Among good fellows every health will pass, Their cause went ne'er the worse for being fair. Be not too hard on him with statutes neither; ↑ Alluding to the act for disarming the Catholics, by which, inter alia, it is enacted, "that no Papist, or reputed Papist, so refusing, or making default, as aforesaid, at any time after the 15th of May, 1689, shall, or may have, and keep in his own possession, or in the possession of any other person for his use, or at his disposition, any horse or horses, which shall be above the value of L. 5."-1st William and Mary, ç. 15. DRAMATIS PERSONE. Don SEBASTIAN, King of Portugal. MULEY-MOLUCH, Emperor of Barbary. DORAX, a noble Portuguese, now a renegade; formerly Don ALONZO DE SYLVERA, Alcade, or Governor of Alcazar. BENDUCAR, chief Minister, and favourite to the Emperor. The Mufti ABDalla. MULEY-ZEYDAN, brother to the Emperor. Don ALVAREZ, an old counsellor to Don SEBAS- Two Merchants. Rabble. A Servant to BENDUCAR, ALMEYDA, a captive Queen of Barbary. JOHAYMA, chief wife to the Mufti. SCENE,-In the Castle of Alcazar. DON SEBASTIAN, KING OF PORTUGAL. ACT I. SCENE I. The scene at Alcazar, representing a market-place under the Castle. Enter MULEY-ZEYDAN and BENDUCAR. M. Zey. Now Africa's long wars are at an end, And our parched earth is drenched in Christian blood; My conquering brother will have slaves enow, To pay his cruel vows for victory. What hear you of Sebastian, king of Portugal? Bend. He fell among a heap of slaughtered Moors, Though yet his mangled carcase is not found. The rival of our threatened empire, Mahomet, Was hot pursued; and, in the general rout, Mistook a swelling current for a ford, And in Mucazar's flood was seen to rise: Thrice was he seen: At length his courser plunged, And threw him off; the waves whelmed over him, And, helpless, in his heavy arms he drowned. M. Zey. Thus, then, a doubtful title is extin guished; Thus Moluch, still the favourite of fate, The heavens, and all the stars, are his hired servants; Bend. Be still, and learn the soothing arts of court: Adore his fortune, mix with flattering crowds; you. Bend. So often tried, and ever found so true, Has given me trust; and trust has given me means Once to be false for all. I trust not him; For, now his ends are served, and he grown absolute, How am I sure to stand, who served those ends? I know your nature open, mild, and grateful: In such a prince the people may be blest, And I be safe. M. Zey. My father! [Embracing him. Bend. My future king, auspicious Muley-Zeydan! Shall I adore you?-No, the place is public: I worship you within; the outward act Shall be reserved till nations follow me, And heaven shall envy you the kneeling world.- M. Zey. The gallant renegade you mean? That gloomy outside, like a rusty chest, Contains the shining treasure, of a soul Resolved and brave: He has the soldiers' hearts, M. Zey. He's just upon us. Bend. I know him from afar, By the long stride, and by the sullen port.- Wait on your brother's triumph; yours is next: And graft you on to bear. M. Zey. My oracle! Exit M. ZEY. Bend. Yes, to delude your hopes.-Poor credulous fool! To think that I would give away the fruit This easy fool must be my stale, set up To catch the people's eyes: He's tame and merciful; Him I can manage, till I make him odious By some unpopular act; and then dethrone him. Now, Dorax. Enter DORAX. Dor. Well, Benducar. Bend. Bare Benducar! Dor. Thou would'st have titles; take them then,chief minister, First hangman of the state. Bend. Some call me, favourite. Dor. What's that?-his minion? Thou art too old to be a catamite! Now pr'ythee tell me, and abate thy pride, In a friend's mouth, than all those gaudy titles, Bend. But always out of humour, |