Page:Works of Voltaire Volume 16.djvu/46

ZOPIR.

Ha! Mahomet!

OMAR.

Yes, he conjures thee.

ZOPIR.

Traitor!

Were I the sole despotic ruler here
He should be answered soon——by chastisement.

OMAR.

I pity, Zopir, thy pretended virtue;

But since the senate insolently claim
Divided empire with thee, to the senate
Let us begone; Omar will meet thee there.

ZOPIR.

I’ll follow thee: we then shall see who best

Can plead his cause: I will defend my gods,
My country, and her laws; thy impious voice
Shall bellow for thy vengeful deity,
Thy persecuting god, and his false prophet.

[Turning to Phanor.

Haste, Phanor, and with me repulse the traitor;

Who spares a villain is a villain:—come,
Let us, my friend, unite to crush his pride,
Subvert his wily purposes, destroy him,
Or perish in the attempt: If Mecca listens
To Zopir’s councils, I shall free my country
From a proud tyrant’s power, and save mankind.

End of the First Act.