Not pow'r I blame, but pow'r obtain'd by crime;
Angelick greatness is angelick virtue.

Amidst the glare of courts, the shout of armies,
Will not th' apostate feel the pangs of guilt,
And wish, too late, for innocence and peace,
Curst, as the tyrant of th' infernal realms,
With gloomy state and agonizing pomp?

SCENE IX.

IRENE, ASPASIA, MAID.

MAID.

A Turkish stranger, of majestick mien,
Asks at the gate admission to Aspasia,
Commission'd, as he says, by Cali bassa.

IRENE.

[Aside.

Whoe'er thou art, or whatsoe'er thy message,
Thanks for this kind relief-With speed admit him.

ASPASIA.

He comes, perhaps, to separate us for ever;
When I am gone, remember, O! remember,
That none are great, or happy, but the virtuous.

[Exit Irene; enter Demetrius.

SCENE X.

ASPASIA, DEMETRIUS.

DEMETRIUS.

"Tis she-my hope, my happiness, my love!
Aspasia! do I, once again, behold thee?
Still, still the same-unclouded by misfortune!
Let my blest eyes for ever gaze-

ASPASIA.

Demetrius!

DEMETRIUS.

Why does the blood forsake thy lovely cheek?

Why shoots this chilness through thy shaking nerves?
Why does thy soul retire into herself?

Recline upon my breast thy sinking beauties:
Revive-Revive to freedom and to love.

ASPASIA.

What well-known voice pronounc'd the grateful sounds,
Freedom and love? Alas! I'm all confusion;

A sudden mist o'ercasts my darken'd soul;
The present, past, and future swim before me,
Lost in a wild perplexity of joy.

DEMETRIUS.

Such ecstasy of love, such pure affection,
What worth can merit? or what faith reward?

ASPASIA.

A thousand thoughts, imperfect and distracted,
Demand a voice, and struggle into birth;
A thousand questions press upon my tongue,
But all give way to rapture and Demetrius.

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
Stemm'd in the breach the deluge of destruction,
And pass'd, uninjur'd, through the walks of death.
Did savage anger and licentious conquest

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,
Beyond my warmest hope, or wildest wishes,
Concurr'd to give me to Aspasia's arms,

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
The laws unread, and flies to his Irene.

DEMETRIUS.

Fix'd and intent on his Irene's charms,
He envies none the converse of Aspasia.

ABDALLA.

Aspasia's absence will inflame suspicion;
She cannot, must not, shall not, linger here;
Prudence and friendship bid me force her from you.

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.
Receive her, and protect her, gracious heav'n!
Yet let me watch her dear departing steps;
If fate pursues me, let it find me here.

Reproach not, Greece, a lover's fond delays,
Nor think thy cause neglected, while I gaze;
New force, new courage, from each glance I gain,
And find our passions not infus'd in vain.

[Exeunt.

ACT IV.

SCENE I.

DEMETRIUS, ASPASIA, enter as talking.

ASPASIA.

ENOUGH-resistless reason calms my soul-
Approving justice smiles upon your cause,
And nature's rights entreat th' asserting sword.
Yet, when your hand is lifted to destroy,

Think, but excuse a woman's needless caution,

Purge well thy mind from ev'ry private passion,
Drive int'rest, love, and vengeance, from thy thoughts;
Fill all thy ardent breast with Greece and virtue;
Then strike secure, and heav'n assist the blow!

DEMETRIUS.

Thou kind assistant of my better angel,
Propitious guide of my bewilder'd soul,
Calm of my cares, and guardian of my virtue!

ASPASIA.

My soul, first kindled by thy bright example,
To noble thought and gen'rous emulation,

Now but reflects those beams that flow'd from thee.

DEMETRIUS.

With native lustre and unborrow'd greatness,
Thou shin'st, bright maid, superiour to distress;
Unlike the trifling race of vulgar beauties,
Those glitt'ring dewdrops of a vernal morn,
That spread their colours to the genial beam,
And, sparkling, quiver to the breath of May;
But, when the tempest, with sonorous wing,
Sweeps o'er the grove, forsake the lab'ring bough,
Dispers'd in air, or mingled with the dust.

ASPASIA.

Forbear this triumph-still new conflicts wait us,
Foes unforeseen, and dangers unsuspected.
Oft, when the fierce besiegers' eager host
Beholds the fainting garrison retire,
And rushes joyful to the naked wall,
Destruction flashes from th' insidious mine,
And sweeps th' exulting conqueror away.
Perhaps, in vain the sultan's anger spar'd me,
To find a meaner fate from treach'rous friendship—
Abdalla!-