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Bajazet-Jean Racine · Tristan and Isolde

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  Speaker 1: Act one of Bajesee by Jean Racine, translated by Robert
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  Speaker 1: Bruce Boswell. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings
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  Speaker 1: are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer,
• 0:16
  Speaker 1: please visit LibriVox dot org. Introduction. The time to which
• 0:24
  Speaker 1: this tragedy relates is much later than that of any
• 0:27
  Speaker 1: other of Racine's historical plays. The capture Babylon, or rather
• 0:32
  Speaker 1: Bagdad from the Persians by Sultan Amaruth, on which the
• 0:36
  Speaker 1: catastrophe of the plot depends, occurred only a year before
• 0:40
  Speaker 1: the poet's birth viz. Sixteen thirty eight. And our author
• 0:45
  Speaker 1: thought it desirable to justify himself for choosing a subject
• 0:50
  Speaker 1: so recent by the president of Eschylus, whose persak commemorated
• 0:54
  Speaker 1: the abortive expedition of Xerxes against Greece, in which struggle
• 0:59
  Speaker 1: he himself had taken an active part. The unfamiliar manners
• 1:03
  Speaker 1: and customs of the distant East may compensate in some
• 1:06
  Speaker 1: measure he maintains for proximity in point of time. Racine
• 1:11
  Speaker 1: derived his information about the circumstances of Bajez's death from
• 1:16
  Speaker 1: the narrative of the Comte de Seja, who was French
• 1:19
  Speaker 1: ambassador at Constantinople at the time and had some personal
• 1:23
  Speaker 1: knowledge of the unfortunate prince.
• 1:27
  Speaker 2: Characters Bajas, brother of Sultan Amreth read by Vocal Penguin.
• 1:35
  Speaker 3: Rock, Sana Sultana, the favorite of Sultan Amarath read by
• 1:40
  Speaker 3: matter Brachich.
• 1:42
  Speaker 4: Atalid a Turkish damsel of royal blood read by.
• 1:47
  Speaker 5: Avai Akhmet La Grande Vizier read by.
• 1:54
  Speaker 6: Todd Osman, friend of the Grand Visas read by our.
• 2:02
  Speaker 7: Mapstone, Fatima a slave of the Sultana read by Jan Broda.
• 2:10
  Speaker 8: Sarah a slave of Atalide read by Sonya.
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  Speaker 1: Stage directions read by Larry Wilson. The scene is laid
• 2:20
  Speaker 1: at Canstantinople formerly called Byzantium, in the Seraglio of the Sultan.
• 2:28
  Speaker 1: Act one Seene one Archimet Osmann.
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  Speaker 5: Come follow me here, the Sultana comes Anon. Meanwhile we
• 2:38
  Speaker 5: may converse together.
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  Speaker 6: How long my Lord has entrance been allowed to these
• 2:44
  Speaker 6: forbidden precincts, where so lately the eyes that dared to
• 2:49
  Speaker 6: pry would soon have closed in death.
• 2:53
  Speaker 5: When you have heard all that has passed, you will
• 2:56
  Speaker 5: not be surprised that I am free to enter. But
• 3:00
  Speaker 5: enough of that, dear Osmond, How long to my impatience
• 3:04
  Speaker 5: seemed the time of your return? How glad am I
• 3:08
  Speaker 5: to see you here in Stamboul? What secrets have you
• 3:12
  Speaker 5: learned by traveling so far? On my behalf? Tell me
• 3:16
  Speaker 5: sincerely what your eyes have seen? Consider Osmond, that on
• 3:21
  Speaker 5: your report the future fortune of a crescent hangs? How
• 3:26
  Speaker 5: fares it with the army and the sultan true to
• 3:30
  Speaker 5: her prince?
• 3:31
  Speaker 6: Did babydon unmove by terror? See on our host, Sir
• 3:35
  Speaker 6: Woll's in compass, the mustered Persians, to her aid, were marching,
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  Speaker 6: and daily nearer drew to Amareth's camp. He, weary with
• 3:46
  Speaker 6: the tedious, fruitless siege, seemed willing to leave Babydon at rest,
• 3:51
  Speaker 6: and without making fresh assaults in vain, was waiting for
• 3:56
  Speaker 6: the Persians to give battle. But as you know, Sir,
• 4:01
  Speaker 6: make what haste I might? Long is the journey hither
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  Speaker 6: from those parts a thousand obstacles might course impeded? Nor
• 4:10
  Speaker 6: can I tell all that has happened since.
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  Speaker 5: Our valiant janisaries? How did they comport themselves? Do they
• 4:20
  Speaker 5: to arimouth, yield faithful allegiance? Can you read men's heart?
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  Speaker 5: Enjoys assaultant undisputed power?
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  Speaker 6: If one may take his word. He is content and
• 4:34
  Speaker 6: seem full, confident of victory. But his apparent calmness cannot
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  Speaker 6: cheat us. He knows not the repose that he assumes.
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  Speaker 6: In vain, he masks habitual distrust and grants his janisaries
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  Speaker 6: easy access. He cannot but remember how he wished to
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  Speaker 6: pair that gallant force of half its strength, and as
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  Speaker 6: he said, to scape their tutelage oft. Have I heard
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  Speaker 6: them talk among themselves, how Amarath fears them, and how
• 5:10
  Speaker 6: they fear him. That sore still galls them flatter as
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  Speaker 6: he may. They murmur at your absence, and regret the
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  Speaker 6: time so dear to their courageous hearts, when under you
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  Speaker 6: sure of success, they fought what thank.
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  Speaker 5: You, Osmond, that my glory still in their remembrance, lives
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  Speaker 5: and stirs their valor, that they would gladly follow me again,
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  Speaker 5: and held the voice of their vizier with welcome.
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  Speaker 6: The fortune of the fight will rule their conduct. They
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  Speaker 6: must see Amarath's victory or defeat. Though loathe my lord
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  Speaker 6: to march with him to lead them, they have to
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  Speaker 6: keep unstaying their martial glory. They'll not be tray honor
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  Speaker 6: so hardly won. But failure or success depends on fate.
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  Speaker 6: If seconding their valor, Amarath's star awards him victory on
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  Speaker 6: Babylon's planes, then will you see them to Byzantium, bring
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  Speaker 6: submissive homage and a blind obedience. But if the heavy
• 6:24
  Speaker 6: hand of destiny crush in the conflict his aspiring schemes
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  Speaker 6: of empire, doubt not, his disgraceful flight would spur their
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  Speaker 6: hatred on to bold contempt, and his disasters would to
• 6:39
  Speaker 6: them appear high Heaven's decree of wrath and reprobation. Meanwhile,
• 6:46
  Speaker 6: if Rumor's voice has spoken truly, three months ago, he
• 6:51
  Speaker 6: from the army sent hither a slave charged with some
• 6:55
  Speaker 6: secret message, or in the camp trembled for Badjizman, fearing
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  Speaker 6: the Sultan had with cruel order despatched him to demand
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  Speaker 6: his brother's head.
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  Speaker 5: Such was his purpose. Ay, that slave has come and
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  Speaker 5: shown his mandate, which was disregarded.
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  Speaker 6: What shall the Sultan see that slave again without this
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  Speaker 6: pledge of your allegiance rendered.
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  Speaker 5: The slave is dead. Our secret order cast him for
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  Speaker 5: many a fathom deep beneath the exign.
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  Speaker 6: His lengthened absence will surprise the Sultan. Soon he will
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  Speaker 6: seek the cause and take revenge? What will you answer him?
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  Speaker 5: Perchance? Then he'll have more pressing matters to engage him.
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  Speaker 5: I know that Amarath has worn my ruin. I know
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  Speaker 5: what welcome his return will bring me to tear me
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  Speaker 5: from his soldier's heart. Behold how he excludes me from
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  Speaker 5: his fights and sieges himself, commands the army, and leaves
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  Speaker 5: me here in Stamboul to exert a power that's useless?
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  Speaker 5: What base employment, Osmond or a vizier? But I have
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  Speaker 5: used my time to worth your purpose, and terrible surprises
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  Speaker 5: have prepared him. Soon will the news thereof make his
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  Speaker 5: ears tingle?
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  Speaker 6: What have you done?
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  Speaker 5: I hope that Bajazette to day will mount the throne
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  Speaker 5: with him.
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  Speaker 6: Roxanna roc Sanna, my good lord, whom Amarath chose as
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  Speaker 6: fairest of that fair array which filled his court from
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  Speaker 6: Europe and from Asia, gathered in countless numbers, who alone
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  Speaker 6: has fixed the Sultan's heart, they say, whom he has
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  Speaker 6: named Sultana, though no son she yet has borne him.
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  Speaker 5: Ah More, dear Osmond, he has willed that she should
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  Speaker 5: in his absence will supreme command. You know the rigular
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  Speaker 5: al Sultan's practice brothers are seldom suffered to enjoy the
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  Speaker 5: dangerous honor of their royal rank related to their own
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  Speaker 5: by ties too near. The brainless Ibrahim, from peril free,
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  Speaker 5: needs not to curse his birth. Perpetual childhood secures his safety.
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  Speaker 5: He in life or death alike. Contempt is left to
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  Speaker 5: those who deign to feed him with the other tis
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  Speaker 5: not so of Amara's jealous fear, a worthier object, which
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  Speaker 5: every moment threatens his destruction. For Bajazette has ever scorned
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  Speaker 5: to live in slothful ease like other sultan's sons. War
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  Speaker 5: was his favorite pastime from his boyhood, and practice under
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  Speaker 5: me has made him perfect. Have you not seen him
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  Speaker 5: charge where foes were thickest with courage that bewitch each
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  Speaker 5: soldier's heart and stain with carnage, reaped the rare delight
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  Speaker 5: which Valor's earliest triumph brings to youth. But cruel Amarath,
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  Speaker 5: spite of jealous fears, dared not before he had a
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  Speaker 5: son to make succession sure rig upon Bajazette, his vengeance,
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  Speaker 5: cutting short the royal stock. So for a time was
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  Speaker 5: Amara's rage disarmed, and Bajazette left prisoner in the palace,
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  Speaker 5: He went and willed that, faithful to his hatred, holding
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  Speaker 5: his brother's life at her disposal, Roxana, at the slightest
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  Speaker 5: breath of rumor, the least suspicion, given no reason else,
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  Speaker 5: should slay him. I left here, justly incensed, soon turned
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  Speaker 5: my wishes to the brother's side, hiding my purpose to
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  Speaker 5: the young Sultana. I showed how Amara's return was doubtful.
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  Speaker 5: The murmurs of the camp wore's fickle fortunes, praised Bajazette
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  Speaker 5: and made her pity him on his charms so jealously
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  Speaker 5: concealed so near her eyes, yet never seen by her.
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  Speaker 5: In short, so well I worked upon Roxanna that she
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  Speaker 5: was all impatient to behold him.
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  Speaker 6: But could they frustrate keen eyed visilance has overstep the
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  Speaker 6: barriers placed between them.
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  Speaker 5: You may perhaps remember how the tidings, false as they proved,
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  Speaker 5: of Amarath's death, were spread in feint alarm. Roxanna heard
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  Speaker 5: the rumor, and with loud cries of grief, strove to
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  Speaker 5: confirm it. Trusting the witness of those tears, her slaves trembled,
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  Speaker 5: and those who guarded ba Jasette and their perplexity by
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  Speaker 5: bribes corrupted relaxed their watchful care. When the Sultana found
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  Speaker 5: means to see the prince, and in his ear whispered
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  Speaker 5: the secret order she was charged with no churl is bartage.
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  Speaker 5: And when he saw that safety lay in pleasing her
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  Speaker 5: full soon he pleased her well to aid him, all
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  Speaker 5: conspired her kindly care. Their mutual understanding based up the
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  Speaker 5: secret shared sighs, all the sweeter for being stolen, silence
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  Speaker 5: that provoked wishes they dared not utter. Fears and danger
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  Speaker 5: common to both united them together, whilst those whose eyes
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  Speaker 5: should have observed them closely failed to resume the duty
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  Speaker 5: once neglected.
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  Speaker 6: What did roc Senna from the first make known her
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  Speaker 6: heart to them, and to their eyes reveal her flame?
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  Speaker 5: They know it not until to day, on their intrigue,
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  Speaker 5: as Adelaide bestowed the shelter of her name, the niece
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  Speaker 5: you know of Amarath's sire, who with his children shared
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  Speaker 5: his fondness, and with them her childhood passed. She, as
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  Speaker 5: it seemed, his tender vows, received, but only to convey
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  Speaker 5: them to roc Senna, the wilding instrument to aid their
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  Speaker 5: passion and to secure my countenance, Dear Osmond, both have
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  Speaker 5: agreed that at Alide shall be my bride.
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  Speaker 6: You love her?
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  Speaker 5: Then, wouldst have me learn now, at my age the
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  Speaker 5: worthless lore of love? And shall a heart that years
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  Speaker 5: of toil have hardened, blindly submit to follow vain delights. Nay,
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  Speaker 5: she attracts my gaze with other charms. I lovin her
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  Speaker 5: the blood of royal sires. Through this alliance to the
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  Speaker 5: throne brought near by Bajose, I thus secure a shield
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  Speaker 5: to guard myself against him. Some offenses short to rise
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  Speaker 5: or scarcely has theziar been chosen ere the sultan fears
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  Speaker 5: his creature, and greed or envy soon affects his ruin.
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  Speaker 5: To day he honors me and courts my favor. The
• 13:52
  Speaker 5: risks he runs incline his heart toward me. But established
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  Speaker 5: on the throne, this ba Josee, perchance will throw a
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  Speaker 5: sigh useless friend. And if my faithful service be forgotten,
• 14:04
  Speaker 5: the day may come when he will dare to doom
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  Speaker 5: me to death. I say no more, but tis my
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  Speaker 5: purpose to keep him waiting for my head full long.
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  Speaker 5: I know the duty that I owe my masters, But
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  Speaker 5: tis for slaves to humor their caprices. Nor am I
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  Speaker 5: so besotted as to look the hand that strikes me.
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  Speaker 5: Thus it comes to pass that I, within these walls
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  Speaker 5: have free admittance, and with mine eyes may look upon Roxanna.
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  Speaker 5: At first she listened to my voice, herself unseen, and
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  Speaker 5: feared to break the rigid laws that guard the Harem.
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  Speaker 5: But those irksome scruples are converse hampering ere long were banished.
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  Speaker 5: She has herself chosen this nook remote, where eyes may
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  Speaker 5: hearts discover unrestrained. A slave conducts me by a secret passage.
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  Speaker 5: But here she comes with her beloved utterlied. Stay and
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  Speaker 5: be ready, should there to rise, to ratify the statement,
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  Speaker 5: I shall make.
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  Speaker 1: Her scene two. Roxanna atilde akhmet Usman Fatima Sarah.
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  Speaker 5: Truth lady has confirmed the voice of rumor. Osmond has
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  Speaker 5: seen the Sultan in the army. Roud Amarath is ever
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  Speaker 5: ill at ease, and all hearts ever turn to ba
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  Speaker 5: Josee with one consent they call him to the throne
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  Speaker 5: the Persian hosts. Meanwhile, the babylon were marching, and the
• 15:33
  Speaker 5: rival camp will soon meet neath their walls to try
• 15:36
  Speaker 5: their chance at battle. Which must decide, they say our destinies,
• 15:42
  Speaker 5: and counting up the days of Osmond's journey, Heaven has
• 15:45
  Speaker 5: already settled the event and Amorath's triumphs now or flies defeated.
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  Speaker 5: Let us break silence and declare ourselves from this day
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  Speaker 5: forth shutting our gates against him. Nor wait to learn
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  Speaker 5: the issue of the conflict, but hasten to anticipate the tidings.
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  Speaker 5: If he has lost, what fear you? If he has one,
• 16:08
  Speaker 5: then are the promptest measures the most safe. Delay too
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  Speaker 5: long and failure must attend our efforts to seduce the
• 16:14
  Speaker 5: people ready to welcome home their sovereign. I have gained
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  Speaker 5: the expounders of our sacred law. Intriguing in secret, well,
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  Speaker 5: I know religion's power to turn the multitude this way
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  Speaker 5: or that. Let Ba Joesy go forth beyond the walls
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  Speaker 5: and cease to be a prisoner in this palace. This
• 16:32
  Speaker 5: fateful standard in his name display are wanted signal when
• 16:36
  Speaker 5: the states in danger, the people in his favor prepossessed,
• 16:40
  Speaker 5: know that his virtue is his only crime. Besides, a
• 16:44
  Speaker 5: vague report that I have fostered has spread alarm and
• 16:47
  Speaker 5: made them think the Sultan disdains them and is minded
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  Speaker 5: to remove his presence and his throne far from his zantium.
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  Speaker 5: Let us declare what danger overhangs his brother's head and
• 16:59
  Speaker 5: show the cruel order addressed to you. Let ba Jose
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  Speaker 5: assert his claim and mount throne with courage worthy of royalty.
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  Speaker 3: Enough, I will maintain all I have promised. Go, brave, Ahmed,
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  Speaker 3: gather our friends their feelings sound, then bring report of all,
• 17:17
  Speaker 3: and you shall find my answer. Ready, I will see Badgazette.
• 17:21
  Speaker 3: Nor can I say till of his heart assured as
• 17:24
  Speaker 3: one with mine, Go and return.
• 17:29
  Speaker 1: Scene three Ratzanna Adelide, Fatima Sarah.
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  Speaker 3: At length, Fair Adelaide, must Badgazette decide my destiny. Now
• 17:39
  Speaker 3: for the last time, I will question him and learn
• 17:43
  Speaker 3: if I am loved?
• 17:45
  Speaker 4: Can you yet doubt it? Hasten, dear lady, to complete
• 17:49
  Speaker 4: your work? Did you not hear what Ahmed said to
• 17:52
  Speaker 4: urge you? Is Bajasette beloved? Think that to morrow his
• 17:57
  Speaker 4: liberty and life may be no longer in your control? Perchance,
• 18:01
  Speaker 4: this very moment the Sultan comes in fury to destroy him.
• 18:06
  Speaker 4: Why is it that you doubt his heart?
• 18:08
  Speaker 3: To day? Will you be surety ian as you have
• 18:12
  Speaker 3: been his advocate, the care.
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  Speaker 4: He takes to please you. All you have done all
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  Speaker 4: you can do for him. His danger and his homage
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  Speaker 4: to your charms. Do not all these assure you of
• 18:25
  Speaker 4: his love? Doubt not your kindness lives in his remembrance.
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  Speaker 3: Ah, it would give me peace, could I believe it?
• 18:35
  Speaker 3: But why then, speaks he not my fears to banish?
• 18:38
  Speaker 3: As I am told by others that he feels relying
• 18:42
  Speaker 3: on your words full Twenty times have I enjoyed a
• 18:45
  Speaker 3: foretaste of his heart's emotion, and, in my desire to
• 18:49
  Speaker 3: prove his passion true, conferred with him in secret. My
• 18:52
  Speaker 3: eagerness may make me hard to please, But to cut
• 18:55
  Speaker 3: short a long and tedious story, I found but little
• 18:59
  Speaker 3: of that amorous arjor which flattering lips had led me
• 19:02
  Speaker 3: to expect. In short, if I to him give life
• 19:05
  Speaker 3: and empire, I must have pledges that I cannot doubt.
• 19:10
  Speaker 4: How do you then propose to tist his passion.
• 19:13
  Speaker 3: That if he loves he should earn nightfall wed me?
• 19:18
  Speaker 3: Would you?
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  Speaker 4: Good Heavens, you surely cannot mean it.
• 19:23
  Speaker 3: I know tis not the custom of our sultans, who
• 19:26
  Speaker 3: in their pride stoop not to such constraints, nor hold
• 19:30
  Speaker 3: the laws of marriage made for them. Mid All the
• 19:33
  Speaker 3: fair who vie for their caresses, they sometimes deign to
• 19:36
  Speaker 3: choose a favored mistress, but still a slave, with no
• 19:41
  Speaker 3: security but beauty's charms. She shares her master's couch, and
• 19:46
  Speaker 3: without shaking off the servile yoke, must bear a son.
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  Speaker 3: Ere she be named Sultana. Like none before him. Amarath
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  Speaker 3: has willed this honor to bestow for love alone. Mine
• 19:58
  Speaker 3: is the title, mine the power as well, And in
• 20:01
  Speaker 3: my hands his brother's life he left. But in his
• 20:05
  Speaker 3: ardor Amarath ne'er promised prospect of marriage, other gifts to crown,
• 20:10
  Speaker 3: And I, whose sole ambition was for this, have all
• 20:14
  Speaker 3: his other benefits forgotten. Yet what avails it to excuse
• 20:18
  Speaker 3: my conduct? Tis badges it that from my memory wipes
• 20:22
  Speaker 3: the past. More happy spite of his misfortunes than Amarath,
• 20:27
  Speaker 3: for he has learned to please me, perhaps without the
• 20:30
  Speaker 3: wish gods, women viziir all have been bribed for him,
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  Speaker 3: And in my heart he reigns supreme thanks to my love.
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  Speaker 3: Right well, I use the power his brother gave me
• 20:43
  Speaker 3: o'er him. His feet have all but reached the Sultan's throne.
• 20:47
  Speaker 3: There needs but one step more. For that I wait,
• 20:51
  Speaker 3: in spite of all my love, if he to day
• 20:54
  Speaker 3: refuses to be bound to me by marriage, and dares
• 20:57
  Speaker 3: to plead an odious privilege if he for me, who
• 21:01
  Speaker 3: have done all for him, will not do all I
• 21:04
  Speaker 3: ask that very moment, regardless of my love and of
• 21:08
  Speaker 3: my ruin, I give him up and let the wretch
• 21:11
  Speaker 3: return to that unhappy plight in which I found him.
• 21:15
  Speaker 3: This is the issue, Badges. It must settle. His weal
• 21:19
  Speaker 3: or woe depends upon his answer. I do not wish
• 21:22
  Speaker 3: that you to day should lend your voice to serve
• 21:25
  Speaker 3: as my interpreter. Nay, his own mouth and countenance before me,
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  Speaker 3: shall all his heart reveal and leave no shade of
• 21:33
  Speaker 3: doubt brought hither Secretly? Must he all unprepared before mine
• 21:38
  Speaker 3: eyes appear? Farewell this meeting o'er you shall know all.
• 21:44
  Speaker 1: Scene four Utter lad.
• 21:47
  Speaker 4: Sarah Sarah tis done, and utter lead is lost. You
• 21:54
  Speaker 4: I foresee already what must come. The only hope I
• 21:58
  Speaker 4: have lies in dispair. But why so, Madam, have you
• 22:04
  Speaker 4: not just heard the fatal purpose in the Rosanna's mind?
• 22:08
  Speaker 4: To what conditions she will bind him down? The prince,
• 22:11
  Speaker 4: she says, shall marry her or die if he submit?
• 22:16
  Speaker 4: What will become of me? What will become of him?
• 22:19
  Speaker 4: If he refuse.
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  Speaker 8: I understand your grief, but to be frank, your love
• 22:25
  Speaker 8: should long ago have all got.
• 22:27
  Speaker 4: This ah Zarah, His love, ever dowered with prudence, all
• 22:33
  Speaker 4: seemed to fit so well with my desires. Rosanna, blindly
• 22:38
  Speaker 4: on my word, relying, believed the heart of bajaz Ete
• 22:41
  Speaker 4: her own all that concerned him to my care, confided,
• 22:45
  Speaker 4: spoke by my mouth, and saw him with mine eyes
• 22:50
  Speaker 4: and close at hand, I deemed the happy moment, which,
• 22:53
  Speaker 4: thanks to her, should crown my lover's triumph. Heaven has
• 22:57
  Speaker 4: pronounced against my cherished skin. What more, Mazarah, should I
• 23:03
  Speaker 4: then have done? Ought I to have opposed Rosana's error
• 23:07
  Speaker 4: and lost my lover to enlighten her ere in her
• 23:11
  Speaker 4: heart that passion had been planted. I loved him well
• 23:15
  Speaker 4: as shurled of being beloved, even from our earliest years.
• 23:19
  Speaker 4: You will remember how ties more tender reinforced the bond
• 23:23
  Speaker 4: of kindred blood reared at his mother's lap. With him,
• 23:27
  Speaker 4: I learned to favor Bajazette above his brother. She with
• 23:31
  Speaker 4: joy approved our fondness, and though parted when she died
• 23:36
  Speaker 4: in absence, still we held each other dear and nursed
• 23:40
  Speaker 4: in silence. A perennial passion. Since then, Rosanna's eyes have
• 23:45
  Speaker 4: seen the prince, and, unsuspicious of my feelings, told to
• 23:49
  Speaker 4: me what love The sight of him inspired with eager joy,
• 23:53
  Speaker 4: she stretched her hand to help him. As grateful as
• 23:57
  Speaker 4: surprised did Bajazette return her kindness. How could he do
• 24:02
  Speaker 4: less but love to readily believes its wishes. Roxana, with
• 24:08
  Speaker 4: his courtesy contented, led us both on to feed ill
• 24:12
  Speaker 4: founded hopes and leave her to enjoy her sweet delusion.
• 24:17
  Speaker 4: I must, however, own my weakness, Sarah, a jealous feeling
• 24:21
  Speaker 4: would not be suppressed. Rosanna, loading him with benefits, supposed
• 24:26
  Speaker 4: an empire to my feeble charms. Her constant care forbade
• 24:30
  Speaker 4: him to forget her. She held before his eyes a
• 24:33
  Speaker 4: dazzling prospect. While I what can I do for him?
• 24:38
  Speaker 4: My heart uttered itself in sighs and sighs repeated. Heaven
• 24:43
  Speaker 4: only knows how many tears I shed. But ba Jasette
• 24:48
  Speaker 4: at last dispelled my fears. I wept no more, and
• 24:52
  Speaker 4: till to day have urged him to act apart, and
• 24:55
  Speaker 4: made myself his mouthpiece. Alas tis over now. Rosanna, scorned,
• 25:02
  Speaker 4: will soon be disabused of her mistake, For Bajazete can
• 25:06
  Speaker 4: hide the truth no longer. I know his virtue quick
• 25:09
  Speaker 4: to take alarm at falsehood, and I ever gave his
• 25:13
  Speaker 4: words a sense too tender trembling. Thus to use deceit,
• 25:17
  Speaker 4: and now exposure means destruction. Would that my rival's voice
• 25:23
  Speaker 4: through mine might speak as erst, or that at least
• 25:26
  Speaker 4: I might have warned him what to expect. But Sarah,
• 25:31
  Speaker 4: I can wait his coming, and by word or look,
• 25:33
  Speaker 4: prepare him rather than perish. Let him marry her, for
• 25:38
  Speaker 4: die he must. If so, Rosanna wills ay, he will
• 25:42
  Speaker 4: rush on ruin. Stay, poor fool, your lover may be trusted.
• 25:48
  Speaker 4: Never fear that he will court destruction for your sake.
• 25:52
  Speaker 4: It well may be that Majaztte's desire to save his
• 25:55
  Speaker 4: life may e'en outrun your wishes.
• 25:58
  Speaker 8: Why let imagine Mary ills overwhelm you, and ever meet
• 26:02
  Speaker 8: affliction ere it comes, you cannot doubt it. By chaise
• 26:06
  Speaker 8: adores you, calm your emotion, or at least conceal it.
• 26:11
  Speaker 8: Let not your tears betray the love between you. The
• 26:14
  Speaker 8: hand that saved him will preserve him still. If but
• 26:19
  Speaker 8: encouraged in her self delusion, Roxanna never knows she has
• 26:23
  Speaker 8: a rival come and elsewhere, recover self possession, then learn
• 26:28
  Speaker 8: the prosperous issue of their meeting.
• 26:31
  Speaker 4: Well, Zarah, let us go and now just heaven. If
• 26:36
  Speaker 4: punishment await misguided lovers and this deception merit condemnation on
• 26:41
  Speaker 4: me than he more guilty bent thy wrangth.
• 26:48
  Speaker 1: End of Act one, acted too Aba Jose by Jean Racine,
• 26:59
  Speaker 1: translated Bybert Bruce Boswell. This is a LibriVox recording. All
• 27:04
  Speaker 1: LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information
• 27:08
  Speaker 1: or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Act two,
• 27:15
  Speaker 1: Scene one by Jose Raxenna.
• 27:18
  Speaker 3: At length, Dear Prince, the fateful hour is come that
• 27:22
  Speaker 3: Heaven has kept in store to grant you freedom. No
• 27:26
  Speaker 3: longer am I bound this very day can I accomplish
• 27:30
  Speaker 3: what my love has planned. It is not mine to
• 27:33
  Speaker 3: shure an easy triumph, nor place a tranquil scepter in
• 27:37
  Speaker 3: your hands. But all I can do as I have promised.
• 27:41
  Speaker 3: I arm your valor, gainst your enemies, and from your
• 27:44
  Speaker 3: head remove a threatening danger. Your own firm courage will
• 27:49
  Speaker 3: achieve the rest Osmond has seen the army and their
• 27:52
  Speaker 3: hearts are yours and those who represent our law conspire
• 27:57
  Speaker 3: with us, Ahmed will answer for and, as you know,
• 28:01
  Speaker 3: I hold submissive the officers, the eunuchs, and the crowd
• 28:05
  Speaker 3: of slaves who guard the precincts of the palace. Long
• 28:09
  Speaker 3: have they bought my favor by their silence. Their very
• 28:12
  Speaker 3: lives are placed at my disposal. Start now upon that
• 28:17
  Speaker 3: grand career of glory which I have opened to your
• 28:20
  Speaker 3: high ambition. The course that you will run involves no crime.
• 28:25
  Speaker 3: Thus only may you escape the assassin's hand. You will
• 28:29
  Speaker 3: but follow an example set by other sultans who have
• 28:33
  Speaker 3: reigned before you. But for a fair beginning, let us
• 28:36
  Speaker 3: hasten to seal at once your happiness and mine. Show
• 28:40
  Speaker 3: to the world that, in assisting you to wield the scepter,
• 28:44
  Speaker 3: I have served my husband le marriage with a sacred bond.
• 28:49
  Speaker 3: Unite us and justify the faith so freely given.
• 28:55
  Speaker 2: Madam, What is this that you propose?
• 28:58
  Speaker 3: What secret hindrance?
• 29:00
  Speaker 2: Ahs Our happiness you needs must know the pride of
• 29:03
  Speaker 2: royal state. Spare me the pain of being more explicit.
• 29:08
  Speaker 3: I know that ever since one of your sultans, proving
• 29:11
  Speaker 3: the fury of a barbarous foe, beheld his wife bound
• 29:15
  Speaker 3: to the victor's car, and by all Asia dragged along
• 29:19
  Speaker 3: in try on. Few who succeeded him have deigned to
• 29:22
  Speaker 3: take the name of husband, jealous for their honor. But
• 29:26
  Speaker 3: love to such vain laws disowns obedience. And not to
• 29:32
  Speaker 3: quote more humble instances, Great Solomon, than whom none of
• 29:37
  Speaker 3: your sires, whose conquering arms struck all the earth with
• 29:40
  Speaker 3: dread raised to so high a pitch, the Turkish power
• 29:45
  Speaker 3: casting on Rosalana eyes of love, forgot the pride that
• 29:49
  Speaker 3: was his ruling passion, and made her share alike his
• 29:53
  Speaker 3: couch and throne, though to that rank she had no
• 29:57
  Speaker 3: other cling than much a droitness.
• 29:59
  Speaker 6: And so some little beauty tis true.
• 30:02
  Speaker 2: But then compare his matchless might with weakness like my own.
• 30:06
  Speaker 2: Great Solomon held undisputed sway, or land and sea, Egypt
• 30:10
  Speaker 2: reduced to yield complete submission, rogues, that strong rock of
• 30:15
  Speaker 2: Ottoman Dominion, where all her brave defenders found their grave,
• 30:19
  Speaker 2: the Danube's savage banks forced to obey him, the bounds
• 30:22
  Speaker 2: of Persian Empire far withdrawn, the burning sands of Africa subdued,
• 30:27
  Speaker 2: these hushed all opposition to his will. But what am
• 30:30
  Speaker 2: I dependent on? The people and on the troops, indebted
• 30:34
  Speaker 2: to misfortune for all my fame, while doubtful yet of
• 30:37
  Speaker 2: empire prescribed and threatened? Shall I those offends to whom
• 30:40
  Speaker 2: I sue? Will they believe our dangers and troubles true?
• 30:44
  Speaker 2: Seeing us steeped in pleasures, Speak not to me of Solomon,
• 30:48
  Speaker 2: but think rather of hapless Othman's recent murder. The Janizary chiefs,
• 30:53
  Speaker 2: in their revolt, seeking fair pretext for their bloody schemes,
• 30:56
  Speaker 2: deemed themselves authorized to take his life for mayor worrying
• 31:00
  Speaker 2: as you would have me do, The time may come
• 31:03
  Speaker 2: when in their hearts established I may, with safety dare
• 31:07
  Speaker 2: to act more boldly. We must not be too hasty
• 31:10
  Speaker 2: deign to place me firmly upon the throne. Then will
• 31:14
  Speaker 2: I show my gratitude.
• 31:16
  Speaker 3: I see my own imprudence and recognize your admirable foresight.
• 31:21
  Speaker 3: Not the least danger can escape your notice, to which
• 31:24
  Speaker 3: my too impatient love might lead you fear to face
• 31:29
  Speaker 3: disnor thence resulting. And since you tell me so, I
• 31:32
  Speaker 3: must believe it. But have you thought if marriage bind
• 31:36
  Speaker 3: us not together, what worse perils you incur? How? Without
• 31:41
  Speaker 3: me your way is hedged around you and it behooves
• 31:44
  Speaker 3: you most to win my favor. That it is I
• 31:48
  Speaker 3: who hold the palace gates, who can for you unlock
• 31:51
  Speaker 3: them or forever shut them against you. That your life
• 31:56
  Speaker 3: is mine, that on my love your very breath depends,
• 32:00
  Speaker 3: And had you lacked this love which you reject, that
• 32:04
  Speaker 3: you would, in a word be now no more.
• 32:08
  Speaker 2: Yes, I owe all to you, and I had reason
• 32:11
  Speaker 2: to think the only glory that you sought was to
• 32:14
  Speaker 2: behold the triumph of my cause. And hear me pay
• 32:16
  Speaker 2: you my acknowledgment. I feel the obligation and confess it
• 32:21
  Speaker 2: respectful homage, ever shall confirm it. The life that you
• 32:24
  Speaker 2: have given is at your service. But would you still nay?
• 32:28
  Speaker 3: I wish nothing more. With falced excuses trouble me no longer.
• 32:33
  Speaker 3: I see how far your thoughts from mine are parted.
• 32:36
  Speaker 3: Ungrateful as you are, I will not urge compliance father
• 32:40
  Speaker 3: to that abjects state return from which I saved you.
• 32:44
  Speaker 3: What assurance is wanting? Yet? Of this a difference my
• 32:48
  Speaker 3: ardor meets from him no warm response. What place has
• 32:52
  Speaker 3: love in all his calculations? Ah, I can see your schemes.
• 32:58
  Speaker 3: Do what I may you think? I wre's too much
• 33:00
  Speaker 3: to throw you over. That I am bound to you
• 33:03
  Speaker 3: by bands too strong for me to part my interests
• 33:06
  Speaker 3: from yours. But sure I am. Your brother still is kind.
• 33:12
  Speaker 3: You know he loves me, and despite his wrath, I
• 33:15
  Speaker 3: can appease him with a traitor's blood to justify myself.
• 33:19
  Speaker 3: Your death suffices, and I will see to it this
• 33:23
  Speaker 3: very moment. Yet hear me, Badger said, I feel I
• 33:27
  Speaker 3: love you. You must not let me go. Why court
• 33:31
  Speaker 3: destruction still doth the way lie open to repetence? Drive
• 33:36
  Speaker 3: not a frenzied lover to despair. But if one word
• 33:40
  Speaker 3: escape me, you are lost.
• 33:43
  Speaker 2: Tis in your hands, and you can take it from me.
• 33:46
  Speaker 2: It may be that my death, serving your wishes and
• 33:49
  Speaker 2: winning Amorth's pardon, may restore you the place that in
• 33:52
  Speaker 2: his heart you held before his heart.
• 33:55
  Speaker 3: Say you, Ian were at Amarath's wish and hope were
• 33:59
  Speaker 3: lost of rain in your own a sweet delusion, long
• 34:02
  Speaker 3: and fondly cherished. Think you that I could entertain such
• 34:07
  Speaker 3: thoughts or live henceforth unless I live for you. Low
• 34:11
  Speaker 3: in your cruel hands, myself have placed arms to destroy
• 34:16
  Speaker 3: so weak a wretch, as I enjoy your triumph, all
• 34:21
  Speaker 3: the proud disdain that I assume just now I own
• 34:24
  Speaker 3: it false. My only happiness on you depends. Your death
• 34:29
  Speaker 3: will be the signal for my own sad fruit of
• 34:33
  Speaker 3: all my care to save your life at last. I
• 34:36
  Speaker 3: hear you sigh and see you troubled.
• 34:39
  Speaker 2: Come I did not, ah would that I could speak?
• 34:44
  Speaker 3: What is it that I hear? What say you, sir ha?
• 34:48
  Speaker 3: You have secrets? Then I may not learn. Your feelings
• 34:52
  Speaker 3: are too sacred to be shown to such as I, Madam.
• 34:56
  Speaker 2: Tis yours once more to make your choice open for
• 35:00
  Speaker 2: me to empire a lawful road or slay me. I'm ready.
• 35:04
  Speaker 3: This is too much. You shall be satisfied. Oh God's there.
• 35:10
  Speaker 1: Enter Scene two baseeje Rosanna achmet Ahmed.
• 35:18
  Speaker 3: All is over. You may return, for I have naught
• 35:21
  Speaker 3: to tell you. Say that I bow to Amara's sovereign sway,
• 35:26
  Speaker 3: go Let the palace gates henceforth be locked, and all
• 35:30
  Speaker 3: be ordered as it was afore time.
• 35:34
  Speaker 1: Scene three bajez achmet friends. What is this?
• 35:40
  Speaker 5: I hear with strange surprise? What will become of you?
• 35:44
  Speaker 5: And what of me? Whence comes this change? And whom
• 35:49
  Speaker 5: am I to blame? Good heavens, tis only right that
• 35:53
  Speaker 5: you should know.
• 35:55
  Speaker 2: Roxanna is offended, burns for vengeance. Our mutual compact is
• 35:59
  Speaker 2: forever broken. Vizier, I warn you to yourself, take heed
• 36:03
  Speaker 2: act as seems best, and count no more on me.
• 36:06
  Speaker 2: What you and yours some place of refuge seek. My
• 36:11
  Speaker 2: friendship can afford you not but perils. I hoped one
• 36:14
  Speaker 2: day to have repaid you better, but must not think
• 36:17
  Speaker 2: it more. The bubbles burst?
• 36:19
  Speaker 5: What is this rock on which your hopes are wrecked?
• 36:23
  Speaker 5: Just now I left all peaceful in the palace. What
• 36:26
  Speaker 5: is this madness that has seized your minds?
• 36:30
  Speaker 2: She wishes me to wed her Ahmet.
• 36:32
  Speaker 5: Well, tis true that wish accords not with the custom
• 36:36
  Speaker 5: that sultans use. But is that rule so strict that
• 36:40
  Speaker 5: you should lose your life to follow it? What law
• 36:44
  Speaker 5: more sacred than to save yourself, to snatch from certain
• 36:47
  Speaker 5: death the royal blood of Authmann that in you alone survives.
• 36:52
  Speaker 2: Nay, the last drop would be too dearly purchased, were
• 36:55
  Speaker 2: it to be preserved by cowardice.
• 36:57
  Speaker 5: Why let your mind conceive so archa picture? Was Solomon's
• 37:02
  Speaker 5: renown tarnished by marriage? Yes, Solomon himself was never menaced
• 37:07
  Speaker 5: by dangers so apparent as yourself.
• 37:11
  Speaker 2: These very dangers make the chief disgrace of such a
• 37:13
  Speaker 2: marriage prompted by mere love of life. It was not
• 37:17
  Speaker 2: so with Solomon. His slave found favor in her master's eyes.
• 37:21
  Speaker 2: No dire necessity imposed its yoke, but freely did he
• 37:25
  Speaker 2: offer heart and hand. And yet you love her, ahmetis
• 37:31
  Speaker 2: enough less than you think. I murmur at my fate.
• 37:34
  Speaker 2: Must I not deem dishonor worse than death, which in
• 37:37
  Speaker 2: your steps I followed while a youth, and learned to
• 37:39
  Speaker 2: calmly face when for no fault I lay in prison. Amorth,
• 37:43
  Speaker 2: to my eyes has many a time the headsman's acts presented.
• 37:47
  Speaker 2: She will but end a life of ceaseless trouble alas,
• 37:50
  Speaker 2: and if with some regret I quit it, forgive me, Akmet,
• 37:54
  Speaker 2: I have cause to pity hearts that, with kind attachment
• 37:57
  Speaker 2: ill rewarded, made me the object of their thought.
• 38:01
  Speaker 5: You only are to blame, Prince, if we perish. Speak
• 38:05
  Speaker 5: but a word, and you can save us. All. All
• 38:08
  Speaker 5: the brave janissaries here remaining, the holy ministers of our religion,
• 38:13
  Speaker 5: and those who honored for their good example, direct the
• 38:17
  Speaker 5: currents of the public favor, wait to conduct you to
• 38:20
  Speaker 5: the sacred gait through which new sultans make their first appearance.
• 38:25
  Speaker 2: If then so dear they hold me, my brave Ahmet,
• 38:28
  Speaker 2: let them protect me from Roxanna's power. Ay, And if
• 38:31
  Speaker 2: need be, break into the palace, and with their valiant
• 38:35
  Speaker 2: aid affect my rescue. I would go forth covered with
• 38:38
  Speaker 2: wounds and blood, sooner than loaded with that odious name
• 38:41
  Speaker 2: her husband. In the tumult and confusion despair may arm
• 38:45
  Speaker 2: me in my own defense, and fighting boldly, I may
• 38:48
  Speaker 2: give you time to reach my side and prove your loyalty.
• 38:52
  Speaker 5: The utmost expedition well might fail to thwart Roxanna's violent revenge.
• 38:57
  Speaker 5: Then what would all such fiery zeal have done save
• 39:01
  Speaker 5: to involve your friends in fruitless guilt. Promise, and when
• 39:05
  Speaker 5: no longer danger threatens, tis yours to give your word.
• 39:09
  Speaker 5: What weight you will this to me, Ahmet, never blush.
• 39:14
  Speaker 5: The sons of Othman are not bound to keep their
• 39:17
  Speaker 5: oaths like common slaves. Take counsel of those heroes who
• 39:21
  Speaker 5: made their swords the measure of their rights as of
• 39:24
  Speaker 5: their faith, and march to victories worldwide state policy their
• 39:29
  Speaker 5: only law. Half of this sacred empire rests on pledges
• 39:34
  Speaker 5: lavishly given sparingly fulfilled. Pardon my warmth.
• 39:40
  Speaker 2: Yes, I am well aware how far they pushed the
• 39:42
  Speaker 2: interest of the state. But these same heroes freely spent
• 39:45
  Speaker 2: their blood and scorns to purchase life by perfidy.
• 39:49
  Speaker 5: Oh, doubtless courage, but too firm and faithful, which wins
• 39:54
  Speaker 5: my admiration. Though it end in ruin, must scruple and destroy.
• 40:01
  Speaker 5: But some good angel sent us Adelaide.
• 40:05
  Speaker 1: Scene four bajazze Atlid ahmet.
• 40:10
  Speaker 5: Ah Madam, come you unite your prayers with mine, or
• 40:15
  Speaker 5: he is lost?
• 40:18
  Speaker 4: Tis that which brings me here? But leave us Ahmed
• 40:22
  Speaker 4: bent on his destruction. Roxana means to shut the palace gates.
• 40:27
  Speaker 4: In any case, be within easy call. There may be
• 40:30
  Speaker 4: reason for a quick return.
• 40:34
  Speaker 1: Scene five bajazz Atalide.
• 40:37
  Speaker 2: Now is the moment come when I must leave you?
• 40:40
  Speaker 2: Heaven has our common stratagem confounded. No weapon can ward
• 40:44
  Speaker 2: off its latest blow. I should have died or have
• 40:47
  Speaker 2: resigned your love. Vainly have we contrived to mask our feelings,
• 40:51
  Speaker 2: and nothing gained but to defer my death. I told
• 40:55
  Speaker 2: you how it would be, But to your wish, consented
• 40:57
  Speaker 2: and postponed your grief as long as might be in
• 41:00
  Speaker 2: return fair adelaide. Obey me. Now, avoid Roxanna's presence, hide
• 41:06
  Speaker 2: from her eyes the tears that would betray you, and
• 41:08
  Speaker 2: let us part. Delay is dangerous, No.
• 41:12
  Speaker 4: Prince, your kindness to a hapless maid has long enough
• 41:16
  Speaker 4: resisted fate's decrees. Your wish to spare me costs you
• 41:20
  Speaker 4: far too. Dear, You must submit, leave me and mount
• 41:24
  Speaker 4: the throne. Leave you tis my desire and well considered true.
• 41:30
  Speaker 4: It is that a thousand jealous thoughts have surged within me,
• 41:34
  Speaker 4: and I could not bear that Bajazete should live yet
• 41:38
  Speaker 4: not be mine. And often, as I pictured to myself
• 41:41
  Speaker 4: the hateful triumph of my happy rival, your death appeared
• 41:46
  Speaker 4: pardon a lover's frenzy, less fraught with anguish to my
• 41:50
  Speaker 4: tortured heart. But then there was no town. To my
• 41:54
  Speaker 4: sad eyes, the fatal stroke ready to fall, I saw,
• 41:58
  Speaker 4: not as now I see my Bajazid prepared to bid
• 42:02
  Speaker 4: his uttalad a last farewell. I know, dear Prince too well,
• 42:08
  Speaker 4: with what firm courage you go to meet the great
• 42:10
  Speaker 4: approach of death? How with your heart's last sighs you
• 42:14
  Speaker 4: fain would prove your faithfulness to me. But have compassion
• 42:18
  Speaker 4: upon a soul more timid than your own temper, your
• 42:22
  Speaker 4: woes to Utterleid's endurance, Nor thus expose me to the
• 42:26
  Speaker 4: liveliest sorrow that ever dried the fount of lover's eyes.
• 42:31
  Speaker 2: What will be your future? If to day you see
• 42:33
  Speaker 2: me celebrate this fatal marriage.
• 42:36
  Speaker 4: My future need be no concern to you. I shall
• 42:39
  Speaker 4: perhaps obey my destiny and find some flattering balm to
• 42:43
  Speaker 4: ease my sorrow. Soothed with this thought, e'en, in the
• 42:47
  Speaker 4: midst of tears, you were resolved to lose your life
• 42:50
  Speaker 4: for me and live because I would not let you die.
• 42:55
  Speaker 2: No, you will never see that cruel sight. The more
• 42:58
  Speaker 2: you bid me be untrue to you, the more I
• 43:00
  Speaker 2: see how truly you deserve to fail in gaining what
• 43:03
  Speaker 2: you desire. What shall this tender love that in our
• 43:07
  Speaker 2: childhood was born and grew in silence with our growth,
• 43:11
  Speaker 2: your tears that only I could wipe away my frequent
• 43:14
  Speaker 2: oaths that I would never forsake you? Shall all these
• 43:17
  Speaker 2: end in basest perfidy. And whom wouldst have me? Mary?
• 43:20
  Speaker 2: I will tell you a slave who thinks of no
• 43:23
  Speaker 2: one but herself, who shows me instruments of death made
• 43:27
  Speaker 2: ready and offers me her hand or execution, whilst Adelaide,
• 43:32
  Speaker 2: touched by my present dangers, and worthy of the sires
• 43:35
  Speaker 2: from whom she springs, would sacrifice herself, her love and
• 43:39
  Speaker 2: all ha Let the jealous Sultan have my head. Its
• 43:43
  Speaker 2: ransom were too costly.
• 43:45
  Speaker 4: Generous, Prince, you yet may live without betraying me.
• 43:50
  Speaker 2: Speak if I can. I'm willing to obey you.
• 43:54
  Speaker 4: Roxanna loves you, and despite your wrongs, if you, my lord,
• 43:59
  Speaker 4: would take more pain means to please her. Letting your
• 44:02
  Speaker 4: amorous sighs instill the hope of one.
• 44:04
  Speaker 2: Day say no more. I can't consent. You must not fancy.
• 44:09
  Speaker 2: Cowardly despair has made me so faint hearted that I
• 44:12
  Speaker 2: dread the cares of royal power that might be mine,
• 44:14
  Speaker 2: and would avoid them by untimely death. Rash counsels are
• 44:18
  Speaker 2: to me but too congenial. The glories of my race,
• 44:21
  Speaker 2: my soul possessing and making ease repugnant, kindled hopes of
• 44:25
  Speaker 2: being numbered with that line of heroes. But though ambition
• 44:29
  Speaker 2: fiercely burns within me, I cannot longer do be lover's trust.
• 44:33
  Speaker 2: Vain would it be for me to promise it? My
• 44:35
  Speaker 2: lips and eyes foes to such craven falsehoods. When I
• 44:39
  Speaker 2: would be most anxious to beguile her, would all the
• 44:41
  Speaker 2: tumult of my mind betray with anger. She would see
• 44:45
  Speaker 2: my sighs were forced from an unwilling breast as cold
• 44:48
  Speaker 2: as ice. To her. Heaven knows how oft I had
• 44:50
  Speaker 2: disclosed the truth, were mine own life alone at stake,
• 44:53
  Speaker 2: and no fear present, that her jealousy might but too
• 44:56
  Speaker 2: easily extend to you. And shall I promise what my
• 44:59
  Speaker 2: heart belives? Eyes acting the perjured villain to abuse ah,
• 45:03
  Speaker 2: if your judgment were not warped by love, far from
• 45:06
  Speaker 2: enjoining the space subterfuge, you would be surely first to
• 45:09
  Speaker 2: blush thereat. But lest you press me further to forget
• 45:12
  Speaker 2: the claims of honor, I will find Roxanna and leave you, Madam.
• 45:18
  Speaker 4: Nay I quit you not, come, cruel prince. I will
• 45:22
  Speaker 4: conduct you thither and tell our secret to her ears myself.
• 45:27
  Speaker 4: Since my distracted lover scorns my tears, and fain would
• 45:30
  Speaker 4: die before my weary eyes, Roxanna shall, at least in
• 45:34
  Speaker 4: death unite us. My blood will better quench her rage
• 45:38
  Speaker 4: than yours. And to your startled eyes I will present
• 45:42
  Speaker 4: the rueful sight you would prepare for me?
• 45:45
  Speaker 2: Heavens, what is this?
• 45:47
  Speaker 4: Can you imagine?
• 45:48
  Speaker 1: Sir?
• 45:49
  Speaker 4: You hold your honor dearer than his mine to me?
• 45:52
  Speaker 4: Believe me while I made you speak my shame a
• 45:55
  Speaker 4: hundred times, all but compelled disclosure. But I saw your
• 45:59
  Speaker 4: death to nigh? Why since my own must follow? Why
• 46:04
  Speaker 4: refuse to do for me what I dared do for you?
• 46:08
  Speaker 4: One word? A little kinder may suffice perturns. Roxana in
• 46:13
  Speaker 4: her heart forgives you. She grants you as you see,
• 46:17
  Speaker 4: time for repentance. Nor did she, quitting you, despatch the Vizir,
• 46:22
  Speaker 4: nor send her guards to seize you. In my presence,
• 46:26
  Speaker 4: her tears have shown me how her tender feelings with
• 46:29
  Speaker 4: rage content imploring me to aid her. She waits to
• 46:34
  Speaker 4: catch at hope, however, faint to drop the arms of
• 46:38
  Speaker 4: vengeance from her hand. Go to her, prince, and save
• 46:43
  Speaker 4: your life and mine?
• 46:46
  Speaker 2: Well? Be it so? But how shall I accost her?
• 46:50
  Speaker 3: Nay?
• 46:51
  Speaker 4: Ask not me to choose befitting words. Heaven will supply
• 46:55
  Speaker 4: them as occasion serves.
• 46:57
  Speaker 3: Go.
• 46:59
  Speaker 4: I must not be prayed. Isn't at your meeting? Your
• 47:02
  Speaker 4: eyes or mine would tell what trouble ails us?
• 47:05
  Speaker 1: Go?
• 47:06
  Speaker 4: Once again, I dare not be a witness, say all
• 47:10
  Speaker 4: that may be needful, sir, to save you.
• 47:16
  Speaker 1: End of Act two, Act three about Jase by Jean Racine,
• 47:26
  Speaker 1: translated by Robert Bruce Boswell. This is a LibriVox recording.
• 47:31
  Speaker 1: All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more
• 47:35
  Speaker 1: information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Act three,
• 47:42
  Speaker 1: Scene one, atalide Zara.
• 47:45
  Speaker 4: Is it true, then, Zarah? Is his pardon sealed?
• 47:50
  Speaker 8: Madam? As I have said, a slave who ran with
• 47:53
  Speaker 8: eager steps to do Roxanna's pleasure, admitted Ahmed at the
• 47:57
  Speaker 8: palace gates to me. They spoke not but the Vizier's
• 48:01
  Speaker 8: joy marked on his face better than any words, that
• 48:04
  Speaker 8: this a happy change recalls him hither, and that he
• 48:06
  Speaker 8: comes to sign a lasting piece. No doubt. Roxana leans
• 48:10
  Speaker 8: to milder measures.
• 48:13
  Speaker 4: Thus pleasure on all sides eludes my grasp, and leaving
• 48:16
  Speaker 4: me forsaken, follows them. Sarah, I have done my duty,
• 48:21
  Speaker 4: nor repent it.
• 48:23
  Speaker 8: Why, Madam, what new trouble now alarms you?
• 48:28
  Speaker 4: Have you not heard my Tsara? By what charm? Or rather,
• 48:32
  Speaker 4: should I say, but what a compact the Prince has
• 48:35
  Speaker 4: brought about to change so sudden. Roxanna's fury seemed inflexible.
• 48:41
  Speaker 4: Has she some pledge that vouches for his heart? Speak?
• 48:45
  Speaker 4: Does he wed her?
• 48:47
  Speaker 8: I know not of that, But if he does, alone
• 48:51
  Speaker 8: could save himself and acts as you yourself have bidden him.
• 48:56
  Speaker 8: If in a word he weds her, weds her Czarah,
• 49:01
  Speaker 8: what do you then regret those generous words which your
• 49:05
  Speaker 8: unselfish care for him dictated?
• 49:08
  Speaker 4: No, No, it is but right that he should do it.
• 49:12
  Speaker 4: Two jealous feelings. Hush your clamorous voice. Wedding Rosanna Bajazette
• 49:18
  Speaker 4: obeys me respect the better nature that has quelled you,
• 49:23
  Speaker 4: nor with its noble counsels, mingle yours paint not my
• 49:27
  Speaker 4: prince clasped in another's arms. But let me picture him
• 49:31
  Speaker 4: without regret, set on the throne. My love has made
• 49:34
  Speaker 4: him mount. I am myself again and firm as ever.
• 49:39
  Speaker 4: It was his love, Dearzara, that I wished. He loves me,
• 49:44
  Speaker 4: and this hope at least consoles me that worth you
• 49:47
  Speaker 4: of my lover, I shall die die?
• 49:51
  Speaker 8: What inspires so terrible a purpose.
• 49:54
  Speaker 4: I have resigned my lover? Does the rest surprise you
• 49:58
  Speaker 4: can a death that ends theear tears be counted in
• 50:01
  Speaker 4: the number of my woes enough for me that Bajazide
• 50:05
  Speaker 4: shall live. I wished it, wish it still cost what
• 50:09
  Speaker 4: it may be. It joy your grief. I care not
• 50:13
  Speaker 4: to inquire. I love him well enough to give him up,
• 50:17
  Speaker 4: but he must know that if I can for him
• 50:20
  Speaker 4: make sacrifice so great, tending his life with anxious effort.
• 50:25
  Speaker 4: Yet I love too well to wish to be the
• 50:27
  Speaker 4: witness of his bridle. Let us go learn, pray.
• 50:32
  Speaker 8: Calm yourself. Dear Madam, the Vizir comes to bring you.
• 50:35
  Speaker 6: News of all.
• 50:37
  Speaker 1: Scene two artalid ahmet Zarah.
• 50:41
  Speaker 5: At last, our lovers have been reconciled, and a fair
• 50:46
  Speaker 5: breeze now wafts us in the port. The wrath of
• 50:49
  Speaker 5: the Sultana is disarmed. She has declared to me her
• 50:53
  Speaker 5: latest wishes, and while the dreadful standard of the prophet
• 50:57
  Speaker 5: she to the city's startled sight, displays and bar Josey
• 51:01
  Speaker 5: prepares my steps to follow. My task is to explain
• 51:05
  Speaker 5: to all the people what means this signal rouse a
• 51:08
  Speaker 5: just alarm, and the new sultan publicly proclaim. Meanwhile, permit
• 51:15
  Speaker 5: me to remind you, Madam, what Gerdun has been promised
• 51:19
  Speaker 5: to my zeal. Do not expect from me such rapturous
• 51:23
  Speaker 5: size as I have witnessed in those ardent lovers. But
• 51:26
  Speaker 5: if respect more worthy of my years, the careful homage
• 51:30
  Speaker 5: of a heart devoted to one so near in blood
• 51:33
  Speaker 5: to royalty can.
• 51:35
  Speaker 4: Time may teach me what your merits claim, and you,
• 51:39
  Speaker 4: in time may also learn to know me. But tell
• 51:44
  Speaker 4: me now what transports did you witness?
• 51:48
  Speaker 5: And you not fancy, madam? The soft size of two
• 51:52
  Speaker 5: young lovers mutually enamored.
• 51:54
  Speaker 4: Nay tis a marvel fills me with surprise. What price
• 51:59
  Speaker 4: exacts for Sanna for this pardon? Does he consent to
• 52:03
  Speaker 4: wait her?
• 52:04
  Speaker 1: Yes?
• 52:05
  Speaker 5: I think so. I'll tell you all I saw with
• 52:08
  Speaker 5: mine own eyes, twas with amazement at their angry quarrel,
• 52:14
  Speaker 5: exclaiming against lovers, love and fortune. Ay, and in blank despair,
• 52:20
  Speaker 5: I left this palace, leading a vessel ready in the harbor,
• 52:24
  Speaker 5: with treasure rescued from my ruined fortunes. I thought to
• 52:27
  Speaker 5: sail to some far distant land. When full of this
• 52:31
  Speaker 5: sad purpose, I was summoned hither once more hoped. My
• 52:35
  Speaker 5: feet gave wings, and at my voice the palace doors
• 52:39
  Speaker 5: flew open. A female slave my joyful eyes beheld, who
• 52:44
  Speaker 5: all in silence, led me to a chamber, where, with
• 52:47
  Speaker 5: attentive ear Roxanna hearkened to Bajosee. While all around was stillness.
• 52:53
  Speaker 5: Resisting my impatience and respecting their secret conference, I stood
• 52:57
  Speaker 5: aloof and motionless, long watched what passed between them. At last,
• 53:04
  Speaker 5: with eyes that all her soul betrayed, the pressure of
• 53:07
  Speaker 5: her hand pledged her affection, and he, with eloquent and
• 53:12
  Speaker 5: amorous gaze, assured her of his passion in his turn
• 53:16
  Speaker 5: alas then both of them perceived my presence here, said
• 53:22
  Speaker 5: she see your sovereign yours and mine now to your hands,
• 53:27
  Speaker 5: brave acmet, I can sign him, go and for him
• 53:31
  Speaker 5: make ready regal pomp let loyal crowds await him in
• 53:35
  Speaker 5: the mosque. Soon shall the palace set you the example.
• 53:40
  Speaker 5: Then at the feet of Bajeses, I fell, and, straightway
• 53:43
  Speaker 5: from their presence, disappeared, only too happy on my way
• 53:48
  Speaker 5: to bring you true tidings of their reconciliation and offer
• 53:52
  Speaker 5: you my most respectful homage. I go to speed my
• 53:56
  Speaker 5: task his coronation.
• 53:59
  Speaker 1: See three at the lead, Sarah, let.
• 54:03
  Speaker 4: Us withdraw and not disturb their joy.
• 54:07
  Speaker 8: Madam believe?
• 54:09
  Speaker 4: Why flatter me with falsehoods? How can I face a
• 54:12
  Speaker 4: sight so terrible? Fain would they wet forthwith? My fate
• 54:17
  Speaker 4: is settled for Welcome to Roxanna is the love he vows?
