Voltaire

“ To-day, observe, I would have been they friend.
ZOPIR.
Can we be friends? Can Mahomet and Zopir
E'er be united? Say, what god shall work
A miracle like that?
MAHOMET.
I'll tell thee one,
A powerful God, one that is always heard,
By me he speaks to thee.
ZOPIR.
Who is it? Name him.
MAHOMET.
Interest, thy own dear interest.
ZOPIR.
Sooner heaven
And hell shall be united; interest
May be the god of Mahomet, but mine
Is—justice: what shall join them to each other?
Where is the cement that must bind our friendship? ”

“ Shall lead his conquering bands, and bring her peace.
'Tis mine to mark the errors of mankind,
And to avail me of them; but whilst thus
I try each art to soothe this fickle people
What thinks my friend of Seid and Palmira?
OMAR.
I think most nobly of them, that amidst
Those few staunch followers who own no God,
No faith but thine, who love thee as their father,
Their friend, and benefactor, none obey
Or serve thee with an humbler, better mind:
They are most faithful.
MAHOMET.
Omar, thou art deceived;
They are my worst foes, they love each other. ”

“ Palmira, 'tis enough : I know thy virtues;
Let naught disturb thee: spite of all my cares,
Glory, and empire, and the weight of war,
I will remember thee; Palmira still
Lives in my heart, and shares it with mankind:
Seid shall join troops: thou, gentle maid,
Mayest serve they God in peace: fear naught but Zopir.
ACT II, SCENE IV. Mahomet, Omar,
MAHOMET.
Brave Omar, stay, for in thy faithful bosom
Will I repose the secrets of my soul:
The lingering progress of a doubtful siege
May stop our rapid course; we must not give
These weak deluded mortals too much time
To pry into our actions ”