Val. Sent by our new lieutenant, who in Rome, Past enmities to strike perpetual league To terms of friendship; strictest bonds of union. Van. We must not hold a friendship with the Romans. Val. Why must you not? Van. Virtue forbids it. Val. Once You thought our friendship was your greatest glory. Val. Believe me, Prince, your vehemence of spirit, Van. Oh, I have scanned it thoroughly.-Night and day I think it over, and I think it base; Most infamous! let who will judge-but Romans. Did not my wife, did not my menial servant, Against my crown, against my fame, my life? Val. At first the Romans did not interpose, Van. To moderate!— What would you moderate? My indignation; Are you Must I be taught to govern my own household ? Shall strangers, saucy intermeddlers, say, When I am tamed to that degree of slavery, Val. Prince, you insult upon this day's success, Van. Who shall confine it? The Romans? Let them rule their slaves. I blush, Val. Blush rather that you are a slave to passion, Which, like a whirlwind, tears up all your virtues, Did not the Romans civilize you? Van. No. They brought new customs and new vices over, Taught us more arts than honest men require, And gave us wants that nature never knew. Val. We found you naked. Van. And you found us free. Val. Would you be temperate once, and hear me out? Van. Speak things that honest men may hear with temper, Speak the plain truth, and varnish not your crimes. Before you grew thus elegant in vice, And gave your luxuries the name of virtues. The civilizers! the disturbers, say; The robbers, the corrupters of mankind, Proud vagabonds! who make the world your home, L What virtue have you taught? Van. Oh, patience! Val. Can yon disown a truth confessed by all? Van. Prevaricating, false,-most courteous tyrants. Romans! Rare patterns of humanity! Came you then here, thus far through waves to conquer, To waste, to plunder, out of mere compassion? Is it humanity that prompts you on To ravage the whole earth, to burn, destroy? ANON. SCENES ARRANGED FROM DRAMATIC WRITERS. BARBAROSSA. BARBAROSSA AND SELIM DISGUISED AS ACHMET. Sel. Hail, mighty Barbarossa! As the pledge Of Selim's death behold thy ring restored,— That pledge will speak the rest. Bar. Rise, valiant youth; But first no more a slave-I give thee freedom. Sel. I am. Bar. Then tell me how you sped.-Where found ye That insolent? Sel. We found him at Oran, Plotting deep mischief to thy throne and people. Sel. As we ought. While night drew on, we leaped upon our prey. Bar. Well hast thou sped : Thy dagger did its office, faithful Achmet! And high reward shall wait thee.-One thing more- Hath reached her ear: hence dark suspicionsṛ ise, Glancing at me. Go tell her that thou saw'st Enter OTHMAN and ALADIN. Most welcome, Othman ; Behold this gallant stranger. He hath done Such as may win her love. Sel. What anxious thought [Exit. Rolls in thine eye, and heaves thy labouring breast? That riots through the palace? Oth. Dar'st thou tell me On what dark errand thou art here? Sel. I dare. Dost thou not perceive the savage lines of blood Deform my visage ?- I am Selim's murd'rer. Remorseless fury— Oth. Selim's murderer ? Read'st not in mine eye Sel. Start not from me. My dagger thirsts not but for regal blood— Why this amazement ? Oth. Amazement !-No-'tis well: 'tis as it should be He was indeed a foe to Barbarossa. Sel. And therefore to Algiers:—Was it not so? Smeared with my prince's blood!—Go, tell the tyrant Oth. All men lov'd him. He was of such unmix'd and blameless quality, |