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Show 28 M U S T A P H A . M y foul would wifh to meet with from a fon A n d m a y Reprorch tranfmit m y n a m e abhor'd 1 o lateft t i m e - - i f ever thought was mine Unjnft to filial reverence, filial love ! Solyman. But yet, the genius of imperial rule All-mcommunicable, knows no equal • Nay. knows no fecond. Thou halt bornethy feIf Above a lu^jectsftate : by fecret%arts By dangerous popularity, haft dar'd T o taint m y armies, and divide rheir homage T o o well I know the native bent of man • From towering thoughts to traiterous defigns H e climbs ap^ce. If I at laft muft fear A rival in m y flavs (for fuch thcu art) T h y virtues all are crimes. And were there none Not one ol Othman's blood to heir his empire • By that eternal Mind m ho form'd m y foul \ ' If gnilr is found upon thee true, thy father Will be unhappy but thou art undone « ' Muftapha. And may that Power, whofe waking eye Explores fhe depth of human hearts, and fees E.eh wifh, each fecret purpofe, rifmg there Difclofe all mine before you ! - O m y father' Source of m y being, ever lo^'d and honour'd^ "Ves, let Inquiry, rigorous Inquiry, Call the who.e tenor of m y life to tryal, Severe, Impartial tryal/ If fuch crimes Have ftain'd m e but in thought ; let open frame, Let tortures fuch as wait the wretch accurs'd T h e parricide, attone their guilt. Solyman This wear* ever- A face ot virtue. •Muftapha- 'the father Would favour thee : the 'judge muft know no bias: Their d)ftenng titles call m e feparatc ways; A n d each would have its due. Muftapha. M y failings, Will wt th' indulgence of a father's love : M y honelty of heart d.ires wd\ abide T h e judge's fearching eye. O think, m y Lord ; • Why M U S T A P H A . 29 Why am I i^ere alone ? Had my own thoughts Borne evidence againft m e , would f thus Provoke examination ? thus embrace Perhaps the nobler, but th' unfafer, part ? For I nave foe? Solymon. W h a ^ foes ? Be warn'd, and know, By charging others, guile would fcreen himfelf. Muftapha- Look on m e , fufpected tho' I be, I am your fon : I ftili inherit from you A generous pride that cannot ft jop to bafenefs, T h e bafenefs of a lye. Moft true, m y foes H a d form'd a dark defign againft m y life. Sylyman Ha ! what defign ? Muftapha. By poifon co deftroy m e. Solyman. Poifon ? aftonilhmen't! Muftapha. And of a kind Exalted to fuch power, fuch deadly keennefs, That he, the flive w h o firft affay'd its rage, Tafted at once and died ! Solyman. Merciful heaven ! Muftapha. M y people faw, 2nd trembled to behold T h e horrid fcene ! Solyman. I trembk: t o o - - - Q Nature ! A parent cannot banilla thee f o r e v e r - W a s no enquiry m a d e / Canft thou not gueft This cruel foe ? Muftapha. I can forgive, m y Lord. Solyman. What fhould I think ? - T h y brothers are thy friends. M y Roxolana but 'tis profanation T o mention her. She never was thy foe. Muftapha. I never gave her caufe. Solyman. Her faith to m e I oft haveprov'd, and ever found fincere. Her mngue too has been lavim in rhy praife : By heaven, it has. Muftapha. Betwixt m y foes and m e Let heaven be judge. But if their arts can win O n him, a father w h o m m y foul reveres With \ |