Sul. Oh, it will gall her-I know it will gall her. We feel our misfortunes with tenfold anguish, when we compare what we are with what we might have been. Elm. It will have no effect! she is a giddy creature-her gaiety is her all. Sul. No, no, the contrary; that's the thing that strikes me in Roxalana's character.Through what you will call her frivolous gaiety, candour and good sense shine so apparentElm. There is an end on't-if you justify her. [Proudly. Sul. I justify her! far from it; and you shall presently be convinced I mean to make her feel the utmost rigour of my resentment. Enter ROXALANA. ly triumphed over the person of the slave, whose mind he could not subdue. Sul. Tell me who you are? what species of inconsistent being, at once so trifling and respectable, that you seduce my heart, while you teach me my duty? Ror. I am nothing but a poor slave, who is your friend. Sul. Be still my friend, my mistress! for hitherto I have known only flatterers. I here devote myself to you, and the whole empire shall pay you homage. Ror. But, pray, tell me, then, by what title am I to govern here? Sul. By what title? I don't understand you— Come, come, no more of this affected coyness and dissembling. I see, I know you love me. Ror. As Solyman I do, but not as Emperor of the Turks-nor will I ever consent to ascend his bed at night, at whose feet I must fall in the Here she comes-she's in affliction; and her Sul. You are the object of my anger. Sul. If it depended upon me, Roxalana, I swear, by our holy prophet, that I should be happy in calling you my queen. Rox. That's a poor excuse. Had the man I loved but a cottage, I would gladly partake it with him; would sooth his vexations, and soften his cares: but, where he the master of a throne, I should expect to share it with him, or he has no love for me. Sul. Or, if you will wait, perhaps time will bring it about. Ror. Wait, indeed! No, sir! Your wife, or humble servant-My resolution is fixedfix yours. Sul. But an Emperor of the Turks Ror. May do as he pleases, snd should be despotic sometimes on the side of reason and virtue. Sul. Then, there is our law Ror. Which is monstrous and absurd. Rox. That don't signify; love and anger often go together; I am the object of your anger, be-ample. cause I treat you with the sincerity of a friend : but, with your highness's permission, I shall take myself away this moment for ever. Sul. Besides, what would the people say? Rox. The people! are they to govern you?Make the people happy, and they will not preSul. Go, then, and prefer infamy to grandeur! vent your being so. They would be pleased to Rox. I will instantly get out of your sublime see you raise to the throne, one that you love, presence. [Going. and would love you, and be beloved by your Sul. No, you shan't go ! Elmira, do you with people. Should she interpose in behalf of the draw. [Exit ELMIRA.] Where I to give way to unfortunate, relieve the distressed by her munimy transports, I should make you feel the weight ficence, and diffuse happiness through the palace, of my displeasure; but I frame excuses for you, she would be admired-she would be adored that you scorn to make for yourself What, de--she would be like the queen of the country spise my favours, insult my condescension! Sure, from whence I came. you can't be sensible of your own folly! Pro- Sul. It is enough-my scruples are at an end ceed! go on! continue to enrage your too in--my prejudices, like clouds before the rising dulgent master. sun, vanish before the lights of your superior reason-My love is no longer a foible—you are worthy of empire. Ror. You are my master, it is true; but sould the robber, that sold me to you for a thousand sequins, transfer my mind and incli nations to you, along with my person? No, sir; Jet it never be said that the great Solyman mean Enter OSMYN. Osm. Most sublime Sultan! the Sultana Elmira claims your promise for liberty to depart. Ror. Is that the case? Let, then, the first in- I would have thought, that a little cocked-up nose stance of my exaltation be to give her liberty would have overturned the customs of a mighty let the gates of the seraglio be thrown open. empire! Sul. And as for Elmira, she shall go in a manner suitable to her rank. [Exit OSMYN. OSMYN returas. Osm. Sir, the dwarfs and bostangis your highness had ordered, attend. Sul. Let them come in-This day is devoted to festivity; and you, who announce my decree, proclaim to the world, that the Sultana Roxalana reigns the unrivalled partner of our diadem. Ösm. There's an end of my office—Who Sul. Now, my Roxalana, let the world observe, by thy exaltation, the wonderful dispensation of Providence, which evinces, that The liberal mind, by no distinction bound, Would all that's beautiful together join, SCENE I.