CALI. Forgive an old man's weakness, And share the deepest secrets of my soul, My wrongs, my fears, my motives, my designs.-- When unsuccessful wars, and civil factions Embroil'd the Turkish state, our sultan's father, Great Amurath, at my request, forsook The cloister's ease, resum'd the tott'ring throne, And snatch'd the reins of abdicated pow'r From giddy Mahomet's unskilful hand. This fir'd the youthful king's ambitious breast: He murmurs vengeance, at the name of Cali, And dooms my rash fidelity to ruin. DEMETRIUS. Unhappy lot of all that shine in courts, For forc'd compliance, or for zealous virtue, Still odious to the monarch, or the people. CALI. Such are the woes, when arbitrary pow'r And lawless passion hold the sword of justice. If there be any land, as fame reports, Where common laws restrain the prince and subject, A happy land, where circulating pow'r Flows through each member of th' embodied state; Sure, not unconscious of the mighty blessing, Her grateful sons shine bright with every virtue; Untainted with the lust of innovation, Sure, all unite to hold her league of rule Unbroken, as the sacred chain of nature That links the jarring elements in peace. LEONTIUS. But say, great bassa, why the sultan's anger, Burning in vain, delays the stroke of death? CALI. Young, and unsettled in his father's kingdoms, Fierce as he was, he dreaded to destroy The empire's darling, and the soldier's boast; But now confirm'd, and swelling with his conquests, Secure, he tramples my declining fame, Frowns unrestrain'd, and dooms me with his eyes. DEMETRIUS. What can reverse thy doom? CALI. The tyrant's death. DEMETRIUS. But Greece is still forgot. CALI. On Asia's coast, Which lately bless'd my gentle government, Soon as the sultan's unexpected fate Fills all th' astonish'd empire with confusion, My policy shall raise an easy throne; The Turkish pow'rs from Europe shall retreat, And harass Greece no more with wasteful war. A galley mann'd with Greeks, thy charge, Leontius, Attends to waft us to repose and safety. DEMETRIUS. That vessel, if observ'd, alarms the court, And gives a thousand fatal questions birth: Why stor'd for flight? and why prepar'd by Cali? CALI. This hour I'll beg, with unsuspecting face, Leave to perform my pilgrimage to Mecca; Which granted, hides my purpose from the world, And, though refus'd, conceals it from the sultan. LEONTIUS. How can a single hand attempt a life, Which armies guard, and citadels enclose? CALI. Forgetful of command, with captive beauties, Far from his troops, he toys his hours away. A roving soldier seiz'd, in Sophia's temple, A virgin, shining with distinguish'd charms, And brought his beauteous plunder to the sultan-- DEMETRIUS. In Sophia's temple!--What alarm!--Proceed.