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Show 13 E D W A R D and All Afia, Africk, and profane their Altars ? And to repel brute Force by Force is juft. Nay, docs not even our Duty, Int'reft, Glory, T h e comm6ft Honour of the Chriftian Name, Require us to reprefs their wild Ambition, That labours weft ward ftill, and threatens Europe f Gloft. Yes, when they burft their Limits, let Uj check them : A n d with a firmer hand than thofe loofe Chriftiani, 1 he moft corrupt and abje& of Mankind, Slaves, doubly Slaves, w h o fuffer'd thefe Arabians, In Virtue their Superiors as in Valour, T o meafurc Conqueft with a Traveller's Speed. By Rage and Zeal, 'tis true, their Empire rofc : But now fome fettled Ages of Poffeffion Create a Right, than which, I fear, few Nations Can ihew a better. Sure I a m 'tis Madnefs, Inhuman Madnefs, thus, trom half the World, T o drain our Blood and Treafure, to neglect Each art of Peace, to fet Mankind adrift: A n d all for what ? B y fpreading Defolation, Rapine and Slaughter o'er the other half, T o gain a Conqueft we can never hold. I venerate this Land. Its facred Hilli, Its Vales, its Cities, trod by Saints and Prophets, B y God himfelf the Scenes of heavenly Wonders, infpire m e with a certain awful Joy. But the fame God, m y Friend, peruades, fuftains, Sorrounds and fills this univerfal Frame ; And every Land where fpreads his vital Prefence, His all-enlivening Breath, to m e is holy. Excofc m e , Theald, if I go too far : I meant alone to fay, I think thefe Wars A kind of Perfecution. And when that, That moft abfurd and cruel of all Vices, Is once begun, where lhall it find an End ? Each, in his turn, or has, or claims a Right T o wield its Dagger, to return its Furies; And, firjt or laft^ they fall upon ourfelvcr Edw. ELEONORA. '3 [behind the Scenes. . i trill,;™ ' it thv Meflage Murder ! ^s r Fe J P exclaimin8 L 'Tis fo ! S C E N E VI. Theald, Glofter ; to them Prince Edward wounded in • tbe Arm, and dragging in the AJfaJJin. Edward. Detefted Wretch \ And does the Prince of Jaffa Send bafe AiTaffins totranfaCt his Treaties ? There-take thy Anfwer, Ruffian! [Stabs him with the Dagger he had wreftedfrom him Blow too hafty ! I fhou'd have frv'd thee for a fitter Death. AJf I would have triumph'd, Chriftian, in thy worft. For know, thou vile Deftroyer of the Faithful ! That tho' my erring Dagger mifs'd thy Heart," Yet has it fir'd thy Veins with mortal Poifon, Whofe very touch is Death Allah be prais'd r O glorious Fate! Prophet, receive m y Soul ! [Dies, rxru A Edwzrd, after aftjert Paufe, Whyftare you pale Amazement on each other r |