-A Room in EMILY'S House. Enter EMILY, with a Letter open in her Hand; and MADEMOISELLE FLORIVAL in Man's Clothes. Emily. Be assured, that I will do every thing in my power to serve you; my brother knew that he might command my service-Be comforted, I beseech you, madam. Flo. You cannot wonder, madam, that I should be shocked, extremely shocked, at the cruel necessity of appearing before you in so indelicate a disguise. Emily. Indeed you need not; there is some thing in your manner, which convinces me, that every action of your life carries its apology along with it; though I will not venture to inquire into the particulars of your story till your mind is more at ease. Flo. Alas, madam, it is my interest to make you acquainted with my story. I am the daughter of Monsieur Florival, a French physician, in the island of Belleisle. An English officer, who had been desperately wounded, was, after the capitulation, for the sake of due attendance, taken into my father's house; and, as I, in the very early part of my life, had resided in England, be took some pleasure in my conversation. In a word, he won my affections, and asked me of my father in marriage: but he, alas! too much in fluenced by the narrow prejudices so common between the two nations, forbade the officer his house, but not before we were, by the most solemn engagements, secretly contracted to each other. Emily. May I ask the officer's name. Flo. Excuse me, madam. Till I see or hear from him once more, my prudence, vanity, or call it what you will, will scarce suffer me to mention it. Your brotner, indeed, is acquainted with Emily. I beg your pardon-I hope, however, you have no reason to think yourself neglected or forgotten? Bell. Not at all: a soft lady-like gentleman, with a white hand, a mincing step, and a smooth chin. Where does this pretty master come from? Emily. From my brother. Emily. A present to you. Bell. A present to me! what d'ye mean? Emily. What then! Why, he has taken care of you-sent you a pretty fellow for a husband. Could he possibly take better care of you? Flo. Oh no; far from it. He was soon recal- Bell. A husband!—a puppet, a doll, a— led by orders from England; and on my father's Emily. A soldier, Bell!—a red coat, consider: pressing me to consent to another match, my Bell. A fine soldier, indeed!--I can't bear to passion I blush to own it-transported me see a red coat cover any thing but a man, sister. so far, as to depart abruptly from Belleisle. I-Give me a soldier that looks as if he could love came over in an English ship to Portsmouth, where I expected, according to letters he had contrived to send me, to find the officer. But, judge of my disappointment, when I learnt, that he embarked, but three days before, for the siege of the Havannah. Emily. The Havannah!-You touch me nearly-Pray, go on. Flo. In a strange kingdom-alone-and a woman-what could I do? In order to defeat inquiries after me, I disguised myself in this habit, and mixt with the officers of the place: but your brother soon discovered my uneasiness, and saw through my disguise. I frankly confessed to him every particular of my story: in consequence of which, he has thus generously recommended me to your protection. Emily. And you may depend on my friendship.- -Your situation affects me strangely. Flo. Oh, madam, it is impossible to tell you half its miseries; especially since your brother has convinced me that I am so liable to be dis me, and protect me; ay, and tame me, too, if I deserved it.-If I was to have this thing for a husband, I would set him at the top of the India cabinet with the China figures, and bid the maid take care she did not break him. Emily. Well, well; if this is the case, I don't know what my brother will say to you. Here's his letter; read it, and send him an answer yourself. Bell. [Reads.] Dear sister, the bearer of this letter is a lady!-So, so! your servant, madam! and your's, too, sister! whose case is truly compassionate, and whom I most earnestly recommend to your protection,'-Um- -um-um take care of her,'-Um-um-um- not too many questions;-Um-um-um-' in town in a few days.'-I'll be whipt now, if this is not some mistress of his? Emiy. No, no, Bell. I know her whole history. It is quite a little novel. She is a Frenchwoman, Mademoiselle Florival, run away from her father at Belleisle, and dying for an English gentleman at the Havannah. Bell. The Havannah!-Not for Colonel Tamper, I hope, sister? Emily. If Colonel Tamper had been at the taking of Belleisle, too, I should have been frightened out of my wits about it. Bell. Suppose I should bring you some news of him? Emily. Of whom? Bell. Colonel Tamper. Emily. What do you mean? Bell. Only a card. Emily. A card! from whom? What card? into! Emily. Nay, but tell me. Bell. Well then-while your visitor was here, there came a card from Major Belford; and I took the liberty of sending an answer to it. it! Emily. Let ine see it! Dcar Beil, let me see Bell. Oh, it was nothing but his compliments, and desiring to have the honour of waiting on you any time this morning from Colonel Tamper. Emily. From Colonel Tamper !