DEMETRIUS. When the tenth sun had set upon our sorrows, At midnight's private hour, a voice unknown Sounds in my sleeping ear, 'Awake, Demetrius, Awake, and follow me to better fortunes.' Surpris'd I start, and bless the happy dream; Then, rousing, know the fiery chief Abdalla, Whose quick impatience seiz'd my doubtful hand, And led me to the shore where Cali stood, Pensive, and list'ning to the beating surge. There, in soft hints, and in ambiguous phrase, With all the diffidence of long experience, That oft had practis'd fraud, and oft detected, The vet'ran courtier half reveal'd his project. By his command, equipp'd for speedy flight, Deep in a winding creek a galley lies, Mann'd with the bravest of our fellow-captives, Selected by my care, a hardy band, That long to hail thee chief. LEONTIUS. But what avails So small a force? or, why should Cali fly? Or, how can Call's flight restore our country? DEMETRIUS. Reserve these questions for a safer hour; Or hear himself, for see the bassa comes. SCENE II. DEMETRIUS, LEONTIUS, CALI. CALI. Now summon all thy soul, illustrious Christian! Awake each faculty that sleeps within thee: The courtier's policy, the sage's firmness, The warriour's ardour, and the patriot's zeal. If, chasing past events with vain pursuit, Or wand'ring in the wilds of future being, A single thought now rove, recall it home.-- But can thy friend sustain the glorious cause, The cause of liberty, the cause of nations? DEMETRIUS. Observe him closely, with a statesman's eye, Thou, that hast long perus'd the draughts of nature, And know'st the characters of vice and virtue, Left by the hand of heav'n on human clay. CALI. His mien is lofty, his demeanour great; Nor sprightly folly wantons in his air; Nor dull serenity becalms his eyes. Such had I trusted once, as soon as seen, But cautious age suspects the flatt'ring form, And only credits what experience tells. Has silence press'd her seal upon his lips? Does adamantine faith invest his heart? Will he not bend beneath a tyrant's frown? Will he not melt before ambition's fire? Will he not soften in a friend's embrace? Or flow dissolving in a woman's tears? DEMETRIUS. Sooner the trembling leaves shall find a voice, And tell the secrets of their conscious walks; Sooner the breeze shall catch the flying sounds, And shock the tyrant with a tale of treason. Your slaughter'd multitudes, that swell the shore With monuments of death, proclaim his courage; Virtue and liberty engross his soul, And leave no place for perfidy, or fear. LEONTIUS. I scorn a trust unwillingly repos'd; Demetrius will not lead me to dishonour; Consult in private, call me, when your scheme Is ripe for action, and demands the sword. [_Going_. DEMETRIUS. Leontius, stay.