ZARA
Zara-My Father 1-Oh!-
Lusignan C.my tost Children

Graham del.

London Printed for J.Bell British Library Strand Jan 17.1791.

Which ere Cæsarea fell, from a fierce hand,
Surprizing us by night, my child receiv'd?

Ner. Bless'd hand!-I bear it,-Sir, the mark is

there!

Lus. Merciful heaven!

Ner. [Kneeling.] Oh, Sir!-Oh, Zara, kneel.

Zar. [Kneeling.] My father!-Oh!

Lus. Oh, my lost children!

Both. Oh!

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Lus. My son! my daughter! lost in embracing you, I would now die, lest this should prove a dream. Chat. How touch'd is my glad heart, to see their

joy!

Lus. They shall not tear you from my arms-)

children!

Again, I find you-dear in wretchedness:

-my

Oh, my brave son-and thou, my nameless daughter! Now dissipate all doubt, remove all dread,

Has Heaven, that gives me back my children-giv'n

'em,

Such as I lost 'em?-Come they Christians to me?
One weeps and one declines a conscious eye!
Your silence speaks-too well I understand it.
Zar. I cannot, Sir deceive you-Osman's laws
Were mine-and Osman is not Christian.-

Lus. Her words are thunder bursting on my head;
Wert not for thee, my son, I now should die ;
Full sixty years I fought the Christian's cause,
Saw their doom'd temple fall, their pow'r destroy'd:
Twenty, a captive, in a dungeon's depth,

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Yet never for myself my tears sought Heaven;
All for my children rose my fruitless
prayers:
Yet, what avails a father's wretched joy?
I have a daughter gain'd, and Heav'n an enemy.
Oh, my misguided daughter-lose not thy faith,
Reclaim thy birthright-think upon the blood
Of twenty Christian kings, that fills thy veins;
'Tis heroes' blood-the blood of saints and martyrs!
What would thy mother feel, to see thee thus!
She, and thy murder'd brothers !-think, they call
thee?

Think that thou seest 'em stretch their bloody arms,
And weep to win thee from their murd'rer's bosom.
Ev'n in the place where thou betray'st thy God,
He dy'd, my child, to save thee.-" Turn thy eyes,
"And see; for thou art near his sacred sepulchre;
"Thou canst not move a step, but where he trod !”
Thou tremblest-Oh! admit me to thy soul;
Kill not thy aged, thy afflicted father;

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"Take not thus soon, again, the life thou gav'st him:" Shame not thy mother-nor renounce thy God.'Tis past-Repentance dawns in thy sweet eyes; I see bright truth descending to thy heart, And now, my long-lost child is found for ever. "Ner. Oh, doubly blest! a sister, and a soul, "To be redeem'd together!"

Zar. Oh, my father!

Dear author of my life! inform me, teach me,
What should my duty do?

Lus. By one short word,

To dry up all my tears, and make life welcome,
Say thou art a Christian-

Zar. Sir-I am a Christian.

Lus. Receive her, gracious Heaven! and bless her for it.

Enter ORASMIN.

Oras. Madam, the Sultan order'd me to tell you, That he expects you instant quit this place, And bid your last farewell to these vile Christians. You, captive Frenchmen, follow me; for you, It is my task to answer.

Chat. Still new miseries!

How cautious man should be, to say, I'm happy!

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Lus. These are the times, my friends, to try our firmness,

Our Christian firmness.

Zar. Alas, sir! Oh!

Lus. Oh, you!-I dare not name you! Farewell-but, come what may, be sure remember

You keep the fatal secret! for the rest,

Leave all to Heaven-be faithful, and be blest.

[Exeunt.

ACT III. SCENE 1.

OSMAN and ORASMIN.

Osman.

ORASMIN, this alarm was false and groundless;

Lewis no longer turns his arms on me ;