BARBAROSSA: A TRAGEDY, IN FIVE ACTS. BY DR. BROWNE. REMARKS. THE advantage of Garrick in Achmet, and Mossop in Barbarossa, when this play first appeared in 1755, contributed more to its success than the invention of the author, who has evidently borrowed his design from other dramatic productions; particularly, from the tragedy of Merope, and in some delineations of character from Tamerlane and the Mourning Bride. Master Betty made his first appearance before a London audience, in the interesting character of Achmet, in this play; and was received with loud laughter, which ended in tumultuous applause at his surprising ability and genuine grace. This habit, which to thy mistaken eye Sudi. Why then beneath This cursed roof, this black usurper's palace, O shame to dwell With murder, lust, and rapine! did he not Oth. Mistaken man! Still unprovok'd by thy intemperate zeal, What then did I?-Beneath this hated roof, Oth. Yes, Sadi! Heaven is witness, pity With honest guile I did enrol my name And give young Selim to his orphan'd people. Sadi. Why then dissemble thus ? I held it vain, to stem the tyrant's power, Sadi. I find thee honest; and with pride Can aught, my friend, be done? Oth. We groan beneath the scourge. This very morn, on false pretence of ven geance For the foul murder of our honour'd king, Five guiltless wretches perish'd on the rack. Sadi. O my devoted country! But say, the widow'd queen-my heart bleeds for her. Oth. Hemm'd round by terrors, Within this cruel palace, once the seat Of every joy, through seven long tedious years, She mourns her murder'd lord, her exil'd son, Is sent to watch his steps, and plunge the Sadi. Is this thy faith! Tamely to witness to such deeds of horror! Give me thy poignard? lead me to the tyrant. What though surrounding guards— Oth. Repress thy rage. Thou wilt alarm the palace, wilt involve Sadi. Yet let us ne'er forget our prince's wrongs: Remember, Othman, (and let vengeance rise) How in the pangs of death, and in his gore Welt'ring, we found our prince! His royal blood, The life-blood of his people, o'er the bath Near to the western port Almanzor dwells, Be drawn hereafter. But let caution guide Near to the western port, thou say'st? [mosque Close by the blasted palm-tree, where the O'erlooks the city. Haste thee hence, my friend. 197 I would not have thee found within these walls. And hark-these warlike sounds proclaim [Flourish. th' approach Of the proud Barbarossa, with his train. Sadi. May dire disease and pestilence Thy queen's, thy prince's, and thy country's wrong. [Exit. Oth. When I forget them be contempt my lot! Enter BARBAROSSA, Guards, &c. Bar. Valiant Othman, Are those vile slaves impal'd? Oth. My lord, they are. Bar. Did not the rack extort confession from them? Oth. They died obdurate: while the melting Wept at their groans and anguish. [crowd Bar. Curse on their womanish hearts! That sadness on thy brow? for oft I find thee Resounds through all my palace. Oth. Mighty warrior! Will oft neglect or scorn the weaker proof, Bar. Well: be it so. I sway the regal sceptre. That when, with open arms, I would receive Enter ALADIN. Aladin. Brave prince, I bring thee tidings Of high concernment to Algiers and thee. Young Selim is no more. Oth. Selim no more! Bar. Why that astonishment? Oth. So perish all thy causeless enemies! That, flying to Oran, he there begg❜d succours Oth. How! league with infidels! Aladin. And there held council with the haughty Spaniard, To conquer and dethrone thee; but in vain : For in a dark encounter with two slaves, Wherein the one fell by his youthful arm, Selim at length was slain. Bar. Ungrateful boy! Oft have I courted him to meet my kindness; But still in vain; he shunn'd me like a pestilence: Nor could I e'er behold him, since the down Oth. I think, scarce thirteen, when his father died, And now some twenty. Bar. Othman, now for proof Of undissembled service. Bb -Well I know, Tell her, I come, borne on the wings of love!