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
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