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
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
they turn Beauties here Our Authour fears those Critiques as his Fate And those he Fears by consequence must Hate For they the Trafficque of all Wit invade As Scriv'ners draw away the Bankers Trade Howe're the Poet 's safe enough to day They cannot censure an unfinish'd Play But as when Vizard Masque appears in Pit Straight every man who thinks himself a Wit Perks up and managing his Comb with grace With his white Wigg sets off his Nut-brown Face That done bears up to th'prize and views each Limb To know her by her Rigging and her Trimm Thou the whole noise of Fopps to wagers go Pox on her 't must be she and Damm'ee no Iust so I Prophecy these Wits to day Will blindly guess at our imperfect Play With what new Plots our Second Part is fill'd Who must be kept alive and who be kill'd And as those Vizard Masques maintain that Fashion To sooth and tickle sweet Imagination So our dull Poet keeps you on with Masquing To make you think there 's something worth your asking But when 't is shown that which does now delight you Will prove a Dowdy with a Face to fright you Almanzor and Almahide Or The CONQUEST OF Granada By the SPANIARDS The Second Part. ACT. I. SCENE A Camp King Ferdinand Queen Ysabel Alonzo d'Aguilar Attendants men and women K. Ferd. AT length the time is come when Spain shall be From the long Yoke of Moorish Tyrants free All causes seem to second our design And Heav'n and Earth in their destruction join When Empire in its Childhood first appears A watchful Fate ' oresees its tender years Till grown more strong it thrusts and stretches out And Elbows all the Kingdoms round about The place thus made for its first breathing free It moves again for ease and Luxury Till swelling by degrees it has possest The greater space and now crowds up the rest VVhen from behind there starts some petty State And pushes on its now unwieldy fate Then down the precipice of time it goes And sinks in Minutes which in Ages rose Qu. Ysabel Should bold Columbus in his search succeed And find those Beds in which bright Metals breed Tracing the Sun who seems to steal away That Miser-like he might alone survey The wealth which he in Western Mines did lay Not all that shining Ore could give my heart The joy this Conquer'd Kingdom will impart Which rescu'd from these Misbelievers hands Shall now at once shake off its double bands At once to freedom and true faith restor'd It s old Religion and its antient Lord. K. Ferd. By that assault which last we made I find Their Courage is with their Success declin'd Almanzor's absence now they dearly buy VVhose Conduct crown'd their Armes with Victory Alonzo Their King himself did their last Sally guide I saw him glist'ring in bright armour ride To break a Lance in honour of his Bride But other thoughts now fill his anxious brest Care of his Crown his Love has dispossest To them Abdalla Qu. Ysabel But see the brother of the Moorish King He seems some news of great import to bring Ferd. He brings a specious title to our side Those who would conquer must their Foes divide Abdal Since to my Exile you have pity shown And giv'n me Courage yet to hope a throne VVhile you without our Common Foes subdue I am not wanting to my self or you But have within a faction still alive Strong to assist and secret to contrive And watching each occasion to foment The peoples fears into a discontent VVhich from Almanzor's loss before were great And now are doubled by their late defeat These Letters from their Chiefs the news assures gives Letters to the King K. Ferd. Be mine the honour but the profit yours To them the Duke of Arcos with Ozmyn and Benzayda prisoners K. Ferd. That tertia of Italians did you guide To take their post upon the River side Arcos All are according to your Orders plac'd My chearful Soldiers their intrenchments hast The Murcian foot have ta'ne the upper ground And now the City is beleaguer'd round Ferd. VVhy is not then their Leader here again Arcos The Master of Alcantara is slain But he who slew him here before you stands It is that Moor whom you behold in bands K. Ferd. A braver man I had not in my host His Murd'rer shall not long his Conquest boast But Duke of Arcos say how was he slain Arcos Our Souldiers march'd together on the Plain VVe two rode on and left them far behind Till coming where we found the valley winde VVee saw these Moors who swiftly as they cou'd Ran on to gain the Covert of the wood This vve observ'd and having cross'd their vvay The Lady out of breath