Sel. I am undone! ev'n nature has disclaim'd me! My father! have I lost you all? My father! Baj. Talk'st thou of nature, who hast broke her bands! Thou art my bane, thou witch! thou infant parricide! But I will study to be strangely cruel; I will forget the folly of my fondness; Drive all the father from my breast; now snatch thee, [Offers to kill her. Sel. Plunge the poignard deep! [She kneels. The life my father gave shall hear his summons, And issue at the wound-- Baj. Hence from my thoughts, thou soft relenting weakness. Hast thou not given me up a prey? betray'd me! Your life, your crown, and honour should be safe. Shall I fall down at the proud Tartar's foot, Disgrace will overtake my ling'ring hand; thee. Sel. For Heav'n, for pity's sake! [Offers to kill her. [She catches hold of his Arm. Baj. Ha! dar'st thou bar my will? Tear off her hold! Sel. What, not for life! Should I not plead for life? 1 Look on my eyes, which you so oft have kiss'd, Behold them now streaming for mercy, mercy! Seize her, ye slaves! and strangle her this moment! [To the MUTES, Sel. Oh, let me die by you! Behold my breast! I will not shrink! Oh, save me but from these! Baj. Dispatch! [The MUTES seize her. pray, Sel. But for a moment, while I Baj. Dogs! Sel, That you may only bless me, ere I die. [Shouts. Baj. Ye tedious villains! then the work is mine. [BAJAZET runs at SELIMA with his Sword. Enter AXALLA, &c. AXALLA gets between BAJAZET and SELIMA, and drives BAJAZET and the MUTES off the Stage. Ax. And am I come to save thee? Oh, my joy! Be this the whitest hour of all my life; This one success is more than all my wars, The noblest, dearest, glory of my sword. Sel. Alas, Axalla! Death has been around me; My coward soul still trembles at the fright, And seems but half secure, ev'n in thy arms. Ax. Retire, my fair, and let me guard thee forth; Blood and tumultuous slaughter are about us, [Exeunt AXALLA and SELIMA. Enter TAMERLANE, the PRINCE OF TANAIS, Zama, MIRVAN, and SOLDIERS; with BAJAZET, OMAR, and the DERVISE, Prisoners. Tam. Mercy, at length, gives up her peaceful sceptre, And Justice sternly takes her turn to govern; Has ruin'd those thou shouldst protect at home, Baj. It is beneath me to decline my fate, [Exit BAJAZET, guarded. Tam. Behold the vain effects of earth-born pride, That scorn'd Heav'n's laws, and all its pow'r defy'd, That could the hand, which form'd it first, forget, And teach ev'n kings what homage they should pay, [Exeunt omnes, THE END. |