Dr. Johnson's Works: Life, Poems, and Tales Part 22

Then waste no longer these important moments In soft endearments, and in gentle murmurs; Nor lose, in love, the patriot and the hero.

DEMETRIUS.

'Tis love, combin'd with guilt alone, that melts The soften'd soul to cowardice and sloth; But virtuous pa.s.sion prompts the great resolve, And fans the slumbering spark of heavenly fire.

Retire, my fair; that pow'r that smiles on goodness, Guide all thy steps, calm ev'ry stormy thought, And still thy bosom with the voice of peace!

ASPASIA.

Soon may we meet again, secure and free, To feel no more the pangs of separation! [_Exit_.

DEMETRIUS, CALI.

DEMETRIUS.

This night alone is ours--Our mighty foe, No longer lost in am'rous solitude, Will now remount the slighted seat of empire, And show Irene to the shouting people: Aspasia left her, sighing in his arms, And list'ning to the pleasing tale of pow'r; With soften'd voice she dropp'd the faint refusal, Smiling consent she sat, and blus.h.i.+ng love.

CALI.

Now, tyrant, with satiety of beauty Now feast thine eyes; thine eyes, that ne'er hereafter Shall dart their am'rous glances at the fair, Or glare on Cali with malignant beams.

SCENE III.

DEMETRIUS, CALI, LEONTIUS, ABDALLA.

LEONTIUS.

Our bark, unseen, has reach'd th' appointed bay, And, where yon trees wave o'er the foaming surge, Reclines against the sh.o.r.e: our Grecian troop Extends its lines along the sandy beach, Elate with hope, and panting for a foe.

ABDALLA.

The fav'ring winds a.s.sist the great design, Sport in our sails, and murmur o'er the deep.

CALI.

'Tis well--A single blow completes our wishes; Return with speed, Leontius, to your charge; The Greeks, disorder'd by their leader's absence, May droop dismay'd, or kindle into madness.

LEONTIUS.

Suspected still!--What villain's pois'nous tongue Dares join Leontius' name with fear or falsehood?

Have I for this preserv'd my guiltless bosom, Pure as the thoughts of infant innocence?

Have I for this defy'd the chiefs of Turkey, Intrepid in the flaming front of war?

CALI.

Hast thou not search'd my soul's profoundest thoughts?

Is not the fate of Greece and Cali thine?

LEONTIUS.

Why has thy choice then pointed out Leontius, Unfit to share this night's ill.u.s.trious toils?

To wait, remote from action, and from honour, An idle list'ner to the distant cries Of slaughter'd infidels, and clash of swords?

Tell me the cause, that while thy name, Demetrius, Shall soar, triumphant on the wings of glory, Despis'd and curs'd, Leontius must descend Through hissing ages, a proverbial coward, The tale of women, and the scorn of fools?

DEMETRIUS.

Can brave Leontius be the slave of glory?

Glory, the casual gift of thoughtless crowds!

Glory, the bribe of avaricious virtue!

Be but my country free, be thine the praise; I ask no witness, but attesting conscience, No records, but the records of the sky.

LEONTIUS.

Wilt thou then head the troop upon the sh.o.r.e, While I destroy th' oppressor of mankind?

DEMETRIUS.

What canst thou boast superiour to Demetrius?

Ask, to whose sword the Greeks will trust their cause, My name shall echo through the shouting field: Demand, whose force yon Turkish heroes dread, The shudd'ring camp shall murmur out Demetrius.

CALI Must Greece, still wretched by her children's folly, For ever mourn their avarice or factions?

Demetrius justly pleads a double t.i.tle; The lover's int'rest aids the patriot's claim.

LEONTIUS.

My pride shall ne'er protract my country's woes; Succeed, my friend, unenvied by Leontius.

DEMETRIUS.

I feel new spirit shoot along my nerves; My soul expands to meet approaching freedom.

Now hover o'er us, with propitious wings, Ye sacred shades of patriots and of martyrs!

All ye, whose blood tyrannick rage effus'd, Or persecution drank, attend our call; I And from the mansions of perpetual peace Descend, to sweeten labours, once your own!

CALI.

Go then, and with united eloquence Confirm your troops; and, when the moon's fair beam Plays on the quiv'ring waves, to guide our flight, Return, Demetrius, and be free for ever.

[_Exeunt_ Dem. _and_ Leon.

SCENE IV.

CALI, ABDALLA.

ABDALLA.

How the new monarch, swell'd with airy rule, Looks down, contemptuous, from his fancy'd height, And utters fate, unmindful of Abdalla!

CALI.

Far be such black ingrat.i.tude from Cali!

When Asia's nations own me for their lord, Wealth, and command, and grandeur shall be thine!

ABDALLA.

Is this the recompense reserv'd for me?

Dar'st thou thus dally with Abdalla's pa.s.sion?

Henceforward, hope no more my slighted friends.h.i.+p; Wake from thy dream of power to death and tortures, And bid thy visionary throne farewell.

CALI.

Name, and enjoy thy wish--

ABDALLA.

I need not name it; Aspasia's lovers know but one desire, Nor hope, nor wish, nor live, but for Aspasia.

CALI.

That fatal beauty, plighted to Demetrius, Heaven makes not mine to give.