Where’er they passed they spread destruction round them:
At length they seized the palace, where the best
Of sovereigns and of men, with calm composure
And resignation yielded to his fate:
The wretched queen lay fainting in his arms:
Those of their numerous sons, whom lusty manhood
Had sent to battle, were already slain:
The rest, who naught could give him but their tears,
Hung at his knees and wept; by secret paths
I found an entrance to the palace; there
Did I behold the cruel tyrants bind
In ignominious chains the conquered king,
His children, and his wife
idame.
Unhappy monarch!
O what a change is this! relentless heaven!
zamti.
The wretched captive turned his eyes towards me,
And in the sacred language, to the Tartar
And to the multitude unknown, cried out,
“Preserve my last and only hope—my son.”
From my full heart I promised, swore to act
As he directed me, then fled to thee.
Whether the tyrants, busied in their search
Of plunder, thought not of me, or the symbol
Which here I wear of the divinity
Struck their rude souls with reverential awe,
Or whether heaven in kind compassion meant
To save my precious charge, and cast a cloud
O’er their deluded eyes, I know not what
Drew their attention, but they let me pass.
idame.
We yet may save him, he shall go with me,
And with my son; old Etan shall conduct us:
In some lone wood, or solitary cave,
We may conceal him till the search is past:
Thank heaven they have not reached us yet.
zamti.
Alas!
No place is sacred, no asylum’s left
For the dear royal infant: I expect
The brave Koreans, but they’ll come too late:
But let us seize the favorable hour,
And lodge our precious pledge in safety.
SCENE III.
zamti, idame, asseli, etan.
zamti.
Etan,
Thou seemest disordered: what’s the news?
idame.
My lord,
We must away; the Scythian has prevailed,
And all is lost.
etan.
You are observed, and flight
Is now impossible: a guard is placed
Around us: all obey the conqueror,
And tremble at his power: the emperor’s loss
Fills every heart with terror.
zamti.
Is he dead?
idame.
O heaven!
etan.
It was indeed a dreadful sight:
Himself, his queen, his children, butchered all;
A race divine, respected, loved, adored;
Their headless trunks exposed to the derision
Of their proud conqueror, whilst their trembling subjects
Submissive bend beneath the yoke, nor dare
To shed a tear o’er those whom long they loved.
At length our haughty lord, grown tired of conquest,
And satiated with blood, proclaimed to all
The terms of life, eternal slavery.
This northern tyrant, whom the wrath of heaven
Hath sent for our destruction, once contemned
And spurned at by our court, returns to glut
His vengeance on us: these wild sons of rapine,
Who live in tents, in chariots, and in fields,
Will never brook confinement ’midst the walls
Of this close city: they detest our arts,
Our customs, and our laws; and therefore mean
To change them all; to make this splendid seat
Of empire one vast desert, like their own.
idame.
I know the conqueror comes to sate his vengeance
On this unhappy kingdom: whilst I lived
Unnoticed and obscure, I might have hope
Of safety; but that hope is now no more:
The night is past that hid me from the eye
Of persecution, and I must be wretched.
Thrice happy those, who to a tyrant master
Are still unknown.
zamti.
Who knows but gracious heaven
May interpose and save the royal infant:
’Tis our first duty to preserve the charge
Committed to our care, and guard him well.
What comes this Tartar for?
idame.
O heaven! defend us,
SCENE IV.
octar.
Hear, slaves; and let your answer be—obedience:
An infant yet remains, of royal race,
Amongst you: in the conqueror’s name I here
Command you to deliver him—to me.
I shall expect him here: begone; delay
Were dangerous: bring him instantly, or know,
Destruction waits on all, but first on you.
The day’s far spent; ere night he must be found:
Remember, and obey.
SCENE V.
zamti, idame.
idame.
O dreadful message!
For what are we reserved? Alas! my