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TAMERLANE.
Before the Fortune of victorious Tamerlane,When thou with Nations like the sanded ShoreWith half the warring World upon thy side,Could'st not stand up against his dreadful Battle,That crush'd thee with its Shock. Thy Men can witness,Those Cowards, that forsook me in the CombatMy Sword was not unactive.
Baj.No,———'tis false.Where is my Daughter, thou vile Greek? Thou hastBetray'd her to the Tartar; or even worse,Pale with thy Fears, didst lose her like a Coward;And like a Coward now, would'st cast the blameOn Fortune, and ill Stars.
Mon.Ha! said'st thou like a Coward?What Sanctity, what Majesty DivineHast thou put on, to guard thee from my Rage?That thus thou dar'st to wrong me.
Baj.Out, thou Slave,And know me for thy Lord———
Mon.I tell thee, Tyrant,When in the Pride of Pow'r thou sat'st on high,When like an Idol thou wert vainly worshipp'd,By prostrate Wretches, born with slavish Souls:Ev'n when thou wert a King, thou wert not more,Nor greater than Moneses; born of a RaceRoyal, and Great as thine: What art thou now thenThe Fate of War has set thee with the Lowest;And Captives (like the Subjects of the Grave)Losing distinction, serve one common Lord.
Baj.Brav'd by this Dog! how give a loose to Rage,And curse thy self, curse thy false, cheating Prophet.Ha! Yet there's some Revenge. Hear me, thou Christian;Thou left'ft that Sister with me;—Thou Impostor!Thou Boaster of thy Honesty! Thou, Lyar!But take her to thee back.Now to explore my Prison.———If it holdsAnother Plague like this, the restless Damn'd(Is Musty's lie not) wander thus in Hell?
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