vvas forc'd to stay The Man then stood and straight his fauchion drevv Then told us vve in vain did those pursue VVhom their ill fortune to despair did drive And yet vvhom vve shou'd never take alive Neglecting this the Master straight spurr'd on But th' active Moor his horses shock did shun And ' ere his Rider from his reach could goe Finish'd the Combat with one deadly blow I to revenge my Friend prepar'd to fight But now our foremost Men were come in sight Who soon would have dispatch'd him on the Place Had I not sav'd him from a death so base And brought him to attend your Royal doom K. Ferd. A Manly face and in his ages bloom But to content the Souldiers he must dye Go see him executed instantly Q. Ysabel Stay I would learn his name before he goe You Prince Abdalla may the Pris'ner know Abdalla Ozmyn's his name and he deserves his fate His father heads that faction which I hate But much I wonder that I with him see The daughter of his Mortal Enemy Benz. 'T is true by Ozmyns sword my Brother fell But 't was a death he merited too well I know a sister should excuse his fault But you know too that Ozmyn's death he sought Abdall Our Prophet has declar'd by the Event That Ozmyn is reserv'd for punishment For when he thought his guilt from danger clear He by new Crimes is brought to suffer here Benz. In Love or Pity if a Crime you find We two have sin'd above all humane kind Ozm. Heav'n in my punishment has done a grace I could not suffer in a betters place That I should dye by Christians it thought good To save your fathers guilt who sought my blood to her Benz. Fate aims so many blows to make us fall That 't is in vain to think to ward 'em all And where misfortunes great and many are Life grows a burden and not worth our care Ozm. I cast it from me like a Garment torn Ragged and too undecent to be worn Besides there is Contagion in my Fate to Benz. It makes your Life too much unfortunate But since her faults are not ally'd to mine In her protection let your favour shine To you Great Queen I make this
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
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
remains in the Sultana's cause I here am ready to fulfil the Laws Selin The Law is fully satisfy'd and we Pronounce the Queen and Abdelmelech free Abdelm. Heav'n thou art just The Iudges rise from their seats and goe before Almanzor to the Queens Scaffold he unbinds the Queen and Abdelmelech they all goe off the people showting and the Trumpets sounding the while Boab. Before we pay our thanks or show our joy Let us our needful Charity employ Some skilful Surgeon speedily be found T' apply fit Remedies to Ozmyn's wound Benzayda running to Ozmyn That be my charge my Linnen I will tear Wash it with Tears and bind it with my Hair Ozm. With how much pleasure I my pains endure And bless the wound which causes such a cure Exit Ozmyn led by Benzayda and Abenamar Boab. Some from the place of Combat bear the slain Next Lyndaraxa's death I should ordain But let her who this mischief did contrive For ever banish'd from Granada live Lynd. Thou shou'dst have punish'd more or not at all By her thou hast not ruin'd thou shalt fall aside The Zegry's shall revenge their branded Line Betray their Gate and with the Christians joyn Exit Lynd. with Alabez the Bodies of her Brothers are born after her Almanzor Almahide Esperanza re-enter to the King Almah The thanks thus paid which first to Heav'n were due My next Almanzor let me pay to you Somewhat there is of more concernment too Which 't is not fit you should in publick know First let your wounds be dress'd with speedy care And then you shall th' important Secret share Almanz. When e're you speak Were my wounds mortal they should still bleed on And I would listen till my life were gone My Soul should ev'n for your last accent stay And then shoot out and with such speed obey It shou'd not bait at Heav'n to stop its way Exit Almanzor Boab. 