_Muza_. Herein his vow indeed is ratified: Yet faithful ears have heard this offer made, And weighty was the conference that ensued, And long, not dubious; for what mortal e’er Refused alliance with illustrious power? Though some have given its enjoyments up, Tired and enfeebled by satiety. His friends and partisans, ’twas his pretence, Should pass uninterrupted; hence his camp Is open every day to enemies. You look around, O queen, as though you feared Their entrance—Julian I pursue no more; You conquer him—return we; I bequeath Ruin, extermination, not reproach. How we may best attain your peace and will We must consider in some other place, Not, lady, in the midst of snares and wiles How to supplant your charms and seize your crown. I rescue it, fear not: yes, we retire. Whatever is your wish becomes my own, Nor is there in this land but who obeys. [_He leads her away_. THIRD ACT: FIRST SCENE. _Palace in_ XERES. RODERIGO _and_ OPAS. _Rod._ Impossible! she could not thus resign Me, for a miscreant of Barbary, A mere adventurer: but that citron face Shall bleach and shrivel the whole winter long There, on yon cork-tree by the sallyport. She shall return. _Opas_. To fondness and to faith? Dost thou retain them, if she could return? _Rod._ Retain them? she has forfeited by this All right to fondness, all to royalty. _Opas_. Consider, and speak calmly: she deserves Some pity, some reproof. _Rod._ To speak then calmly, Since thine eyes open and can see her guilt— Infamous and atrocious! let her go— Chains _Opas_. What! in Muza’s camp? _Rod._ My scorn supreme! _Opas_. Say pity. _Rod._ Ay, ay, pity—that suits best. I loved her, but _had_ loved her; three whole years Of pleasure, and of varied pleasure too, Had worn the soft impression half away. What I once felt, I would recall; the faint Responsive voice grew fainter each reply: Imagination sank amid the scenes It laboured to create; the vivid joy Of fleeting youth I followed, and possessed. ’Tis the first moment of the tenderest hour, ’Tis the first mien on entering new delights, We give our peace, our power, our souls, for these. _Opas_. Thou hast; and what remains? _Rod._ Myself—Roderigo— Whom hatred cannot reach, nor love cast down. _Opas_. Nor gratitude nor pity nor remorse Call back, nor vows nor earth nor heaven control. But art thou free and happy? art thou safe? By shrewd contempt the humblest may chastise Whom scarlet and its ermine cannot scare, And the sword skulks for everywhere in vain, Thee the poor victim of thy outrages, Woman, with all her weakness, may despise. _Rod._ But first let quiet age have intervened.