Mor. Luxurious kings are to their people lost: 
They live, like drones, upon the public cost. 
My arms from pole to pole the world shall shake,
And, with myself, keep all mankind awake.

Emp. Believe me, son, and needless trouble spare;
’Tis a base world, and is not worth our care: 
The vulgar, a scarce animated clod,
Ne’er pleased with aught above them, prince or God. 
Were I a God, the drunken globe should roll,
The little emmetts with the human soul
Care for themselves, while at my ease I sat,
And second causes did the work of fate;
Or, if I would take care, that care should be
For wit that scorned the world, and lived like me.

  To them, NOURMAHAL, ZAYDA, and Attendants.

Nour. My dear Morat, [Embracing her son.
This day propitious to us all has been: 
You’re now a monarch’s heir, and I a queen. 
Your faithful father now may quit the state,
And find the ease he sought, indulged by fate. 
Cares shall not keep him on the throne awake,
Nor break the golden slumbers he would take.

Emp. In vain I struggled to the gaol of life,
While rebel-sons, and an imperious wife,
Still dragged me backward into noise and strife.

Mor. Be that remembrance lost; and be it my pride To be your pledge of peace on either side.

  To them, AURENG-ZEBE.

Aur. With all the assurance innocence can bring,
Fearless without, because secure within,
Armed with my courage, unconcerned I see
This pomp; a shame to you, a pride to me. 
Shame is but where with wickedness ’tis joined;
And, while no baseness in this breast I find,
I have not lost the birth-right of my mind.

Emp. Children, the blind effect of love and chance,
Formed by their sportive parents’ ignorance,
Bear from their birth the impressions of a slave;
Whom heaven for play-games first, and then for service gave: 
One then may be displaced, and one may reign,
And want of merit render birth-right vain.

Mor. Comes he to upbraid us with his innocence?  Seize him, and take the preaching Brachman hence.

Aur. Stay, sir!—­I from my years no merit plead:  [To his Father.
All my designs and acts to duty lead. 
Your life and glory are my only end;
And for that prize I with Morat contend.

Mor. Not him alone:  I all mankind defy.  Who dares adventure more for both than I?

Aur. I know you brave, and take you at your word: 
That present service, which you vaunt, afford. 
Our two rebellious brothers are not dead: 
Though vanquished, yet again they gather head. 
I dare you, as your rival in renown,
March out your army from the imperial town: 
Chuse whom you please, the other leave to me;
And set our father absolutely free. 
This, if you do, to end all future strife,
I am content to lead a private life;
Disband my army, to secure the state,
Nor aim at more, but leave the rest to fate.