Voltaire

“ Say, Omar, have my orders been obeyed?
OMAR.
They have, my lord.
MAHOMET.
'Tis well: remember, Omar,
In one important hour or Mahomet
Or Zopir is no more; if Zopir dies,
The credulous people will adore that God
Who thus declared for me, and saved his prophet:
Be this our first great object; that once done,
Take care of Seid; art thou sure the poison
Will do its office?
OMAR.
Fear it not, my lord.
MAHOMET.
O we must work in secret, the dark shades
Of death must hide our purpose—while we shed
Old Zopir's blood, be sure you keep Palmira
In deepest ignorance ”

“ PALMIRA.
I cannot leave thee.
SEID.
Thou must not be witness
To such as a deed of horror: these, Palmira
Are dreadful moments: fly to yonder grove,
Thou wilt be near the prophet there: away.
PALMIRA.
Zopir must die then?
SEID.
Yes: this fatal hand
Must drag him to the earth, there murder him,
And bathe yon ruined altar in his blood.
PALMIRA.
Die by thy hand! I shudder at the thought:
But see! He comes; just heaven!
(the farther part of the stage opens, and discovers an altar.)
ACT IV. SCENE IV Seid, Palmira, on the side; Zopir, standing near the altar. ”

“ Of Seid;” in my breast the tyrant lodged
The dreadful secret; now I suffer for it,
And die by Mahomet's detested hand:
Haste, Phanor, fly, inform the hapless Zopir,
That Seid and Palmira are—his children.
SEID.
Palmira!
PALMIRA.
Thou my brother?
ZOPIR.
O ye gods!
O nature, thou hast not deceived me then,
When thou didst please for them! Unhappy Seid,
What could have urged thee to so foul a deed?
SEID.
(kneeling.
My gratitude, my duty, my religion,
All that mankind hold sacred, urged me on
To do the worst of actions:--give me back
That fatal weapon.
PALMIRA.
(laying hold of Seid's arm) . ”