6
TAMERLANE.
Whilst our weak Sex, incapable of wrong,On either side claims Priviledge of Safety.
Tam. [Raising her.] Rise, Royal Maid, the Pride of haughty Power,Pays Homage, not receives it from the Fair:Thy angry Father fiercely calls me forth,And urges me unwillingly to arm;Yet, tho' our frowning Battles menace DearthAnd mortal Conflict, think not that we holdThy Innocence and Vertue as our Foe.Here, 'till the Fate of Asia is decided,In safety stay. To Morrow is your own:Nor grieve for who may conquer, or who lose;Fortune on either side shall wait thy Wishes.
Sel.Where shall my Wonder and my Praise begin!From the successful Labours of thy Arms?Or from a Theme more soft, and full of Peace,Thy Mercy, and thy Gentleness? Oh! Tamerlane!What can I pay thee for this noble UsageBut grateful Praise? So Heav'n it self is paid.Give Peace, ye Pow'rs above, Peace to Mankind;Nor Let my Father wage unequal War,Against the force of such united Vertues.
Tam.Heaven hear thy pious Wish!—But since our ProspectLocks darkly on Futurity, till FateDetermine for us, let thy Beauty's SafetyBe my Axalla's Care; in whose glad EyesI read what Joy the pleasing Service gives him.Is there amongst thy other Pris'ners ought [To Axalla.Worthy our Knowledge?
Ax.This brave Man, my Lord, [Pointing to Moneses.With long Resistance held the Combat doubtful: His Party, prest with Numbers, soon grew faint,And would have left their Charge an easie Prey;Whilst he alone, undaunted at the odds,Tho' hopeless to escape, fought well and firmly:Nor yielded, till o'er-match'd by many Hands,He seem'd to shame our Conquest, whilst he own'd it.
Tam.
