Not pow'r I blame, but pow'r obtain'd by crime; Amidst the glare of courts, the shout of armies, SCENE IX. IRENE, ASPASIA, MAID. MAID. A Turkish stranger, of majestick mien, IRENE. [Aside. Whoe'er thou art, or whatsoe'er thy message, ASPASIA. He comes, perhaps, to separate us for ever; [Exit Irene; enter Demetrius. SCENE X. ASPASIA, DEMETRIUS. DEMETRIUS. "Tis she-my hope, my happiness, my love! ASPASIA. Demetrius! DEMETRIUS. Why does the blood forsake thy lovely cheek? Why shoots this chilness through thy shaking nerves? Recline upon my breast thy sinking beauties: ASPASIA. What well-known voice pronounc'd the grateful sounds, A sudden mist o'ercasts my darken'd soul; DEMETRIUS. Such ecstasy of love, such pure affection, ASPASIA. A thousand thoughts, imperfect and distracted, DEMETRIUS. O say, bright being, in this age of absence, What fears, what griefs, what dangers, hast thou known? Say, how the tyrant threaten'd, flatter'd, sigh'd! Say, how he threaten'd, flatter'd, sigh'd in vain! Say, how the hand of violence was rais'd! Say, how thou call'dst in tears upon Demetrius! ASPASIA. Inform me rather, how thy happy courage Behold the hero with Aspasia's eyes? And, thus protected in the gen'ral ruin, O! say, what guardian pow'r convey'd thee hither. DEMETRIUS. Such strange events, such unexpected chances, I stand amaz'd, and ask, if yet I clasp thee. ASPASIA. Sure heav'n, (for wonders are not wrought in vain!) That joins us thus, will never part us more. SCENE XI. DEMETRIUS, ASPASIA, ABDALLA. ABDALLA. It parts you now-The hasty sultan sign'd DEMETRIUS. Fix'd and intent on his Irene's charms, ABDALLA. Aspasia's absence will inflame suspicion; DEMETRIUS. Force her! profane her with a touch, and die! ABDALLA. 'Tis Greece, 'tis freedom, calls Aspasia hence; Your careless love betrays your country's cause. DEMETRIUS. If we must part— ASPASIA. No! let us die together. DEMETRIUS. If we must part ABDALLA. Despatch; th' increasing danger Will not admit a lover's long farewell, The long-drawn intercourse of sighs and kisses. DEMETRIUS. Then-O! my fair, I cannot bid thee go. Reproach not, Greece, a lover's fond delays, [Exeunt. ACT IV. SCENE I. DEMETRIUS, ASPASIA, enter as talking. ASPASIA. ENOUGH-resistless reason calms my soul- Think, but excuse a woman's needless caution, Purge well thy mind from ev'ry private passion, DEMETRIUS. Thou kind assistant of my better angel, ASPASIA. My soul, first kindled by thy bright example, Now but reflects those beams that flow'd from thee. DEMETRIUS. With native lustre and unborrow'd greatness, ASPASIA. Forbear this triumph-still new conflicts wait us, |