I want the heart to see the dismal sight Selin You are my principal invited ghest Whose eies I would not onely feed but feast You are to smile at his last groaning breath And laugh to see his eye-balls rowle in death To judge the lingring Souls convulsive strife VVhen thick short breath catches at parting life Benz. And of what Marble do you think me made Selin VVhat can you be of just revenge afraid Benz. He kill'd my Brother in his won defence Pity his youth and spare his innocence Selin Art thou so soon to pardon murder won Can he be innocent who kill'd my son Abenamar shall mourn as well as I His Ozmyn for my Tarifa shall die But since thou plead'st so boldly I will see That Justice thou woud'st hinder done by thee Gives her his sword Here take the sword and do a Sisters part Pierce his fond Girl Or I will pierce thy heart Ozmyn To his commands I joyn my own request All wounds from you are welcome to my brest Think onely when your hand this act has done It has but finish'd what your eies begun I thought with silence to have scorn'd my doom But now your noble pity has ore'come Which I acknowledge with my latest breath The first who ' ere began a love in death Benz. to Selin Alas what aid can my weak hand afford You see I tremble when I touch a sword The brightness dazles me and turnes my sight Or if I look 't is but to aim less right Ozmy I 'le guide the hand which must my death convay My leaping heart shall meet it half the way Selin to Benz. VVaste not the precious time in idle breath Benz. Let me resign this instrument of death giving the sword to her father and then pulling it back Ah no I was too hasty to resign 'T is in your hand more mortal then in mine To them Hamet Ham. The King is from th' Alhambra beaten back And now preparing for a new attacque To favour which he wills that instantly You reinforce him with a new supply Selin to Benz. Think not although my duty calls me hence That with the breach of yours I will dispence ' Ere my return see my commands you do Let me find Ozmin dead and kill'd by you Gazul and Reduan attend her still And if she dares to fail perform my will Exeunt Selin and Hamet Benzayda looks languishing on him with her sword down Gazul and Reduan standing with drawn swords by her Ozmin Defer not fair Benzaiida my death Looking on you I should but live to sigh away my breath My eyes have done the work they had to do I take your Image with me which they drew And when they close I shall dye full of you Benz. When Parents their Commands unjustly lay Children are priviledg'd to disobey Yet from that breach of duty I am clear Since I submit the penalty to bear To dye or kill you is th'alternative Rather then take your life I will not live Ozm. This shows th' excess of generosity But Madam you have no pretence to die I should defame th' Abencerrage's Race To let a Lady suffer in my place But neither could that life you would bestow Save mine nor do you so much pity owe To me a stranger and your houses foe Benz. From whence-soe're their Hate our Houses drew I blush to tell you I have none for you 'T is a Confession which I should not make Had I more time to give or you to take But since death's near and run's with so much force We must meet first and intercept his course Ozmyn Oh how unkind a comfort do you give Now I fear death again and wish to live Life were worth taking could I have it now But 't is more good than Heav'n can e're allow To one man's portion to have life and you Benz. Sure at our Births Death with our meeting Planets danc'd above Or we were wounded by a Mourning Love Shouts within Redu The noise returns and doubles from behind It seems as if two adverse Armies joyn'd Time presses us Gaz. If longer you delay We must though loath yours Fathers Will obey Ozm. Haste Madam to fulfil his hard Commands And rescue me from their ignoble Hands Let me kiss yours when you my wound begin Then easie Death will slide with pleasure in Benz. Ah gentle Soldiers some short time allow To Gaz. and Red. My Father has repented him e're now Or will repent him when he finds me dead My clue of Life is twin'd with Ozmyn's Thred Red. 'T is fatal to refuse her or obey But where is our excuse what can we say Benz. Say any thing Say that to kill the Guiltless you were loath Or if you did say I would kill you both Gaz. To disobey our Orders is to die I 'le do 't who dare oppose it Red. That dare I. Reduan stands before Ozmyn and fights with Gazul Benzayda unbinds Ozmyn and gives him her Sword Benz. Stay not to see the issue of the Fight Red. kils Gaz. But haste to save your self by speedy flight Ozmyn kneeling to kiss her hand Did all Mankind against my Life conspire Without this Blessing I would not retire But Madam can I goe and leave you here Your Fathers anger now for you I fear Consider you have done too much to stay Benz. Think not of me but fly your self away Red. Haste quickly hence the Enemies are nigh From every part I see our Soldiers fly The Foes not onely our Assailants beat But fiercely sally out on their Retreat And like a Sea broke loose come on amain To them Abenamar and a party with their swords drawn driving in some of the Enemies Aben. Traytors you hope to save your selves in vain Your forfeit Lives shall for your Treason pay And Ozmyn's Blood shall be reveng'd this day Ozmyn kneeling to his Father Ozmyn No Sir your Ozmyn lives and lives to own A Fathers piety to free his Son Abenamar embracing him Aben. My Ozmyn O thou blessing of my age And art thou safe from their deluded rage Whom must I praise for thy Deliverance Was it thy Valour or the work of Chance Ozmyn Nor Chance nor Valour could deliver me But 't was a noble Pity set me free My Liberty and Life And what your Happiness you 're pleas'd to call We to this charming Beauty owe it all Abenam to her Instruct me visible Divinity Instruct me by what Name to worship thee For to thy Vertue I would Altars raise Since thou art much above all humane praise But see Enter Almanzor his sword bloody leading in Almahide attended by Esperanza My other blessing Almahide is here I le to the King and tell him she is neer You Ozmyn on your fair deliverer wait And with your private Joys the publick Celebrate Exeunt Almanzor Almahide Esperanza Alman The work is done now Madam you are free At least if I can give you Liberty But you have Chains which you your self have chose And oh
and Duty cannot set me free Ev'n Sin it self has not a Charm for me Of marry'd Lovers I am sure the first And nothing but a King could so be curst Q. Almah What sadness sits upon your Royal Heart Have you a Grief and must not I have part All Creatures else a time of Love possess Man onely clogs with cares his happiness And while he shou'd enjoy his part of Bliss With thoughts of what may be destroys what is K. Boab. You guess'd aright I am opprest with grief And 't is from you that I must seek relief To the Company Leave us to sorrow there 's a rev'rence due Sad Kings like Suns Ecclips'd withdraw from view The Attendants goe off and Chairs are set for the King and Queen Almah So two kind Turtles when a storm is nigh Look up and see it gath'ring in the Skie Each calls his Mate to shelter in the Groves Leaving in murmures their unfinish'd Loves Perch'd on some dropping Branch they sit alone And Cooe and hearken to each others moan Boab. taking her by the hand Since Almahide you seem so kind a Wife What would you do to save a Husbands life Almah When Fate calls on that hard Necessity I 'll suffer death rather than you shall dye Boab. Suppose your Countrey should in danger be What would you undertake to set it free Almah It were too little to resign my Breath My own free Hand should give me nobler Death Boab. That Hand which would so much for Glory do Must yet do more for it must kill me too You must kill Me for that dear Countreys sake Or what 's all one must call Almanzor back Almah I see to what your Speech you now direct Either my Love or Vertue you suspect But know that when my person I resign'd I was too noble not to give my mind No more the shadow of Almanzor fear I have no room but for your Image here Boab. This Almahide would make me cease to mourn Were that Almanzor never to return But now my fearful People mutiny Their clamours call Almanzor back not I. Their safety through my ruine I pursue He must return and must be brought by you Almah That hour when I my Faith to you did plight I banish'd him for ever from my sight His banishment was to my Vertue due Not that I fear'd him for my self but you My Honour had preserv'd me innocent But I would your suspicion too prevent Which since I see augmented in your mind I yet more reason for his Exile find K. Boab. To your intreaties he will yield alone And on your doom depend my Life and Throne No longer therefore my desires withstand Or if desires prevail not my Command Q. Almah In his return too sadly I foresee Th' effects of your returning jealousie But your Command I prize above my life 'T is sacred to a Subject and a Wife If I have pow'r Almanzor shall return Boab. letting go her hand and starting up Curst be that fatal hour when I was born You love you love him and that love reveal By your too quick consent to his repeal My jealousie had but too just a ground And now you stab into my former wound Q. Almah This suddain change I do not understand Have you so soon forgot your own Command Boab. Grant that I did th' unjust injunction lay You should have lov'd me more then to obey I know you did this mutiny design But your Love-plot I 'le quickly countermine Let my Crown go he never shall return I like a Phoenix in my Nest will burn Almah You please me well that in one common Fate You wrap your Self and Me and all your State Let us no more of proud Almanzor hear 'T is better once to die than still to fear And better many times to dye than be Oblig'd past payment to an Enemy Boab. 'T is better but you wives still have one way When e're your Husbands are oblig'd you pay Almah Thou Heav'n who know'st it judge my innocence You Sir deserve not I should make defence Yet judge my Vertue by that proof I gave When I submitted to be made your Slave Boab. If I have been suspicious or unkind Forgive me many cares distract my mind Love and a Crown Two such excuses no one Man e're had And each of 'em enough to make me mad But now my Reason re-assumes its Throne And finds no safety when Almanzor's gone Send for him then I 'le be oblig'd and sue 'T is a less evil than to part with you I leave you to your thoughts but love me still Forgive my Passion and obey my Will Exit Boabdelin Almahide Sola My jealous Lord will soon to Rage return That Fire his Fear rakes up does inward burn But Heav'n which made me great has chose for me I must th' oblation for my People be I 'le cherish Honour then and Life despise What is not Pure is not for Sacrifice Yet for Almanzor I in secret mourn Can Vertue then admit of his return Yes for my Love I will by Vertue square My Heart 's not mine but all my Actions are I 'le like Almanzor act and dare to be As haughty and as wretched too as he What will he think is in my Message meant I scarcely understand my own intent But Silk-worm-like so long within have wrought That I am lost in my own Webb of thought Exit Almahide ACT. II. SCENE A Wood. Ozmyn and Benzayda Ozm. 'T Is true that our protection here has been Th' effect of Honour in the Spanish Queen But while I as a friend continue here I to my Country must a Foe appear Benz. Think not my Ozmyn that we here remain As friends but Pris'ners to the Pow'r of Spain Fortune dispences with your Countryes right But you desert your honour in your flight Ozm. I cannot leave you here and go away My Honour 's glad of a pretence to stay A noise within follow follow follow Enter Selin his sword drawn as pursued Selin I am pursu'd and now am spent and done My limbs suffice me not with strength to run And if I could alas what can I save A year the dregs of life too from the grave sits down on the ground Here will I sit and here attend my fate With the same hoary Majesty and State As Rome's old Senate for the Galls did wait Ben. It is my father and he seems distrest Ozmyn My honour bids me succour the opprest That life he sought for his I 'le freely give We 'll dye together or together live Benz. I 'le call more succour since the Camp is near And fly on all the wings of Love and fear Exit Benz. Enter Abenamar and four or five Moors He looks and finds Selin Aben. Ye've liv'd and now behold your latest hour Selin I scorn your malice and defy your pow'r A speedy death is all I ask you now And that 's a favour you may well allow Ozmyn shewing himself Who gives you death shall give
