And turned aside; the savage guards around
Seemed waiting for his orders to despatch me.
asseli.
He cannot, dare not do it: still, thou seest,
Zamti is spared, the orphan king still lives;
Let but Idame sue to him for pardon,
And all will be forgiven.
idame.
O no; his love
Is turned to rage; he smiled at my distress,
Laughed at my tears, and vowed eternal hatred.
asseli.
And yet you may subdue him; the fierce lion
Roars in the toils, and bites his chain; he would not
Thus talk of hatred if he did not love.
idame.
Whether he loves or hates, ’tis time to end
This wretched being.
asseli.
What have you resolved?
idame.
When heaven hath poured out all its wrath upon us,
And filled up the sad measure of our woes,
It gives us courage to support our griefs,
And suits our strength to our calamities:
I feel new force, new vigor in my heart,
’Midst all my sorrows; henceforth I defy
The tyrant, and am mistress of my fate.
asseli.
But can you leave your child, the dear loved object
Of all your hopes and fears?
idame.
There Asseli,
You pierce my heart: O dreadful sacrifice!
I have done all to save him: the usurper
Will not descend so low as to destroy
A helpless infant; for his mother’s sake,
Whom once he loved, perhaps may spare my child;
That pleasing hope at least will soothe my soul
In the dark hour of death: he will relent
When I am gone, nor carry his fierce wrath
Beyond the grave, to persecute my son.
SCENE II.
idame, asseli, octar.
octar.
Madam, you must attend the emperor.
[To the guards.
Guard you these infants; watch the door, that none
May pass this way.
[To Asseli.
You, madam, may retire.
idame.
The emperor send for me?—but I obey.
Could I have seen my Zamti first! perhaps
It is a vain request: does pity never
Dwell in a Tartar’s breast? might I implore
Your friendship to assist me?
octar.
No: when once
The royal word is passed, to offer counsel
Is little less than treason: you had kings
Indeed of old who gave up all their rights,
And let their subjects rule; but manners change
With times; we listen not to idle prayers,
Nor yield to woman’s tears; by arms alone
We rule the subject world: therefore obey,
And wait the emperor’s commands.
SCENE III.
idame.
[Alone.
Thou God
Of the afflicted, who beholdest my wrongs,
Support me now, inspire me with a portion
Of my dear Zamti’s courage.
SCENE IV.
genghis khan, idame.
genghis.
Genghis comes
Once more to humble thy proud soul; to show thee
Thy foul ingratitude, thy base return
For all my kindness to thee; yet thou knowest not
How guilty thou hast been; thou knowest not yet
Thy danger, nor the anguish of my soul;
Thou whom I loved and whom I ought to hate,
To punish, to destroy.
idame.
Then punish me,
And me alone; ’tis all I ask of Genghis:
Finish a life of misery, satiate here
Thy thirst of blood: Idame hath been faithful,
That is a crime thou never canst forgive:
Strike then, and be revenged.
genghis.
Thou knowest I cannot;
Thou knowest I am more wretched than thyself;
But I’m resolved: the Orphan, and thy son,
Are in my power: for Zamti, he has long
Deserved to die; the rebel braves my wrath,
And yet I spare him; if you wish his life
You must forget him; death will break the chain
That binds you; then I might with justice seize
And make you mine; but know, this proud barbarian,
This Scythian tyrant, whom you treat with scorn,
Is not unworthy of Idame’s love:
Abjure your marriage, and I’ll raise your child
To equal rank and splendor with my own:
The orphan shall be safe, your husband spared;
Their lives, their welfare, and their happiness,
The happiness of Genghis, all depend
On thee, Idame; for I love thee still:
But think not I will bear thy cruel insults,
Thy tyrant scorn, and all the pride of beauty:
My soul, thou knowest, is violent; take heed,
Provoke it not, least vengeance fall upon thee.
Speak the decisive word that must determine
The fate of Genghis, and his empire; say,
Or must I love or hate Idame?
idame.