CALI
Must Greece, still wretched by her children’s folly,
For ever mourn their avarice or factions? 
Demetrius justly pleads a double title;
The lover’s int’rest aids the patriot’s claim.

LEONTIUS. 
My pride shall ne’er protract my country’s woes;
Succeed, my friend, unenvied by Leontius.

DEMETRIUS. 
I feel new spirit shoot along my nerves;
My soul expands to meet approaching freedom. 
Now hover o’er us, with propitious wings,
Ye sacred shades of patriots and of martyrs! 
All ye, whose blood tyrannick rage effus’d,
Or persecution drank, attend our call;
I And from the mansions of perpetual peace
Descend, to sweeten labours, once your own!

  CALI. 

Go then, and with united eloquence
Confirm your troops; and, when the moon’s fair beam
Plays on the quiv’ring waves, to guide our flight,
Return, Demetrius, and be free for ever.
                                 [Exeunt Dem. and Leon.

SCENE IV.

CALI, ABDALLA.

ABDALLA. 
How the new monarch, swell’d with airy rule,
Looks down, contemptuous, from his fancy’d height,
And utters fate, unmindful of Abdalla!

CALI. 
Far be such black ingratitude from Cali! 
When Asia’s nations own me for their lord,
Wealth, and command, and grandeur shall be thine!

ABDALLA. 
Is this the recompense reserv’d for me? 
Dar’st thou thus dally with Abdalla’s passion? 
Henceforward, hope no more my slighted friendship;
Wake from thy dream of power to death and tortures,
And bid thy visionary throne farewell.

CALI. 
Name, and enjoy thy wish—­

ABDALLA. 
I need not name it;
Aspasia’s lovers know but one desire,
Nor hope, nor wish, nor live, but for Aspasia.

CALI. 
That fatal beauty, plighted to Demetrius,
Heaven makes not mine to give.

ABDALLA. 
Nor to deny.

CALI. 
Obtain her, and possess; thou know’st thy rival.

ABDALLA. 
Too well I know him, since, on Thracia’s plains,
I felt the force of his tempestuous arm,
And saw my scatter’d squadrons fly before him. 
Nor will I trust th’ uncertain chance of combat;
The rights of princes let the sword decide,
The petty claims of empire and of honour: 
Revenge and subtle jealousy shall teach
A surer passage to his hated heart.

CALI. 
Oh! spare the gallant Greek, in him we lose
The politician’s arts, and hero’s flame.

  ABDALLA. 
When next we meet, before we storm the palace,
The bowl shall circle to confirm our league;
Then shall these juices taint Demetrius’ draught,
                                        [Showing a phial. 
And stream, destructive, through his freezing veins: 
Thus shall he live to strike th’ important blow,
And perish, ere he taste the joys of conquest.