M. Mol. Do thou remember Thy function, mercy, and provoke not blood. Mul. Zeyd. One of his generous fits; too strong to last. [Aside to BEND.

Bend. The Mufti reddens; mark that holy cheek. [To him. He frets within, froths treason at his mouth, And churns it through his teeth: Leave me to work him.

Seb. A mercy unexpected, undesir'd, Surprises more: You've learnt the art to vanquish:

You could not, give me leave to tell you, sir,
Have giv'n me life but in my subjects' safety:
Kings, who are fathers, live but in their people.
M. Mol. Still great, and grateful, that's thy
character.-

Unveil the woman; I would view the face
That warm'd our Mufti's zeal:

These pious parrots peck the fairest fruit :
Such tasters are for kings.

[Officers go to ALM. to unveil her. Alm. Stand off, ye slaves, I will not be un

veil'd.

Is puddled and defil'd with tyranny.

M. Mol. What female fury have we here?
Alm. I should be one,

Because of kin to thee: Would'st thou be touch'd

By the presuming hands of saucy grooms?
The same respect, nay more, is due to me:
More for my sex; the same for my descent.
These hands are only fit to draw the curtain.
Now, if thou darʼst, behold Almeyda's face.
[Unveils herself.
Bend. Would I had never seen it! [Aside.
Alm. She whom thy Mufti tax'd to have no
soul!

Think not I could forgive, nor dare thou pardon.

M. Mol. Would'st thou revenge thee, trait'ress, hadst thou power?

over me:

Whether the toils of battle, unrepair'd
With due repose, or other sudden qualm.
Benducar, do the rest.

[Goes off, the court follows him. Bend. Strange; in full health! This pang is of the soul;

The body's unconcern'd: I'll think hereafter.—
Conduct these royal captives to the castle;
Bid Dorax use 'em well, till farther order.

[Going off, stops.

The inferior captives their first owners take,
To sell, or to dispose.-You, Mustapha,
Set ope the market for the sale of slaves.

[Erit BEND. [The Masters and Slaves come forward, and buyers of several qualities come in and cheffer about the several owners, who make their slaves do tricks.

Must. My chattels are come into my hands again, and my conscience will serve me to sell 'em twice over; any price now, before the Mufti comes to claim 'em.

1 Mer. [To MUST.] What do'st hold that old fellow at?-[Pointing to ALVAREZ.] He's tough, and has no service in his limbs.

Must. I confess he's somewhat tough; but i suppose you wou'd not boil him. I ask for him a thousand crowns.

1 Mer. Thou mean'st a thousand marvedi's. Must. Prithee, friend, give me leave to know my own meaning.

1 Merch. What virtues has he to deserve that price?

Must. Marry, come up, sir! Virtues, quotha! I took him in the king's company; he's of a great family, and rich; what other virtues wou'dst thou

1 Merch. I buy him with another man's purse, that's my comfort. My Lord Dorax, the gover nor, will have him at any rate:-There's handsel.

Come, old fellow, to the castle.

Alvar. To what is miserable age reserv'd!

[Aside. But oh the king! and oh the fatal secret! Which I have kept thus long, to time it better, And now I would disclose-'tis past my pow'r.

[Exit with his master.

Must. Something of a secret, and of the king, I heard him mutter: A pimp I warrant him, for I am sure he is an old courtier. Now to put off t'other remnant of my merchandize. Stir up, sirrah.

[To ANTONIO.

Aut. Dog, what would'st thou have! Must. Learn better manners, or I shall serve you a dog-trick; Come, down upon all four immediately; I'll make you know your rider.

Ant. Thou wilt not make a horse of me? Must. Horse or ass, that's as thy mother made thee:-But take earnest in the first place for thy sauciness. [Lashes him with his whip.] Be advis'd, friend, and buckle to thy geers: Behold my ensign of royalty display'd over thee.

Ant. I hope one day to use thee worse in Portugal.

Must. Ay, and good reason, friend; if thou catchest me a conquering on thy side of the water, lay me on lustily, I'll take it as kindly as thou dost this.[Holds up his whip. Ant. [Lying down.] Hold, my dear thrum-cap: I obey thee chearfully; I see the doctrine of non-resistance is never practis 'd thoroughly but when a man can't help himself.

Enter a second Merchant.