a servant with Ozmyn Ozmyn kneels Aben. to Selin It is enough my promise makes you free Resign your bonds and take your liberty Ozmyn Sir you are just and welome are these bands 'T is all th' inheritance a son demands Selin Your goodness O my Ozmyn is too great I am not weary of my fetters yet Already when you move me to resign I feel 'em heavier on your feet than mine Another Souldier or Servant Sold. A youth attends you in the outter room Who seems in hast and does from Ozmyn come Aben. Conduct him in Ozm. Sent from Benzayda I fear to me To them Benzayda in the habit of a man Benz. My Ozmyn here Ozmyn Benzaida 't is she Go youth I have no business for thee here to her Go to th' Albayzin and attend me there I 'le not be long away I prithee goe By all our Love and frindship Ben. Ozmyn no. I did not take on me this bold disguise For ends so low to cheat your watchmens eies When I attempted this it was to doe An Action to be envy'd ev'n by you But you alas have been too diligent And what I purpos'd fatally prevent Those chains which for my father I would bear I take with less content to find you here Except your father will that mercy show That I may wear 'em both for him and you Aben. I thank thee fortune thou hast in one hour Put all I could have ask'd thee in my pow'r My own lost wealth thou giv'st not only back But driv'st upon my Coast my Pyrats wrack Selin With Ozmyns kindness I was griev'd before But yours Benzaida has undone me more Aben. to Sold. Go fetch new fetters and the daughter binde Ozm. Be just at least Sir though you are not kind Benzayda is not as a Pris'ner brought But comes to suffer for anothers fau't Aben. Then Ozmyn mark that justice which I doe I as severely will exact from you The father is not wholly dead in me Or you may yet revive it if it be Like tapers new blown out the fumes remain To catch the light and bring it back again Benzaida gave you life and set you free For that I will restore her liberty Ozmyn Sir on my knees I thank you Aben. Oxmyn hold One part of what I purpose is untold Consider then it on your part remains When I have broke not to resume your chains Like an Indulgent father I have pai'd All debts which you my Prodigal have made Now you are clear break off your fond design Renounce Benzaida and be wholly mine Ozmyn Are these the termes is this the liberty Ah Sir how can you so inhumane be My duty to my life I will prefer But life and duty must give place to her Aben. Consider what you say for with one breath You disobey my will and give her death Ozmyn Ah cruel father what do you propose Must I then kill Benzaida or must loose I can do neither in this wretched state The least that I can suffer is your hate And yet that 's worse than death Ev'n while I sue And choose your hatred I could dye for you Break quickly heart or let my blood be spilt By my own hand to save a fathers guilt Benz. Hear me my Lord and take this wretched life To free you from the fear of Ozmyns wife I beg but what with ease may granted be To spare your son and kill your Enemy Or if my death 's a grace too great to give Let me my Lord without my Ozmyn live Far from your sight and Ozmin's let me goe And take from him a Care from you a foe Ozmyn How my Benzaida can you thus resign That love which you have vow'd so firmly mine Can you leave me for life and liberty Ben. What I have done will show that I dare dy But I 'le twice suffer death and go away Rather than make you wretched by my stay By this my father's freedom will be won And to your father I restore a Son Selin Cease cease my children your unhappy strife Selin will not be ransom'd by your life Barbarian thy old foe defyes thy rage to Aben. Turn from their Youth thy malice to my Age. Ben. Forbear dear father for your Ozmyn's sake Do not such words to Ozmyn's father speak Ozm. Alas 't is counterfeited rage he strives But to divert the danger from our lives For I can witness Sir and you might see How in your person he consider'd me He still declin'd the Combate where you were And you well know it was not out of fear Ben. Alas my Lord where can your vengeance fall Your justice will not let it reach us all Selin and Ozmin both would suff'rers be And punishment's a favour done to me If we are foes since you have pow'r to kill 'T is gen'rous in you not to have the will But are we foes look round my Lord and see Point out that face which is your Enemy Would you your hand in Selins blood embrue Kill him unarm'd who arm'd shun'd killing you Am I your foe since you detest my line That hated name of Zegry I resign For you Benzayda will her self disclaim Call me your daughter and forget my name Selin This vertue wou'd even Savages subdue And shall it want the pow'r to vanquish you Ozmyn It has it has I read it in his eyes 'T is now not anger 't is but shame denyes A shame of errour that great spirits find Which keeps down vertue strugling in the mind Aben. Yes I am vanquish'd the fierce conflict's past And shame it self is novv ore'come at last 'T was long before my stubborn Mind was won But melting once I on the suddain run Nor can I hold my headlong kindness more Than I could curb my cruel Rage before Runs to Benz. and embraces her Benzayda 't was your Vertue vanquish'd me That could alone surmount my Cruelty Runs to Selin and unbinds him Forgive me Selin my neglect of you But men just waking scarce know what they do Ozm. O Father Benz. Father Aben. Dare I own that name Speak speak it often to remove my shame They all embrace him O Selin O my Children let me goe I have more kindness then I yet can show For my recov'ry I must shun your sight Eyes us'd to darkness cannot bear the light He runs in they following him SCENE The Albayzin Almanzor Abdelmelech Soldiers Almanz. 'T is War again and I am glad 't is so Success shall now by force and courage goe Treaties are but the combats of the Brain Where still the stronger loose and weaker gain Abdelm. On this Assault brave Sir which we prepare Depends the Sum and Fortune of the War Encamp'd without the Fort the Spaniard lies And may in spight of us send in supplies Consider yet e're we attacque the place What 't is to storm it in an Armies face Almanz. The minds of Heroes their own measures are They stand exempted from the rules of War One Loose one Sallye of
your hopes been fled Zulema 'T was like a fire within a furnace pent I smother'd it and kept it long from vent But fed with looks and blown with sighs so fast It broke a passage through my lips at last Ham. Where found you confidence your suit to move Our broken fortunes are not fit to love Well you declar'd your love what follow'd then Zulema She look'd as Judges do on guilty men When big with fate they triumph in their doomes And smile before the deadly sentence comes Silent I stood as I were thunder strooke Condemn'd and executed with a look Hamet You must with haste some remedy prepare Now you are in you must break through the snare Zulema She said she would my folly yet conceal But vow'd my next attempt she would reveal Hamet 'T is dark and in this lonely Gallery Remote from noyse and shunning every eye One hour each Evening she in private mourns And prayes and to the Cercle then returnes Now if you dare attempt her passing by Zulema These lighted tapers show the time is nigh Perhaps my Courtship will not be in vain At least few women will of force complain At the other end of the Gallery Enter Almanzor and Esperanza Hamet Almanzor and with him The favourite slave of the Sultana Queen Zul E're they approach let us retire unseen And watch our time when they return agen Then force shall give if favour does deny And that once done we 'll to the Spaniards fly Exeunt Almanz. Now stand th' Apartment of the Queen is neer And from this place your voice will reach her ear Esperanza goes out Song In two Parts He. HOw unhappy a Lover am I While I sigh for my Phillis in vain All my hopes of Delight Are another man's Right Who is happy while I am in pain 2. She. Since her Honour allows no Relief But to pity the pains which you bear 'T is the best of your Fate In a hopeless Estate To give o're and betimes to despair 3. He. I have try'd the false Med'cine in vain For I wish what I hope not to win From without my desire Has no Food to its Fire But it burns and consumes me within 4. She. Yet at least 't is a pleasure to know That you are not unhappy alone For the Nymph you adore Is as wretch'd and more And accounts all your suff'ring's her own 5. He. O ye Gods let me suffer for both At the feet of my Phillis I 'le lye I 'le resign up my Breath And take pleasure in Death To be pity'd by her when I dye 6. She. What her Honour deny'd you in Life In her Death she will give to your Love Such a Flame as is true After Fate will renew For the Souls to meet closer above Enter Esperanza again after the Song Almanz. Accept this Diamond till I can present Something more worthy my acknowledgement And now farewell I will attend alone Her coming forth and make my suff'rings known Exit Esperanza Solus A hollow wind comes whistling through that door And a cold shivering seizes me all o're My Teeth too chatter with a suddain fright These are the raptures of too fierce delight The combate of the Tyrants Hope and Fear Which Hearts for want of Field-room cannot bear I grow impatient this or that 's the room I 'le meet her now methinks I hear her come He goes to the door the Ghost of his Mother meets him he starts back the Ghost stands in the door Almanz. Well mayst thou make thy boast what e're thou art Thou art the first e're made Almanzor start My Legs Shall bear me to thee in their own despight I 'le rush into the Covert of thy Night And pull thee backward by thy shrowd to light Or else I 'le squeeze thee like a Bladder there And make thee groan thy self away to Air. The Ghost retires So art thou gone thou canst no Conquest boast I thought what was the courage of a Ghost The grudging of my Argue yet remains My blood like Ysicles hangs in my veins And does not drop be master of that door We two will not disturb each other more Ierr d a little but extremes may joyn That door was Hell's but this is Heav'ns and mine Goes to the other door and is met again by the Ghost Again by Heav'n I do conjure thee speak What art thou Spirit and what dost thou seek The Ghost comes on softly after the Conjuration and Almanzor retires to the middle of the Stage Ghost I am the Ghost of her who gave thee birth The Airy shadow of her mouldring Earth Love of thy Father me through Seas did guide On Sea 's I bore thee and on Sea's I dy'd I dy'd and for my Winding-sheet a Wave I had and all the Ocean for my Grave But when my soul to bliss did upward move I wander'd round the Chrystal walls above But found th' eternal fence so steepy high That when I mounted to the middle Sky I flagg'd and flutter'd down and could not fly Then from the Battlements of th' Heav'nly Tow'r A Watchman Angel bid me waite this hour And told me I had yet a task assign'd To warn that little pledge I left behind And to divert him e're it were too late From Crimes unknown and errors of his Fate Almanzor bowing Speak Holy Shade thou Parent form speak on Instruct thy mortal Elemented Son For here I wander to my self unknown But oh thou better part of Heav'nly Air Teach me kind spirit since I am still thy care My Parents names If I have yet a Father let me know To whose old age my humble youth must bow And pay its duty if he mortal be Or Adoration if a Mind like thee Ghost Then what I may I 'le tell From antient Blood thy Fathers Linage springs Thy Mothers thou deriv'st from stemms of Kings A Christian born and born again that day When sacred Water wash'd thy sins away Yet bred in errors thou dost mis-imploy That strength Heav'n gave thee and its flock destroy Almanz. By Reason Man a Godhead may discern But how he would be worshipt cannot learn Ghost Heav'n does not now thy Ignorance reprove But warns thee from known Crimes of lawless Love That Crime thou know'st and knowing dost not shun Shall an unknown and greater Crime pull on But if thus warn'd thou leav'st this cursed place Then shalt thou know the Author of thy Race Once more I 'le see thee when my charge is done Far hence upon the Mountains of the Moon Is my abode where Heav'n and Nature smile And strew with Flowers the secret bed of Nyle Blest Souls are there refin'd and made more bright And in the shades of Heav'n prepar'd for light Exit Ghost Almanz. Oh Heav'n how dark a Riddle 's thy Decree Which bounds our Wills yet seems to leave 'em free Since thy fore-knowledge cannot be in vain Our choice must be what thou didst first ordain Thus like a Captive in an Isle confin'd Man
