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.
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.
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.