'T is true Almanzor did her Honour save aside But yet what private business can they have Such freedom vertue will not sure allow I cannot clear my heart but must my brow He approaches Almahide Welcome again my Vertuous Loyal Wife Welcome to Love to Honour and to Life Goes to salute her she starts back You seem As if you from a loath'd embrace did goe Almah Then briefly I will speak since you must know What to the World my future Acts will show But hear me first and then my reasons weigh 'T is known how Duty led me to obey My Fathers choice and how I since did live You Sir can best your testimony give How to your aid I have Almanzor brought When by rebellious Crowds your life was sought Then how I bore your causeless Jealousie For I must speak and after set you free When you were Pris'ner by the chance of war These sure are proofs of Love Boab I grant they are Almah And cou d you then O cruelly unkind So ill reward such tenderness of mind Could you denying what our Laws afford The meanest subject on a Traytors word Unheard condemn and suffer me to goe To death and yet no common pity show Boab. Love fill'd my heart ev'n to the brim before And then with too much jealousie boil'd o're Almah Be 't Love or Jealousie t is such a Crime That I 'm forewarn'd to trust a second time Know then my Pray'rs to Heav'n shall never cease To crown your Arms in War your Wars with Peace But from this day I will not know your Bed Though Almahide still lives your wife is dead And with her dies a Love so pure and true It could be kill'd by nothing but by you Exit Almahide Boab. Yes you will spend your life in Pray'rs for me And yet this hour my hated Rival see She might a Husbands Jealousie forgive But she will onely for Almanzor live It is resolv'd I will my self provide That vengeance which my useless Laws deny'd And by Almanzor's death at once remove The Rival of my Empire and my Love Exit Boabdelin Enter Almahide led by Almanzor and follow'd by Esperanza she speaks entring Almah How much Almanzor to your aid I owe Unable to repay I blush to know Yet forc'd by need e're I can clear that score I like ill debtors come to borrow more Almanz. Your new Commands I on my knees attend I was created for no other end Born to be yours I do by Nature serve And like the lab'ring Beast no thanks deserve Almah Yet first your Vertue to your succor call For in this hard Command you 'll need it all Almanz. I stand prepar'd and whatsoe're it be Nothing is hard to him who loves like me Almah Then know I from your Love must yet implore One proof that you would never see me more Almanzor starting back I must confess For this last stroke I did no Guard provide I could suspect no Foe was neer that side From Winds and thickning Clouds we Thunder fear None dread it from that quarter which is cleer And I would fain believe 't is but your Art To shew You knew where deepest you could wound my Heart Almah So much respect is to your passion due That sure I could not practise Arts on you But that you may not doubt what I have sed This hour I have renounc'd my Husbands Bed Judge then how much my Fame would injur'd be If leaving him I should a Lover see Almanz. If his unkindness have deserv'd that Curse Must I for loving well be punish'd worse Almah Neither your Love nor Merits I compare But my unspotted Name must be my care Almanz. I have this day establish'd its renown Almah Would you so soon what you have rais'd throw down Almanz. But Madam Is not yours a greater Guilt To ruine him who has that Fabrique built Almah No Lover should his Mistriss Pray'rs withstand Yet you contemn my absolute Command Almanz. 'T is not contempt When your Command is issu'd out too late 'T is past my pow'r and all beyond is fate I scarce could leave you when to Exile sent Much less when now recall'd from banishment For if that heat your glances cast were strong Your Eyes like Glasses Fire when held so long Almah Then since you needs will all my weakness know I love you and so well that you must goe I am so much oblig'd and have withal A Heart so boundless and so prodigal I dare not trust my self or you to stay But like frank gamesters must forswear the play Almanz. Fate thou art kind to strike so hard a blow I am quite stun'd and past all feeling now Yet can you tell me you have pow'r and will To save my life and at that instant kill Alm. This had you stay'd you never must have known But now you goe I may with honour own Almanz. But Madam I am forc'd to disobey In your defence my honour bids me stay I promis'd to secure your life and throne And heav'n be thank'd that work is yet undone Alma I here make
