and made them put forth a vigour that proved victorious in the war with France. Dr. Brown was preparing to accept of an invitation from the Empress of Russia to superintend her public plans of education, when he was seized with a fit of lunacy, and put a period to his own existence.

FROM THE TRAGEDY OF BARBAROSSA.

ACT II.

Selim, the son of the deceased Prince of Algiers, admitted in disguise into the palace of the usurper Barbarossa, and meeting with Othman, his secret friend.

Persons.-Barbarossa, Selim, Othman.

Bar. Most welcome, Othman.

Behold this gallant stranger. He hath done
The state good service. Let some high reward
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;
The banquet waits our presence: festal joy
Laughs in the mantling goblet; and the night,
Illumined by the taper's dazzling beam,
Rivals departed day.

[Exeunt BAR. and ALA.

Selim. What anxious thought

4

Rolls in thine eye, and heaves thy labouring breast? Why join'st thou not the loud excess of joy,

That riots through the palace?

Oth. Dar'st thou tell me

On what dark errand thou art here?

Selim.

dare.

Dost not perceive the savage lines of blood
Deform my visage? Read'st not in mine eye
Remorseless fury?—I am Selim's murderer.
Oth. Selim's murderer!

Selim. Start not from me.

My dagger thirsts not but for regal blood-
Why this amazement?

Oth. Amazement !-No-'Tis well-'Tis as it should be

He was, indeed, a foe to Barbarossa.

Selim. And therefore to Algiers :-Was it not so? Why dost thou pause? What passion shakes thy frame?

Oth. Fate, do thy worst! I can no more dissemble!

Can I, unmoved, behold the murdering ruffian, Smeared with my prince's blood!-Go, tell the tyrant,

Othman defies his power; that, tired with life,
He dares his bloody hand, and pleads to die.
Selim. What! didst thou love this Selim?
Oth. All men loved him.

He was of such unmixed and blameless quality,
That envy, at his praise, stood mute, nor dared
To sully his fair name! Remorseless tyrant!

Selim. I do commend thy faith. And since thou lov'st him,

I have deceived this tyrant Barbarossa:
Selim is yet alive.
Oth. Alive!

Selim. Nay more

Selim is in Algiers.

Oth. Impossible!

Selim. Nay, if thou doubt'st, I'll bring him hither straight.

Oth. Not for an empire!

Thou might'st as well bring the devoted lamb
Into the tiger's den.

Selim. But I'll bring him

Hid in such deep disguise as shall deride
Suspicion, though she wear the lynx's eyes.
Not even thyself could'st know him.

Oth. Yes, sure: too sure to hazard such an awful Trial!

Selim. Yet seven revolving years, worn out In tedious exile, may have wrought such change Of voice and feature in the state of youth,

As might elude thine eye.

Oth. No time can blot

The memory of his sweet majestic mien,
The lustre of his eye! besides, he wears
A mark indelible, a beauteous scar,
Made on his forehead by a furious pard,
Which, rushing on his mother, Selim slew.

Selim. A scar!

Oth. Ay, on his forehead.

Selim. What! like this?

[Lifting his turban. Oth. Whom do I see !-am I awake?-my prince!

[Kneels.

[Embraces him.

My honoured, honoured king!

Selim. Rise, faithful Othman.

Thus let me thank thy truth!

Oth. O happy hour!

Selim. Why dost thou tremble thus? Why grasp hand?

my

And why that ardent gaze? Thou can'st not doubt me!

Oth. Ah, no! I see thy sire in every line.How did my prince escape the murderer's hand? Selim. I wrenched the dagger from him, and gave back

That death he meant to bring. The ruffian wore
The tyrant's signet:- Take this ring,' he cried,
• The sole return my dying hand can make thee
For its accursed attempt: this pledge restored,
Will prove thee slain : Safe may'st thou see Algiers,
Unknown to all.' This said, the assassin died.

Oth. But how to gain admittance thus unknown? Selim. Disguised as Selim's murderer I come : The accomplice of the deed: the ring restored, Gained credence to my words.

Oth. Yet ere thou cam'st, thy death was rumoured here.

Selim. I spread the flattering tale, and sent it hither, That babbling rumour, like a lying dream, Might make belief more easy. Tell me, Othman, And yet I tremble to approach the theme

How fares my mother? does she still retain
Her native greatness?

Oth. Still in vain the tyrant

Tempts her to marriage, though with impious threats Of death or violation.

Selim. May kind heaven

Strengthen her virtue, and by me reward it!

When shall I see her, Othman ?

Oth. Yet, my prince,

I tremble for thy presence.
Selim. Let not fear

Sully thy virtue: 'tis the lot of guilt

To tremble. What hath innocence to do with fear?

Oth. Yet think-should Barbarossa

Selim. Dread him not

Thou know'st by his command I see Zaphira;
And wrapt in this disguise, I walk secure,
As if from heaven some guarding power attending,
Threw ten-fold night around me.

Oth. Still my heart

Forebodes some dire event!—O quit these walls! Selim. Not till a deed be done, which every tyrant Shall tremble when he hears.

FROM THE SAME.

Enter OTHMAN and SADI, friend to OTHMAN.

Selim. HONOURED friends!

How goes the night?

Sadi. 'Tis well-nigh midnight.

Oth. What-In tears, my prince?

Selim. But tears of joy: for I have seen Zaphira, And poured the balm of peace into her breast: Think not these tears unnerve me, valiant friends, They have but harmonized my soul; and waked