2 Merch. You, friend, I would see that fellow do his postures. [MUST. bridling ANT.]— Now, sirrah, follow, for you have rope enough: To your paces! villain! amble, trot, and gallop :Quick, about there. Leap, the more money's bidden for you, the more your credit. [ANTONIO follows at the end of the bridle, on his hands and feet, and does all his postures. 2 Merch. He's well chined, and has a tolerable good back: that's half in half. [To MusTAPHA.] I would see him strip; has he no diseases about him?

Must. He's the best piece of man's flesh in the market; not an eye-sore in his whole body: Feel his legs, master, neither splint, spavin, nor wind-gall. [Claps him on the shoulder. Mer. [Feeling about him, and then putting his hand to his side.] Out upon him, how his flank heaves! The whoreson's broken-winded.

Must. Thick breath'd a little: Nothing but a sorry cold with lying out at nights in trenches:but sound wind and limb, I warrant him. Try him at a loose trot a little.

[Puts the bridle into his hand, he strokes him. Ant. For heaven's sake, owner, spare me; you know I am but new-broken.

2 Merch. 'Tis but a washy jade, I see: What do you ask for this bauble?

Must. Bauble do you call him? he's a substantial true-bred beast; bravely forehanded; mark

but the cleanness of his shapes too; his dam may be a Spanish Gennet, but a true barb by the sire, or I have no skill in horse-flesh.-Marry, Į ask six hundred xeriffs for him.

Enter Mufti.

Muf. What's that you are asking, sirrah? Must. Marry, I ask your reverence six hun dred pardons; I was doing you a small piece of service here, putting off your chattel for you. Muf. And putting the money into your own pocket.

Must. Upon vulgar reputation, no, my lord; it was for your profit and emolument. What! wrong the head of my religion? I was sensible you would have damn'd me, or any man that should have injur'd you in a single farthing; for I knew that was sacrifice.

Muf. Sacrilege you mean, sirrah,—and damning shall be the least part of your punishment; I have taken you in the manner, and will have the law upon you.

Must. Good my lord, take pity upon a poor man in this world, and damn me in the next.

Muf. No, sirrah, so you may repent, and 'scape punishment: Did not you sell this very slave amongst the rest to me, and take money for him?

Must. Right, my lord.

Muf. And selling him again? Take money twice for the same commodity? Oh, villain? But did you not know him to be my slave, sirrah?

Must. Why should I lie to your honour? I did know him: and thereupon, seeing him wander about, I took him up for a stray, and impounded him, with intention to restore him to the right

owner.

Muf. And yet at the same time was selling him to another? How rarely the story hangs together!

Must. Patience, my lord. I took him up, as your heriot, with intention to have made the best of him, and then have brought the whole product, of him in a purse to you; for I know you would have spent half of it upon your pious pleasures, have hoarded up the other half, and given the remainder in charities to the poor.

Muf. And what's become of my other slave Thou hast sold him too, I have a villainous suspicion.

Must. I know you have, my lord; but while I was managing this young robustous fellow, that old spark, who was nothing but skin and bone, and, by consequence, very nimble, slipt through my fingers like an eel, for there was no hold fast of him, and ran away to buy himself a new mas

ter.

Muf. [To ANT.] Follow me home, sirrah : [To MUST.] Ishall remember you some other time. [Exit Mufti with ANTONIO. Must. I never doubted your lordship's memo ry, for an ill turn: And I shall remember him too in the next rising of the mobile, for this act of

resumption; and more especially for the ghostly counsel he gave me before the emperor, to have hang'd myself in silence, to have sav❜d his reverence. The best on't is, I am beforehand with him, for selling one of his slaves twice over.And if he had not come just in the nick, I might have pocketed up t'other: For what should a poor man do, that gets his living by hard labour, but pray for bad times when he may get it easily?

O, for some incomparable tumult! Then should I naturally wish, that the beaten party might prevail, because we have plundered t'other side already, and there's nothing more to get of 'em. Both rich and poor for their own interest pray, 'Tis ours to make our fortunes while we may; For kingdoms are not conquer'd every day. [Erit MUSTAPHA.

SCENE I-Supposed to be a Terrace Walk, on the Side of the Castle of Aleasar.

Emperor, BENDUCAR.

To lighten those brown horrors, and disclose
The secret path I trod?

