Devolve, dear maid, thy sorrows on the wretch,
Whose fear, or rage, or treachery, betray'd us!
IRENE. _aside_.
A private station may discover more;
Then let me rid them of Irene's presence;
Proceed, and give a loose to love and treason.
[_Withdraws_
ASPASIA.
Yet tell.
DEMETRIUS.
To tell or hear were waste of life.
ASPASIA.
The life, which only this design supported,
Were now well lost in hearing how you fail'd.
DEMETRIUS.
Or meanly fraudulent or madly gay,
Abdalla, while we waited near the palace,
With ill tim'd mirth propos'd the bowl of love.
Just as it reach'd my lips, a sudden cry
Urg'd me to dash it to the ground, untouch'd,
And seize my sword with disencumber'd hand.
ASPASIA.
What cry? The stratagem? Did then Abdalla--
DEMETRIUS.
At once a thousand passions fir'd his cheek!
Then all is past, he cry'd--and darted from us;
Nor, at the call of Cali, deign'd to turn.
ASPASIA.
Why did you stay, deserted and betray'd?
What more could force attempt, or art contrive?
DEMETRIUS.
Amazement seiz'd us, and the hoary bassa
Stood, torpid in suspense; but soon Abdalla
Return'd with force that made resistance vain,
And bade his new confed'rates seize the traitors.
Cali, disarm'd, was borne away to death;
Myself escap'd, or favour'd, or neglected.
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