It is my best prerogative to rescue unknown merit from obscurity. HAUFRAY. (_Aside._) If this goes on, he will aspire to gain the princess. (_apart to the king_) Men of birth, great sir-- KING. Will be most proud of him, whose zeal, at once, supports my crown, their honours, and the people's cause. OFFICER. Dread sir, your daughter, beauteous Eglantine, impatient waits you at the royal palace. KING. Tell her, we long to clasp her to a father's bosom. Captives, your lives were spared on the condition that you receive our faith (_the Saracens bow_). Be preparation made, and let Religion's triumph grace our feast. Auvergne, my daughter's lips, again, shall speak her father's thanks--Our citizens of Orleans ope' their gates with loyal welcome to receive their sovereign. Thus ever may the king and people of this happy land, endeared by firm affection to each other, own the dear ties of father and of children! and, woe to those, who, with a traitor's hand, would tear the bond asunder!--Lead on. _Exeunt in procession. The King and Attendants go off thro' the city gates--The Captives, accompanied by the Friars and Nuns, enter the Monastery._ SCENE II.-- _Interior of the Convent._ _Enter BLANDIMAN and BELISANTA._ BELISANTA. Have all retired? Are we observed, my friend? BLANDIMAN. The fathers seek their cells to offer prayers for the new converts. BELISANTA. Alas! 'tis now the twentieth year since I have sought the mournful consolation of recounting how much a wretched woman owes thy friendship. BLANDIMAN. Away with sorrow, and in this moment of rejoicing, demand an audience of the king, your brother. BELISANTA. He thinks his sister guilty. Was I not banished by my husband the Emperor of Greece, fatally wrought on by traiterous slander, when, you, alone, accompanied a weak, defenceless woman? BLANDIMAN. Never shall I forget when, wearied with anguish and fatigue, you sat beneath a blasted oak; the wind with mournful sound scattered the falling leaves--meanwhile your groans were echoed by the distant murmur of nightly prowling wolves. BELISANTA. When, at my request you left me, in the hope of finding human aid, two babes, the offspring of my unkind husband, first saw the light. Starting with agony, these eyes beheld one of my children in the savage gripe of a most hideous bear. One desperate effort, short as furious, impelled me to attempt pursuit. I fell, and knew no more of sense, till from a peasant's wife I learned that she had found and borne me to her humble dwelling. BLANDIMAN. I wandered far, till the sound of horns led me to where I met the king, who with a frown at hearing of your name, on pain of death, warned me to leave his presence. BELISANTA. Vainly I sought my infant left behind--reason a second time forsook her seat.--The sisters of this convent poured balm into my bosom, and religion, cloathed in the garb of patience, brought me peace. BLANDIMAN.