- Now fortune bears us to the wish'd-for port: Aladin. Bold as needful. What booted it, to cut the old serpent off, Without a rival. Yet I wonder much, Omar returns not: Omar, whom I sent On this high trust. I fear, 'tis he hath fallen. Aladin. Ay, two; 'tis rumour'd so. Aladin. Even so:-by Selim's hand; while Planted his happier steel in Selim's heart. return. Irene. Oh, frown not thus! Sure, pity ne'er A parent's frown! but look more kindly on me, Bar. What means that gushing tear? Bar. Dry up thy tears. What! damp the That echoes through Algiers! which now shall pierce The vaulted heaven, as soon as fame shall spread Young Selim's death, my empire's bitterest foe. Irene. O generous Selim! Bar. Ah! there's more in this? Irene. Yes, I will tell thee, [Weeps. For he is gone, and dreads thy hate no more; Since the Moors siez'd and sold me at Oran,— Bar. Too well I know, and rue the fatal day. Irene. Oft have I told thee, Bar. And was it Selim? Irene. With unsparing hand He paid th' allotted ransom: at his feet I wept, Dissolv'd in tears of gratitude and joy. But when I told my quality and birth, Aladin. The rumour yet is young; perhaps He started at the name of Barbarossa; The trusty slave's approach. [foreruns And thrice turn'd pale. Yet, with recovery Bar. We'll wait the event. mild, [ther, Meantime give out, that now the widow'd"Go to Algiers," he cried; protect my moAnd be to her what Selim is to thee." Even such, my father, was the generous youth, Who, by the hands of bloody men, Lies number'd with the dead. queen [love Hath dried her tears, prepar'd to crown my For, if persuasion win not her consent, This night my will devotes to feast and joy, Enter IRENE. eye; They are the tears of pity. From the queen Bar. What wouldst thou urge? To see her; her distracted soul is bent Bar. She mocks my love. Had not war, nies. Bar. Amazement chills me ! Zaph. Tyrant! Does he assume the name of king? Zaph. O title vilely purchas'd! by the blood Blast all his joys, and turn them into horror; Till frenzy rise, and bid him curse the hour That gave his crimes their birth! My faithful Othman, My sole surviving comfort! can no means be Hence, day and night, his watchful guards Zaph. Cruel task! An injur'd queen To kneel for liberty! and, oh! to whom? Oth. Will Zaphira Thus meanly sink in woman's fruitless rage, When she should wake revenge? Zaph. Revenge ?-O tell me Tell me but how? what can a helpless woman? Oth. Gain but the tyrant's leave, and reach thy father: Pour thy complaints before him: let thy Kindle his indignation to pursue [wrongs This vile usurper, till unceasing war Blast his ill-gotten power. Zoph. Ah, say'st thou, Othman? Thy words have shot like lightning through my frame; [friend! And all my soul's on fire !-Thou faithful Yes-with more gentle speech I'll sooth his pride Regain my freedom; reach my father's tents; There paint my countless woes. His kindling rage Shall wake the valleys into honest vengeance; The sudden storm shall pour on Barbarossa; And every glowing warrior steep his shaft In deadlier poison, to revenge my wrongs. Oth. There spoke the queen. But as thou lov'st thy freedom, [kindle, Touch not on Selim's death. Thy soul will And passion mount in flames that will consume thee. Zaph. My murder'd son! Yes, to revenge thy death, [dains. I'll speak a language which my heart disOth. Peace, peace! the tyrant comes: now, injur'd queen, Plead for thy freedom, hope for just revenge, And check each rising passion. [Exit OTHMAN. Enter BARBAROSSA Bar. Hail, sovereign fair! in whom Beauty and majesty conspire to charm! Behold the conqu'ror. Zaph. O Barbarossa! No more the pride of conquest e'er can charm My widow'd heart! With my departed lord My love lies buried! Then turn thee to some happier fair, whose heart [cere ; May crown thy growing love with love sinFor