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Show „„ MUSTAPHY. That generous prudence, rival of your courage, Which aged warriors wonder at with envy ! But m y applaufe is poor, and finks beneath T h e mighty fubject: Fame herfelf is proud T o celebrate that hero, whofe fole arm Suftains the throne of godlike Solyman, His glory and defence ! Muftapha. Thou know'ft m e not. H e whocaniiften, pleas'd, to fuch applaufe, Buys at a dearer rate than I dare purchafe, And pays for idle air with fenfe and virtue. Art thou indeed m y friend ? then fhew it nobly 3 As man, by deeds like thefe thy tongue extols: As fubject, in true duty to thy Sovereign. Ruftan. What amiable modefty ! The Sultan Muft needs, m y Lord Muftapha. Conclude this prefacing : A n d to your bufinefs. Ruftan. Sir, your Royal F a t h e r - Muftapha. Proceed. Ruftan. 'Tis o n l y - - - Muftapha- What ? Ruftan. T h e Emperor orders This B.tfha may receive your fword. Muftapha M y fword / Ruftan. Such his command. Muftapha. And, as he knows this Ruftan M y kindeft advocate, m y warmeft friend, The man w h o founds m y praife aloud to heaven, H e fends him on this errand ! Ruftan. Born to ferve, With abfolutc obedience to perform My matter's will, his faithful flave prefumes not T o ask a reafon for it. Muftapha. Heaven and earth ! M y fword ? Ruftan. What would your Highnefs have mt fay In anfwer to this order ? Muftapha. Take it, Vizir And tell m y Lord and Father, that a fon J Who M U S T A P H A; 21 W h o loves his perfon, venerates his virtues, Durft ne'er difpufe his pitafure nor does now. Say, this good fword has truly been cmploy'd Againft his foes. -Achmet, it was the gift With which his fondnefs grae'd m y early hand ! Which I had hop'd to part with but in dctth ! Stay. If thou art a friend, ado this one truth, Add boldly-When his facred will demands The life he gave m e ; this unhappy fon, Sufpected as he is, will yield that life With equal refignation. Thou wilt fay fc ? Ruftan. By heaven, I will. ^Muftapha. So, in thy latcft hour, That heaven, who fees us both, deal with thy foul ! S C E N E III. Muftapha, Achmet. Muftapha. Oh friend i Achmet. Perdition on the doubling traitor • Was it by arts like thefe he rofe to grearnefs ? T o envy'd power ? H o w low beneath all fcorn This court-diffimulation finks mankind / Muftapha. Fly, Achmet> to Emira $ greet her from me. Woth love's moft facred v o w s - - B u t f m o o t h thia news With all the kind deceit, the virtuous falfhood, That friendfhip bids us ufe to fave from anguifh The tender bofom, of the fair we love, C SCE NE |