Ozmyn the first squadrons led Which ten by ten like Parthyans charg'd and fled The Ground was strow'd with Canes where we did meet Which crackled underneath our Coursers feet When Tarifa I saw him ride apart Chang'd his blunt Cane for a steel pointed Dart And meeting Ozmyn next Who wanted time for Treason to provide He basely threw it at him undefy'd Ozmyn showing his arm Witness this blood which when by Treason sought That follow'd Sir which to my self I ought Zulema His hate to thee was grounded on a grudge Which all our generous Zegrys just did judge Thy villain blood thou openly didst place Above the purple of our Kingly race Boabd From equal Stems their blood both houses draw They from Marocco you from Cordova Hamet Their mungril race is mixt with Christian breed Hence 't is that they those Dogs in prisons feed Abdel. Our holy Prophet wills that Charity Shoud ev'n to birds and beasts extended be None knows what fate is for himself design'd The thought of humane Chance should make us kind Gomel We waste that time we to revenge shou'd give Fall on let no Aboncerrago live Advancing before the rest of his Party Almanzor advancing on the other side and describing a line with his sword Upon thy life pass-not this middle space Sure Death stands guarding the forbidden place Gomel To dare that death I will approach yet nigher Thus wer 't thou compass'd in with circling fire They fight Boab. Disarm 'em both if they resist you kill Almanzor in the midst of the Guards kills Gomel and then is disarmed Almanz. Now you have but the Leavings of my will Boab. Kill him this insolent Unknown shall fall And be the Victime to attone you all Ozmyn If he must die not one of us will live That life he gave for us for him we give Boab. It was a Traytors voice that spoke those words So are you all who do not sheath your swords Zulema Outrage unpunish'd when a Prince is by Forfeits to scorn the rights of Majesty No Subject his Protection can expect Who what he ows himself does first neglect Abenamar This stranger Sir is he Who lately in the Vivarambla place Did with so loud applause your Triumphs grace Boab. The word which I have giv'n I le not revoke If he be brave he 's ready for the stroke Almanz. No man has more contempt than I of breath But whence hast thou the right to give me death Obey'd as Soveraign by thy Subjects be But know that I alone am King of me I am as free as Nature first made man ' Ere the base Laws of Servitude began When wild in woods the noble Savage ran Boab. Since then no pow'r above your own you know Mankind shou'd use you like a common foe You shou'd be hunted like a Beast of Prey By your own law I take your life away Almanz. My laws are made but only for my sake No King against himself a Law can make If thou pretendst to be a Prince like me Blame not an Act which should thy Pattern be I saw th' opprest and thought it did belong To a King's office to redress the wrong I brought that Succour which thou oughtst to bring And so in Nature am thy Subjects King Boab. I do not want your Councel to direct Or aid to help me punish or protect Almanz. Thou wantst 'em both or better thou wouldst know Then to let Factions in thy Kingdom grow Divided int'rests while thou thinkst to sway Draw like two brooks thy middle stream away For though they band and jar yet both combine To make their greatness by the fall of thine Thus like a buckler thou art held in sight While they behind thee with each other fight Boab. Away and execute him instantly To his Guards Almanz. Stand off I have not leisure yet to dye To them Abdalla hastily Abdella Hold Sir for Heav'n sake hold Defer this noble Strangers punishment Or your rash orders you will soon repent Boab. Brother you know not yet his insolence Abdal Upon yourself you punish his offence If we treat gallant Strangers in this sort Mankind will shun th' inhospitable Court. And who henceforth to our defence will come If death must be the brave Almanzors doom From Africa I drew him to your ayd And for his succour have his life betray'd Boab. Is this th' Almanzor whom at Fez you knew When first their swords the Xeriff Brothers drew Abdalla This Sir is he who for the Elder fought And to the juster cause the Conquest brought Till the proud Santo seated in the Throne Disdain'd the service he had done to own Then to the vanquish'd part his fate he led The vanquish'd triumph'd and the Victor fled Vast is his Courage boundless is his mind Rough as a storm and humorous as wind Honour 's the onely Idol of his Eyes The charms of Beauty like a pest he flies And rais'd by Valour from a birth unknwn Acknowledges no pow'r above his own Boabdelin coming to Almanzor Impute your danger to our ignorance The bravest men are subject most to chance Granada much does to your kindness owe But Towns expecting Sieges cannot show More honour then t' invite you to a foe Almanzor I do not doubt but I have been too blame But to pursue the end for which I came Unite your Subjects first then let us goe And poure their common rage upon the foe Boab. to the Factions Lay down your Arms and let me beg you cease Your Enmities Zulema We will not hear of peace Till we by force have first reveng'd our slain Abdel. The Action we have done we will maintain Selin Then let the King depart and we will try Our cause by armes Zul For us and Victory Boab. A King intreats you Almanz. What Subjects will precarious Kings regard A Begger speaks too softly to be heard Lay down your Armes 't is I command you now Do it or by our Prophets soul I vow My hands shall right your King on him I seize Now let me see whose look but disobeys Omnes Long live King Mahomet Boabdelin Alman No more bu husht'd as midnight silence go He will not have your Acclamations now Hence you unthinking Crowd The common people go off on both parties Empire thou poor and despicable thing When such as these unmake or make a King Abdalla How much of vertue lies in one great Soul embracing him Whose single force can multitudes controll A trumpet within Enter a Messenger Messen. The Duke of Arcos Sir Does with a trumpet from the Foe appear Boab. Attend him he shall have his Audience here Enter the Duke of Arcos Arcos The Monarchs of Castile and Arragon Have sent me to you to demand this Town To which their just and rightful claim is known Boab. Tell Ferdinand my right to it appears By long possession of eight hundred years When first my Ancestors from Affrique sail'd In Rodrigues death your Gothique title fail'd Arcos The Successours of Rodrique still
blessing of a Monarch's love Almah Did he my freedome to his life prefer And shall I wed Almanzor's Murderer No Sir I cannot to your will submit Your way 's too rugged for my tender feet Aben. You must be driv'n where you refuse to go And taught by force your happiness to know Almahide smiling scornfully To force me Sir is much unworthy you And when you would impossible to do If force could bend me you might think with shame That I debas'd the blood from whence I came My soul is soft which you may gently lay In your loose palm but when t is prest to stay Like water it deludes your grasp and slips away Boab. I finde I must revoke what I decreed Almanzors death my Nuptials must precede Love is a Magick which the Lover tyes But charms still end when the Magician dyes Go let me hear my hated Rival's dead To his guards And to convince my eyes bring back his head Almah Go on I wish no other way to prove That I am worthy of Almanzor's love We will in death at least united be I 'le shew you I can dye as well as he Boab. What should I do when equally I dread Almanzor living and Almanzor dead Yet by your promise you are mine alone Almah How dare you claim my faith and break your own Aben. This for your vertue is a weak defence No second vows can with your first dispence Yet since the King did to Almanzor swear And in his death ingrateful may appear He ought in justice first to spare his life And then to claim your promise as his wife Almah What ' ere my secret inclinations be To this since honor ties me I agree Yet I declare and to the world will own That far from seeking I would shun the Throne And with Almanzor lead an humble life There is a private greatness in his wife Boab. That little love I have I hardly buy You give my Rival all while you deny Yet Almahide to let you see your pow'r Your lov'd Almanzor shall be free this hour You are obey'd but t is so great a grace That I could wish me in my Rivals place Exeunt King Abenamarâ— Almah How blest was I before this fatal day When all I knew of love was to obey 'T was life becalm'd without a gentle breath Though not so cold yet motionless as death A heavy quiet state but love all strife All rapid is the Hurrican of life Had love not shown me I had never seen An Excellence beyond Boabdelin I had not ayming higher lost my rest But with a vulgar good been dully blest But in Almanzor having seen what 's rare Now I have learnt too sharply to compare And like a Fav'rite quickly in disgrace Just know the value ' ere I loose the place To her Almanzor bound and guarded Almanz. I see the end for which I 'me hither sent looking down To double by your sight my punishment There is a shame in bonds I cannot bear Far more than death to meet your eyes I fear Almahide unbinding him That shame of long continuance shall not be The King at my intreaty sets you free Alman The King my wonder 's greater than before How did he dare my freedom to restore He like some Captive Lyon uses me He runs away before he sets me free And takes a sanctuary in his Court I 'll rather loose my life than thank him for 't Alm. If any subject for your thanks there be The King expects 'em not you ow 'em me Our freedoms through each others hands have past You give me my revenge in winning last Almanz. Then fate commodiously for me has done To loose mine there where I would have it won Almah Almanzor you too soon will understand That what I win is on anothers hand The King who doom'd you to a cruel fate Gave to my pray'rs both his revenge and hate But at no other price would rate your life Then my consent and oath to be his wife Almanz. Would you to save my life my love betray Here take me bind me carry me away to the Guards Kill me I 'll kill you if you disobey Almah That absolute command your love does give I take and charge you by that pow'r to live Alman When death the last of comforts you refuse Your pow'r like Heav'n upon the damn'd you use You force me in my being to remain To make me last and keep me fresh for pain When all my joys are gone What cause can I for living longer give But a dull lazy habitude to live Almah Rash men like you and impotent of will Give chance no time to turn but urge her still She wou'd repent you push the quarrel on And once because she went she must be gone Alman She shall not turn what is it she can do To recompence me for the loss of you Almah Heav'n will reward your worth some better way At least for me you have but lost one day Nor is 't a real loss which you deplore You sought a heart that was ingag'd before 'T was a swift love which took you in his way Flew only through your heart but made no stay 'T was but a dream where truth had not a place A scene of fancy mov'd so swift a pace And shifted that you can but think it was Let then the short vexatious Vision pass Alman My joyes indeed are dreams but not my pain 'T was a swift ruin but the marks remain When some fierce fire lays goodly buildings wast Would you conclude There had been none because the burning's past Almah It was your fault that fire seiz'd all your brest You should have blown up some to save the rest But t is at worst but so consum'd by fire As Cities are that by their falls rise high'r Build Love a Nobler Temple in my place You 'l find the fire has but inlarg'd your space Alman Love has undone me I am grown so poor I sadly view the ground I had before But want a stock and ne'r can build it more Almah Then say what Charity I can allow I would Contribute if I knew but how Take friendship or if that too small appear Take love which Sisters may to Brothers bear Alman A Sisters love that is so pall'd a thing What pleasure can it to a Lover bring 'T is like thin food to men in feavours spent Just keeps alive but gives no nourishment What hopes what fears what transports can it move 'T is but the Ghost of a departed Love Almah You like some greedy Cormorant devour All my whole life can give you in an hour What more I can do for you is to dy And that must follow if you this deny Since I gave up my love that you might live You in refusing life my sentence give Alman Far from my brest be such an impious thought Your death would loose the quiet mine had sought I 'll live for you in spight of misery But you shall grant that