• 54:21
  Speaker 4: But why complain twas I that wished it? And yet
• 54:26
  Speaker 4: would you have thought this possible? When no self sacrifice
• 54:30
  Speaker 4: seemed great enough to prove his faith to me? And
• 54:33
  Speaker 4: he refused the least concession to Rosanna's wishes, When with
• 54:37
  Speaker 4: a secret pleasure I perceived how all my tears were
• 54:41
  Speaker 4: powerless to move him? Would you have deemed his heart
• 54:45
  Speaker 4: that seemed so constant? Could e'er have found such eloquence
• 54:49
  Speaker 4: to woo her? Ah? But too ready? May that heart
• 54:53
  Speaker 4: have been to echo all his lips have learned to utter?
• 54:58
  Speaker 4: Perchance new graces in her eyes appeared responsive to more
• 55:02
  Speaker 4: tender looks from him, she will have touched him with
• 55:05
  Speaker 4: her tale of woe in generous hearts. Such love breeds sympathy. Nor,
• 55:11
  Speaker 4: at least, when tears can purchase powers supreme alas what
• 55:17
  Speaker 4: reasons urge him to forget me?
• 55:20
  Speaker 8: But Madam, their success is still uncertain? Be patient?
• 55:26
  Speaker 4: No, what boots it to be blind? I have no
• 55:30
  Speaker 4: wish to swell my tide of trouble. I know were
• 55:33
  Speaker 4: lies for him the path of safety. And when my
• 55:36
  Speaker 4: tears recalled him to roc Sanna, I did not mean
• 55:39
  Speaker 4: that he should disobey me. But with his fond farewell
• 55:43
  Speaker 4: still in mine ears after such tender transports of affliction,
• 55:48
  Speaker 4: his joy methinks, need not have been expressed with such
• 55:52
  Speaker 4: conspicuous warmth, as Ahmed witnessed, Judge for yourself. If I
• 55:57
  Speaker 4: have cause to murmur, why am I only banished from
• 56:01
  Speaker 4: their counsels? Am I concerned so little in the fate
• 56:04
  Speaker 4: of Bajazette? While lingers he so long away from me?
• 56:09
  Speaker 4: Does not his heart reproach him that? Thus he shrinks
• 56:12
  Speaker 4: from meeting Atalid? But I will spare him his uneasiness.
• 56:17
  Speaker 4: He ne'er shall see me more.
• 56:20
  Speaker 8: Madam.
• 56:21
  Speaker 1: He comes Scene four ba Jose Atalid Zara.
• 56:27
  Speaker 2: Your bidding has been done, and I have spoken my
• 56:31
  Speaker 2: life no longer Madam is in danger? And happy should
• 56:34
  Speaker 2: I be if truth and honor reproached me, not for
• 56:37
  Speaker 2: having purchased safety by means unjust? If mine own heart
• 56:40
  Speaker 2: could pardon my fault as readily as does Roxanna. But
• 56:44
  Speaker 2: I at last am free my hand is armed, and
• 56:48
  Speaker 2: I may now meet my unnatural brother, no more dependent
• 56:51
  Speaker 2: on your skill, contriving secret intrigues. He are plotting to
• 56:56
  Speaker 2: seduce his mistress's heart, but following him afar to others
• 57:00
  Speaker 2: more nobly in fair fight, disputing the affections of his people,
• 57:05
  Speaker 2: and making fame for valor. Judge between us. But why
• 57:09
  Speaker 2: is this? I see you weeping?
• 57:12
  Speaker 4: No, sir, I do not grudge you your new happiness.
• 57:16
  Speaker 4: Heaven's justice owed you this strange turn of fortune. You
• 57:20
  Speaker 4: know if e're your welfare, I opposed. Your eyes are
• 57:23
  Speaker 4: witnesses how all my life your perils have engrossed my
• 57:26
  Speaker 4: every care, and since my death alone can seal your safety.
• 57:31
  Speaker 4: It is without regret for you I die true. It
• 57:35
  Speaker 4: is that, had Heaven vouchsafed to hear my prayers, I
• 57:40
  Speaker 4: might have made a happier end. My rival would no
• 57:43
  Speaker 4: less have been your bride and found you faithful to
• 57:46
  Speaker 4: the marriage tie. But though her husband, you would have
• 57:50
  Speaker 4: withheld those tokens of true love so freely lavished. Less
• 57:55
  Speaker 4: fervor would have satisfied Rosanna, and I, in dying this
• 58:00
  Speaker 4: sweet thort, have cherished that only yielding to my strict injunction.
• 58:05
  Speaker 4: You gave your hand to her, your heart to me,
• 58:09
  Speaker 4: still still mine own ian in the world of shades,
• 58:13
  Speaker 4: that I was leaving you, but not your love.
• 58:17
  Speaker 2: Why talk you thus, madam of love and marriage? What
• 58:20
  Speaker 2: in the name of Heaven affords you ground for speech
• 58:23
  Speaker 2: like this? What falsehood has deceived you? I love Roxanna,
• 58:28
  Speaker 2: I devote my life to her. Oh no, and far
• 58:32
  Speaker 2: from thinking so, can you believe my tongue could even
• 58:35
  Speaker 2: say it? But as it happened, there was need of neither.
• 58:40
  Speaker 2: Roxanna was as credulous as ever. And whether she at
• 58:43
  Speaker 2: once thought my return a certain token of my true
• 58:46
  Speaker 2: affection or time too precious for prolonged resistance, scarce had
• 58:51
  Speaker 2: I said a few unheeded words, when with a flood
• 58:54
  Speaker 2: of tears, she cut me short, and, placing in my
• 58:57
  Speaker 2: hands her life and fortune, without resort or of trusting
• 59:01
  Speaker 2: my gratitude, seemed satisfied that I intended marriage. I, blushing
• 59:06
  Speaker 2: to impose upon her faith unworthy of a love so generous,
• 59:11
  Speaker 2: showed my confusion, But she fondly deemed it due to
• 59:15
  Speaker 2: the warmth of passion. While I felt that I was
• 59:18
  Speaker 2: basely cruel and unjust, Believe me, I had need that
• 59:22
  Speaker 2: trying moment to call to mind all my concern for
• 59:25
  Speaker 2: you in order to preserve perfidious silence unbroken to the end. Now,
• 59:31
  Speaker 2: when I come after such conflicts, seeking consolation against remorse,
• 59:36
  Speaker 2: I find you in displeasure, charging my harassed conscience with
• 59:39
  Speaker 2: your death. Alas I see too well, and at this
• 59:43
  Speaker 2: moment all that I say has little force to move you. Madam,
• 59:47
  Speaker 2: twere well to end what pains us both? Why should
• 59:50
  Speaker 2: we vainly vex each other longer? Roxanna is not far
• 59:54
  Speaker 2: to seek. Permit me to tell the truth more gladly
• 59:58
  Speaker 2: will I go to disabuse her? Then I went so often,
• 1:00:01
  Speaker 2: forcing myself to play the hypocrite. Ah, here she.
• 1:00:05
  Speaker 4: Comes, Heaven, save him from his rashness. Prince, if you
• 1:00:10
  Speaker 4: love me, do not undeceive her.
• 1:00:13
  Speaker 1: Scene five Raxenna bar Jose Utalid Sarah.
• 1:00:19
  Speaker 3: Come badge Asette. Tis time to show yourself that all
• 1:00:22
  Speaker 3: the court may recognize its master, all that these walls
• 1:00:27
  Speaker 3: contain many a number gathered by my command. Await my wishes,
• 1:00:32
  Speaker 3: my slaves. The rest will follow where they lead. Are
• 1:00:36
  Speaker 3: the first subjects that my love allots you. This sudden
• 1:00:40
  Speaker 3: change from wrath to milder mood may well surprise you, madam.
• 1:00:44
  Speaker 3: For but now determined to take vengeance on a traitor,
• 1:00:48
  Speaker 3: I swore he should not see another day. Yet almost
• 1:00:52
  Speaker 3: ere he spoke. My heart relented twas love imposed that oath,
• 1:00:58
  Speaker 3: and love revokes it, reading deep passion in his wild distraction,
• 1:01:03
  Speaker 3: his pardon I pronounced, and trust his promise.
• 1:01:07
  Speaker 2: Yes, I have promised, and my word is pledged nearer
• 1:01:11
  Speaker 2: to forget all that to uiol? Have I not sworn
• 1:01:14
  Speaker 2: that constant care and kindness shall duly pay my debt
• 1:01:17
  Speaker 2: of gratitude? If on these terms your favor I may claim,
• 1:01:22
  Speaker 2: I go to wait the harvest of your bounty.
• 1:01:26
  Speaker 1: Scene six Roxenna atalid.
• 1:01:28
  Speaker 3: Zarah heavens, what amazement strikes me at this moment? Is
• 1:01:34
  Speaker 3: it a dream? And have mine eyes deceived me? What
• 1:01:38
  Speaker 3: mean these frigid words, this somber greeting, which seems to
• 1:01:43
  Speaker 3: cancel all that passed between us? What hope does he
• 1:01:46
  Speaker 3: imagine mine? For which I banished my resentment and restored
• 1:01:51
  Speaker 3: him to favor? He methought, swore that his heart would
• 1:01:55
  Speaker 3: own me mistress, to his dying day? Does he repent
• 1:01:59
  Speaker 3: already of the piece that we had signed? Was I
• 1:02:02
  Speaker 3: just now deluded. But was he not conversing with you? Madam?
• 1:02:07
  Speaker 3: What did he say to me?
• 1:02:10
  Speaker 4: He loves you always?
• 1:02:12
  Speaker 3: His life at least depends on my belief that it
• 1:02:15
  Speaker 3: is so. But tell me pray when joy should triumph?
• 1:02:19
  Speaker 3: How can you explain the gloom that settled on his
• 1:02:22
  Speaker 3: features as he left me?
• 1:02:25
  Speaker 4: Madam? I saw no cloud upon his brow. Often has
• 1:02:29
  Speaker 4: he told me of your gracious kindness? And he just
• 1:02:32
  Speaker 4: now was full of it? And parting he seemed to
• 1:02:35
  Speaker 4: me the same as when he entered. But be that
• 1:02:38
  Speaker 4: as it may, needed surprise you that on the eve
• 1:02:42
  Speaker 4: of such important issues he should be troubled, and some
• 1:02:45
  Speaker 4: signs escape him of anxious thoughts that on his mind intrude.
• 1:02:51
  Speaker 3: Such plausible excuses? Do you credit for skill that pleads
• 1:02:54
  Speaker 3: on his behalf more fairly than he could do himself?
• 1:02:59
  Speaker 3: What other was enough? I read your motive, Madam, better
• 1:03:04
  Speaker 3: than you suppose. Leave me, for I would be alone
• 1:03:07
  Speaker 3: a little while I too am troubled, and anxious cares
• 1:03:11
  Speaker 3: are mine as well as his, to which I owe
• 1:03:13
  Speaker 3: a moment's thought.
• 1:03:15
  Speaker 1: Secret Scene seven Raxenna, How must.
• 1:03:20
  Speaker 3: I construe all that I have seen? Are they in
• 1:03:24
  Speaker 3: leap together to deceive me? Wherefore this change, those words,
• 1:03:29
  Speaker 3: that quick departure. Did I not catch a glance that
• 1:03:32
  Speaker 3: passed between them? Were they not both struck with embarrassment?
• 1:03:37
  Speaker 6: Ah?
• 1:03:38
  Speaker 3: Why has Heaven doomed me to this affront? Is this
• 1:03:41
  Speaker 3: the fruit of all my blind affection? So many painful
• 1:03:45
  Speaker 3: days and sleepless nights, plots and intrigues, treason too deep
• 1:03:50
  Speaker 3: for pardon? And shall they all turn to a rival's prophet?
• 1:03:55
  Speaker 3: But yet too ready to torment myself? I made too
• 1:03:58
  Speaker 3: closely scan upon in cloud and take for passion? What
• 1:04:02
  Speaker 3: is mere caprice? Surely he would have carried to the
• 1:04:06
  Speaker 3: end his wiles, and in full prospect of success, he
• 1:04:10
  Speaker 3: could have feigned at least a moment longer. Love uncontrolled
• 1:04:15
  Speaker 3: by reason quakes at shadows. Let me take courage. Why
• 1:04:20
  Speaker 3: should Adelie be dreaded as my rival? What has he
• 1:04:24
  Speaker 3: to thank her for? To which of us?
• 1:04:26
  Speaker 1: To day?
• 1:04:27
  Speaker 3: Owes he the scepter? But too well I know love
• 1:04:31
  Speaker 3: is a tyrant. And if other charms attract, what matter,
• 1:04:35
  Speaker 3: crowns or life itself can benefits outweigh the heart's attachment
• 1:04:41
  Speaker 3: I need but search mine own? Did gratitude constrain me
• 1:04:46
  Speaker 3: to his brother, when this wretch bewitched me. Ah, if
• 1:04:50
  Speaker 3: other tie were absent, would the idea of marriage so
• 1:04:54
  Speaker 3: alarm him? He gladly would have seconded my wishes and
• 1:04:59
  Speaker 3: not have braved destruction by refusal just cause. But someone
• 1:05:05
  Speaker 3: comes to speak with me? What can she want?
• 1:05:09
  Speaker 1: Scene eight Roxenna Fatima.
• 1:05:13
  Speaker 7: Forgive me this intrusion. But there is come a courier
• 1:05:16
  Speaker 7: from the army. And though the seaward gate was shut,
• 1:05:20
  Speaker 7: the guard's on bended knees without delay unlocked it to
• 1:05:24
  Speaker 7: orders from the Sultan to yourself addressed, and strange to say,
• 1:05:29
  Speaker 7: tis orcan brings them?
• 1:05:31
  Speaker 3: Orcan?
• 1:05:32
  Speaker 7: Yes? He of all the Sultan's slaves, the one most
• 1:05:37
  Speaker 7: trusted for his faithful service, blackest of those whom Afric's
• 1:05:42
  Speaker 7: son has scorched, Madam. He asks impatiently for you. I
• 1:05:47
  Speaker 7: thought it best to give you timely notice, and lest
• 1:05:51
  Speaker 7: you should be taken by surprise, I have detained him
• 1:05:54
  Speaker 7: in your own apartments.
• 1:05:56
  Speaker 3: What new disaster comes to overwhelm me? What can his
• 1:06:00
  Speaker 3: bidding be? What my reply? Doubtless? The Sultan, in his
• 1:06:05
  Speaker 3: mind protrud has Badgezette condemned a second time without my sanction,
• 1:06:10
  Speaker 3: None will dare to take his life for all obeying here,
• 1:06:14
  Speaker 3: but ought I to shield him Badgazette or Hammarrath, which
• 1:06:19
  Speaker 3: claims allegiance one I have betrayed, the other may be
• 1:06:25
  Speaker 3: false to me. Time presses. I must resolve this fatal doubt,
• 1:06:29
  Speaker 3: nor let the precious moment pass love when most cautious
• 1:06:34
  Speaker 3: cannot conceal its secret inclination. I will watch Badgesette anatallite,
• 1:06:39
  Speaker 3: then crown the lover or destroy the traitor.
• 1:06:44
  Speaker 1: End of Fact III. Act for a Bajes by Jean Rascine,
• 1:06:55
  Speaker 1: translated by Robert Bruce Boswell. This is a LibriVox record.
• 1:07:00
  Speaker 1: All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more
• 1:07:04
  Speaker 1: information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Act
• 1:07:11
  Speaker 1: for Scene one, utterlid Sarah.
• 1:07:15
  Speaker 4: Ah, know you my alarm? How in this palace fierce
• 1:07:19
  Speaker 4: Orkin's odious features? I have seen I fear his presence
• 1:07:24
  Speaker 4: at this fatal moment. But tell me have you seen
• 1:07:28
  Speaker 4: Prince Barjazette? What said he will? He hear the voice
• 1:07:32
  Speaker 4: of reason and going to Roxanna calm suspicion.
• 1:07:36
  Speaker 8: He may not go again without permission. Such are her orders.
• 1:07:41
  Speaker 8: She will have him wait, no doubt she would not
• 1:07:44
  Speaker 8: wish that slave to see him. On finding him, I
• 1:07:47
  Speaker 8: feigned I had not sought him, gave him your letter
• 1:07:50
  Speaker 8: and received his answer. Here, Madame, read what tidings it.
• 1:07:54
  Speaker 1: Conveys utterlid reads?
• 1:07:58
  Speaker 4: Why should thy love bid me accustomed groan to labyrinths
• 1:08:02
  Speaker 4: of deceit? Still wonder?
• 1:08:04
  Speaker 6: There?
• 1:08:06
  Speaker 1: Yet?
• 1:08:06
  Speaker 4: Shall my life be cherished with due care? Since thou
• 1:08:09
  Speaker 4: hast swornderon depends thine own? Yes, I will see Rosanna
• 1:08:14
  Speaker 4: and wilt say words to appease her anger. If I
• 1:08:18
  Speaker 4: may swearing, how grateful I will ever be? Exact? No more?
• 1:08:24
  Speaker 4: For neither death nor thou false promises of love shall
• 1:08:27
  Speaker 4: make me vow when in my heart I cherish only
• 1:08:30
  Speaker 4: thee What need of protestations does he think?
• 1:08:35
  Speaker 1: I know?
• 1:08:36
  Speaker 5: Not?
• 1:08:36
  Speaker 4: How devotedly he loves me? Is this the way in
• 1:08:39
  Speaker 4: which he meets my wishes? Rocsana?
• 1:08:42
  Speaker 3: And not?
• 1:08:43
  Speaker 4: I must be persuaded? How am I filled with anxious fears?
• 1:08:47
  Speaker 3: Again?
• 1:08:48
  Speaker 4: Why did I heed distrustful jealousy reproaching me with blindness?
• 1:08:53
  Speaker 4: Why give voice to doubts that all his tales were
• 1:08:56
  Speaker 4: tinged with falsehood? Did not my happiness pass expect I
• 1:09:01
  Speaker 4: was beloved. Roxanna well contented. Return and if you can
• 1:09:07
  Speaker 4: see Bajazette once more, his frigid words will never appease her.
• 1:09:12
  Speaker 4: Let eyes and lips alike, swear that he loves her
• 1:09:15
  Speaker 4: and force her to believe him. Oh, that I might
• 1:09:19
  Speaker 4: quicken his indifference with my tears and with the love
• 1:09:22
  Speaker 4: I feel, inspire his tongue. But to new perils I
• 1:09:27
  Speaker 4: should thus expose him. See the Sultana comes ah hrite
• 1:09:33
  Speaker 4: that letter.
• 1:09:35
  Speaker 1: Scene two Roxanna utterlid Fatima Sarah. Roxanna to Fatima, this.
• 1:09:43
  Speaker 3: Order has been sent me. I must use it to
• 1:09:46
  Speaker 3: frighten her.
• 1:09:48
  Speaker 1: Atalid to Sarah.
• 1:09:50
  Speaker 4: Run try all means to persuade him.
• 1:09:54
  Speaker 1: Scene three, Roxanna utlid Fatima.
• 1:09:58
  Speaker 3: I have received them message from the army. Madam, have
• 1:10:02
  Speaker 3: you been told what there has happened?
• 1:10:05
  Speaker 4: I heard a slave came hither from the camp, but
• 1:10:08
  Speaker 4: not I know of anything besides.
• 1:10:11
  Speaker 3: A change of fortune has to Amarath brought victory and
• 1:10:14
  Speaker 3: Babylon has fallen.
• 1:10:17
  Speaker 4: What Madam Osman then.
• 1:10:21
  Speaker 3: Was ill informed since his departure was the slave despatched.
• 1:10:26
  Speaker 3: The war is over, fatal news and now to crown disgrace.
• 1:10:32
  Speaker 3: The Sultan follows close after his messenger.
• 1:10:36
  Speaker 4: The Persian hosts are not his progress.
• 1:10:39
  Speaker 3: No, he marches hither worth rapid strides.
• 1:10:45
  Speaker 4: I pity your alarm. What you would do must now
• 1:10:48
  Speaker 4: be quickly finished, too late.
• 1:10:51
  Speaker 3: The tide of conquest to oppose Ah. Time abates not
• 1:10:56
  Speaker 3: his severity. See in my hand I hold his last mans,
• 1:11:01
  Speaker 3: and what are they?
• 1:11:03
  Speaker 6: Look?
• 1:11:04
  Speaker 3: Read them for yourself, Madame, you know the writing and
• 1:11:08
  Speaker 3: the seal.
• 1:11:09
  Speaker 4: I recognize the cruel Sultan's hand. She reads, while Babylon
• 1:11:16
  Speaker 4: still scorned to own my sway to you express commandment?
• 1:11:20
  Speaker 4: Did I scent, which doubtless you were careful to obey?
• 1:11:23
  Speaker 4: And Bajasette ere this has met his end. Now when
• 1:11:28
  Speaker 4: proud Babylon, my yoke must bear that order, I confirm,
• 1:11:32
  Speaker 4: if need there be, hold you your own life, precious,
• 1:11:36
  Speaker 4: take good care that when I come his severed head,
• 1:11:39
  Speaker 4: I see well, Madam, utterly aside, hide your tears, poor utalide,
• 1:11:48
  Speaker 4: What think you still? He seeks his brother's life, but
• 1:11:53
  Speaker 4: he believes him helpless and alone. He knows not of
• 1:11:56
  Speaker 4: your love that shelters him, That you and Bajasette one
• 1:12:00
  Speaker 4: in Saul, that you would rather die for.
• 1:12:03
  Speaker 3: My part, Madam, I fain would say the Prince, I
• 1:12:07
  Speaker 3: cannot hate him?
• 1:12:08
  Speaker 4: But what have you decided to obey? Obey?
• 1:12:15
  Speaker 3: What choice is left at such a crisis?
• 1:12:17
  Speaker 4: I must, and will you then cut short that life
• 1:12:21
  Speaker 4: which with fond vows to you? The prince devoted?
• 1:12:25
  Speaker 3: I must? My order is already given.
• 1:12:29
  Speaker 4: Oh I am dying.
• 1:12:32
  Speaker 7: She falls and seems lifeless.
• 1:12:36
  Speaker 3: Go take her to the nearest chamber. Watch every look
• 1:12:40
  Speaker 3: and listen to each word, all that may prove aford
• 1:12:43
  Speaker 3: of perfidy. Soon for Roxanna, my rival, has at last
• 1:12:50
  Speaker 3: declared herself on what a broken reed? Have I relied?
• 1:12:55
  Speaker 3: Six months? Have I been thinking? All her care devoted
• 1:12:59
  Speaker 3: day and night at my love? While all that time,
• 1:13:02
  Speaker 3: it seems mine eyes have watched with zealous service to
• 1:13:06
  Speaker 3: promote her own devising means, whereby she might obtain many
• 1:13:10
  Speaker 3: a sweet and secret interview and e in anticipating her desire. Oft,
• 1:13:16
  Speaker 3: have I hastened those delightful moments? This is not all? Now?
• 1:13:20
  Speaker 3: Must I get to know how far her perfidy has
• 1:13:23
  Speaker 3: been successful? And must? But what more is there left
• 1:13:27
  Speaker 3: to learn? Is not my woe? Writ on her countenance?
• 1:13:32
  Speaker 3: Cannot I read beneath this wild distress? Assurance that her
• 1:13:36
  Speaker 3: lover's heart is hers free from suspicious doubts that harassed me.
• 1:13:41
  Speaker 3: The fear she feels is only for his life, No
• 1:13:44
  Speaker 3: matter I will learn the truth. She may be trusting,
• 1:13:48
  Speaker 3: like myself, false promises a layah trap to catch him unawares.
• 1:13:53
  Speaker 3: But is not this a task vain and unworthy? Devising
• 1:13:59
  Speaker 3: means but to torment myself? Why should I render the
• 1:14:02
  Speaker 3: veil that heights his scorn? And, after all, his caution
• 1:14:07
  Speaker 3: may outwit my utmost skill. Besides, time presses closely, I
• 1:14:12
  Speaker 3: must take action and without delay. Twere better if I
• 1:14:15
  Speaker 3: shut mine eyes to all that I have seen, nor
• 1:14:18
  Speaker 3: probe the garlic wound. I'll try how far he'll go,
• 1:14:23
  Speaker 3: and dare the worst see whether when I've set him
• 1:14:27
  Speaker 3: on the throne, he will betray the love that saved
• 1:14:30
  Speaker 3: his life, And with the dastard's liberality, share with my
• 1:14:34
  Speaker 3: rival all he owes to me. Shall I not always
• 1:14:37
  Speaker 3: have it in my power to punish both? At need? Yes,
• 1:14:41
  Speaker 3: I will watch the traitor till my righteous fury finds
• 1:14:45
  Speaker 3: fit season to surprise the amorous pair. Then the same
• 1:14:49
  Speaker 3: dagger shall and death unite them both? Will I stab
• 1:14:54
  Speaker 3: and after them myself this is the proper part for
• 1:14:58
  Speaker 3: me to play. I will seem blood.
• 1:15:00
  Speaker 1: All Scene five, Roxanna Fatima, what have you learned?
• 1:15:07
  Speaker 3: Is badges that indeed in love with her? And do
• 1:15:10
  Speaker 3: her words reveal their mutual flame?
• 1:15:13
  Speaker 7: She has not spoken, for her swoon continues, and only
• 1:15:18
  Speaker 7: long drawn sighs and feeble moans betoken that she lives,
• 1:15:22
  Speaker 7: while every moment her breath seems ready to depart forever.
• 1:15:27
  Speaker 7: Your ladies, emulous to give relief, removed the kerchief from
• 1:15:31
  Speaker 7: her panting bosom in mine own eagerness to aid their efforts.
• 1:15:35
  Speaker 7: I found this letter in its folds, concealed whereon I
• 1:15:40
  Speaker 7: recognized your lover's writing, and thought it best to bring
• 1:15:43
  Speaker 7: it straight to you.
• 1:15:45
  Speaker 3: Give it? Why throbs my heart? What sudden shock freezes
• 1:15:49
  Speaker 3: my sense, arrests my trembling hand. He may have written
• 1:15:54
  Speaker 3: nothing to offend my jealousy. He may see let me
• 1:15:57
  Speaker 3: read it. Neither death nor thou false promises of love
• 1:16:02
  Speaker 3: shall make me vow, when in my heart I cherish
• 1:16:05
  Speaker 3: only thee ha Have I then found the base treason out?
• 1:16:12
  Speaker 3: I see the bait with which they thought to catch me.
• 1:16:15
  Speaker 3: This then is his return for all my love, mean wretch,
• 1:16:19
  Speaker 3: unworthy of the life I left him. Now I can
• 1:16:23
  Speaker 3: breathe once more. What joy to know the traitor has
• 1:16:27
  Speaker 3: for once betrayed himself. Free from the pressure of tormenting fears,
• 1:16:32
  Speaker 3: my rage can calmly study its revenge. Aye, let the
• 1:16:37
  Speaker 3: monster die, Let him be seized, Go bid my mutes,
• 1:16:42
  Speaker 3: prepare his punishment, and to his neck apply the fatal
• 1:16:46
  Speaker 3: bowstring that ends the heinous guilt of such as he.
• 1:16:50
  Speaker 1: Run.
• 1:16:50
  Speaker 3: Fatima, be prompt to serve my wrath.
• 1:16:54
  Speaker 7: Ah, Madam, Well, what is it? May I venture without
• 1:16:58
  Speaker 7: displeasing you so justly wroth to ask indulgence for a
• 1:17:03
  Speaker 7: timid voice. Tis true that ba Jasette of life unworthy,
• 1:17:09
  Speaker 7: deserves to suffer at their cruel hands. But ingrate as
• 1:17:13
  Speaker 7: he is, tis amorth rather than he that should engage
• 1:17:18
  Speaker 7: your fears to day. Who knows but that some faithless
• 1:17:22
  Speaker 7: tongue already may have warned him of your plot and
• 1:17:26
  Speaker 7: hearts like his, as you must know full well, when
• 1:17:29
  Speaker 7: once offended, know not how to pardon. Had such a moment,
• 1:17:34
  Speaker 7: the swift stroke of death becomes the dearest token of
• 1:17:37
  Speaker 7: their love.
• 1:17:39
  Speaker 3: Ah, with what cruelty and insolence they both made sport
• 1:17:43
  Speaker 3: of my credulity, how readily, how gladly did I trust them,
• 1:17:49
  Speaker 3: was no great victory the trait had gained when he
• 1:17:51
  Speaker 3: deceived a heart prepared to love him, which feared the
• 1:17:54
  Speaker 3: thoughts so much it would not dream of falsehood. From
• 1:17:58
  Speaker 3: my proudest state. I stooped and sought you first, when
• 1:18:02
  Speaker 3: in the lowest depths of misery, to change a life
• 1:18:06
  Speaker 3: disturbed by constant dangers into one of peace and power.
• 1:18:10
  Speaker 3: But after all my care and kindness, you vow that
• 1:18:14
  Speaker 3: you can never say you love me. But why with
• 1:18:18
  Speaker 3: banished dreams let memory stray? You weep, poor fool, Those
• 1:18:24
  Speaker 3: tears now shed too late, were needed. Rather, when a
• 1:18:28
  Speaker 3: vain desire bred the first fatal thought of seeing him,
• 1:18:32
  Speaker 3: you weep, And he, still bent on treachery, thinks how
• 1:18:36
  Speaker 3: he may ensnare you with his words and keep life unharmed.
• 1:18:40
  Speaker 3: To please your rival, the wretch shall die. What Fatima
• 1:18:46
  Speaker 3: still here, begone, But I myself must hasten. Hence, like
• 1:18:51
  Speaker 3: an avenging spirit, let him see me, showing at once
• 1:18:55
  Speaker 3: his brother's fatal sentence, and this indisputable proof of treason. You, Fatima,
• 1:19:00
  Speaker 3: must keep my rival here and in his dying ear
• 1:19:04
  Speaker 3: her cries, shall sound a last farewell. Let her be
• 1:19:09
  Speaker 3: well attended. My hatred needs her life. Guard it with care.
• 1:19:14
  Speaker 3: If apprehension of her lover's death so touched her heart
• 1:19:17
  Speaker 3: that almost she expired? What surfeit of revenge? What strange
• 1:19:23
  Speaker 3: delight to show him? Soon a pallid corpse before her?
• 1:19:28
  Speaker 3: Then will her eyes? While on that sight they gaze.
• 1:19:31
  Speaker 3: Repay me for the pleasures I have lent them. Go
• 1:19:35
  Speaker 3: guard safely above all, keep silence. I but who comes
• 1:19:40
  Speaker 3: to make my vengeance? Linger?
• 1:19:43
  Speaker 1: Scene six Roxanna archamt Osmann.
• 1:19:48
  Speaker 5: What mean you, madam? By this long delay, wasting these
• 1:19:52
  Speaker 5: precious moments? It has been my care to gather all
• 1:19:56
  Speaker 5: stambul together, whose leaders are assailed by anxious questions. They all,
• 1:20:01
  Speaker 5: with my adherents, wait the signal you promised me this
• 1:20:05
  Speaker 5: movement to explain how comes it that? Neglecting their impatience,
• 1:20:10
  Speaker 5: the palace keeps meanwhile a gloomy silence. Madam, declare yourself
• 1:20:15
  Speaker 5: postpone no longer.
• 1:20:18
  Speaker 3: You shall be satisfied. It shall be done.
• 1:20:22
  Speaker 5: There is something in your look and voice severe that
• 1:20:25
  Speaker 5: seems to contradict such an assurance. Does then your love
• 1:20:30
  Speaker 5: all obstacles o'er come.
• 1:20:33
  Speaker 3: The traitor badges it has lived too long. He traitor,
• 1:20:39
  Speaker 3: I like to mean you we were his dupes. How
• 1:20:44
  Speaker 3: so that Ada Light, whose hand was a reward of
• 1:20:48
  Speaker 3: little worth for all that you have dared on his
• 1:20:51
  Speaker 3: behalf well read. And after such an insult, judge, if
• 1:20:58
  Speaker 3: we should yet defend so foul a traitor, tware better
• 1:21:02
  Speaker 3: far to face the just resentment of Amarath, who comes
• 1:21:06
  Speaker 3: with Laurel's crowned, leaving a base accomplice to his fate,
• 1:21:10
  Speaker 3: and soothe the Sultan by a prompt submission.
• 1:21:15
  Speaker 1: Kabt giving her back the letter.
• 1:21:18
  Speaker 5: Yes, since the wretched dares to insult me, thus I
• 1:21:21
  Speaker 5: will myself most willingly avenge you leave it to me
• 1:21:26
  Speaker 5: from both of us, to clear the stain with which
• 1:21:28
  Speaker 5: his life has covered ours. Show me the road, and
• 1:21:32
  Speaker 5: I will run.
• 1:21:34
  Speaker 3: Nay Ahmed be mine. The pleasure of confounding him to
• 1:21:39
  Speaker 3: see his terror and enjoy his shame. Revenge would lose
• 1:21:43
  Speaker 3: its sweetness if too swift, I go to make all
• 1:21:47
  Speaker 3: ready you meanwhile disperse at once the crowds that have.
• 1:21:51
  Speaker 1: Assembled Scene seven Arkabt Osmann stay.
• 1:21:58
  Speaker 5: Tis not time to go away just yet?
• 1:22:01
  Speaker 6: What has your love bereft you of your judgment, desire
• 1:22:07
  Speaker 6: for vengeance carries you too far? Will you be witness
• 1:22:11
  Speaker 6: of the Prince's death?
• 1:22:14
  Speaker 5: What mean you? Are you then, so credulous as to
• 1:22:18
  Speaker 5: suspect me of such foolish anger? You think me jealous?
• 1:22:23
  Speaker 5: Would to heaven that he had, by his falsehood injured
• 1:22:26
  Speaker 5: only me?
• 1:22:28
  Speaker 6: Why then, instead of pleading for the prince.
• 1:22:32
  Speaker 5: Is the Sultana in a state to hear me? Do
• 1:22:35
  Speaker 5: you not see? When I propose to find him, I
• 1:22:38
  Speaker 5: meant to share with him success or ruin unlucky issue
• 1:22:42
  Speaker 5: of this tangled plot infatuated prince? Or rather I loaded
• 1:22:47
  Speaker 5: with years and honors to have placed the labyrinthian clue
• 1:22:51
  Speaker 5: in hands so young, and left my own frail and
• 1:22:54
  Speaker 5: uncertain fortune to follow where these thoughtless lovers led.
• 1:22:58
  Speaker 6: Leave her to carath on batches it if he will perish,
• 1:23:05
  Speaker 6: Think of your own safety. Who can reveal your secret schemes,
• 1:23:10
  Speaker 6: my lord? But friends who may be trusted to keep silence.
• 1:23:15
  Speaker 6: The Prince's death will pacify the Sultan.
• 1:23:19
  Speaker 5: So in her madness may roxanna fancy, But I have
• 1:23:23
  Speaker 5: keener eyes. Experience of many years has taught me how
• 1:23:26
  Speaker 5: a monarch both thinks an acts three sultans. Have I
• 1:23:30
  Speaker 5: served and seen my fellows drop like falling leaves. Boldness
• 1:23:35
  Speaker 5: is better than servility to win and keep the favor
• 1:23:38
  Speaker 5: of the great, as I have proved full oft, the
• 1:23:41
  Speaker 5: cringing slave must die when he incurs his master's wrath.
• 1:23:46
  Speaker 5: Fly then, just now, that seems the safest course. But
• 1:23:51
  Speaker 5: then my plot had not advanced so far. Retreat is
• 1:23:55
  Speaker 5: harder now than to press on. The Lightning's brilliant flash
• 1:23:58
  Speaker 5: must mark my fall, leaving behind me wreck and desolation,
• 1:24:02
  Speaker 5: which may retard my enemy's pursuit. Why be dumbfounded? Ba
• 1:24:07
  Speaker 5: Jase still lives? Have I not brought him out of
• 1:24:10
  Speaker 5: sore straits? Come? Let us save him in his own
• 1:24:14
  Speaker 5: despite for us, our friends, ay, even for Roxanna. Did
• 1:24:20
  Speaker 5: you not see how eager to protect him she stayed
• 1:24:23
  Speaker 5: my arm, too ready to adventure. Little know I of love,
• 1:24:27
  Speaker 5: But I am sure his shame is what she longs for,
• 1:24:30
  Speaker 5: not his life. We still have time. Roxanna, though despairing,
• 1:24:36
  Speaker 5: still loves him Osmond, and is gone to see him.
• 1:24:40
  Speaker 6: What has inspired you to such Daun't this daring? We
• 1:24:44
  Speaker 6: tarry here? But it Roxanna's pleasure is not this palace full.
• 1:24:49
  Speaker 5: Of abjects, slaves, untrained to arms, sheltered within these walls
• 1:24:54
  Speaker 5: from birth. But you, whose valor amareth forgets to honor
• 1:24:59
  Speaker 5: linked by common and grievance, will you support me to
• 1:25:02
  Speaker 5: the bitter end.
• 1:25:04
  Speaker 6: To doubt it is to run me. If you die,
• 1:25:08
  Speaker 6: I will die too.
• 1:25:11
  Speaker 5: A bold and well armed troop of friends await us
• 1:25:13
  Speaker 5: at the palace gates. Roxanna thinks the words I spoke
• 1:25:17
  Speaker 5: sincere brought up within the palace, Well, I know its
• 1:25:20
  Speaker 5: windings and where Bajoes is lodged. Let us proceed, And
• 1:25:25
  Speaker 5: if I needs must die, then let us perish. Osmond
• 1:25:29
  Speaker 5: As becomes a vizier such as I am and his friend.
• 1:25:34
  Speaker 1: In the fact four, Act five of Bajees by Jean Racine,
• 1:25:44
  Speaker 1: translated by Robert Bruce Boswell. This is a LibriVox recording.
• 1:25:50
  Speaker 1: All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more
• 1:25:53
  Speaker 1: information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Act five,
• 1:26:01
  Speaker 1: Scene one.
• 1:26:02
  Speaker 4: Utterly alas mine eyes search every spot in vain, unhappy
• 1:26:08
  Speaker 4: that I am? How have I lost him? Why did
• 1:26:12
  Speaker 4: kind Heaven allow my fatal love to hang? Such perils
• 1:26:15
  Speaker 4: o'er his head to day and worst of all that
• 1:26:19
  Speaker 4: this disastrous letter should reach my rival's eyes. Yes, it
• 1:26:24
  Speaker 4: was here Rosanna found me, and my timid hand concealed
• 1:26:27
  Speaker 4: the dangerous missive in my bosom. While taken by surprise,
• 1:26:31
  Speaker 4: I checked my tears. Then, as with threatening voice, she
• 1:26:36
  Speaker 4: bade me know the Sultan's order. All my senses left me.
• 1:26:41
  Speaker 4: When I recovered round me stood her ladies, who now
• 1:26:45
  Speaker 4: have vanished from my wondering eyes. Ah cruel were the
• 1:26:49
  Speaker 4: hands that succored me. Their help was purchased at too
• 1:26:53
  Speaker 4: dear a price, for they conveyed this letter to Rosanna.
• 1:26:57
  Speaker 4: What horrid purpose now her minding grossest? Who will be
• 1:27:01
  Speaker 4: first the victim of her vengeance? What blood will satisfy
• 1:27:05
  Speaker 4: her keen resentment? Ah Ba Jasette is dead or dies
• 1:27:10
  Speaker 4: this moment, and I, meanwhile, I am kept a prisoner here.
• 1:27:16
  Speaker 4: But the door opens, I shall learn his fate.
• 1:27:20
  Speaker 1: Scene two Roxenna Utterlid. Fatima guards Roxenna to Utterid.
• 1:27:27
  Speaker 4: Withdraw, forgive the feelings which overcome me?
• 1:27:32
  Speaker 3: Withdraw? I tell you answer not a word. Gods keep
• 1:27:36
  Speaker 3: her close.
• 1:27:39
  Speaker 1: Scene three Roxanna Fatima.
• 1:27:42
  Speaker 3: Yes, Fatima, all's ready black orcan and the mutes await
• 1:27:47
  Speaker 3: their victim. Yet still like hounded leash. I hold his
• 1:27:51
  Speaker 3: fate restrained, but once let loose, it slays its quarry.
• 1:27:57
  Speaker 3: Say is he coming.
• 1:27:59
  Speaker 7: Close upon my footsteps? A slave conducts him unsuspicious? Seems
• 1:28:04
  Speaker 7: he of eminent disgrace for eagerly to seek you, Madam?
• 1:28:08
  Speaker 7: Did he leave his chamber.
• 1:28:11
  Speaker 3: Poor feeble soul courting thine own deception? Canst thou again
• 1:28:16
  Speaker 3: suffer the traitor's presence? Dost think that words of thine,
• 1:28:20
  Speaker 3: by love or fear may move him? Ian should he submit?
• 1:28:25
  Speaker 3: Canst thou forgive? Should vengeance linger any longer? Have not
• 1:28:31
  Speaker 3: his wrongs yet overflowed thy cup? Waste no more efforts
• 1:28:35
  Speaker 3: on a heart of stone, But let the caitiff perish.
• 1:28:39
  Speaker 3: Ha he comes.
• 1:28:42
  Speaker 1: Scene four ba Jesse Roxenna.
• 1:28:46
  Speaker 3: I will not weary you if vain reproaches. The moments
• 1:28:50
  Speaker 3: are too precious to be wasted in words. And I
• 1:28:53
  Speaker 3: should say, but what you knew, your very life bears
• 1:28:57
  Speaker 3: witness to my care for you. And if my love
• 1:29:00
  Speaker 3: meets no response, I murmur not thereat, though sooth to
• 1:29:05
  Speaker 3: say this love of mine, perchance and all my kindness
• 1:29:09
  Speaker 3: might well add something to my feeble charms. But when
• 1:29:13
  Speaker 3: in place of gratitude. I find that you have met
• 1:29:16
  Speaker 3: such love and confidence with feigned affection and prolonged deceit.
• 1:29:22
  Speaker 3: Your baseness fills me with astonishment. Mine, madam yours, I say,
• 1:29:29
  Speaker 3: will he not still disown the scorn you fancy undetected?
• 1:29:33
  Speaker 3: Why should you not continue to disguise with hues of
• 1:29:36
  Speaker 3: falsehood love that is another's, and swear to me with
• 1:29:40
  Speaker 3: that perfidious tongue all that you feel for her, your utelide.
• 1:29:47
  Speaker 2: For adelaide good heavens? Who then has told.
• 1:29:51
  Speaker 3: You stop trait a look and then deny you wrote it?
• 1:29:57
  Speaker 1: La jose? After looking at the letter.
• 1:30:00
  Speaker 2: I say no more. This letter's frank avowal contains the
• 1:30:03
  Speaker 2: revelation of a love crossed by disaster. Now you know
• 1:30:07
  Speaker 2: a secret ready to leap to light, and all but
• 1:30:10
  Speaker 2: owned a thousand times already, Yes, I love, and ere
• 1:30:15
  Speaker 2: your flame had shown itself to blast my hopes. This passion,
• 1:30:19
  Speaker 2: formed in infancy, had steeled my heart against all other charms.
• 1:30:23
  Speaker 2: If I may dare to tell you so, your love
• 1:30:26
  Speaker 2: thought that by lavish kindness it might win me, and
• 1:30:29
  Speaker 2: your own heart interpreted my feelings. I knew your error,
• 1:30:33
  Speaker 2: But what could I do? I saw it was one
• 1:30:36
  Speaker 2: you would be loath to part with. Oft have ambitious
• 1:30:39
  Speaker 2: hearts like mine been tempted by offers of a throne.
• 1:30:42
  Speaker 2: The gift alured me. I hesitated not, but gladly seized
• 1:30:46
  Speaker 2: the opportunity of gaining freedom, And all the more that
• 1:30:49
  Speaker 2: to decline meant death. That you yourself pressed me with eagerness,
• 1:30:53
  Speaker 2: and nothing feared so much as my refusal, that would
• 1:30:56
  Speaker 2: moreover have involved your ruin. For after having dared to
• 1:31:00
  Speaker 2: speak with me, your greatest danger lay in drawing back.
• 1:31:04
  Speaker 2: Yet I would call your own complaints to witness. Did
• 1:31:08
  Speaker 2: I beguile you with false promises? Recall how many times
• 1:31:12
  Speaker 2: you've reproached me with silence that betrayed my inward trouble.
• 1:31:16
  Speaker 2: The nearer to the crown you held before me, the
• 1:31:19
  Speaker 2: more I blamed myself and felt abashed. The heaven that
• 1:31:23
  Speaker 2: heard me knows what thou sincere I offered, which would
• 1:31:26
  Speaker 2: surely have been kept, had but their power been equal
• 1:31:29
  Speaker 2: to my hopes and to my gratitude. Free scope afforded
• 1:31:33
  Speaker 2: I with such honors and such dignities, would have repaid
• 1:31:37
  Speaker 2: your kindness and contented your pride.
• 1:31:39
  Speaker 3: That even you, perhaps, and how could you do aught
• 1:31:43
  Speaker 3: to please me, keeping back your heart? What thous of
• 1:31:47
  Speaker 3: yours could profit me? Have you forgotten who and what
• 1:31:51
  Speaker 3: I am? That mistress? Here? Your life is in my power,
• 1:31:56
  Speaker 3: that to my guidance, Amarath has trusted the helm of state,
• 1:32:00
  Speaker 3: made me sultana, me the sovereign of his heart. Though
• 1:32:05
  Speaker 3: yours Dessoun's allegiance on this pinnacle of glory already said,
• 1:32:10
  Speaker 3: how could you lift me higher? Attempting lot forsooth to
• 1:32:14
  Speaker 3: linger here rejected by a wretch whom I had crowned,
• 1:32:19
  Speaker 3: degraded from my proper rank, and made at best the
• 1:32:23
  Speaker 3: foremost of my rival slaves. Enough of idle words they
• 1:32:28
  Speaker 3: weary me for the last time, say, will you live
• 1:32:33
  Speaker 3: and reign? Here is the Sultan's order? Yet can I
• 1:32:37
  Speaker 3: still save you?
• 1:32:38
  Speaker 6: But be quick?
