Her. What could I not endure, O gallant man, To hear him spoken of, as thou hast spoken! Oh! I would almost be a slave to him Who calls me one.

Muza. What! art thou not? begone.

Tarik. Reply not, brave Hernando, but retire. All can revile, few only can reward. Behold the meed our mighty chief bestows! Accept it, for thy services, and mine. More, my bold Spaniard, hath obedience won Than anger, even in the ranks of war.

Her. The soldier, not the Spaniard, shall obey.

[Muza, to Tarik.

Muza. Into our very council bringest thou Children of reprobation and perdition? p. 100Darkness thy deeds and emptiness thy speech, Such images thou raisest as buffoons Carry in merriment on festivals, Nor worthiness nor wisdom would display To public notice their deformities, Nor cherish them nor fear them; why shouldst thou?

p. 100

Tarik. I fear not them nor thee.

ACT V. SCENE 3.

Egilona enters.

Egilona

Abd. Advance, O queen. Now let the turbulence of faction cease.

Muza. Whate’er thy purpose, speak, and be composed.

Egil. He goes; he is afar; he follows her; He leads her to the altar, to the throne, For, calm in vengeance, wise in wickedness, The traitor hath prevailed, o’er him, o’er me, p. 101O’er you—the slaves, the dupes, the scorn, of Julian. What have I heard! what have I seen!

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Muza. Proceed—

Abd. —And I swear vengeance on his guilty head Who intercepts from thee the golden rays Of sovranty; who dares rescind thy rights; Who steals upon thy rest, and breathes around Empoisoned damps o’er that serenity Which leaves the world, and faintly lingers here.

Muza. Who shuns thee—

Abd. —Whose desertion interdicts Homage, authority, precedency—

Muza. Till war shall rescue them—

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