it first to me Fate cannot separate our destiny knows his father My father here then Heav'n it self has laid The snare in which my vertue is betray'd Aben. Fortune I thank thee thou hast kindly done To bring me back that fugitive my Son In armes too fighting for my Enemy I 'le do a Roman justice thou shalt dy Ozm. I beg not you my forfeit life would save Yet add one Minute to that breath you gave I disobey'd you and deserve my fate But bury in my grave two houses hate Let Selin live and see your Justice done On me while you revenge him for his Son Your mutual malice in my death may cease And equal loss perswade you both to peace Aben. to a Sold. Yes justice shall be done on him and thee Haste and dispatch 'em both immediately Ozmyn If you have honour since you Nature want For your own sake my last Petition grant And kill not a disarm'd defenceless foe Whose death your cruelty or fear will show My Father cannot do an Act so base My Father I mistake I meant who was Aben. Go then dispatch him first who was my Son Ozmyn Swear but to save his life I 'le yield my own Aben. Nor tears nor pray'rs thy life or his shall buy Ozmyn putting himself before Selin Then Sir Benzaida's father shall not dye And since he 'le want defence when I am gone I will to save his life defend my own Aben. This justice Parricides like thee should have Aben. and his party attacque them both Ozmyn parryes his fathers thrusts and thrusts at the others Enter Benzayda with Abdalla the Duke of Arcos and Spaniards Benz. O help my father and my Ozmyn save Abdal Villains that death you have deserv'd is near Ozmyn stops his hand Stay Prince and know I have a father here I were that Parricide of whom he spoke Did not my piety prevent your stroke Arcos to Aben. Depart then and thank Heav'n you had a Son Aben. I am not with these shows of duty won Ozm. to his father Heav'n know's I would that life you seek resign But while Benzayda lives it is not mine Will you yet pardon my unwilling crime Aben. By no intreaties by no length of time Will I be won but with my latest breath I 'le curse thee here and haunt thee after death Exit Abenamar with his party Ozmyn kneeling to Selin Can you be merciful to that degree As to forgive my Fathers faults in me Can you forgive The death of him I slew in my defence And from the malice separate th' offence I can no longer be your Enemy In short now kill me Sir or pardon me Offers him his sword In this your silence my hard fate appears Selin I 'le answer you when I can speak for tears But till I can Imagine what must needs be brought to pass Embraces him My heart 's not made of Marble nor of Brass Did I for you a cruel death prepare And have you have you made my life your care There is a shame contracted by my faults Which hinders me to speak my secret thoughts And I will tell you when that shame 's remov'd You are not better by my Daugher lov'd Benzaida be your's I can no more Ozmyn embracing his knees Blest be that breath which does my life restore Benz. I hear my father now these words confess That name and that indulgent tenderness Selin Benzaida I have been too much to blame But let your goodness expiate for my shame You Ozmyn's vertue did in chains adore And part of me was just to him before My Son to him Ozmyn My father Selin Since by you I live I for your sake your family forgive Let your hard father still my life pursue I hate not him but for his hate to you Ev'n that hard father yet may one day be By kindness vanquish'd as you vanquish'd me Or if my death can quench to you his rage Heav'n makes good use of my remaining age Abdal I grieve your joyes are mingled with my cares But all take interest in their own affairs And therefore I must ask how mine proceed Selin They now are ripe and but your presence need For Lyndaraxa faithless as the wind Yet to your better Fortunes will be kind For hearing that the Christians own your cause From thence th' assurance of a Throne she draws And since Almanzor whom she most did fear Is gone she to no Treaty will give ear But sent me her unkindness to excuse Abdal You much surprize me with your pleasing news Selin But Sir she hourly does th' assault expect And must be lost if you her Aid neglect For Abdelmelech loudly does declare He 'll use the last extremities of War Since she refus'd the Fortress to resigne Abdal The charge of hast'ning this Relief be mine Selin This while I undertook whether beset Or else by chance Abenamar I met Who seem'd in haste returning to the Town Abdal My Love must in my diligence be shown And as my pledge of Faith to Spain this hour I 'le put the Fortress in your Masters pow'r To Arcos Selin An open way from hence to it there lies And we with ease may send in large supplies Free from the shot and Sallies of the Town Arcos Permit me Sir to share in your renown First to my King I will impart the news And then draw out what Succors we shall use Exit Duke of Arcos Abdal Grant that she loves me not at least I see aside She loves not others if she loves not me 'T is Pleasure when we reap the fruit of Pain 'T is onely Pride to be belov'd again How many are not lov'd who think they are Yet all are willing to believe the Fair And though 't is Beauties known and obvious Cheat Yet Man's self-love still favours the deceit Exit Abdalla Selin Farewell my Children equally so dear That I my self am to my self less neer While I repeat the dangers of the War Your mutual safety be each others care Your Father Ozmyn till the War be done As much as Honour will permit I 'le shun If by his sword I perish let him know It was because I would not be his Foe Ozmyn Goodness and Vertue all your Actions guide You onely erre in choosing of your side That party I with Honour cannot take But can much less the care of you forsake I must not draw my sword against my Prince But yet may hold a Shield in your defence Benzayda free from danger here shall stay And for a Father and a Lover pray Benz. No no I gave not on those terms my Heart That from my Ozmyn I should ever part That Love I vow'd when you did death attend 'T is just that nothing but my death should end What Merchant is it who would stay behind His whole stock ventur'd to the Waves and Wind. I 'le pray for both but both shall be in sight And Heav'n shall hear me pray and see you fight Selin No longer Ozmyn combat
Benz. I fear to ask yet would from doubt be freed Is Selin Captive Sir or is he dead Zul I grieve to tell you what you needs must know He is a Pris'ner to his greatest Foe Kept with strong guards in the Almambra Tour Without the reach ev'n of Almanzor's pow'r Ozmyn With grief and shame I am at once opprest Zul You vvill be more vvhen I relate the rest To you I from Abenamar am sent To Ozmyn And you alone can Selin's death prevent Give up your self a Pris'ner in his stead Or e're to morrow's dawn believe him dead Benz. E're that appear I shall expire with grief Zul Your action swift your Council must be brief Lynd. While for Abdalla's freedom we prepare You in each others Brest unload your care Exeunt all but Ozmyn and Benzayda Benz. My wishes contradictions must imply You must not goe and yet he must not dye Your Reason may perhaps th' extremes unite But there 's a mist of Fate before my sight Ozm. The two Extremes too distant are to close And Human Wit can no mid-way propose My duty therefore shows the neerest way To free your Father and my own obey Benz. Your Father whom since yours I grieve to blame Has lost or quite forgot a Parents name And when at once possest of him and you Instead of freeing one will murder two Ozm. Fear not my Life but suffer me to goe What cannot onely Sons with Parents do 'T is not my death my Father does pursue He onely would withdraw my Love from you Benz. Now Ozmyn now your want of Love I see For would you goe and hazard loosing me Ozm. I rather would ten thousand Lives forsake Nor can you e're believe the doubt you make This night I with a chosen Band will goe And by surprize will free him from the Foe Benz. What Foe ah whether would your Vertue fall It is your Father whom the Foe you call Darkness and Rage will no distinction make And yours may perish for my Fathers sake Ozm. Thus when my weaker Vertue goes astray Yours pulls it back and guides me in the way I 'le send him word my being shall depend On Selin's Life and with his Death shall end Benz. 'T is that indeed would glut your Fathers rage Revenge on Ozmyn's Youth and Selin's age Ozm. What e're I plot like Sisyphus in vain I heave a stone that tumbles down again Benz. This Glorious work is then reserv'd for me He is my Father and I le set him free These Chains my Father for my sake does wear I made the fault and I the pains will bear Ozm. Yes you no doubt have merited those pains Those hands those tender Limbs were made for chains Did I not love you yet it were too base To let a Lady suffer in my place Those proofs of Vertue you before did show I did admire but I must envy now Your vast ambition leaves no Fame for me But grasps at universal Monarchy Benz. Yes Ozmyn I shall still this Palm pursue I will not yield my Glory ev'n to you I 'le break those bonds in which my Father 's ty'd Or if I cannot break 'em I 'le divide What though my Limbs a Womans weakness show I have a Soul as Masculine as you And when these Limbs want strength my Chains to wear My Mind shall teach my body how to bear Exit Benzayda Ozm. What I resolve I must not let her know But Honour has decreed she must not goe What she resolves I must prevent with care She shall not in my Fame or Danger share I 'le give strict Order to the Guards which wait That when she comes she shall not pass the Gate Fortune at last has run me out of breath I have no refuge but the arms of death To that dark Sanctuary I will goe She cannot reach me when I lie so low SCENE The Albayzin Enter on the one side Almanzor Abdalla Abdelmelech Zulema Hamet On the other side the Duke of Arcos Boabdelin Lyndaraxa and their party After which the Barrs are opened and at the same time Boabdelin and Abdalla pass by each other each to his party when Abdalla is past on the other side the Duke of Arcos approaches the Barrs and calls to Almanzor Arc. The hatred of the brave with battails ends And Foes who fought for Honour then are Friends I love thee brave Almanzor and am proud To have one hour when Love may be allowd This hand in sign of that esteem I plight We shall have angry hours enough to fight Giving his hand Almanz. The Man who dares like you in fields appear And meet my Sword shall be my Mistriss here If I am proud 't is onely to my Foes Rough but to such who Vertue would oppose If I some fierceness from a Father drew A Mothers Milk gives me some softness too Arcos Since first you took and after set me free Whether a sence of Gratitude it be Or some more secret motion of my mind For which I want a name that 's more then kind I shall be glad by what e're means I can To get the friendship of so brave a man And would your unavailing valour call From aiding those whom Heav'n has doom'd to fall We owe you that respect Which to the Gods of Foes besieg'd was shown To call you out before we take your Town Almanz. Those whom we love we should esteem 'em too And not debauch that Vertue which we wooe Yet though you give my Honour just offence I 'le take your kindness in the better sence And since you for my safety seem to fear I to return your Bribe should wish you here But since I love you more then you do me In all events preserve your Honour free For that 's your own though not your destiny Arcos Were you oblig'd in Honour by a Trust I should not think my own proposals just But since you fight for an unthankful King What loss of Fame can change of parties bring Almanz. It will and may with justice too be thought That some advantage in that change I sought And though I twice have chang'd for wrongs receiv'd That it was done for profit none believ'd The Kings Ingratitude I knew before So that can be no cause of changing more If now I stand when no reward can be 'T will show the fault before was not in me Arcos Yet there is one reward to valour due And such it is as may be sought by you That beaut'ous Qneen whom you can never gain While you secure her Husbands Life and Raign Almanz. Then be it so let me have no return Here Lyndaraxa comes neer and hears them From him but Hatred and from her but Scorn There is this comfort in a noble Fate That I deserve to be more fortunate You have my last resolve and now farewell My boding Heart some Mischief does foretell But what it is Heav'n will not let me know I 'me sad to death that I must be your Foe Arcos