-What can this mean? I am ready to sink with fear-Why does he not come himself? Bell. He's not arrived-not come to town yet, I suppose. Emily. Oh, Bell! I could supppose twenty things that terrify me to death. Bell. I think now, such a message ought to put you quite out of your pain; he could not come from Colonel Tamper, if there was no such person in being. Emily. Ay; but suppose any accident should have happened to him! Heaven forbid! How unfortunate it is to doat upon a man, whose profession exposes him hourly to the risk of his life! Bell. Lord, Emily, how can you torment yourself with such horrid imaginations? Besides, should the worst come to the worst-It is but a lover lost; and that is a loss easily repaired, you know. Emily. Go, you mad-cap! but you'll pay for all this one day, I warrant you, when you come to be heartily in for it yourself. Bell, you will know, that when a pure and disinterested passion fills the breast, when once a woman has set her heart upon a man, nothing in the world but that very man will ever make her happy. Bell. I admire your setting your heart, as you call it, of all things. Your love, my dear Emily, is not so romantic. You pitch upon a man of figure and fortune, handsome, sensible, good natured, and well bred; of rank in life, and credit in his profession; a man that half the women in town would pull caps for; and then you talk like a sly prude, of your pure and disinterested passion! Emily. Why, then, I declare, if he had not a friend on earth, or a shilling in the worldif he was as miserable as the utmost malice of ill fortune could make him, I would prefer Colonel Tamper to the first duke in the kingdom. Bell. Oh, sister it is a mighty easy thing for persons rolling in affluence, and a coach and six, to talk of living on bread and water, and the comforts of love in a cottage. Emily. The coach-and-six, Bell, would give little happiness to those who could not be happy without it. When once the heart has settled its affections, how mean is it to withdraw them for any paltry considerations, of what nature soever! Bell. I think the lady doth protest too much. Emily. Ay, but she'll keep her word. Enter Servant. Ser. Major Belford, madam. [Exit. Emily. Show him in-Oh, Bell, I am ready to drop with apprehension!" Enter MAJOR BELFORD. Belf. Ladies, your humble servant-[Salutes them.-I rejoice to find you so well. Bell. And we congratulate you, major, on your safe return from the Havannah-how does your friend Colonel Tamper do? Belf. He is very well, madam; but←→ Emily. But what, sir-I am frighted beyond expression-Is he in England? Belf. Yes, madam. Emily. In town? Belf. Yes, madam. Emily. Why have we not the pleasure of seeing him, then? Belf. He'll be here immediately, madam. Belf. But it was thought proper that I should wait on you first, to prepare you for his reception. his Emily. To pepare me ! What does he mean? Belf. Only to prevent you being alarmed at appearance, madam. Emily. Alarmed! You terrify me more and more-what is the matter? Belf. Nay, nothing—a trifle-a mere chance of war-la fortune de la guerre, as the French call it; that's all, madam. Emily. I'm upon the rack-Dear sir, explain. Belf. The colonel you know, madam, is a man of spirit-Having exposed his person very gallantly in the several actions before the town of the Havannah, he received many wounds; one or two of which have been attended with rather disagreeable circumstances. Emily. But is the colonel well at present, sir? Belf. Extremely well, madam. Emily. Are not the consequences of his wounds likely to endanger his life. Belf. Not in the least, madam. Emily. I am satisfied-Pray go on, sir. Belf. Do not you be alarmed, madam. Emily. Keep me no longer in suspence, I beseech you, sir. Bell. What can all this mean? Belf. The two principal wounds which the colonel received, madam, were, one a little above the knee, and another in his face. In consequence of the first, he was reduced to the neces sity of saving his life by the loss of a leg; and the latter has deprived him of the sight of an eye. [Ready to faint. Emily. Oh, Heavens ! Bell. Poor Emily! How could you be so abrupt, sir? The violent agitation of her mind is too much for her spirits. Belf. Excuse me, madam- -I was afraid of making you uneasy; and yet it was necessary you should be acquainted with these circumstances, previous to your seeing the colonel. Emily. [Recovering.] Lost a leg and an arm, did you say, sir? Belf. No, not an arm-an eye, madam. Emily. An eye! worse and worse-Poor colonel! Belf. Rather unfortunate, to be sure. But we should consider, madam, that we have saved his life; and these were sacrifices necessary for its preservation. Emily. Very true. Ay, ay, so as he has but |