Bend. I could not find it, till you lent a clue To that close labyrinth; how then should they? Emp. I would be loth they should: it breeds contempt

For herds to listen, or presume to pry,
When the hurt lion groans within his den:
But is't not strange?

Bend. Tolove! not more than 'tis to live; atax
Impos'd on all by nature, paid in kind,
Familiar as our being.

Emp. Still 'tis strange

To me: I know my soul as wild as winds,
That sweep the deserts of our moving plains;
Love might as well be sow'd upon our sands,
As in a breast so barren:

To love an enemy, the only one
Remaining too, whom yester sun beheld
Must'ring her charms, and rolling, as she past
By every squadron, her alluring eyes,

To edge her champions' swords, and urge my ruin.

The shouts of soldiers, and the burst of cannon,
Maintain ev'n still a deaf and murm❜ring noise;
Nor is heav'n yet recover'd of the sound
Her battle rous'd: Yet spite of me I love.
Bend. What then controuls you?
Her person is as prostrate as her party.
Emp. A thousand things controul this con-

Of ever, ever seeing, or possessing,
Calm all this rage, this hurricane of soul?
Bend. That ever, ever,-

I mark'd the double, shows extreme reluc

tance

To part with her for ever.

Emp. Right, thou hast me;

I would, but cannot kill: I must enjoy her:
I must, and what I must, be sure I will.
What's royalty but pow'r to please myself?'
And if I dare not, then am I the slave,
And my own slaves the sovereigns,-'tis re
solv❜d:

Weak princes flatter when they want the pow'r
To curb their people; tender plants must bend;
But when a government is grown to strength,
Like some old oak, rough with its armed bark,
It yields not to the tug, but only nods,
And turns to sullen state.

Bend. Then you resolve

To implore her pity, and to beg relief?

Emp. Death! must I beg the pity of my slave? Must a king beg? Yes, love's a greater king; A tyrant, nay a devil, that possesses me: He tunes the organs of my voice, and speaks Unknown to me within me; pushes me, And drives me on by force.

Say I should wed her, would not my wise subjects

Take check, and think it strange? perhaps revolt?

Bend. I hope they would not.

Emp. Then thou doubt'st they would?
Bend. To whom?

Emp. To her

Perhaps, or to my brother, or to thee.

Bend. [In disorder.} To me! me did you mention how I tremble!

The name of treason shakes my honest soul.
If I am doubted, sir,

Secure yourself this moment, take my life.
Emp. No more: if I suspected thee-I would.
Bend. I thank your kindness:-Guilt had al-
most lost me!
[Aside.
Emp. But clear my doubts: think'st thou they
may rebel?
Bend. [Aside.] This goes as I would wish:-
[To the Emp.] 'Tis possible.

A secret party still remains, that lurks
Like embers rak'd in ashes; wanting but

Bend. They may with ease be winnow'd: Suppose some one, who has deserv'd your trust, Some one who knows mankind, should be employed

To mix among 'em, seem a malcontent,
And dive into their breasts, to try how far
They dare oppose your love?

Emp. I like this well: Tis wholesome wick-
edness.

Bend. Whomever he suspects, he fastens there, And leaves no cranny of his soul unsearch'd: Then, like a bee bagg'd with his honey'd venom, He brings it to your hive: if such a man So able, and so honest, may be found; If not, my project dies.

Emp. By all my hopes, thou hast describ'd thy

self:

Thou, thou alone art fit to play that engine,
Thou only couldst contrive."

Bend. Sure I could serve you:

I think I could: - but here's the difficulty,
I'm so entirely yours,

That I should scurvily dissemble hate;
The cheat would be too gross.

Emp. Art thou a statesman,

And canst not be a hypocrite? Impossible:
Do not distrust thy virtues.

Bend. If I must personate this seeming villain,
Remember 'tis to serve you.
Emp. No more words:

Love goads me to Almeyda; all affairs
Are troublesome but that; and yet that most.

[Going.

[Alone.

Bid Dorax treat Sebastian like a king;
I had forgot him; but this love mars all,
And takes up my whole breast. [Exit Emperor.
Bend. [To the Emp.] Be sure I'll tell him-
With all the aggravating circumstances
I can, to make him swell at that command.
The tyrant first suspected me;
Then, with a sudden gust, he whirl'd about,
And trusted me too far: madness of pow'r!
Now, by his own consent, I ruin him;

For, should some feeble soul, for fear or gain, - Bolt out to accuse me, ev'n the king is cozen'd, And thinks he's in the secret.

