And led me to the shore where Cali stood, Mann'd with the bravest of our fellow captives, Leo. But what avails So small a force? or why should Cali fly? CALI BASA enters. ; Cali. Now summon all thy soul, illustrious Christian! Awake each faculty that sleeps within thee, The courtier's policy, the sage's firmness, The warrior's ardour, and the patriot's zeal If chasing past events with vain pursuit, Or wand'ring in the wilds of future being, A single thought now rove, recall it home. But can thy friend sustain the glorious cause, The cause of liberty, the cause of nations? Dem. Observe him closely with a statesman's eye, Thou that hast long perus'd the draughts of nature, And know'st the characters of vice and virtue, Left by the hand of Heaven on human clay. Nor dull serenity becalms his eyes. Dem. Sooner these trembling leaves shall find a voice, And tell the secrets of their conscious walks; Sooner the breeze shall catch the flying sounds, And shock the tyrant with the tale of treason. Your slaughter'd multitudes that swell the shore, With monuments of death proclaim his courage; Virtue and liberty engross his soul, And leave no place for perfidy or fear. Leo. I scorn a trust unwillingly repos'd; Demetrius will not lead me to dishonour; Consult in private, call me when your scheme Is ripe for action, and demands the sword. Dem. Leontius, stay. Cali. Forgive an old man's weakness, And share the deepest secrets of my soul, [Going. My wrongs, my fears, my motives, my designs.- B Embroil'd the Turkish state-our Sultan's father, The cloister's ease, resum'd the tott'ring throne, Dem. Unhappy lot of all that shine in courts ;— Cali. Such are the woes when arbitrary power, Where common laws restrain the prince and subject, Flows through each member of th' embodied state, Sure all unite to hold her league of rule That links the jarring elements in peace. Leo. But say, great Bassa, why the Sultan's anger, Burning in vain, delays the stroke of death? Cali. Young, and unsettled in his father's kingdoms, Fierce as he was, he dreaded to destroy The empire's darling, and the soldier's boast; Frowns unrestrain'd, and dooms me with his eyes. Dem. What can reverse thy doom? Dem. But Greece is still forgot. Cali. On Asia's coast, Which lately bless'd my gentle government, Fills all th' astonish'd empire with confusion, The Turkish powers from Europe shall retreat, Dem. That vessel, if observ'd, alarms the court, Cali. Forgetful of command, with captive beauties, Far from his troops, he toys his hours away. A roving soldier seiz'd in Sophia's temple A virgin shining with distinguish'd charms, And brought his beauteous plunder to the Sultan. Dem. In Sophia's temple!-What alarm!--Proceed. Cali. The Sultan gaz'd, he wonder'd, and he lov'd; In passion lost, he bad the conqu`ring fair Renounce her faith, and be the queen of Turkey; The pious maid, with modest indignation, Dem. Celestial Goodness! It must, it must be She; her name? Cali. Aspasia. Dem. What hopes, what terrors rush upon my soul ! O, lead me quickly to the scene of fate; Break through the politicians tedious forms, Leo. Did Mahomet reproach or praise her virtue ? Cali. Just in the moment of impending fate, Fear in her eye, submission on her tongue, Leo. Nor found again the bright temptation fail? Cali. Trembling to grant, nor daring to refuse, While Heaven and Mahomet divide her fears, With coy caresses and with pleasing wiles |