And most unworthy of us both: I ask
Your justice; I demand it; ’tis a debt
Which a king owes to all: if you have lost,
I would restore it to you, and, in secret,
I know your conscience justifies Idame.
genghis.
Then hatred is your choice; ’tis well; henceforth
Expect the vengeance of an injured monarch:
Your prince, your husband, and your son shall pay
For proud Idame’s scorn, and with their blood
Atone for her ingratitude: their doom
Was sealed by thee, thou art their murderer.
idame.
Barbarous, inhuman Genghis.
genghis.
So I am,
Thanks to thy kind regard! you might have had
A tender love, but you chose a master
Proud, merciless, and savage, one whose hatred
Is equal to thy own.
idame.
He is my king;
As such I reverence him: this single boon,
Low on my knees entreat.
genghis.
Idame, rise;
Speak, I attend: perhaps some kinder thoughts—
idame.
Might Zamti be permitted for a while
To visit me in secret?
genghis.
What?
idame.
My lord,
But for a moment, ’tis my last request;
Perhaps it may be better for us both.
genghis.
’Tis strange: but be it so: perhaps the slave,
Taught by calamity, that best of masters,
No longer will desire the fatal honor
Of being rival to a conqueror:
On you his fate depends; divorce, or death:
Give him the choice.
[To Octar.
Watch here.
[To the guards.
Guards, follow me:
Still am I wavering, still unhappy; still
Is Genghis doomed to be the slave of love.
[Exit.
idame.
[Alone.
Once more Idame lives; methinks I feel
New strength and vigor shoot through every vein:
Now, Genghis, I defy thee!
SCENE V.
zamti, idame.
idame.
O my Zamti,
Dearer to me than all those conquerors,
Whom servile mortals flatter into gods;
My other deity, to whom in vain
I never sue: alas, my love, too well
Thou knowest our fate; the dreadful hour is come.
zamti.
I know it is.
idame.
In vain thy patriot care
Strove to preserve the orphan king.
zamti.
That hope
Is lost; we’ll think no more on it: thou hast done
Thy every duty, and I die content.
idame.
What will become of our dear child? forgive
A mother, Zamti; I have shown some courage,
And therefore thou wilt pardon me.
zamti.
The kings
Of Cathay are no more; the nobles held
In ignominious chains; they most deserve
Our pity, who are still condemned to live.
idame.
O they have doomed thee to a shameful death.
zamti.
’Tis what I’ve long expected.
idame.
Hear me then;
Is there no path to death but from the palace?
Bulls bleed at the altar; criminals are dragged
To punishment; but generous minds are masters
Of their own fate: why meet it from the hands
Of Genghis? were we born dependent thus
On others’ wills? no; let us imitate
Our bolder neighbors, live with ease, and die
When life grows burdensome: wrongs unrevenged
To them are insupportable, and death
More welcome far than infamy: they wait not
For a proud tyrant’s nod, but meet their fate:
We’ve taught these islanders some useful arts,
And wherefore deign we not to learn from them
Some necessary virtues?—let us die.
zamti.
Yes: I approve thy noble resolution,
And think, extremity of sorrow mocks
The power of laws; but wretched slaves, disarmed
As we are, and bowed down beneath our tyrants,
Must wait the blow.
idame.
[Drawing out a poniard.
Strike, Zamti, and be free.
zamti.
O heaven!
idame.
Strike here, my Zamti, this weak arm
Perhaps might err; thy firmer hand will best
Direct the fatal stroke; now sacrifice
A faithful wife, and let her husband fall
Beside her: yes, my love, we’ll die together;
With jealous eye the tyrant shall behold us
Expiring in each other’s arms.
zamti.
Thank heaven!
Thy virtue never fails; this is the last
The dearest mark of my Idame’s love;
Receive my last farewell; give me the dagger:
Now turn aside.
idame.
There, take it.
[Gives him the dagger.
Kill me first;
Thou tremblest.
zamti.