How sweet is treason when the traitor's safe!
[Sees the Mufti and DORAX entering, and
seeming to confer.

The Mufti, and with him my sullen Dorax;
That first is mine already.

'Twas easy work to gain a covetous mind, Whom rage to lose his prisoners had prepar'd: Now, caught himself,

He would seduce another; I must help him: For church-men, though they itch to govern all, Are silly, woful, awkward politicians;

They make lame mischief, though they mean it well:

Their interest is not finely drawn, and hid,
But seams are coarsly bungled up, and seen.
Muf. He'll tell you more.

Dor. I've heard enough already
To make me loathe thy morals.

Bend. [To DOR.] You seem warm : The good man's zeal, perhaps, has gone too far. Dor. Not very far; not farther than zeal goes Of course; a small day's journey short of treason. Muf. By all that's holy, treason was not nam'd:

I spar'd the emperor's broken vows to save The slaves from death, though it was cheating heav'n;

But I forgave him that.

Dor. And slighted o'er [Scornfully. The wrongs himself sustain'd in property, When his bought slaves were seiz'd by force, no

loss

Give us your whole employment, all your care:
The province of the soul is large enough
To fill up every cranny of your time,
And leave you much to answer, if one wretch
Be damn'd by your neglect.

Bend. [To the Mufti.] He speaks but reason.
Dor. Why then these foreign thoughts of state-
employments,

Abhorrent to your function and your breeding?
Poor droning truants of unpractis'd cells,
Bred in the fellowship of bearded boys,
What wonder is it if you know not men?
Yet there, you live demure, with down-cast eyes,
And humble as your discipline requires:
But, when let loose from thence to live at large,
Your little tincture of devotion dies:
Then luxury succeeds, and set agog
With a new scene of yet untasted joys,
You fall with greedy hunger to the feast.
Of all your college virtues, nothing now
But your original ignorance remains:
Bloated with pride, ambition, avarice,
You swell, to counsel kings and govern kingdoms.
Muf. He prates as if kings had not consci-

ences,

And none requir'd directors but the crowd. Dor. As private men they want you, not as kings; you science,

Nor would

care to inspect their public con

But that it draws dependencies of pow'r,
And earthly interest, which you long to sway.
Content you with monopolizing heav'n,
And let this little hanging ball alone;
For give you but a foot of conscience there,
And you, like Archimedes, toss the globe.
We know your thoughts of us that laymen are,
Lag souls, and rubbish of remaining clay,
Which heav'n, grown weary of more perfect work,
Set upright with a little puff of breath,
And bid us pass for men.

Muf. I will not answer,

Base foul-mouth'd renegade! but I'll pray for thee,

To shew my charity.

[Exit Mufti.

Dor. Do; but forget not him who needs it

Both are less poison to my eyes and nature.
He knows not I am I; nor shall he see me,
Till time has perfected a labouring thought,
That rolls within my breast.

Bend. 'Twas my mistake:

I guess'd indeed that time, and his misfortunes,
And your returning duty, had effaced
The memory of past wrongs; they would in me;
And I judged you as tame and as forgiving.

Dor. Forgive him! no, I left my foolish faith, Because it would oblige me to forgiveness.

Bend. I can but grieve to find you obstinate: For you must see him; 'tis our emperor's will, And strict command.

Dor. I laugh at that command.

Bend. You must do more than see; serve and

Of vengeance on Sebastian, when no more
Alcade of this fort.

Dor. That thought escap'd me.

Bend. Keep your command, and be revenged on both :

Nor sooth yourself; you have no power t' af front him;

The emperor's love protects him from insults.
And he, who spoke that proud ill-natured word,
Following the bent of his impetuous temper,
May force your reconcilement to Sebastian:
Nay bid you kneel, and kiss th' offending foot,
That kicked you from his presence.
But think not to divide their punishment;
You cannot touch a hair of loathed Sebastian,
While Muley-Moluch lives.

Dor. What means this riddle?

Bend. 'Tis out: there needs no Oedipus to

solve it.

Our emperor is a tyrant, feared and hated;
I scarce remember in his reign, one day
Pass guiltless o'er his execrable head.

He thinks the sun is lost that sees not blood: