Fear makes men look aside, and then

their footing miss.

Almah. I do your merit all the right I

can;

Admiring virtue in a private man;

I only wish the king may grateful be, And that my father with my eyes may

see.

Might I not make it as my last request,Since humble carriage suits a suppliant best,

That you would somewhat of your fierceness hide

That inborn fire-I do not call it pride? Almanz. Born, as I am, still to command, not sue,

Yet you shall see that I can beg for you; And if your father will require a crown, Let him but name the kingdom, 't is his

own.

I am, but while I please, a private man; I have that soul which empires first began.

From the dull crowd, which every king does lead,

I will pick out whom I will choose to head:

The best and bravest souls I can select, And on their conquered necks my throne erect.

(Exeunt.)

ACT V.

SCENE 1.

(Abdalla alone, under the walls of the Albayzin.)

Abdal. While she is mine, I have not yet lost all,

But in her arms shall have a gentle fall: Blest in my love, although in war o'ercome,

I fly, like Antony from Actium,
To meet a better Cleopatra here.—

You of the watch! you of the watch! appear.

Sold. (Above.) Who calls below? What's your demand?

Abdal. "T is I: Open the gate with speed; the foe is nigh. Sold. What orders for admittance do you bring?

Abdal. Slave, my own orders: look, and know the king.

Sold. I know you; but my charge is so

severe

That none, without exception, enter here.

But if yourself 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 loved too well. Lyndar. Who but yourself did that rebellion move?

Did I e'er promise to receive your love? Is it my fault you are not fortunate? I love a king, but a poor rebel hate. Abdal. Who follow fortune, still are in the right;

But let me be protected here this night. Lyndar. The place to-morrow will be circled round;

And then no way will for your flight be found.

Abdal. I hear my enemies just coming on; (Trampling within.)

Protect me but one hour, till they are gone.

Lyndar. They'll know you have been here; it cannot be;

That very hour you stay, will ruin me: For if the foe behold our interview,

I shall be thought a rebel too, like you. Haste hence; and that your flight may

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 only man I hate! Two contradictions twisted in a fate! Ozm. The mutual hate, which you and Selin bore,

Does but exalt her generous pity more. Could she a brother's 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 lustre to her line, To let her virtue ours so much outshine. Aben. Thou giv'st her line the 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 pitied by a foe? She has the glory of thy act defaced: Thou killedst 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 dis

My love or virtue could dispense 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. Ozm. 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, despised, and banished for my sake,

And all the burden of my sorrows take; For, as for me, in whatsoe'er estate, While I have you, I must be fortunate. Ozm. Thus then, secured of what we hold most dear,

(Each other's love) we'll go-I know not where.

For where, alas, should we our flight begin?

The foe's without; our parents are within.

Benz. I'll fly to you, and you shall fly to me;

Our flight but to each other's arms shall be.

To providence and chance permit the rest;

Let us but love enough, and we are blest. (Exeunt.)

Boab. Then, Zulema and Hamet, live; but know,

Your lives to Abdelmelech's suit you owe. The grace received so much my hope exceeds

Zul.

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. Boab. 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 see, with Almahide

The brave Almanzor comes, whose conquering sword

The crown, it once took from me, has restored.

How can I recompense so great desert! Almanz. I bring you, sir, performed in every part,

My promise made; your foes are fled or

slain;

Aben.
-And my daughter too.
Almanz. Believe, old man, that I her fa-
ther knew:

What else should make Almanzor kneel to you?

Nor doubt, sir, but your right to her was known:

For had you had no claim but love alone, I could produce a better of my own. Almah. (Softly to him.) Almanzor, you forget my last request:

Your words have too much haughtiness expressed.

Is this the humble way you were to move?

Almanz. (To her.) I was too far transported by my love.

Forgive me; for I had not learned to sue To anything before, but heaven and you,

Sir, at your feet, I make it my request(To the King.)

(First line kneeling: second, rising, and boldly.)

Though, without boasting, I deserve her

Thou liv'st, and art but banished from the place.

Almanz. Where'er I go, there can no exile be;

But from Almanzor's sight 1 banish thee: I will not now, if thou wouldst beg me, stay;

But I will take my Almahide away. Stay thou with all thy subjects here; but know,

We leave thy city empty when we go. (Takes Almahide's hand.) Boab. Fall on; take; kill the traitor. (The Guards fall on him; he makes at the King through the midst of them, and falls upon him; they disarm him, and rescue the King.)

Almanz.

-Base and poor,

Blush that thou art Almanzor's con

queror.

Unveil, my love, and lay aside your fears.

The storm that caused your fright is passed and done. (Almahide unveiling, and looking round for Almanzor.) Almah. So flowers peep out too soon, and miss the sun.

(Turning from him.) Boab. What mystery in this strange behavior lies?

Almah. Let me for ever hide these guilty

eyes

Which lighted my Almanzor to his tomb; Or, let 'em blaze, to show me there a

room.

Boab. Heaven lent their lustre for a nobler end;