_Solym._ Unmoved, and brave, he like himself appears, And, meriting no ill, no danger fears: Yet mourns his former vigour lost so far, To make him now spectator of a war: Repining that he must preserve his crown By any help or courage but his own: Wishes, each minute, he could unbeget Those rebel sons, who dare usurp his seat; To sway his empire with unequal skill, And mount a throne, which none but he can fill. _Arim._ Oh! had he still that character maintained, Of valour, which, in blooming youth, he gained! He promised in his east a glorious race; Now, sunk from his meridian, sets apace. But as the sun, when he from noon declines, And, with abated heat, less fiercely shines, Seems to grow milder as he goes away, Pleasing himself with the remains of day; So he, who, in his youth, for glory strove, Would recompense his age with ease and love. _Asaph._ The name of father hateful to him grows, Which, for one son, produces him three foes. _Fazel._ Darah, the eldest, bears a generous mind, But to implacable revenge inclined: Too openly does love and hatred show; A bounteous master, but a deadly foe. _Solym._ From Sujah's valour I should much expect, But he's a bigot of the Persian sect; And by a foreign interest seeks to reign, Hopeless by love the sceptre to obtain. _Asaph._ Morat's too insolent, too much a brave; His courage to his envy is a slave. What he attempts, if his endeavours fail To effect, he is resolved no other shall. _Arim._ But Aureng-Zebe, by no strong passion swayed, Except his love, more temperate is, and weighed: This Atlas must our sinking state uphold; In council cool, but in performance bold: He sums their virtues in himself alone, And adds the greatest, of a loyal son: His father's cause upon his sword he wears, And with his arms, we hope, his fortune bears. _Solym._ Two vast rewards may well his courage move, A parent's blessing, and a mistress' love. If he succeed, his recompence, we hear, Must be the captive queen of Cassimere. _To them_ ABAS. _Abas._ Mischiefs on mischiefs, greater still, and more! The neighbouring plain with arms is covered o'er: The vale an iron-harvest seems to yield, Of thick-sprung lances in a waving field. The polished steel gleams terribly from far, And every moment nearer shows the war. The horses' neighing by the wind is blown, And castled-elephants o'er-look the town. _Arim._ If, as I fear, Morat these powers commands, Our empire on the brink of ruin stands: The ambitious empress with her son is joined, And, in his brother's absence, has designed The unprovided town to take with ease, And then the person of the king to seize. _Solym._ To all his former issue she has shown Long hate, and laboured to advance her own. _Abas._ These troops are his. Surat he took; and thence, preventing fame, By quick and painful marches hither came. Since his approach, he to his mother sent, And two long hours in close debate were spent.