VOLTAIRE: 60+ Works in One Volume - Philosophical Writings, Novels, Historical Works, Poetry, Plays & Letters. Вольтер. Читать онлайн. Newlib. NEWLIB.NET

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indulged

       That fatal passion since her proud refusal:

       I own the fair Idame won my heart,

       By charms unknown before: our barren deserts

       Could never produce a face like hers, a mind

       So formed to please; her every motion fired

       My captive soul, but her imprudent scorn

       Restored my freedom; nobler objects claim

       A monarch’s care; I’ll think no more of her,

       Let her repent at leisure of her pride.

       Octar, I charge thee, talk not of Idame.

      octar.

       You have, indeed, affairs of greater moment

       That call for your attention.

      genghis.

       Then farewell

       To love, and all its follies.

      SCENE VII.

       Table of Contents

      genghis, octar, osman.

      osman.

       O my lord,

       The victim was prepared, the guard was ranged

       On every side, when (wonderful to tell!)

       A strange event perplexed us all.—A woman

       Of frantic mien, with wild dishevelled hair,

       And bathed in tears, rushed in upon us; “stop,”

       Aloud she cried, “inhuman ruffians, stop,

       It is my son, you’ve been deceived; ’tis not

       The emperor’s child, but mine:” her eyes, her voice,

       Her fury, her despair, her every gesture,

       Was nature’s language all, and spoke the mother:

       When lo! her husband came, with downcast eyes

       And gloomy aspect; sullenly he cried,

       “This is the royal orphan, this the blood,

       Which you demanded, take it:” as he spake,

       Fast flowed his tears. The wretched matron, pale

       And motionless awhile, as struck with death,

       Fell prostrate; then, long as her faltering voice

       Could utter the imperfect sound, cried out,

       “Give me my son:” her sorrows were sincere,

       Never was grief more bitter, doubts arose

       Amongst us, and I came to know your orders.

      genghis.

       If ’tis the work of art, I will explore

       The mystery soon, and woe to the deceivers:

       Think they to cast a veil before my eyes,

       And mock their sovereign? let them if they dare.

      octar.

       My lord, this woman never can deceive us;

       The emperor’s son was placed beneath her care;

       A master’s child might easily attract

       The faithful servant’s love, and danger make

       The charge more precious still; the ties of nature

       Are not more strong than those of fantasy:

       But we shall soon unravel it.

      genghis.

       Who is

       This woman?

      octar.

       Wife of a proud Mandarin:

       One of those lettered sages who defy

       The power of kings; a numerous band! but now,

       Thank heaven, reduced by thy victorious arms

       To slavery: Zamti is the traitor’s name

       Who watches o’er the victim.

      genghis.

       Go, my Octar,

       Interrogate this guilty pair, and learn,

       If possible, the truth: let all our guards

       Be ready at their posts: they talk, it seems,

       Of a surprise that the Koreans mean

       To march against us on the river’s bank:

       An army hath been seen: we soon shall know

       What bold adventurers are so fond of death,

       To court destruction from the sons of war,

       And force them to depopulate the world.

       End of the Second Act.

      ACT III.

      SCENE I.

       Table of Contents

      genghis, octar, osman.

      Attendants.

      genghis.

       What say the captives, is the fraud discovered,

       And vengeance taken on these vile impostors?

       Have they delivered up the orphan prince

       To Octar?

      osman.

       Prayers, and threats, and torments, all

       Are vain: the undaunted Zamti still persists

       In his first answer: on his open brows

       Are engraved the marks of truth: the mournful fair one,

       Whose grief but adds new lustre to her charms,

       With tears incessant and heart-rending sighs,

       Moves every heart: spite of ourselves we wept

       Her wretched fate: ne’er did my eyes behold

       A sweeter mourner: she entreats to see

       And speak with you; the conqueror of kings,

       She hopes, will hear the wretched, and in wrath

       Remember mercy; that he will protect

       A guiltless child, and show mankind his goodness

       Is like his power, unlimited. ’Twas thus,

       My lord, she spoke of you, and I have promised

       She shall have audience.

      genghis.

       [To one of the attendants.

       Bid her enter now,

       We shall unravel this deep mystery;

       But let her not imagine a few sighs,

       And bidden tears, can e’er impose on me:

       I have experienced all these female arts,

       But I defy them now: let her be careful,

       Her life depends on her sincerity.

      osman.

       My lord, she comes.

      genghis.

       What do I see? O heaven!

       It cannot be Idame, sure my senses—

      SCENE II.

       Table