• 1:32:40
  Speaker 3: Speak?
• 1:32:42
  Speaker 2: What is it that I must do?
• 1:32:44
  Speaker 3: Come with me instantly and see my rival die strangled
• 1:32:48
  Speaker 3: by mutes. Then, from a love released fatal to greatness,
• 1:32:53
  Speaker 3: pledge me your faith and time will do the rest.
• 1:32:57
  Speaker 3: This is the price that you must pay for pardon.
• 1:33:01
  Speaker 2: Should I consent, twould be to reak revenge on you,
• 1:33:04
  Speaker 2: to make my horror and my scorn brand you with infamy.
• 1:33:07
  Speaker 2: Before the world. But fury surely makes me mad. That
• 1:33:11
  Speaker 2: thus I wet your rage against poor Adelaide. If I
• 1:33:15
  Speaker 2: am guilty, she is no accomplice. If you are wronged,
• 1:33:19
  Speaker 2: no part had she therein. Unmoved by selfish jealousy. She
• 1:33:23
  Speaker 2: urged that I should give both heart and hand to you.
• 1:33:27
  Speaker 2: Let not my fault stain her transcendent virtue. Pour out
• 1:33:31
  Speaker 2: your wrath, but temper it with justice without delay. Perform
• 1:33:35
  Speaker 2: the Sultan's orders. But let my death at least be
• 1:33:38
  Speaker 2: free from hatred. Not her has Amrith's sentence doomed with me.
• 1:33:43
  Speaker 2: Then spare a life unfortunate enough, add this last favor
• 1:33:47
  Speaker 2: to so many others. And if you ever held me dear, depart.
• 1:33:54
  Speaker 1: Scene five Roxanna Fatima, never.
• 1:33:58
  Speaker 3: Again shut thou traitor, Thou marchest to the tomb that
• 1:34:03
  Speaker 3: is thy due.
• 1:34:05
  Speaker 7: Her tarllied craves your ear a moment, Madam, and fain
• 1:34:08
  Speaker 7: would do obeisance at your feet. She wishes to confide
• 1:34:12
  Speaker 7: to you a secret that touches you more nearly than herself.
• 1:34:17
  Speaker 3: Yes, let her come. You follow badges it, and when
• 1:34:21
  Speaker 3: the time comes, tell me of his fate.
• 1:34:25
  Speaker 1: Scene six. Roxanna, utterly, I.
• 1:34:29
  Speaker 4: Come not now to play the hypocrite. Too long have
• 1:34:32
  Speaker 4: I abused your goodness? Madam? I blush to feel that
• 1:34:35
  Speaker 4: I deserve your hatred, and prostrate at your feet, confess
• 1:34:39
  Speaker 4: my crime. Yes, madam, it is true. I have deceived
• 1:34:44
  Speaker 4: you my own heart's passion, all my care engrossed at
• 1:34:49
  Speaker 4: sight of Bajazette, you were forgotten, and every word I
• 1:34:52
  Speaker 4: spoke betrayed my trust. I loved him from a child,
• 1:34:57
  Speaker 4: and ever since to keep in mine has been my
• 1:35:00
  Speaker 4: constant study. His royal mother, blind to fate's decree, favored
• 1:35:05
  Speaker 4: our union and prepared his ruin. You loved him later,
• 1:35:10
  Speaker 4: better far for both, if you had known my heart,
• 1:35:13
  Speaker 4: or hiding yours had with less confidence reposed on mine.
• 1:35:17
  Speaker 4: I do not wrong myself to justify the prince. I
• 1:35:21
  Speaker 4: swear by Heaven that sees my shame, by those great
• 1:35:24
  Speaker 4: ancestors from whom I spring, who kneel with me thus
• 1:35:28
  Speaker 4: at your feet and plead for their own blood, the
• 1:35:31
  Speaker 4: purest they have left. With time, you would have won
• 1:35:34
  Speaker 4: the love you sought, and Bajazette been vanquished by your charms,
• 1:35:39
  Speaker 4: had not my jealousy been prompt to urge all that
• 1:35:42
  Speaker 4: might hold him back nought. I neglected piteous complaints or
• 1:35:47
  Speaker 4: tears or indignation, and bade him reverence his mother's ashes.
• 1:35:53
  Speaker 4: This very day, the climax of misfortune. Reproaching him with
• 1:35:57
  Speaker 4: having raised your hopes and laying to his charge my death,
• 1:36:02
  Speaker 4: I strove with earnest importunity to rest a pledge that,
• 1:36:06
  Speaker 4: given at last against his will, has plunged him into
• 1:36:10
  Speaker 4: ruin with myself. But why should you be weary of
• 1:36:14
  Speaker 4: your kindness or dwell upon past coldness. It was I
• 1:36:19
  Speaker 4: who forced him to untie the knot which soon will
• 1:36:22
  Speaker 4: bind your hearts once more when I am gone. And yet,
• 1:36:26
  Speaker 4: however my crime may merit death, Do not yourself inflict
• 1:36:30
  Speaker 4: just punishment, nor show Roxanna to his frenzied eyes red
• 1:36:35
  Speaker 4: with the blood of attalide. But spare his tender heart
• 1:36:38
  Speaker 4: so violent to shock. You need not fear to leave
• 1:36:42
  Speaker 4: me to my fate. The stroke of death will suffer
• 1:36:45
  Speaker 4: no delay thereby, nor fail your triumph to secure crown him.
• 1:36:51
  Speaker 4: And in a hero's lovely joice, may death be my concern,
• 1:36:55
  Speaker 4: his life be yours. Go madam, go and here you
• 1:37:01
  Speaker 4: can return. You shall not need to fear a rival more.
• 1:37:05
  Speaker 3: I have no claim to sacrifice so great I judge
• 1:37:08
  Speaker 3: myself and know my own demerits. So far from parting you,
• 1:37:13
  Speaker 3: I mean to day to bind you in inseparable bonds
• 1:37:17
  Speaker 3: for ever. Soon your eyes shall feast upon him. Rise, Fatima,
• 1:37:23
  Speaker 3: what wild alarm has seized her?
• 1:37:27
  Speaker 1: Scene seven Roxenna, utterlid, Fatima.
• 1:37:31
  Speaker 7: Ah Madam, Come and see how all the palace is
• 1:37:34
  Speaker 7: in possession of the trader Ahmet. His friends, with sacrilegious
• 1:37:38
  Speaker 7: hands have forced an entrance right into the royal Harem.
• 1:37:42
  Speaker 7: Your trembling slaves, half of their number fled doubt whether
• 1:37:46
  Speaker 7: he obeys or violates your will.
• 1:37:49
  Speaker 3: Lets hasten to confound the traitors, You God, my captive,
• 1:37:53
  Speaker 3: if you love your life?
• 1:37:56
  Speaker 1: Scene eight, utterlid, Fatima.
• 1:37:59
  Speaker 4: Alah yes, I know not which should have my prayers,
• 1:38:03
  Speaker 4: the purposes of both alike unknown, if any pity for
• 1:38:07
  Speaker 4: such woes can touch you, I beg you, Fatima, not
• 1:38:11
  Speaker 4: to betray Rosanna's secrets, but to tell me only how
• 1:38:15
  Speaker 4: fares it now with hapless Bajazette, Say have you seen him?
• 1:38:20
  Speaker 4: Is his life in danger?
• 1:38:22
  Speaker 7: I feel compassion for your troubles, Madam.
• 1:38:26
  Speaker 4: What has Roxanna given the fatal order? Already I a
• 1:38:31
  Speaker 4: pledge to secrecy, unhappy wretch, But tell me that he.
• 1:38:35
  Speaker 7: Lives tis much as life is worth. To speak a
• 1:38:38
  Speaker 7: word too cruel.
• 1:38:40
  Speaker 4: Thus to torture, make an end, and give her yet
• 1:38:44
  Speaker 4: a surer proof of zeal. This silence pains worse than
• 1:38:48
  Speaker 4: a digger's point, pitiless slave of a Barbarian captive, she
• 1:38:53
  Speaker 4: feigned would slay me, piers, disheart yourself and show yourself
• 1:38:57
  Speaker 4: worthy of such a mistress. Not keep me here this
• 1:39:01
  Speaker 4: very hour. I must see Bajaste, or else must die.
• 1:39:07
  Speaker 1: See nine dlide akhmet Fatima.
• 1:39:11
  Speaker 5: Ah, tell me, Madam, where is BAJOSEE? Have I yet
• 1:39:17
  Speaker 5: time to save him? I have searched the palace through
• 1:39:20
  Speaker 5: and through. At our first entrance, we parted company with
• 1:39:25
  Speaker 5: gallant Osmond. What half our valiant comrades and the rest
• 1:39:28
  Speaker 5: have followed me elsewhere with hasty steps, but all in vain.
• 1:39:33
  Speaker 5: For frightened slaves alone and flying women meet my anxious eyes.
• 1:39:38
  Speaker 4: Alas I know his fate e'en less than you, this
• 1:39:41
  Speaker 4: slave can tell you.
• 1:39:43
  Speaker 5: All fear my just wrath wretch, answer truly.
• 1:39:49
  Speaker 1: Scene ten artlid akhmet Fatima Sarah, Madam.
• 1:39:55
  Speaker 4: Well, dear Zara, what is it fear.
• 1:39:58
  Speaker 8: No longer, for your foe is dying.
• 1:40:01
  Speaker 4: Who Rosanna aye?
• 1:40:04
  Speaker 8: And what may more surprise you? Orcan's hand has done it? Orkhan,
• 1:40:09
  Speaker 8: no doubt, despair, battled, crime has goaded him to take
• 1:40:13
  Speaker 8: this other victim.
• 1:40:15
  Speaker 4: Heaven's justice then has succored innocence. The prince yet lives.
• 1:40:20
  Speaker 4: Run Ahmed and release him.
• 1:40:22
  Speaker 8: He will learn all the truth from Osmond's lips. Who
• 1:40:25
  Speaker 8: saw it done?
• 1:40:27
  Speaker 1: Seene eleven utterid akhbet osman Sarah.
• 1:40:32
  Speaker 5: Have not her eyes deceived her? Is the Sultana dead?
• 1:40:37
  Speaker 1: Yes?
• 1:40:38
  Speaker 6: I have seen the assassin's dagger from her heart withdrawn
• 1:40:43
  Speaker 6: wet with her blood. Twas Orcan's cruel hand that did
• 1:40:48
  Speaker 6: the deed not unpremeditate, for he had secret orders from
• 1:40:53
  Speaker 6: the Sultan to slay her lover first and then Rosanna.
• 1:41:00
  Speaker 6: Where we drew near, or Khan caught sight of us,
• 1:41:03
  Speaker 6: respect said he your royal master's mandate and recognized his
• 1:41:10
  Speaker 6: own imperial seal. Hence, traitors, quit the palace, you profane.
• 1:41:17
  Speaker 6: Saying these words, he left. His dying victim approached us,
• 1:41:23
  Speaker 6: and with blood stained hand unfolded the written order Amarath
• 1:41:28
  Speaker 6: had given the wretch to execute this double murder but
• 1:41:34
  Speaker 6: loath to hear him longer. We, my Lord, transported by
• 1:41:39
  Speaker 6: the rage and grief that seized us, with fierce impatience,
• 1:41:44
  Speaker 6: struck the monster down and so avenged the blood of Bajazette.
• 1:41:51
  Speaker 4: Of Bajazette.
• 1:41:53
  Speaker 1: What say you?
• 1:41:55
  Speaker 6: He is dead? Did you not know it? Grace Heaven Roxanna,
• 1:42:02
  Speaker 6: fearing your succor nigh maddened with fury, his life abandoned
• 1:42:08
  Speaker 6: to the fatal bowstring that satisfy of all myself, I
• 1:42:14
  Speaker 6: saw and vainly sought some lingering spark of life. The
• 1:42:20
  Speaker 6: prince was dead. Around his body lay dying or dead.
• 1:42:25
  Speaker 6: A noble band who fought for vengeance and by numbers overwhelmed,
• 1:42:31
  Speaker 6: accompanied his spirit to the shades. Now all is lost,
• 1:42:36
  Speaker 6: and we must save ourselves.
• 1:42:39
  Speaker 5: Ah, cruel fates, to what have ye reduced me? Madam?
• 1:42:45
  Speaker 5: I know the loss that you have suffered in ba Josee,
• 1:42:48
  Speaker 5: and reverence your sorrow too much to offer you the
• 1:42:51
  Speaker 5: poor support of heart whose hopes leaned only upon him.
• 1:42:56
  Speaker 5: His death has overwhelmed me with despair. No wish have
• 1:42:59
  Speaker 5: I save this guilty head. But comrades in misfortune claim
• 1:43:03
  Speaker 5: my care, and to the end their lives will I
• 1:43:07
  Speaker 5: defend as to yourself, if you would shelter find in
• 1:43:11
  Speaker 5: some far distant land. Consider now, if you will trust
• 1:43:15
  Speaker 5: my guidance masters, Here, my faithful friends, your wishes will await,
• 1:43:20
  Speaker 5: while I the favorable moments seizing hasten to make all
• 1:43:24
  Speaker 5: needful preparation. Then, where the sea washes the palace walls,
• 1:43:29
  Speaker 5: my vessels, furnished for their voyage, shall fetch you.
• 1:43:33
  Speaker 1: Scene twelve, utterly, Sarah.
• 1:43:36
  Speaker 4: All, then at last is over my Deceits, unjust suspicions
• 1:43:41
  Speaker 4: and accursed caprices have brought me to this hour of agony,
• 1:43:47
  Speaker 4: when through my crime I see my lover die. Was
• 1:43:50
  Speaker 4: it not misery enough for me? That cruel fate should
• 1:43:53
  Speaker 4: do me to survive him? That I must suffer torment
• 1:43:57
  Speaker 4: past endurance, knowing his death due to my jealous madness. Yes,
• 1:44:03
  Speaker 4: my beloved, it is I have slain thee I only,
• 1:44:07
  Speaker 4: not Rosanna nor the Sultan. My hand it was that
• 1:44:11
  Speaker 4: wove the fatal snare into whose hateful mishes you hast fallen.
• 1:44:16
  Speaker 4: Yet I outlived this horror at my heart, I who
• 1:44:20
  Speaker 4: so lately felt my senses leave me at the mere
• 1:44:23
  Speaker 4: dread of danger to his life. Alas And has my
• 1:44:28
  Speaker 4: very love destroyed thee I cannot think upon it more.
• 1:44:32
  Speaker 4: Be swift my trusty hand, and let my blood atone Ye, heroes,
• 1:44:37
  Speaker 4: who in him should have revived your glory? Whose repose
• 1:44:41
  Speaker 4: I have disturbed? Unhappy mother, who with other hopes didst
• 1:44:45
  Speaker 4: tell me that he loved me when a boy ill fated,
• 1:44:49
  Speaker 4: Ahmed friends disconsolate, and thou Rosanna banded all against me.
• 1:44:55
  Speaker 4: Come add fresh anguish to a frantic heart, and take
• 1:44:59
  Speaker 4: on meat a vengeance I deserve.
• 1:45:03
  Speaker 1: She kills herself, Madam, she is dead.
• 1:45:10
  Speaker 8: Would God that I, heartbroken as I am with her,
• 1:45:14
  Speaker 8: might die in the fact.
• 1:45:19
  Speaker 1: Five in the Bajas by Jean Racine, translated by Robert
• 1:45:24
  Speaker 1: Bruce Boswell,