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Show 5* M U S T A P H A. M U S T A P H A; 53 Ruftan. Proceed, m y Lord. Mufti. At laft, in broken founds By paffion render'd vehement and low; «* Mufti, he cry'd, how fays our facred law > What doom inflicts it ou a trotted flave, W h o plot* deftrudion to his mafter'shoufe \ In clofe conjunction with their foe profeft, A rancorous heretic »** Ruftan H « meant the Perftan ; W h o long hzs courted Muftapha in private. Well, you reply'd Mufti. His blood be on m y head. Thus ftain'd and black with complicated guilt, H e merits more than death ; chief for his league With heretic, a race on earth abhor'd, Accurft of heaven. Ruftan. Ay, that was well, m y Lord ; A n d after Solyman's own heart. I hope Y o u urg'd it home with weight of argument. Mufti. I did .* and prov'd all herefy more black, M o r e peftilent, than even the falfe belief Of chriftian dogs. H e bow'd his head profound, Invoking heaven, attefting Mahomet: A n d cry'd « This fon muft perifh. Not a world, A pleading world fhould Fave him from my juftice.'* T hen order'd his confinement. Ruftan. H a ! confinement ? B y Azrael, the angel that muft fever His foul and mortal part ! I was in hopes, His execution, Muftiy h*d been order'd. This tardy vengeance dafhes half m y joys: 'Tis dangerous, and may be deadly to us. Would I had ne'er embarqu'd on this wild fea, Where tempcft ever rages ! confcience too N o w fharpens all her f l i n g s- Mnfti. Away, m y Lord ; What are you doing but what thoufand flatefmen W h o liv'd and Sied in fame, have done before yon? H e fhall not fcape. I have frefh accafation., r 1U That with the Sultan's piety will weigh More ftrong than all his crimes. This Muftapha Is a rank unbeliever. Ruftan. H o w , m y Lord ? This news revives m y heart. Mufti. Inflam'd with zeal, And holy hatred to the foes of heaven, Tews, Chriftians, who pollute our pious land, I would have wrought that boy to prompt his tatner In giving to the fword thofe infidels. What was his anfwer, think you ? Ruftan. I can guefs : Some libertine reply. Mufti. 'Twas moft profane ! H e pointed to a plain that lay before us, Profufely gay with flowers-" Admire, he cry d, Wife nature's various hand : a thoufand colours A thoufand odours, greet the fight and fmell. Fair funs arife, and genial dews defcend T o foften all alike : and in return, They waft their mingled incenfe to the sky, A greatful offering there. Perhaps 'tis fo With difference in opinions : this at leaft, They have their ufe; nor fhall they want prote&iohv While thofe w h o hold them live, as fubjedts mould* In amity and peace, promoting each The general wealth, obfervant of the laws, - And to their fovereign true."-He faid ; and turn d Abruptly from me, frowning fcorn and anger. Ruftan. I thank thee for this news: but go, m y Lord, Watch near the Sultan's door. I will the while Walk here and meditate. E S C E N E |