[_Emperor, taking him by the throat with one
hand, snatches out his sword with the
other, and points it to his breast._
_Emp._ Slave, have I raised thee to this pomp and power,
To preach against my will?--Know, I am law;
And thou, not Mahomet's messenger but mine!--
Make it, I charge thee, make my pleasure lawful;
Or, first, I strip thee of thy ghostly greatness,
Then send thee post to tell thy tale above.
And bring thy vain memorials to thy prophet,
Of justice done below for disobedience.
_Muf._ For heaven's sake hold!--The respite of a moment!--
To think for you--
_Emp._ And for thyself.
_Muf._ For both.
_Bend._ Disgrace, and death, and avarice, have lost him! [_Aside._
_Muf._ 'Tis true, our law forbids to wed a Christian;
But it forbids you not to ravish her.
You have a conqueror's right upon your slave;
And then the more despite you do a Christian,
You serve the prophet more, who loathes that sect.
_Emp._ O, now it mends; and you talk reason, Mufti.--
But, stay! I promised freedom to Sebastian;
Now, should I grant it, his revengeful soul
Would ne'er forgive his violated bed.
_Muf._ Kill him; for then you give him liberty:
His soul is from his earthly prison freed.
_Emp._ How happy is the prince who has a churchman,
So learned and pliant, to expound his laws!
_Bend.
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