Page:Works of Voltaire Volume 16.djvu/44

 28 Omar is now the second of mankind; A place of honor yet remains for thee, If prudent thou wilt yield, and own a master: What we have been thou knowest, and what we are: The multitude are ever weak and blind, Made for our use, born but to serve the great, But to admire, believe us, and obey: Reign then with us, partake the feast of grandeur, No longer deign to imitate the crowd, But henceforth make them tremble.

Tremble thou, And Mahomet, with all thy hateful train: Thinkest thou that Mecca’s faithful chief will fall At an impostor’s feet, and crown a rebel? I am no stranger to his specious worth; His courage and his conduct have my praise; Were he but virtuous I like thee should love him; But as he is I hate the tyrant: hence, Nor talk to me of his deceitful mercy, His clemency and goodness; all his aim Is cruelty and vengeance: with this hand I slew his darling son; I banished him: My hatred is inflexible, and so Is Mahomet’s resentment: if he e’er Re-enters Mecca, he must cut his way Through Zopir’s blood, for he is deeply stained With crimes that justice never can forgive.

To show thee Mahomet is merciful, That he can pardon though thou canst not, here I offer thee the third of all our spoils Which we have taken from tributary kings; Name your conditions, and the terms of peace;