Laur. What, be rather inclined to laugh, you think? Cogi. Laugh? Oh, you Jezabel-Come along, come, follow me this moment. Laur. I'm coming. [Exit COGI.] But ah!—what avails a state of splendor, while I am deprived of liberty dear liberty! SONG.-LAURETTA. Ah! what avails the glittering vesɩ, With languid eye earth's richest stores [Exit, R. SCENE III.-An Apartment in the Palace of the Bey.. Enter AMANDA, R. Amanda. Whence this unwonted stir within the palace ?-Too surely I guess its meaning !-E'en now the Bey returns to renew his dreadful suit. But hear me, Heaven! hear, Algernon !-if indeed thy spirit hath for ever flown its earthly tenement-hear while I swear to know no second love; still to remain constant and true to thee. A Slave enters, L. 'Slave. His Highness the Bey. [He rettres. Enter ORASMIN, L. attended by six Guards, who exeunt L. after the Salam. Oras. Lady, the tedious business that tore me from thy presence is at length dispatched; and I hasten back to give my soul to happiness and thee: but, oh! those downcast looks-wilt thou ne'er bless me with a beam of hope? Aman. Alas! my lord; why wilt thou urge me with the hateful theme ?-Have I not told thee that my vows have been long since plighted to another? Oras. To one who no longer lives to claim thee:-to one whom the wide waves now cover. What shall marriage vows bind after death? Aman. Nay-but, my lord, the drowning wretch will cling to every plank within his reach. Are there no hopes that my Algernon may have survived the horrors of that dread engagement? and even yet, perhaps, in distant slavery Orus. Impossible! banish the vain idea! Had he survived the capture of the vessel, ere this my search Cease then to mourn for must have discovered him. one now locked in the embrace of death, and turn to him who can repay thee love for love. [Taking her by the hand. Aman. My lord, this fervour-I must not hear thee: permit me to retire. Oras. [Loosing his hold.] Ungrateful woman! have I not for thee forsworn the crowded beauties of my Harem? and yielded up my soul thy slave alone? But go! I will not upbraid thee. Go! and learn to think with more kindness-more gratitude of him who only lives to serve, to cherish, and adore thee. Oras. Aman. Both. SONG.-ORASMIN and AMANDA. Let heav'n but make thee mine, Fare thee well!-oh fare thee well! Soon Other beauties, Ne'er } shall break{thy} passion's spell my [Exit AMANDA, R. Oras. Relentless beauty! how my soul pants for the blast moment when I may call thee mine! But should this husband-this Algernon, indeed, survive, how shall I act? resign to a vile Christian slave charms fit to deck our prophet's paradise? Never!-never! Enter CoGI, leading LAURETTA, veiled, L. Cogi. This way, my dear. Oras. Now, Cogi, I bade thee look out for a damsel o attend on the fair Amanda-the fruit of thy search? Cogi. [Unveiling LAURETTA, who curtsies.] Very sweet fruit, my lord-from the ripe bunches of females, that were set out for sale, plucked this little blooming muscadel. Oras. Good-I admire thy choice much. [Asiae. Oras. Come hither, fair one; you are of English birth? Laur. [Curtseying.] If you please, your reverence. Oras. Say then, how art thou disposed to wait on a fair native of thy country, and share with her the plea'sures our southern climes afford? Laur. I'm disposed to share with her every kind of pleasure your reverence pleases; but what shall I be expected to do in return? Oras. Simply to keep her company-to sit and talk with her. Laur. Oh! if talking is all that is necessary, I'll warrant me in that respect. Oras. Enough: Cogi, conduct this damsel to the apartment of her mistress; and see that she be habited as becomes the attendant of Orasmin's destined bride. Laur. Thank your worship. [Curtseying, crosses to R.]-I should prefer gold and scarlet, if your mightiness pleases. Oras. Whate'er you will-Cogi, attend her. Laur. I humbly thank your worship. Come along, Cogi.-[As they go out, CoGI attempts to kiss her hand -she draws up, and walks out with mock dignity, R.] Oras. There was a time when the rustic simplicity of this young damsel would have had charms to move me; but henceforth I have no soul-no thought but for Amanda. SONG. ORASMAN, Oh yes-dear love, so tenderly- Tho' other beauties swell my train, B Time was, the charms of pomp and power, Fade worthless all before thee! Enter MAHMOUD, L. Mah. My lord, two English slaves, whom I have lately added to our stock, attend your Highness's pre sence. Oras. Ha! English slaves; bid them approach. [Exit MAHMOUD, L. How, if one of these should prove the husband of Amanda? Impossible! I will still think that he no longer lives to cross me in my projects. Re-enter MAHMOUD, L. with ALGERNON and TIMOTHY. Oras. Overseer, a word in private. Tim. Now, sir-[To ALGERNON, aside.] Be cautious, on your life: remember you are my cousin. Bless me! its very awful to stand in the presence of so self-willed a personage, who holds as it were your very throat in his gripe. He shall find, however, that I know how to address him in becoming terms; but whether to approach him with Chinese Kortou, or Turkish Salam, I confess I've not made up my mind. Mah. Now, Christians, approach, and pay your homage. [ORASMAN advances-ALGERNON slightly inclines his head-TIMOTHY crosses to c. bows after the Turkish fashion several times. Oras. Enough! your names and rank? Tim. Great sun of the celestial system-Brother of the moon, and first cousin to their little highnesses the stars-bright Oras. To the point!-your name and rank? Tim. I can't boast of much rank, great sun of the celestial system. Our family is as ancient as other people's, I dare say; but the fact is, we have long lost sight of our genealogical genealogy: my name is Tourist -Timothy Tourist, at your Highness's service. Oras. And your companion? Tim. A cousin of mine-another branch of the Tourists, your Highness-not very like me, you'll say, perhaps; but we can't all be good-looking alike, you know -a fine fertile family tho' we were always reckonedyour Highness shall hear: first, there was uncle George -he settled in Birmingham, vulgarly called Brummagem, a place where the buttons come from, your Highness. Mah. Silence, slave! his Highness would interrogate your comrade. Oras. Christian-[To ALGERNON.] I have observed, during thy fellow-slaves' forward garrulity, thy sullen eyes were never raised from the earth. What is the cause of such despondency? Alger. I am in slavery: my indignant heart swells while I own it. Oras. Allah hath indeed given thee o'er to servitude; but so that you do your duty, you shall not find me a hard task-master. Ilgive orders that you shall not be beaten. Alger. [Crosses to c. indignantly.] Beaten beaten ! If one of your whips e'er pollute this body, by the immortal heavens I will wash out the stain in blood! Tim. He'll betray himself for certain.-[Aside.] I must bring him off. You heard what he said, your Highness? A stubborn, hot-headed fool! its just like him. His aunt Deborah used always to say, when he went about robbing the orchards in Devonshire, said she: your Highness has heard of Devonshire ?-famous for eider and clotted cream-said she Oras. [Turning from him.] Two low-born artizans, 'tis plain. Tim. [Aside.] So these are your Eastern manners, are they? He little thinks how I'll show him up in my journal. Oras. A thought strikes me that may assist my views on Amanda. Mahmoud, you may retire awhile. I would confer with these slaves alone. [MAHMOUD bows and exit, R. Tim. What has he got in his head now, I wonder. Oras. Christians, come hither-Wish you for liberty? Alger. More than for life. Oras. And would do much to gain it? Alger. Name the price. |