walks at large a Pris'ner of the Mind Wills all his Crimes while Heav'n th' Indictment draws And pleading guilty justifies the Laws Let Fate be Fate the Lover and the Brave Are rank'd at least above the vulgar Slave Love makes me willing to my death to run And courage scorns the death it cannot shun Enter Almahide with a Taper Almah My Light will sure discover those who talk Who dares to interrupt my private Walk Almanz. He who dares love and for that love must dy And knowing this dares yet love on am I. Almah That love which you can hope and I can pay May be reciev'd and giv'n in open day My praise and my esteem you had before And you have bound you self to ask no more Almanz. Yes I have bound my self but will you take The forfeit of that bond which force did make Almah You know you are from recompence debarr'd But purest love can live without reward Almanz. Pure love had need be to it self a feast For like pure Elements 't will nourish least Almah It therefore yields the only pure content For it like Angels needs no Nourishment To eat and drink can no perfection be All Appetite implies Necessity Almanz. 'T were well if I could like a spirit live But do not Angels food to Mortals give What if some Daemon should my death foreshow Or bid me change and to the Christians goe Will you not think I merit some reward When I my love above my life regard Almah In such a case your change must be allow'd I would my self dispence with what you vow'd Almanz. Were I to dye that hour when I possess This minute should begin my happiness Almah The thoughts of death your passion would remove Death is a cold encouragement to love Alman No from my joyes I to my death would run And think the business of my life â—ell done But I should walk a discontented Ghost If flesh and blood were to no purpose lost Almah You love me not Almanzor if you did You would not ask what honour must forbid Alman And what is Honour but a Love well hid Almah Yes 't is the Conscience of an Act well done Which gives us pow'r our own desires to shun The strong and secret curb of headlong Will The self reward of good and shame of ill Almanz. These Madam are the Maximes of the Day When Honour 's present and when Lov 's away The duty of poor Honour were too hard In Arms all day at night to mount the Guard Let him in pity now to rest retire Let these soft hours be watch'd by warm desire Almah Guards who all day on painful duty keep In dangers are not priviledg'd to sleep Alman And with what dangers are you threaten'd here Am I alas a foe for you to fear See Madam at your feet this Enemy kneels Without your pity and your Love I die Almah Rise rise and do not empty hopes pursue Yet think that I deny my self not you Alman A happiness so nigh I cannot bear My loves too fierce and you too killing fair I grow enrag'd to see such Excellence If words so much disorder'd give offence My love 's too full of zeal to think of sence Be you like me dull Reason hence remove And tedious formes and give a loose to love Love eagerly let us be gods to night And do not with half yielding dash delight Almah Thou strong Seducer Opportunity Of womankind half are undone by thee Though I resolve I will not be misled I wish I had not heard what you had sed I cannot be so wicked to comply And yet am most unhappy to deny Away Alman I will not move me from this place I can take no denial from that face Almah If I could yield but think not that I will You and my self I in revenge should kill For I should hate us both when it were done And would not to the shame of life be wonn Alman Live but to night and trust to morrows mind ' Ere that can come there 's a whole life behind Methinks already crown'd with joyes I lie Speechless and breathless in an Extasie Not absent in one thought I am all there Still closs yet wishing still to be more near Almah Deny your own desires for it will be Too little now to be deni'd by me Will he who does all great all noble seem Be lost and forfeit to his own Esteem Will he who may with Heroes claim a place Belie that fame and to himself be base Think how August and god-like you did look When my defence unbrib'd you undertook But when an Act so brave you disavow How little and how mercenary now Almanz. Are then my Services no higher priz'd And can I fall so low to be despis'd Almah Yes for whatever may be bought is low And you your self who sell your self are so Remember the great Act you did this day How did your Love to Vertue then give way When you gave freedom to my Captive Lord That Rival vvho possest vvhat you ador'd Of such a deed vvhat price can there be made Think vvell is that an Action to be paid It vvas a Myracle of Vertue shovvn And vvonders are vvith vvonder paid alone And would you all that secret joy of mind Which great Souls onely in great actions find All that for one tumultuous Minute loose Alman I wou'd that minute before ages choose Praise is the pay of Heav'n for doing good But Loves the best return for flesh and blood Almah You 've mov'd my heart so much I can deny No more but know Almanzor I can dye Thus far my vertue yields if I have shown More Love than what I ought let this attone Going to stab herself Almanz. Hold hold Such fatal proofs of love you shall not give Deny me hate me both are just but live Your Vertue I will ne'r disturb again Nor dare to ask for fear I should obtain Almah 'T is gen'rous to have conquer'd your desire You mount above your wish and loose it higher There 's pride in vertue and a kindly heat Not feverish like your love but full as great Farewell and may our loves hereafter be But Image-like to heighten piety Almanz. 'T is time I should be gone Alas I am but half converted yet All I resolve I with one look forget And like a Lyon whom no Arts can tame Shall tear ev'n those who would my rage reclaime Exeunt severally Zulema and Hamet watch Almanzor and when he is gone go in after the Queen Enter Abdelmelech and Lyndaraxa Lynd. It is enough you 've brought me to this place Here stop and urge no further my disgrace Kill me in death your mercy will be seen But make me not a Captive to the Queen Abdelm. 'T is therefore I this punishment provide This only can revenge me on your pride Prepare to suffer what you shun in vain And know you now are to obey not raign Enter Almahide schrieking her hair loose she runs over the
To him Abdelmelech guarded Abdelm. Heav'n is not Heav'n nor are there Deities There is some new Rebellion in the Skies All that was Good and Holy is dethron'd And Lust and Rapine are for justice own'd Almanz. 'T is true what justice in that Heav'n can be Which thus affronts me with the sight of thee Why must I be from just Revenge debarr'd Chains are thy Arms and Prisons are thy Guard The death thou dy'st may to a Husband be A satisfaction but 't is none to me My Love would justice to it self afford But now thou creep'st to Death below my Sword Abdelm. This threat'ning would show better were I free Almanz. No wer 't thou freed I would not threaten thee This arme should then But now it is too late I could redeem thee to a nobler Fate As some huge Rock Rent from its Quarry does the Waves divide So I W'ould sowze upon thy guards and dash 'em wide Then to my rage left naked and alone Thy too much freedome thou shouldst soon bemoan Dar'd like a Lark that on the open plain Pursu'd and cuffd seeks shelter now in vain So on the ground wou'dst thou expecting lye Not daring to afford me victory But yet thy fate 's not ripe it is decreed Before thou dy'st that Almahide be freed My honour first her danger shall remove And then revenge on thee my injur'd love Exeunt severally The Scene changes to the Vivarambla and appears fil'd with Spectators A scaffold hung with black c. Enter the Queen guarded with Esperanza Almah See how the gazing people crowd the place All gaping to be fill'd with my disgrace A shout within That shout like the hoarse peals of Vultures rings When over fighting fields they beat their wings Let never woman trust in Innocence Or think her Chastity it s own defence Mine has betray'd me to this publick shame And vertue which I serv'd is but a name Esper. Leave then that shaddow and for succor fly To him we serve the Christians Deity Vertue 's no god nor has she power divine But he protects it who did first enjoyn Trust then in him and from his grace implore Faith to believe what rightly we adore Almah Thou Pow'r unknown if I have err'd forgive My infancy was taught what I believe But if thy Christians truely worship thee Let me thy godhead in thy succour see So shall thy Justice in my safety shine And all my dayes which thou shalt add be thine Enter the King Abenamar Lyndaraxa Benzayda then Abdelmelech guarded And after him Selin and Alabez as Iudges of the field Boab. You Judges of the field first take your place The accusers and accus'd bring face to face Set guards and let the Lists be open'd wide And may just Heav'n assist the juster side Almah What not one tender look one passing word Farewel my much unkind but still lov'd Lord Your Throne was for my humble fate too high And therefore Heav'n thinks fit that I should dye My story be forgot when I am dead Least it should fright some other from your bed And to forget me may you soon adore Some happier maid yet none could love you more But may you never think me innocent Least it should cause you trouble to repent Boabd 'T is pity so much beauty should not live aside Yet I too much am injur'd to forgive goes to his seat Trumpets Then enter two Mores bearing two naked swords before the Accusers Zulema and Hamet who follow them The Iudges seat themselves the Queen and Abdelmelech are led to the Scaffold Alabez Say for what end you thus in arms appear What are your names and what demand you here Zulema The Zegry's antient Race our Linage claims And Zulema and Hamet are our names Like Loyal Subjects in these lists we stand And Justice in our Kings behalf demand Hamet For whom in witness of what both have seen Bound by our duty we appeach the Queen And Abdelmelech of adultery Zul Which like true Knights we will maintain or dy Alabez Swear on the Alcoran your cause is right And Mahomet so prosper you in fight They touch their foreheads with the Alcoran and bow Trumpets on the other side of the Stage two Moors as before with bare swords before Almanzor and Ozmyn Selin Say for what end you thus in armes appear What are your names and what demand you here Alman Ozmyn is his Almanzor is my name We come as Champions of the Queens fair fame Ozmyn To prove these Zegrys like false Trators lye Which like true Knights we will maintain or dye Selin to Almahide Madam do you for Champions take these two By their success to live or dye Almah I do Selin Swear on the Alcoran your Cause is right And Mahomet so prosper you in fight They kiss the Alcoran Ozmyn and Benzayda embrace and take leave in dumb show while Lyndaraxa speaks to her Brothers Lind. If you 'orecome let neither of 'em live But use with care the advantages I give One of their swords in sight shall useless be The Bearer of it is suborn'd by me she and Benzaida retire Alabez Now Principals and Seconds all advance And each of you assist his fellows chance Selin The wind and Sun we equally divide So let th' event of Arms the truth decide The chances of the fight and every wound The trumpets on the Victors part resound The Trumpets sound Almanzor and Zulema meet and fight Ozmyn and Hamet after some passes the sword of Ozmyn breaks he retires defending himself and is wounded the Zegry's trumpets sound their advantage Almanzor in the mean time drives Zulema to the farther end of the stage till hearing the trumpets of the adverse party he looks back and sees Ozmyns misfortune he makes at Zulema just as Ozmyn falls in retiring and Hamet is thrusting at him Ham. to Ozmyn thrusting Our difference now shall soon determin'd be Alman Hold Traytor and defend thy self from me Hamet leaves Ozmyn who cannot rise and both he and Zulema fall on Almanzor and press him he retires and Hamet advancing first is run through the body and falls The Queens trumpets sound Almanzor pursues Zulema Lind. I must make haste some remedy to find Treason Almanzor treason look behind Almanzor looks behind him to see who calls and Zulema takes the advantage and wounds him the Zegry s trumpets sound Almanzor turns upon Zulema and wounds him he falls The Queens trumpets sound Alman Now triumph in thy sisters treachery stabbing him Zul Hold hold I have enough to make me dye But that I may in peace resign my breath I must confess my crime before my death Mine is the guilt the Queen is innocent I lov'd her and to compass my intent Us'd force which Abdelmelech did prevent The lye my Sister forg'd But oh my fate Comes on too soon and I repent too late Fair Queen forgive and let my penitence Expiate some part of dies Almah Ev'n thy whole offence Almanzor to the Iudges If ought
