Dr. Johnson's Works: Life, Poems, and Tales Part 25

ASPASIA.

Hated name! his jealous rage Broke out in perfidy--Oh! curs'd Aspasia, 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 breast, where virtue guards the throne of peace.

Devolve, dear maid, thy sorrows 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 presence; Proceed, and give a loose to love and treason.

[_Withdraws_

ASPASIA.

Yet tell.

DEMETRIUS.

To tell or hear were waste of life.

ASPASIA.

The life, which only this design supported, Were now well lost in hearing how you fail'd.

DEMETRIUS.

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 sudden cry Urg'd me to dash it to the ground, untouch'd, And seize my sword with disenc.u.mber'd hand.

ASPASIA.

What cry? The stratagem? Did then Abdalla--

DEMETRIUS.

At once a thousand pa.s.sions fir'd his cheek!

Then all is past, he cry'd--and darted from us; Nor, at the call of Cali, deign'd to turn.

ASPASIA.

Why did you stay, deserted and betray'd?

What more could force attempt, or art contrive?

DEMETRIUS.

Amazement seiz'd us, and the h.o.a.ry ba.s.sa Stood, torpid in suspense; but soon Abdalla Return'd with force that made resistance vain, And bade his new confed'rates seize the traitors.

Cali, disarm'd, was borne away to death; Myself escap'd, or favour'd, or neglected.

ASPASIA.

Oh Greece! renown'd for science and for wealth, Behold thy boasted honours s.n.a.t.c.h'd away.

DEMETRIUS.

Though disappointment blast our general scheme, Yet much remains to hope. I shall not call The day disastrous, that secures our flight; Nor think that effort lost, which rescues thee.

[_Enter_ Abdalla.

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 shall live for me; for me alone Shall plume her charms, and, with attentive watch, Steal from Abdalla's eye the sign to smile.

DEMETRIUS.

Cease this wild roar of savage exultation; Advance, and perish in the frantick boast.

ASPASIA.

Forbear, Demetrius, 'tis Aspasia calls thee; Thy love, Aspasia, calls; restrain thy sword; Nor rush on useless wounds, with idle courage.

DEMETRIUS.

What now remains?

ASPASIA.

It now remains to fly!

DEMETRIUS.

Shall, then, the savage live, to boast his insult; Tell, how Demetrius shunn'd his single hand, And stole his life and mistress from his sabre?

ABDALLA.

Infatuate loiterer, has fate, in vain, Unclasp'd his iron gripe to set thee free?

Still dost thou flutter in the jaws of death; Snar'd with thy fears, and maz'd in stupefaction?

DEMETRIUS.

Forgive, my fair; 'tis life, 'tis nature calls: Now, traitor, feel the fear that chills my hand.

ASPASIA.

'Tis madness to provoke superfluous danger, And cowardice to dread the boast of folly.

ABDALLA.

Fly, wretch, while yet my pity grants thee flight; The pow'r of Turkey waits upon my call.

Leave but this maid, resign a hopeless claim, And drag away thy life, in scorn and safety, Thy life, too mean a prey to lure Abdalla.

DEMETRIUS.

Once more I dare thy sword; behold the prize, Behold, I quit her to the chance of battle.

[_Quitting_ Aspasia.

ABDALLA.

Well may'st thou call thy master to the combat, And try the hazard, that hast nought to stake; Alike my death or thine is gain to thee; But soon thou shalt repent: another moment Shall throw th' attending janizaries round thee.

[_Exit, hastily_, Abdalla.

SCENE V.

ASPASIA, IRENE, DEMETRIUS.

IRENE.

Abdalla fails; now, fortune, all is mine. [_Aside_.

Haste, Murza, to the palace, let the sultan [_To one of her attendant_ Despatch his guards to stop the flying traitors, While I protract their stay. Be swift and faithful.