ith ills, and dead to ev'ry joy;
Envy me not this last request, to die
In my dear father's tents.

BAR. Thy suit is vain.

ZAP. Thus, kneeling at thy feet--(_kneels._)

BAR. Thou thankless fair! (_raises_ ZAPHIRA.)
Thus to repay the labours of my love!
Had I not seiz'd the throne when Selim died,
Ere this thy foes had laid Algiers in ruin.
I check'd the warring pow'rs, and gave you peace,
Make thee but mine,
I will descend the throne, and call thy son
From banishment to empire.

ZAP. O, my heart!
Can I bear this?
Inhuman tyrant!--curses on thy head!
May dire remorse and anguish haunt thy throne,
And gender in thy bosom fell despair,--
Despair as deep as mine! (_crosses to_ L.)

BAR. (R.C.). What means Zaphira?
What means this burst of grief?

ZAP. (L.). Thou fell destroyer!
Had not guilt steel'd thy heart, awak'ning conscience
Would flash conviction on thee, and each look,
Shot from these eyes, be arm'd with serpent horrors,
To turn thee into stone!--Relentless man!
Who did the bloody deeds--O, tremble, guilt,
Where'er thou art!--Look on me; tell me, tyrant,
Who slew my blameless son?

BAR. What envious tongue
Hath dar'd to taint my name with slander?
Thy Selim lives; nay, more, he soon shall reign,
If thou consent to bless me.

ZAP. Never, O, never!--Sooner would I 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
I am omnipotent. Yield thee, then;
Avert the gath'ring horrors that surround thee,
And dread my pow'r incens'd.

ZAP. Dares thy licentious tongue pollute mine ear
With that foul menace? Tyrant! dread'st thou not
Th' all-seeing eye of heav'n, its lifted thunder,
And all the red'ning vengeance which it stores
For crimes like thine?--Yet know, Zaphira scorns thee.
[_crosses to_ R.
Though robb'd by thee of ev'ry dear support,
No tyrant's threat can awe the free-born soul,
That greatly dares to die. [_Exit_ ZAPHIRA, R.

BAR. (C.). Where should she learn the tale of Selim's death?
Could Othman dare to tell it?--If he did,
My rage shall sweep him swifter than the whirlwind,
To instant death! [_Exit._

(R.) Right. (L.) Left. (C.) Centre. (R.C.) Right Centre. (L.C.) Left
Ce