himself in his Carrear So am I carry'd This enchanted place Like Cyrce's Isle is peopled with a Race Of dogs and swine yet though their fate I know I look with pleasure and am turning too Lyndaraxa passes over the Stage Abdelm. Fly fly before th' allurements of her face ' Ere she return with some resistless grace And with new magique covers all the place Abdalla I cannot will not nay I would not fly I 'le love be blind be cousen'd till I dye And you who bid me wiser Counsel take I 'le hate and if I can I 'le kill you for her sake Abdel. Ev'n I that counsell'd you that choice approve I 'le hate you blindly and her blindly love Prudence that stemm'd the stream is out of breath And to go down it is the easier death Lyndaraxa re-enters and smiles on Abdalla Exit Abdalla Abdelm. That smile on Prince Abdalla seem's to say You are not in your killing mood to day Men brand indeed your sex with Cruelty But you 'r too good to see poor Lovers dye This Godlike pity in you I extoll And more because like heav'ns 't is general Lynd. My smile implies not that I grant his suit 'T was but a bare return of his salute Abdelm. It said you were ingag'd and I in place But to please both you would divide the grace Lynd. You 've cause to be contented with your part When he has but the look and you the heart Abdel. In giving but that look you give what 's mine I 'le not one corner of a glance resign All 's mine and I am cov'tous of my store I have not love enough I 'le tax you more Lindarax I gave not love 't was but Civility He is a Prince that 's due to his Degree Abdel. That Prince you smil'd on is my Rival still And shou'd if me you lov'd be treated ill Lynd. I know not how to show so rude a spight Abdel. That is you know not how to love aright Or if you did you would more difference see Betwixt our Souls then 'twixt our Quality Mark if his birth makes any difference If to his words it adds one grain of Sence That duty which his birth can make his due I 'le pay but it shall not be paid by you For if a Prince Courts her whom I adore He is my Rival and a Prince no more Lynd. And when did I my pow'r so far resigne That you should regulate each Look of mine Abdel. Then when you gave your Love you gave that pow'r Lynd. 'T was during pleasure 't is revok'd this hour Now call me false and rail on Woman-kind 'T is all the remedy you 're like to find Abdel. Yes there 's one more I 'le hate you and this visit is my last Lynd. Do 't if you can you know I hold you fast Yet for your quiet would you could resigne Your love as easily as I do mine Abdel. Furies and Hell how unconcern'd she speaks With what indifference all her Vows she breaks Curse on me but she smiles Lynd. That smile 's a part of Love and all 's your due I take it from the Prince and give it you Abdel. Just heav'n must my poor heart your May-game prove To bandy and make Childrens play in Love Half crying Ah how have I this Cruelty deserv'd I who so truly and so long have serv'd And left so easily oh cruel Maid So easily 't was too unkindly said That Heart which could so easily remove Was never fix'd nor rooted deep in Love Lynd. You Lodg'd it so uneasie in your Brest I thought you had been weary of the Guest First I was Treated like a stranger there But when a Houshold Friend I did appear You thought it seems I could not live elsewhere Then by degrees your feign'd respect withdrew You mark'd my Actions and my Guardian grew But I am not concern'd your Acts to blame My heart to yours but upon liking came And like a Bird whom prying Boys molest Stays not to Breed where she had built her Nest. Abdel. I have done ill And dare not ask you to be less displeas'd Be but more Angry and my Pain is eas'd Lynd. If I should be so kind a Fool to take This little Satisfaction which you make I know you would presume some other time Upon my Goodness and repeat your Crime Abdel. Oh never never upon no pretence My Life 's too short to expiate this Offence Lynd. No now I think on 't 't is in vain to try 'T is in your Nature and past remedy You 'll still disquiet my too loving Heart Now we are friends 't is best for both to part Taking her Hand Abdel. By this will you not give me leave to swear Lind. You wou'd be perjur'd if you should I fear And when I talk with Prince Abdalla next I with your fond Suspitions shall be vext Abdel. I canot say I 'le conquer Jealousie But if you 'll freely pardon me I 'le try Lynd. And till you that submissive Servant prove I never can conclude you truly love To them the King Almahide Abenamar Esperanza Guards Attendants King Approach my Almahide my charming fair Blessing of Peace and recompence of War This Night is yours and may your Life still be The same in Joy though not Solemnity The Zambra Dance After the Dance a tumultuous noise of Drums and Trumpets To them Ozmyn his Sword drawn Oz. Arm quickly arm yet all I fear too late The Enemy's already at the Gate K. Boab. The Christians are dislodg'd what Foe is near Ozm. The Zegry's are in Arms and almost here The Streets with Torches shine with Shoutings ring And Prince Abdalla is proclaim'd the King What Man cou'd do I have already done But Bold Almanzor fiercely leads 'em on Abenam Th' Alhambra yet is safe in my Command To the King Retreat you thither while their shock we stand Boab. I cannot meanly for my life provide I le either perish in 't or stemm this Tyde To guard the Palace Ozmyn be your care If they o'recome no sword will hurt the fair Ozm. I 'le either dye or I 'le make good the place Abdel. And I with these will bold Almanzor face Exeunt all but the Ladies An Alarm within Almah What dismal Planet did my Triumphs light Discord the Day and Death does rule the Night The noise my Soul does through my Sences wound Lynd. Me thinks it is a noble sprightly Sound The Trumpets clangor and the clash of Arms This noyse may chill your Blood but mine it warms Shouting and clashing of Swords within We have already past the Rubicon The Dice are mine now Fortune for a Throne A shout within and clashing of swords afar off The sound goes farther off and faintly dies Curse of this going back these ebbing cryes Ye Winds waft hither sounds more strong and quick Beat faster Drums and mingle Deaths more thick I 'le to the Turrets of the Palace goe And add new fire to those that fight below Thence Hero-like
course Boab. In walls we meanly must our hopes inclose To wait our friends and weary out our foes While Almahide To lawless Rebels is expos'd a prey And forc'd the lustful Victor to obey Aben. One of my blood in rules of Vertue bred Think better of her and I believe she 's dead To them Almanzor Boab. We are betray'd the Enemy is here We have no farther room to hope or fear Almanz. It is indeed Almanzor whom you see But he no longer is your Enemy You were ungrateful but your foes were more What your injustice lost you theirs restore Make profit of my vengeance while you may My two-edg'd sword can cut the other way I am your fortune but am swift like her And turn my hairy front if you defer That hour when you delib'rate is too late I point you the white moment of your fate Aben. Believe him sent as Prince Abdalla's spy He would betray us to the Enemy Alman Were I like thee in cheats of State grown old Those publick Markets were for foreign gold The poorer Prince is to the Richer sold Then `thou might'st think me fit for that low part But I am yet to learn the Statesman's art My kindness and my hate unmask'd I wear For friends to trust and Enemies to fear My hearts so plain That men on every passing thought may look Like fishes gliding in a Chrystal brook When troubled most it does the bottom show 'T is weedless all above and rockless all below Aben. ' Ere he be trusted let him first be try'd He may be false who once has chang'd his side Almanz. In that you more accuse your selves than me None who are injur'd can unconstant be You were unconstant you who did the wrong To do me justice does to me belong Great Souls by kindness onely can be ti'd Injur'd again again I 'le leave your side Honour is what my self and friends I owe And none can loose it who forsake a foe Since then your Foes now happen to be mine Though not in friendship we 'll in int'rest join So while my lov'd revenge is full and high I l'e give you back your Kingdom by the by Boabdelin embracing him That I so long delai'd what you desire Was not to doubt your worth but to admire Alman This Councellor an old mans caution shows Who fears that little he has left to loose Age sets to fortune while youth boldly throw's But let us first your drooping Souldiers cheere Then seek out danger ' ere it dare appear This hour I fix your Crown upon your brow Next hour fate gives it but I give it now Exeunt SCENE II. Lindaraxa alone O could I read the dark decrees of fate That I might once know whom to love or hate For I my self scarce my own thoughts can ghess So much I find 'em varied by success As in some wether-glass my Love I hold Which falls or rises with the heat or cold I will be constant yet if fortune can I love the King let her but name the Man To her Halyma Hal. Madam a Gentleman to me unknown Desires that he may speak with you alone Lind. Some Message from the King let him appear To her Abdelmelech who Entring throws off his Disguise She starts Abdelm. I see you are amaz'd that I am here But let at once your Fear and Wonder end In the Usurpers Guard I found a Friend Who led me to you safe in this Disguise Lind. Your Danger brings this Trouble in my Eyes But what affair this vent'rous visit drew Abdel. The greatest in the world the seeing you Lind. The Courage of your Love I so admire That to preserve you you shall straight retire She leads him to the door Go Dear each Minute does new dangers bring You will be taken I expect the King Abdal The King the poor Usurper of an Hour His Empire 's but a Dream of Kingly Pow'r I warn you as a Lover and a Friend To leave him e're his short Dominion end The Soldier I suborn'd will wait at night And shall alone be conscious of your flight Lind. I thank you that you so much care bestow But if his Reign be short I need not goe For why should I expose my life and yours For what you say a little time assures Abdel. My danger in th' attempt is very small And if he loves you yours is none at all But though his Ruine be as sure as Fate Your proof of Love to me would come too late This Tryal I in Kindness wou'd allow 'T is easie if you love me show it now Lind. It is because I love you I refuse For all the World my Conduct would accuse If I should go with him I love away And therefore in strict Vertue I will stay Abdel. You would in vain dissemble Love to me Through that thinn Veyle your Artifice I see You would expect th' event and then declare But do not do not drive me to despair For if you now refuse with me to fly Rather then love you after this I 'le die And therefore weigh it well before you speak My King is safe his force within not weak Lind. The Counsel you have giv'n me may be wise But since th' affair is great I will advise Abdel. Then that delay I for denial take is going Lynd. Stay you too swift an Exposition make If I should go since Zulema will stay I should my Brother to the King betray Abdel. There is no fear but if there were I see You value still your Brother more than me Farewel some ease I in your falshood find It lets a Beam in that will clear my mind My former weakness I with shame confess And when I see you next shall love you less Is going again Lynd. Your faithless dealing you may blush to tell Weeping This is a Maids Reward who loves too well He looks back Remember that I drew my latest breath In charging your unkindness with my death Abdel. coming back Have I not answered all you can invent Ev'n the least shadow of an Argument Lind. You want not cunning what you please to prove But my poor Heart knows onely how to Love And finding this you Tyrannize the more 'T is plain some other Mistriss you adore And now with studied tricks of subtilty You come prepar'd to lay the fault on me Wringing her hands But oh that I should love so false a man Abdel. Hear me and then disprove it if you can Lind. I 'le hear no more your breach of Faith is plain You would with Wit your want of Love maintain But by my own Experience I can tell They who love truly cannot argue well Go Faithless Man Leave me alone to mourn my Misery I cannot cease to love you but I 'le die Leans her Head on his Arm. Abdelmelech weeping Abdel. What Man but I so long unmov'd could hear Such tender passion and refuse a Tear But do not talk of dying any more Unless you mean that I should die before
