The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 07Dryden, John
General
The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 07
Dryden, John
English literature
_Dor._ Thus, when heaven pleases, double poisons cure[8].
I will not tax thee of ingratitude
To me, thy friend, who hast betrayed thy prince:
Death he deserved indeed, but not from thee.
But fate, it seems, reserved the worst of men
To end the worst of tyrants.--
Go, bear him to his fate,
And send him to attend his master's ghost.
Let some secure my other poisoning friend,
Whose double diligence preserved my life.
_Ant._ You are fallen into good hands, father-in-law; your sparkling
jewels, and Morayma's eyes, may prove a better bail than you deserve.
_Muf._ The best that can come of me, in this condition, is, to have my
life begged first, and then to be begged for a fool afterwards[9].
[_Exeunt_ ANTONIO, _with the Mufti; and, at
the same time,_ BENDUCAR _is carried off._
_Dor._ [_To_ MUST.]
You, and your hungry herd, depart untouched;
For justice cannot stoop so low, to reach
The groveling sin of crowds: but curst be they,
Who trust revenge with such mad instruments,
Whose blindfold business is but to destroy;
And, like the fire, commissioned by the winds,
Begins on sheds, but, rolling in a round,
On palaces returns. Away, ye scum,
That still rise upmost when the nation boils;
Ye mongrel work of heaven, with human shapes,
Not to be damned or saved, but breathe and perish,
That have but just enough of sense, to know
The master's voice, when rated, to depart.
[_Exeunt_ MUSTAPHA _and Rabble._
_Alm._ With gratitude as low as knees can pay [_Kneeling to him._
To those blest holy fires, our guardian angels,
Receive these thanks, till altars can be raised.
_Dor._ Arise, fair excellence, and pay no thanks, [_Raising her up._
Till time discover what I have deserved.
_Seb._ More than reward can answer.
If Portugal and Spain were joined to Africa,
And the main ocean crusted into land,
If universal monarchy were mine,
Here should the gift be placed.
_Dor._ And from some hands I should refuse that gift.
Be not too prodigal of promises;
But stint your bounty to one only grant,
Which I can ask with honour.
_Seb._ What I am
Is but thy gift; make what thou canst of me,
Secure of no repulse.
_Dor._ [_To_ SEB.] Dismiss your train.--
[_To_ ALM.] You, madam, please one moment to retire.
[SEBASTIAN _signs to the Portugueses to go
off;_ ALMEYDA, _bowing to him, gives off
also. The Africans follow her._
_Dor._ [_To the Captain of the Guard._]
With you one word in private. [_Goes out with the Captain._
_Seb._ [_Solus._] Reserved behaviour, open nobleness,
A long mysterious track of stern bounty:
But now the hand of fate is on the curtain,
And draws the scene to sight.
_Re-enter_ DORAX, _having taken off his Turban, and put on a Peruke,
Hat, and Cravat._
_Dor._ Now, do you know me?
_Seb._ Thou shouldst be Alonzo.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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