50
TAMERLANE.
Comes he to triumph here? to rob my Love?And violate the last retreat of Happiness?
Tam.But that I read upon thy frowning Brow,That War yet lives, and rages in thy Breast;Once more (in pity to the suff'ring World)I meant to offer Peace———
Baj.And mean'st Thou too,To treat it with our Empress? And to barterThe Spoils, which Fortune gave thee, for her Favours?
[Aside.Arp.What would the Tyrant?———
Baj.Seek'st thou thus our Friendship?Is this the Royal Usage, thou did'st boast?
Tam.The boiling Passion that disturbs thy Soul,Spreads Clouds around, and make thy purpose dark.—Unriddle what thy mystick Fury aims at.
Baj.Is it a Riddle?———Read it there explain'd,There in my Shame. Now judge me thou, O Prophet,And equal Heav'n, if this demand not Rage!The Peasant-Hind begot, and born to Slavery,Yet dares assert a Husband's sacred Right,And guard his homely Couch from Violation.And shall a Monarch tamely bear the WrongWithout complaining?
Tam.If I could have wrong'd thee,If conscious Virtue, and all-judging HeavenStood not between, to bar ungovern'd Appetite;What hindred, but in spite of thee, my Captive,I might have us'd a Victor's boundless Power,And sated every Wish my Soul could form.But to secure thy Fears, know, Bajazet,This is among the Things I dare not do.
Baj.By Hell! 'tis false; else, wherefore art thou present?What cam'st thou for, but to undo my Honour?I found thee holding amorous Parley with her,Gazing, and gloting on her wanton Eyes,And bargaining for Pleasures yet to come;My Life, I know, is the devoted Price,But take it, I am weary of the Pain.
Tam.
