Whatever is your wish becomes my own, Nor is there in this land but who obeys.

[Sternly—he leads her away.

ACT III. SCENE 1.

Palace in Xeres.

Xeres

Roderigo and Opas.

Roderigo

Opas

Rod. Impossible! she could not thus resign Me, for a miscreant of Barbary, A mere adventurer—but that citron face Shall bleach and shrivel the whole winter long; There, on yon cork-tree by the sallyport. She shall return.

Opas. To fondness and to faith? Dost thou retain them, if she could return?

p. 51Rod. Retain them? she has forfeited by this All right to fondness, all to royalty.

p. 51

Opas. Consider, and speak calmly: she deserves Some pity, some reproof.

Rod. To speak then calmly, Since thine eyes open and can see her guilt— —Infamous and atrocious! let her go— Chains—

Opas. What! in Muza’s camp?

Rod. My scorn supreme!

Opas. Say, pity.

Rod. Aye, aye, pity—that suits best, I loved her, but had loved her; three whole years Of pleasure, and of varied pleasure too, Had worne the soft impression half away. What I once felt, I would recall; the faint Responsive voice grew fainter each reply: Imagination sunk amid the scenes It labour’d to create; the vivid joy Of fleeting youth I followed, and posest. p. 52’Tis the first moment of the tenderest hour, ’Tis the first mien on entering new delights, We give our peace, our power, our souls, for these.

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