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TAMERLANE.
Crowns, and Dominions from his bounteous Pow'r:'Tis true, I wav'd the Proffer, and have held itThe worthier Choice, to wait upon his Virtues,To be the Friend and Partner of his Wars,Than to be Asia's Lord: Nor wonder then,If, in the Confidence of such a Friendship,I promise boldly for the Royal Giver,Thy Crown, and Empire.
Baj.For our Daughter thusMean'st thou to barter? ha! I tell thee, Christian,There is but one, one Dowry, thou canst give,And I can ask, worthy my Daughter's Love.
Ax.Oh! name the mighty Ransom, task my Power,Let there be Danger, Difficulty, Death,T' enhance the Price.
Baj.I take thee at thy Word,Bring me the Tartar's Head.
Ax.Ha!
Baj.Tamerlane's,That Death, that deadly Poison to my Glory.
Ax.Prodigious! Horrid!
Sel.Lost! for ever lost!
Baj.And could'st thou hope to bribe me with ought else?With a vile Peace patch'd up on slavish Terms?With tributary Kingship?—No—to meritA Recompence from me, sate my Revenge.The Tartar is my Bane, I cannot bear him;One Heav'n and Earth can never hold us both ;Still shall we hate, and with defiance deadlyKeep Rage alive, till one be lost for ever;As if two Suns should meet in the Meridian,And strive in fiery Combat for the passage.Weep'st thou fond Girl? Now as thy King, and Father,I charge thee, drive this Slave from thy remembrance:Hate shall be pious in thee; * come, and join*Laying hold on her Hand.To curse thy Father's Foes.
Sel.Undone for ever!Now Tyrant; Duty, art thou yet obey'd,
There
