nd heir of Bosphorus.

_Gycia._ Not for thyself;
That could not be. Deceiver!

_Asan._ Nay, indeed!

_Gycia._ Oh, thou dear youth!

_Asan._ I weary for the day
When we our mutual love shall crown with marriage.

_Gycia._ Not yet, my love, we are so happy now.

_Asan._ But happier then, dear Gycia.

_Gycia._ Nay, I know not
If I could bear it and live. But hark, my love!
The music ceases, and the sated guests
Will soon be sped. Thou must resume thy place
Of honour for a little. I must go,
If my reluctant feet will bear me hence,
To dream of thee the livelong night. Farewell,
Farewell till morning. All the saints of heaven
Have thee in keeping!

_Asan._ Go not yet, my sweet;
And yet I bid thee go. Upon thy lips
I set love's seal, thus, thus.

[_Kisses her. They embrace._

Good night!

_Gycia._ Good night!

[_Exit_ GYCIA.

_Enter_ IRENE _unperceived._

_Asan._ Ah, sweetest, best of women! paragon
Of all thy sex, since first thy ancestress
Helen, the curse of cities and of men,
Marshalled the hosts of Greece! But she brought discord;
Thou, by thy all-compelling sweetness, peace
And harmony for strife. What have I done,
I a rough soldier, like a thousand others
Upon our widespread plains, to have won this flower
Of womanhood--this jewel for the front
Of knightly pride to wear, and, wearing it,
Let all things else go by? To think that I,
Fool that I was, only a few hours since,
Bemoaned the lot which brought me here and bade me
Leave my own land, which now sinks fathoms deep
Beyond my memory's depths, and scarce would deign
To obey thee, best of fathers, when thy wisdom
Designed to make me blest! Was ever woman
So gracious and so comely? And I scorned her
For her Greek blood and love of liberty!
Fool! purblind fool! there is no other like her;
I glory being her slave.

_Irene._ I pray you, pardon me, my Lord Asander.
I seek the Lady Gycia; is she here?

_Asan._ No, madam; she has gone, and with her taken
The glory of the night. But thou dost love her--
Is it not so, fair lady?

_Ire._ Ay, my lord,
For we have lived together all our lives;
I could not choose but love.

_Asan._ W