Bend. First, since our holy man has made rape lawful,
357 Fright her with that; Proceed not yet to force:
Why should you pluck the green distasteful fruit
From the unwilling bough,
When it may ripen of itself, and fall?
Emp. Grant her a day; though that's too much to give
Out of a life which I devote to love.
Bend. Then, next, to bar
All future hopes of her desired Sebastian,
Let Dorax be enjoined to bring his head.
Emp. [To the Mufti.]
Go, Mufti, call him to receive his orders.—[Exit Mufti.
I taste thy counsel; her desires new roused,
And yet unslaked, will kindle in her fancy,
And make her eager to renew the feast.
Bend. [Aside.] Dorax, I know before, will disobey:
There's a foe's head well cropped.—
But this hot love precipitates my plot,
And brings it to projection ere its time.
Enter Sebastian and Almeyda, hand in hand; upon sight of the Emperor, they separate, and seem disturbed.
Alm. He breaks at unawares upon our walks,
And, like a midnight wolf, invades the fold.
Make speedy preparation of your soul,
And bid it arm apace: He comes for answer,
And brutal mischief sits upon his brow.
Seb. Not the last sounding could surprise me more,
That summons drowsy mortals to their doom,
When called in haste to fumble for their limbs,
And tremble, unprovided for their charge:
My sense has been so deeply plunged in joys,
The soul out-slept her hour; and, scarce awake,
Would think too late, but cannot: But brave minds,
At worst, can dare their fate.[Aside.
358 Emp. [Coming up to them.] Have you performed
Your embassy, and treated with success?
Seb. I had no time.