mind And pardon her who does assurance want So much she blushes when she cannot grant Abdal Yes you may blush and you have cause to weep Is this the faith you promis'd me to keep Ah yet if to a Lover you will bring No succour give your succour to a King Lynd. A King is he whom nothing can withstand Who men and money can with ease command A King is he whom fortune still does bless He is a King who does a Crown possess If you would have me think that you are he Produce to view your marks of Soveraignty But if your self alone for proof you bring You 're but a single person not a King Abdal Ingrateful Maid did I for this rebel I say no more but I have lov'd too well Lynd. Who but your self did that Rebellion move Did I ' ere promise to receive your Love Is it my fault you are not fortunate I love a King but a poor Rebel hate Abdal VVho follow Fortune still are in the right But let me be protected here this night Lynd. The place to morrow will be circled round And then no way will for your flight be found Abdalla I hear my Enemies just coming on trampling within Protect me but one hour till they are gone Lind. They 'l know you have been here it cannot be That very hour you stay will ruine me For if the foe behold our Enterview I shall be thought a Rebel too like you Haste hence and that your flight may prosperous prove I 'le recommend you to the pow'rs above Exit Lyndaraxa from above Abdal She 's gone ah faithless and ingrateful maid I fear some tread and fear I am betrai'd I 'll to the Spanish King and try if he To count'nance his own right will succour me There is more faith in Christian Dogs than thee Exit Ozmyn Benzayds Abenamar Benz. I wish To merit all these thanks I could have said My pity onely did his vertue aid 'T was pity but 't was of a Lovesick Maid His manly suffering my esteem did move That bred Compassion and Compassion Love Ozmin O blessing sold me at too cheap a rate My danger was the benefit of fate To his father But that you may my fair deliverer know She was not only born our house's foe But to my death by pow'rful reasons led At least in justice she might wish me dead Aben. But why thus long do you her name conceale Ozmyn To gain belief for what I now reveal E'ven thus prepar'd you scarce can think it true The Saver of my life from Selin drew Her birth and was his Sister whom I slew Aben. No more it cannot was not must not be Upon my blessing say not it was she The daughter of the onely man I hate Two Contradictions twisted in a fate Ozmyn The mutual hate which you and Selin bore Does but exalt her generous pity more Could she a brothers death forgive to me And cannot you forget her family Can you so ill requite the life I owe To reckon her who gave it still your foe It lends too great a luster to her line To let her vertue ours so much out-shine Aben. Thou giv'st her line th' advantage which they have By meanly taking of the life they gave Grant that it did in her a pity show But would my Son be pity'd by a foe She has the glory of thy act defac'd Thou kild'st her brother but she triumphs last Poorly for us our Enmity would cease When we are beaten we receive a peace Benz. If that be all in which you disagree I must confess 't was Ozmyn conquer'd me Had I beheld him basely beg his life I should not now submit to be his wife But when I saw his courage death control I paid a secret homage to his Soul And thought my cruel father much too blame Since Ozmyn's vertue his revenge did shame Aben. What constancy canst thou ' ere hope to finde In that unstable and soon conquer'd mind What piety canst thou expect from her Who could forgive a Brothers Murderer Or what obedience hop'st thou to be pay'd From one who first her father disobey'd Ozmyn Nature that bids us Parents to obey Bids parents their commands by Reason weigh And you her vertue by your praise did own Before you knew by whom the act was done Aben. Your reasons speak too much of insolence Her birth 's a crime past pardon or defence Know that as Selin was not won by thee Neither will I by Selins daughter be Leave her or cease henceforth to be my Son This is my will and this I will have done Exit Abenamar Ozmyn It is a murdring will That whirls along with an impetuous sway And like chain-shot sweeps all things in its way He does my honour want of duty call To that and love he has no right at all Benz. No Ozmyn no it is much less ill To leave me than dispute a Fathers will If I had any title to your love Your fathers greater right does mine remove Your vows and faith I give you back agen Since neither can be kept without a sin Ozmyn Nothing but death my vows can give me back They are not yours to give nor mine to take Benz. Nay think not though I could your vows resign My love or vertue could dispence with mine I would extinguish your unlucky fire To make you happy in some new desire I can preserve enough for me and you And love and be unfortunate for two Ozmyn In all that 's good and great You vanquish me so fast that in the end I shall have nothing left me to defend From every Post you force me to remove But let me keep my last retrenchment Love Benz. Love then my Ozmyn I will be content giving her hand To make you wretched by your own consent Live poor despis'd and banish'd for my sake And all the burden of my sorrows take For as for me in what soe're estate While I have you I must be fortunate Ozmyn Thus then secur'd of what we hold most dear Each others love we 'll go I know not where For where alas should we our flight begin The foes without our parents are within Benz. I 'le fly to you and you shall fly to me Our flight but to each others armes shall be To providence and chance permit the rest Let us but love enough and we are blest Exeunt Enter Boabdelin Abenamar Abdelmelech Guard Zulema and Hamet prisoners Abdel. They 're Lindraxa's brothers for her sake Their lives and pardon my request I make Boab. Then Zulema and Hamet live but know Your lives to Abdelmelechs sute you owe. Zul The grace receiv'd so much my hope exceeds That words come weak and short to answer deeds You 've made a venture Sir and time must show If this great mercy you did well bestow Boabd You Abdelmelech haste before 't is night And close pursue my Brother in his flight Exeunt Abdelmelech Zulema Hamet Enter Almanzor Almahide and Esperanza But
Heav'n when we meet if fatal it must be To one spare him and cast the Lot on me They retiree Lynd. Ah what a noble Conquest were this Heart I am resolv'd I 'le try my utmost Art In gaining him I gain that Fortune too Which he has Wedded and which I but Wooe I 'le try each secret passage to his mind And Loves soft Bands about his Heart-strings wind Not his vow'd Constancy shall scape my snare While he without resistance does prepare I 'le melt into him e're his Love 's aware She makes a gesture of invitation to Almanzor who returns again Lynd. You see Sir to how strange a remedy A persecuted Maid is forc'd to fly Who much distrest yet scarce has confidence To make your noble pity her defence Almanz. Beauty like yours can no protection need Or if it sues is certain to succeed To whate're Service you ordain my hand Name your Request and call it your Command Lynd. You cannot Sir but know that my ill Fate Has made me lov'd with all th' effects of Hate One Lover would by force my person gain Which one as guilty would by force detain Rash Abdelmelechs Love I cannot prize And fond Abdalla's passion I despise As you are brave so you are prudent too Advise a wretched Woman what to do Almanz. Have courage Fair one put your trust in me You shall at least from those you hate be free Resign your Castle to the King's Command And leave your Love-concernments in my hand Lynd. The King like them is fierce and faithless too How can I trust him who has injur'd you Keep for your self and you can grant no less What you alone are worthy to possess Enter brave Sir for when you speak the word These Gates will open of their own accord The Genius of the place its Lord will meet And bend its tow'ry forehead to your feet That little Cittadel which now you see Shall then the head of Conquer'd Nations be And every Turret from your coming rise The Mother of some great Metropolis Almanz. 'T is pity words which none but Gods should hear Should loose their sweetness in a Soldiers Ear I am not that Almanzor whom you praise But your fair Mouth can fair Idea's raise I am a wretch to whom it is deny'd T' accept with Honour what I wish with Pride And since I fight not for my self must bring The fruits of all my Conquests to the King Lynd. Say rather to the Queen to whose fair Name I know you vow the Trophies of your Fame I hope she is as kind as she is fair Kinder then unexperienc'd Virgins are To their first Loves though she has lov'd before And that first innocence is now no more But in revenge she gives you all her Heart For you are much too brave to take a part Though blinded by a Crown she did not see Almanzor greater than a King could be I hope her Love repairs her ill made choice Almanzor cannot be deluded twice Almanz. No not deluded for none count their gains Who like Almanzor franckly give their pains Lynd. Almanzor do not cheat your self nor me Your Love is not refin'd to that degree For since you have desires and those not blest Your Loveâ—s uneasie and at little rest Almanz. 'T is true my own unhappiness I see But who alas can my Physician be Love like a lazy Ague I endure Which fears the Water and abhors the Cure Lynd. 'T is a Consumption which your life does waste Still flatt'ring you with hope till help be past But since of cure from her you now despair You like consumptive Men should change your Air. Love some-where else 't is a hard remedy But yet you owe your self so much to try Almanz. My Love 's now grown so much a part of me That Life would in the Cure endanger'd be At least it like a Limb cut off would show And better dye than like a Cripple goe Lynd. You must be brought like mad Men to their cure And darkness first and next new Bonds endure Do you dark absence to your self ordain And I in Charity will find the Chain Almanz. Love is that madness which all Lovers have But yet 't is sweet and pleasing so to Rave 'T is an Enchantment where the reason 's bound But Paradice is in th' enchanted ground A Palace void of Envy Cares and Strife Where gentle hours delude so much of Life To take those Charms away and set me free Is but to send me into misery And Prudence of whose Cure so much you boast Restores those Pains which that sweet Folly lost Lynd. I would not like Philosophers remove But show you a more pleasing shape of Love You a sad sullen froward Love did see I 'le show him kind and full of gayety In short Almanzor it shall be my care To show you Love for you but saw Despair Almanz. I in the shape of Love Despair did see You in his shape would show Inconstancy Lynd. There 's no such thing as Constancy you call Faith ties not Hearts 't is Inclination all Some Wit deform'd or Beauty much decay'd First constancy in Love a Vertue made From Friendship they that Landmark did remove And falsly plac'd it on the bounds of Love Let th' effects of change be onely try'd Court me in jest and call me Almahide But this is onely Council I impart For I perhaps should not receive your heart Almanz Fair though you are As Summer mornings and your Eyes more bright Than Starrs that twinckle in a winters night Though you have Eloquence to warm and move Cold age and praying Hermites into Love Though Almahide with scorn rewards my care Yet than to change 't is nobler to despair My Love 's my Soul and that from Fate is free 'T is that unchang'd and deathless part of me Lynd. The Fate of Constancy your Love pursue Still to be faithful to what 's false to you Turns from him and goes off angrily Almanz. Ye Gods why are not Hearts first pair'd above But some still interfere in others Love E're each for each by certain marks are known You mould 'em off in haste and drop 'em down And while we seek what carelesly you sort You sit in State and make our pains your sport Exeunt on both sides ACT. IV. SCENE Abenamar and servants Aben. HAst and conduct the Pris'ner to my sight Exit servant and immediately enters with Selin bound Aben. Did you according to my orders write to Selin And have you summon'd Ozmyn to appear Selin I am not yet so much a slave to fear Nor has your Son deserv'd so ill of me That by his death or bonds I would be free Aben. Against thy life thou dost the sentence give Behold how short a time thou hast to live Selin Make haste and draw the Curtain while you may You but shut out the twilight of my day Beneath the burden of my age I bend You kindly ease me ' ere my Journey 's end To them
