Amurath.
Why, Haleb, didst thou not hear our brother swear
Upon the Alcoran religiously,
That he would make an universal camp
Of all his scatter'd legions? and dar'st thou
Infer a reason why it is not meet,
After his highness swears it shall be so?
Were it not thou art my father's son,
And striving kindness wrestled not with ire,
I would not hence till I had let thee know,
What 'twere to thwart a monarch's holy oath.
Haleb.
Why, his highness gave me leave to speak my will:
And, far from flattery, I spoke my mind,
And did discharge a faithful subject's love:
Thou, Aristippus[398]-like, didst flatter him,
Not like my brother or a man of worth.
And for his highness' vow I cross'd it not;
But gave my censure, as his highness bad.
Now for thy chastisement know, Amurath,
I scorn them, as a reckless lion scorns
The humming of a gnat in summer's night.
Amurath.
I take it, Haleb, thou art friend to Rhodes.
Haleb.
Not half so much am I a friend to Rhodes,
As thou art enemy to thy sovereign.
Amurath.
I charge thee, say wherein; or else, by Mahomet,
I'll hazard duty in my sovereign's presence.