SCENE III.
CALI, ABDALLA, DEMETRIUS.
DEMETRIUS.
Now pause, great bassa, from the thoughts of blood,
And kindly grant an ear to gentler sounds.
If e'er thy youth has known the pangs of absence,
Or felt th' impatience of obstructed love,
Give me, before th' approaching hour of fate,
Once to behold the charms of bright Aspasia,
And draw new virtue from her heav'nly tongue.
CALI.
Let prudence, ere the suit be farther urg'd,
Impartial weigh the pleasure with the danger.
A little longer, and she's thine for ever.
DEMETRIUS.
Prudence and love conspire in this request,
Lest, unacquainted with our bold attempt,
Surprise o'erwhelm her, and retard our flight.
CALI.
What I can grant, you cannot ask in vain--
DEMETRIUS.
I go to wait thy call; this kind consent
Completes the gift of freedom and of life. [_Exit_ Dem.
SCENE IV.
CALI, ABDALLA.
ABDALLA.
And this is my reward--to burn, to languish,
To rave, unheeded; while the happy Greek,
The refuse of our swords, the dross of conquest,
Throws his fond arms about Aspasia's neck,
Dwells on her lips, and sighs upon her breast.
Is't not enough, he lives by our indulgence,
But he must live to make his masters wretched?
CALI.
What claim hast thou to plead?
ABDALLA.
The claim of pow'r,
Th' unquestion'd claim of conquerors and kings!
CALI.
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