the Heroes Soul Does all the Military Art controul While tim'rous Wit goes round or foords the shore He shoots the Gulph and is already o're And when th' Enthusiastique fit is spent Looks back amaz'd at what he underwent An Alarm within Exeunt Enter Almanzor and Abdelmelech with their Soldiers Abdelm. They fly they fly take breath and charge agen Almanz. Make good your entrance and bring up more men I fear'd brave Friend my Aid had been too late Abdelm. You drew us from the jaws of certain Fate At my approach The Gate was open and the Draw-bridge down But when they saw I stood and came not on They charg'd with fury on my little Band Who much o're-powr'd could scarce the shock withstand Almanz. E're night we shall the whole Albayzin gain But see the Spaniards march along the Plain To its relief you Abdelmelech goe And force the rest while I repulse the Foe Exit Almanzor Enter Abdalla and some few Soldiers who seem fearful Abdal Turn Cowards turn there is no hope in flight You yet may live if you but dare to fight Come you brave few who onely fear to fly We 're not enough to Conquer but to Dye Abdelm. No Prince that mean advantage I refuse 'T is in your pow'r a nobler Fate to choose Since we are Rivals Honour does command We should not dye but by each others hand To his men Retire and if it prove my destiny To fall I charge you let the Prince goe free The Soldiers depart on both sides Abdal O Abdelmelech that I knew some way This debt of Honour which I owe to pay But Fate has left this onely means for me To dye and leave you Lyndaraxa free Abdelm. He who is vanquish'd and is slain is blest The wretched Conquerour can ne're have rest But is reserv'd a harder fate to prove Bound in the Fetters of dissembled Love Abdal Now thou art base and I deserve her more Without complaint I will to death adore Dar'st thou see faults and yet dost Love pretend I will ev'n Lyndaraxa's Crimes defend Abdelm. Maintain her cause then better than thy own Than thy ill got and worse defended Throne They fight Abdalla falls Abdelm. Now ask your life Abdal 'T is gone that busy thing The Soul is packing up and just on wing Like parting Swallows when they seek the Spring Like them at its appointed time it goes And flies to Countreys more unknown than those Enter Lyndaraxa hastily sees them and is going out again Abdelmelech stopping her No you shall stay and see a Sacrifice Not offer'd by my Sword but by your Eyes From those he first Ambitions poyson drew And swell'd to Empire for the love of you Accursed fair Thy Comet-blaze portends a Princes fate And suff'ring Subjects groan beneath thy weight Abdal Cease Rival cease I would have forc'd you but it wonnot be I beg you now upbraid her not for me to Lynd. You fairest to my memory be kind Lovers like me your sex will seldom find When I usurp'd a Crown for love of you I then did more than dying now I do I 'me still the same as when my Love begun And could I now this fate foresee or shun dyes Would yet do all I have already done she puts her handkerchief to her eies Abdelm. Weep on weep on for it becomes you now These tears you to that love may well allow His unrepenting Soul if it could move Upward in Crimes flew spotted with your love And brought Contagion to the blest above Lind. He 's gone and peace go with a constant mind His love deserv'd I should have been more kind But then your love and greater worth I knew I was unjust to him but just to you Abdelm. I was his Enemy and Rival too Yet I some tears to his misfortunes owe You ow him more weep then and join with me So much is due ev'n to Humanity Lynd. Weep for this wretch whose memory I hate Whose folly made us both unfortunate Weep for this fool who did my laughter move This whining tedious heavy lump of Love Abdelm. Had Fortune favour'd him and frown'd on me I then had been that heavy fool not he Just this had been my fun'ral Elegy Thy arts and falshood I before did know But this last baseness was conceal'd till now And 't was no more than needful to be known I could be cur'd by such an act alone My love half blasted yet in time would shoot But this last tempest rends it to the root Lyn. These little picques which now your Anger move Will vanish and are onely signes of love You 've been too fierce and at some other time I should not with such ease forgive your Crime But in a day of publick joy like this I pardon and forget what ere 's amiss Abdelm. These Arts have oft prevail'd but must no more The spell is ended and th' Enchantment ' ore You have at last destroy'd with much adoe That love which none could have destroy'd but you My love was blind to your deluding Art But blind men feel when stabb'd so neer the heart Lynd. I must confess there was some pity due But I conceal'd it out of Love to you Abdelm. No Lyndaraxa 't is at last too late Our loves have mingled with too much of fate I would but cannot now my self deceive O that you still could cheat and I believe Lynd. Do not so light a quarrel long pursue You grieve your Rival was less lov'd than you 'T is hard when men of kindness must complain Abdelm. I 'm now awake and cannot dream again Lynd. Yet hear Abdelm. No more nothing my heart can bend That Queen you scorn'd you shall this night attend Your life the King has pardon'd for my sake But on your Pride I some revenge must take See now th' effects of what your Arts design'd Thank your inconstant and ambitious Mind 'T is just that she who to no Love is true Should be forsaken and contemn'd like you Lynd. All Arts of injur'd Women I will try First I will be reveng'd and then I 'le die But like some falling Tow'r Whose seeming firmness does the sight beguile So hold I up my nodding head awhile Till they come under and reserve my fall That with my ruines I may reach 'em all Abdelm. Conduct her hence Exit Lyndaraxa guarded Enter a Soldier Sold. Almanzor is victorious without fight The Foes retreated when he came in sight Under the Walls this night his men are drawn And mean to seek the Spaniard with the dawn Abdel. The Sun 's declin'd Command the Watch be set without delay And in the Fort let bold Benducar stay I 'le haste to Court where Solitude I 'le fly aside And heard like wounded Deer in company But oh how hard is passion to remove When I must shun my self to 'scape from Love Exit SCENE The Alhambra or a Gallery Zulema Hamet Hamet I thought your passion for the Queen was dead Or that your love had with
thinking that his fears were vain He lifted up his thundring arm again Again the voice withheld him from my death Spare spare his life it cry'd who gave thee breath Once more he stop'd then threw his sword away Blest shade he said I hear thee I obey Thy sacred voice then in the sight of all He at my feet I on his neck did fall Ferd. O blest Event Arcos The Moors no longer fought But all their safety by submission sought Mean time my Son grew faint with loss of blood And on his bending sword supported stood Yet with a voice beyond his strength he cry'd Lead me to live or dye by Almahide K. Ferd. I am not for his wounds less griev'd than you For if what now my Soul divines prove true This is that son whom in his Infancy You lost when by my father forc'd to fly D. Arcos His Sisters beauty did my passion move The crime for which I suffer'd was my love Our marriage known to Sea we took our flight There in a storm Almanzor first saw light On his right Arm a bloody heart was grav'd The mark by which this day my life was sav'd The Bracelets and the Cross his mother ty'd About his wrist ' ere she in childbed dy'd How we were Captives made when she was dead And how Almanzor was in Africque bred Some other hour you may at leisure hear For see the Queen in triumph does appear Enter Qu. Isabel Lyndaraxa Ladies Moors and Spaniards mix'd as Guards Abdelmelech Abenamar Selin Pris'ners K. Ferdinand embracing Qu Isabel. All stories which Granada's Conquest tell Shall celebrate the name of Isabel. Your Ladies too who in their Countries cause Led on the men shall share in your applause And for your sakes henceforward I ordain No Ladies dow'r shall question'd be in Spain Fair Lyndaraxa for the help she lent Shall under Tribute have this Government Abdelm. O Heav'n that I should live to see this day Lynd. You murmur now but you shall soon obey I knew this Empyre to my fate was ow'd Heav'n held it back as long as ' ere it cou'd For thee base wretch I want a torture yet to Abdelm. I 'le cage thee thou shalt be my Bajazet I on no pavement but on thee will tread And when I mount my foot shall know thy head Abdelm. stabbing her with a Ponyard This first shall know thy heart Lind. Oh! I am slain Abdelm. Now boast thy Country is betray'd to Spain K. Ferd. Look to the Lady Seize the Murdere Abdelmelech stabbing himself I 'le do my self that Justice I did her Thy blood I to thy ruin'd Country give To Lynd. But love too well thy murther to out live Forgive a love excus'd by its excess Which had it not been cruel had been less Condemn my passion then but pardon me And think I murder'd him who murder'd thee dyes Lynd. Dye for us both I have not leysure now A Crown is come and will not fate allow And yet I fell something like death is near My guards my guards Let not that ugly skeleton appear Sure destiny mistakes this death 's not mine She dotes and meant to cut another line Tell her I am a Queen but 't is too late Dying I charge Rebellion on my fate Bow down ye slaves To the Moors Bow quickly down and your Submission show they bow I 'me pleas'd to taste an Empyre ' ere I goe dyes Selin She 's dead and here her proud ambition ends Aben. Such fortune still such black designs attends Ferd. Remove those mournful Objects from our eyes And see perform'd their funeral Obsequies The Bodies carried off Enter Almanzor and Almahide Ozmyn and Benzayda Almahide brought in a chair Almanzor led betwixt Souldiers Isabel salutes Almahide in dumb show Duke of Arcos presenting Almanzor to the King See here that Son whom I with pride call mine And who dishonours not your royal line K. Ferd. I 'me now secure this Scepter which I gain Shall be continu'd in the pow'r of Spain Since he who could alone my foes defend By birth and honour is become my friend Yet I can own no joy nor Conquest boast to Almanz. While in this blood I see how dear it cost Almanz. This honor to my veins new blood will bring Sreams cannot fail fed by so high a Spring But all Court-Customs I so little know That I may fail in those respects I owe. I bring a heart which homage never knew Yet it finds something of it self in you Something so kingly that my haughty mind Is drawn to yours because 't is of a kind Qu. Isabel. And yet that Soul which bears it self so high If fame be true admits a Soveraignty This Queen in her fair eyes such fetters brings As chain that heart which scorns the pow'r of Kings Almah Little of charm in these sad eyes appears If they had any now 't is lost in tears A Crown and Husband ravish'd in one day Excuse a grief I cannot choose but pay Q. Isab. Have Courage Madam heav'n has joyes in store To recompence those losses you deplore Qu. Almah I know your God can all my woes redress To him I made my vows in my distress And what a Misbeliever vow'd this day Though not a Queen a Christian yet shall pay Qu. Isabel embracing her That Christian name you shall receive from me And Isabella of Granada be Benz. This blessed change we all with joy receive And beg to learn that faith which you believe Qu. Isabel. With reverence for those holy rites prepare And all commit your fortunes to my care K. Ferd. to Almahide You Madam by that Crown you loose may gain If you accept a Coronet of Spain Of which Almanzor's father stands possest Qu. Isabel to Almahide May you in him and he in you be blest Qu. Almahide I owe my life and honour to his sword But owe my love to my departed Lord. Almanzor Thus when I have no living force to dread Fate find's me Enemies amongst the dead ' Ime now to conquer Ghosts and to destroy The strong impressions of a Bridale joy Almah You 've yet a greater Foe than these can be Vertue opposes you and Modesty Almanz. From a false fear that Modesty does grow And thinks true love because 't is fierce its foe 'T is but the wax whose seals on Virgins stay Let it approach Loves fire 't will melt away But I have liv'd too long I never knew When fate was conquer'd I must combate you I thought to climb the steep ascent of Love But did not think to find a foe above 'T is time to dye when you my bar must be Whose aid alone could give me Victory Without I 'le pull up all the sluces of the flood And Love within shall boyl out all my blood Q. Isab. Fear not your Love should find so sad success While I have pow'r to be your Patroness I am her Parent now and may command So much of duty as to give her hand gives him