? Is't not enough we yield to our misfortunes, And bear afflictions, tho' with bleeding hearts. Would'st thou attempt to raise pleasure from pain, And teach the voice of mourning, songs of joy?

Al. Small is my part and suited to my strength. What is dying? A wanton Cleopatra

Could smile in death and infants die in sleep. What tho' my days are few and fill'd with sorrow! Could vain prosperity to hoary age

Afford a happiness to be compar'd
To dying now in such a glorious cause;
Lamented and belov'd by thee, the best
And greatest of mankind-

And close the scene.

-Then let us haste

-You, good Paulinus, let

The Visier know, I'm ready to return.

[Exit Paulinus.

Why are you pale, why do the gushing tears

Blot the majestic beauty of your face?

Why is the hero in the lover lost?

[thee;

Scan. Let angels, who attend in crowds to hear

Let all the sons of liberty and fame;

Those who still wait, and those who have obtain'd
The end of all their labours; heav'n and earth,
Angels and men, the living and the dead;
Behold and judge if ever man before

Purchas'd the patriot's name, or sav'd his country,
His faith and honour, at a price so dear.

Enter VISIER.

Vis. Well prince, may we not hope that those bright eyes

Have charm'd your soul to peace! Who would resist, When honour's gain'd by being overcome?

To yield to beauty, crowns the warrior's fame.

Scan. I'm not to learn how to esteem the princess; But know the Sultan over-rates his power, When he presumes to barter for her love. Her mind is free and royal as his own; Nor is she to be gain'd by doing what Would forfeit her esteem. And I must think This haste to know my mind, is fraud or fear. What needs there more? the truce is unexpir'd: If your proud master wishes for a peace, We yet may treat on honourable terms. In the mean time receive the princess back.

Vis. Think what you do, great Sir.

Scan. I know my duty.

Al. Farewell, my Lord!

Scan. Farewell!

-protect her heaven!

Al. Now let the fretful tyrant storm and rage,

The only danger we could fear is past.

[Exeunt Althea & Visier. Scan. T'encounter hosts of foes is easier far, Than to sustain this innate, bosom war; This one unbloody conquest costs me more, Than all the battles I e'er won before.

[Exit.

END OF THE THIRD ACT.

A C T IV.

SCENE, The outward apartment in the Women's Tent. A guard of Eunuchs.

Enter KISLER AGA.

K. A. "Tis as I thought: our master is betray'd, Who ever knew a renegade sincere?

This dog's a Christian still!

Enter AMASIE.

Ama. The victim is prepar❜d.

If lust holds on her course, and revels yet
In the hot veins of rash, luxurious youth,
This Christian heroine, this second Lucrece,
In Mahomet shall find another Tarquin,
As cruel and remorseless as the first.

If I should fail in my attempt tonight,
And Scanderbeg survive-

-Althea ravish'd

He'll wish himself, I had succeeded better.
Dismiss your useless train of prying slaves;
I've business that requires your ear alone.

[Aside.

[Exeunt Eunuchs. A Grecian chief, who owns our master's cause, Must be admitted to the captive princess. "Tis of importance to the Sultan's service, That he should enter and depart unknown: I'll introduce him, while you watch without That none approach to give him interruption. Aga. This I conceive; but why he mov'd the lady To the remotest part of the pavillion

I cannot comprehend.

Ama. You know your duty!

Your life shall answer for the least neglect.

[Aside.

Aga. I shall take care

thee, thou traitor.

[Exit Amasie] to ruin

[Exit.

SCENE, Another Apartment; Stage darken'd ;

Table and Lamp.

ALTHEA discovered.

Al. Is this a time and place for virtuous love?
This is the wanton's hour: now she forsakes

Her home, and, hid in darkness, watches for her prey;
The soul, whom heav'n abhors, falls in her snares;
And pierc'd with guilt, as with an arrow, dies.
Yon sickly lamp, that glimmers thro' my tears,
Faintly contending with prevailing darkness,
Spreads o'er the place a melancholy gloom,
That sooths the joyless temper of my mind.
So a pale meteor's dull and beamless flame
To the bewilder'd traveller appears,
And adds new horrors to the cheerless night.
-Is error then the lot of all mankind?

It is, it is

for Scanderbeg is fallen.—
O! what could move him to the rash attempt?
If he should perish, as the danger's great,
How will th' insulting infidels rejoice?

How will the foe, with scornful triumph sing,
As a fool dies, so died this mighty chief;
His hands unbound, no fetters on his feet,
But as an ideot by his folly falls,

So fell the champion of the Christian cause.

Enter MAHOMET drest like SCANDERBEG, fastening the door on the inside.

He's come, and all my sorrows are complete,
Are you pursued!O my prophetic fears!
If undiscover'd you have enter'd here,
This caution's needless; if betray'd, in vain.
Ma. Of such a prize who can be too secure?
Al. "Tis not his voice-defend me,
O defend me,

All gracious heaven!

Ma. Dost thou not know me, princess?

Al. Alas! too well! [Aside.] Sure you've mistook your way,

Or came perchance to seek some other here;

Howe'er that be, permit me to retire.

Ma. Mistaken fair; or is this ign'rance feign'd; "Tis you alone I seek. Impetuous love,

That will not be resisted, brought me here

To lay my life and fortune at your feet.

Al. Then I'm betray'd, basely betray'd, just Heaven!

Expos'd, perhaps devoted to a ruin,

From which the grave itself is no retreat,
And time can ne'er repair. Be gracious, Sir,
To an unhappy maid!-Or I'm deceiv'd,
Or you, my Lord, were pleas'd to mention love;
Of that, alas! I am forbid to hear;
Compassion better suits my humble state,
That I entreat; have pity on me, prince,