O in the name of all the sacred ties
That bind us, fly, and save thyself.
SEID.
Away,
And leave me: why did thy ill-fated love
Command thy cruel order heaven itself
Had never been obeyed
PALMIRA.
Unkind reproach!
Couldst thou but know what thy Palmira suffers
How wouldst thou pity her!
SEID.
What dreadful object
Is that before us?
(Zopir rises up slowly from behind the altar, and leans upon it)
PALMIRA.
'Tis the murdered Zopir;
Bloody and pale he drags his mangled limbs
Towards us.
SEID.
Wilt thou go to him?
PALMIRA.
I must;
For pity and remorse distract my soul,
And draw me to him.
ZOPIR.
(comes forward leaning on Palmira.)
Gentle maid, support me!
(he sits down).
Ungrateful Seid, thou has slain me; now
Thou weepest; alas! Too late.
SCENE V
ZOPIR, SEID, PALMIRA, PHANOR.
PHANOR.
O dreadful sight!
What's here?
ZOPIR.
I wish I could have seen my friend
Hercides—Phanor, art thou there?—behold
My murderer.
(points to Seid.)
PHANOR.
O guilt! Accursed deed!
Unhappy Seid, look upon—thy father.
SEID.
Who?
PALMIRA.
He?
SEID.
My father?
ZOPIR.
Gracious heaven!
PHANOR.
Hercides
In his last moments took me to his arms,
And weeping cried: “It there be time, O haste
Prevent a parricide and stop the arm
Of Seid;” in my breast the tyrant lodged
The dreadful secret; now I suffer for it,
And die by Mahomet's detested hand:
Haste, Phanor, fly, inform the hapless Zopir,
That Seid and Palmira are—his children.
SEID.
Palmira!
PALMIRA.
Thou my brother?
ZOPIR.
O ye gods!
O nature, thou hast not deceived me then,
When thou didst please for them! Unhappy Seid,
What could have urged thee to so foul a deed?
SEID.
(kneeling)
My gratitude, my duty, my religion,
All that mankind hold sacred, urged me on
To do the worst of actions:--give me back
That fatal weapon.
PALMIRA.
(laying hold of Seid's arm).
Plunge it in my breast;
I was the cause of my dear father's murder;
And incest is the price of parricide:
SEID.
Strike both: heaven hath not punishment enough
For crimes like ours.
ZOPIR.
(embracing them).
Let me embrace my children:
The gods have poured into my cup of sorrow
A draught of sweetest happiness: I die,
Contented, and resign me to my fate:
But you must live, my children; you, my Seid,
And you, Palmira, by the sacred name
Of nature, by the dying father's blood,
Fast flowing from the wound which thou hast made,
Let me entreat you, live; revenge yourselves
Avenge the injured Zopir; but preserve
Your gracious lives; the great, the important hour
Approaches , that must change the mournful scene:
The offended people ere tomorrow's dawn,
Will rise in arms and punish the usurper;
My blood will add fresh fuel to their rage;
Let us await the issue.
SEID.
O I fly
To sacrifice the monster, to take vengeance
For a dear father's life, or lose my own.
SCENE VI
ZOPIR, SEID, PALMIRA, OMAR, Attendants.
OMAR.
Guards, seize the murderer; Mahomet is come
To punish guilt, and execute the laws.
ZOPIR.
What do I hear?
SEID.
Did Mahomet command thee
To punish Seid?
PALMIRA.
Execrable tyrant!
Was not the murder done by thy command?
OMAR.
'Twas not commanded.
SEID.
Well have I deserved
This just reward of my credulity.
OMAR.
Soldiers, obey.
PALMIRA.
O stop, ye shall not—
OMAR.
Madam,
If Seid's life is dear to you, submit
With patience, lest the prophet's anger fall
Like thunder on your head; if you obey,
Great Mahomet is able to protect you:
Guards, lead