I have none to give. Bar. Love ne'er should die : 'Tis the soul's cordial;-'tis the fount of life; Therefore should spring eternal in the breast: One subject lost, another should succeed; And all our life be love. Zaph. Urge me no more: thou might'st with equal hope Woo the cold marble weeping o'er a tomb, From plain to plain, and faintly shadows ont To thee, exalted fair! submissive realms From the far distant Niger and the Nile, Drawn captive at my conq'ring chariot wheels, Shall kneel before thee. Zaph. Pomp and power are toys, Which even the mind at ease may well disdain ; But, ah! what mockery is the tinsel pride Of splendour, when, by wasting woes, the mind Lies desolate within;-such, such is mine! O'erwhelm'd with ills, and dead to every joy; Envy me not this last request, to die in my dear father's tents! Bar. Thy suit is vain Bur. Perdition seize her! Nor threats can move, nor promise now allure, Zaph. Thus kneeling at thy feet-I do be- Inshrin'd some hero's spirit. seech thee. Inhuman tyrant! Curses on thy head! May dire remorse and anguish haunt thy And gender in thy bosom fell despair! [throne, Despair, as deep as mine! Bar. What means Zaphira? To turn thee into stone!-Relentless man! Bar. What envious tongue roam An unknown exile through the torrid climes Of Afric, sooner dwell with wolves and tigers, Than mount with thee my murder'd Selim's throne? Bar. Rash queen, forbear! think on thy captive state; Remember, that within these palace walls Zaph. Dares thy licentious tongue pollute mine ear [not With that foul menace !-Tyrant, dread'st thou Th' all-seeing eye of Heaven, its lifted thunder, [stores And all the redd'ning vengeance which it For crimes like thine?-Yet know, Zaphira scorns thee. Though robb'd by thee of every dear support, Could Othman dare to tell it? If he did, Aludin. What, unconquer'd still? Aladin. Let her rage foam. I bring thee tidings that will ease thy pain. Bur. Say'st thou?-Speak on-O give me quick relief! Aladin. The gallant youth is come, who slew her son. Bar. Who, Omar? Aladin. No; unhappy Omar fell [join'd By Selim's hand. But Achmet, whom he His brave associate, so the youth bids tell Reveng'd his death, by Selim's. Bur. Gallant youth! Bears he the signet? Aladin. Ay. Aladin. [thee, Bur. That speaks him true.-Conduct him, [Exit ALADIN. This is beyond my hope. The secret pledge Restor'd, prevents suspicion of the deed, While it confirms it done. Enter SELIM disguised as ACHMET, and Selim. Hail, mighty Barbarossa! as the pledge [Kneels. Of Selim's death, behold thy ring restor❜d:That pledge will speak the rest. Bur. Rise, valiant youth! But first, no more a slave-I give thee freedom. Thou art the youth, whom Omar (now no more) Join'd his companion in this brave attempt? Selim. I am. Bar. Then tell me how you sped.-Where found ye That insolent? Selim. We found him at Oran, [people. Plotting deep mischief to thy throne and Bar. Wellye repaid the traitor.Selim. As we ought. While night drew on, we leapt upon our prey. Which Selim shunning, wrench'd it from his Bur. Well hast thou sped: more Be the thought fortunate!-Go, seek the For know, the rumour of her Selim's death Hath reach'd her ear: hence dark suspicions rise, Glancing at me. Go, tell her, that thou saw'st Her son expire;-that, with his dying breath, Enter OTHMAN. Most welcome, Othman ; Behold this gallant stranger. He hath done Bar. The news of Selim's fate hath reach'd The state good service. Let some high reward Whence could this come? her ear. Aludin. I can resolve the doubt. A female slave, attendant on Zaphira, Await him, such as may o'erpay his zeal. Conduct him to the queen, for he hath news Worthy her ear, from her departed son; Such as may win her love-Come, Aladin, O'erheard the messenger who brought the tale, The banquet waits our presence;-festal joy And gave it to her ear. Laughs in the mantling goblet; and the night, |