With envious worship—must we from our meals
And quiet couches, like your rude barbarians,
Be fear'd and roused still with horrid bellowing
Of curst artillery? it is a shame!
FIRST CROWD.
Ev'n Mahomet regards our polish'd race
And rare acquirements; but for Constantine
SECOND CROWD.
Of savage strangers; and should they refuse us,
Ev'n with good teeth and nails, fail other means,
We will do vultures' work upon them all.
(All of them calling out together, and brandishing their torches, &c, as before.)
Emperor! Constantine! come forth to us!
(A grand door of the palace opens, from which two flights of stairs descend into the street, and Constantine with his friends appear coming out upon the landing place. The Crowd raise a great noise upon seeing him, and he stretches out his hand as if he wished to speak, but they still continue loud and clamorous.)
CONSTANTINE.