come after him we are bound with all veneration to his memory to acknowledge what advantage we receiv'd from that excellent ground-work which he laid and since it is an easy thing to add to what already is invented we ought all of us without envy to him or partiality to our selves to yield him the precedence in it Having done him this justice as my guide I may do my self so much as to give an account of what I have perform'd after him I observ'd then as I said what was wanting to the perfection of his Siege of Rhodes which was design and variety of Characters And in the midst of this consideration by meer accident I open'd the next Book that lay by me which was an Ariosto in Italian and the very first two lines of that Poem gave me light to all I could desire Le Donne I Cavalier L' arme gli amori Le Cortesie l' audace imprese jo canto c. for the very next reflection which I made was this That an Heroick Play ought to be an imitation in little of an Heroick Poem and consequently that Love and Valour ought to be the Subject of it Both these Sir William D' Avenant had begun to shadow but it was so as first Discoverers draw their Maps with headlands and Promontories and some few out-lines of somewhat taken at a distance and which the designer saw not clearly The common Drama oblig'd him to a Plot well-form'd and pleasant or as the Antients call'd it one entire and great Action but this he afforded not himself in a story which he neither fill'd with Persons nor beautified with Characters nor varied with Accidents The Laws of an Heroick Poem did not dispence with those of the other but rais'd them to a greater height and indulg'd him a farther liberty of Fancy and of drawing all things as far above the ordinary proportion of the Stage as that is beyond the common words and actions of humane life and therefore in the scanting of his Images and design he comply'd not enough with the greatness and Majesty of an Heroick Poem I am sorry I cannot discover my opinion of this kind of writing without dissenting much from his whose memory I love and honour But I will do it with the same respect to him as if he were now alive and overlooking my Paper while I write his judgment of an Heroick Poem was this That it ought to be dress'd in a more familiar and easy shape more fitted to the common actions and passions of humane life and in short more like a glass of Nature showing us our selves in our ordinary habits and figuring a more practicable vertue to us then was done by the Antients or Moderns thus he takes the Image of an Heroick Poem from the Drama or stage Poetry and accordingly intended to divide it into five Books representing the same number of Acts and every Book into several Canto's imitating the Scenes which compose our Acts. But this I think is rather Play in Narration as I may call it than an Heroick Poem If at least you will not prefer the opinion of a single man to the practice of the most excellent Authors both of Antient and latter ages I am no admirer of Quotations but you shall hear if you please one of the Ancients delivering his judgment on this question 't is Petronius Arbiter the most elegant and one of the most judicious Authors of the Latine tongue who after he had given many admirable rules for the structure and beauties of an Epick Poem concludes all in these following words Non enim res gestae versibus comprehendae sunt quod longè melius Historici faciunt sed perambages Deorumque ministeria praecipitandus est liber Spiritus ut potius furentis animi vaticinatio appareat quam religiosae orationis sub testibus fides In which sentence and in his own Essay of a Poem which immediately he gives you it is thought he taxes Lucan who follow'd too much the truth of history crowded Sentences together was too full of points and too often offer'd at somewhat which had more of the sting of an Epigram than of the dignity and state of an Heroick Poem Lucan us'd not much the help of his heathen Deities there was neither the ministry of the Gods nor the precipitation of the Soul nor the fury of a Prophet of which my Author speaks in his Pharsalia he treats you more like a Philosopher than a Poet and instructs you in verse with what he had been taught by his Vncle Seneca in Prose In one word he walks soberly a foot when he might fly Yet Lucan is not alwayes this Religious historian the Oracle of Appius and the witchcraft of Erictho will somewhat attone for him who was indeed bound up by an ill-chosen and known argument to follow truth with great exactness For my part I am of opinion that neither Homer Virgil Statius Ariosto Tasso nor our English Spencer could have form'd their Poems half so beautiful without those Gods and Spirits and those Enthusiastick parts of Poetry which compose the most noble parts of all their writings and I will ask any man who loves Heroick Poetry for I will not dispute their tastes who do not if the Ghost of Polydorus in Virgil the Enchanted wood in Tasso and the Bower of bliss in Spencer which he borrows from that admirable Italian could have been omitted without taking from their works some of the greatest beauties in them and if any man object the improbabilities of a spirit appearing or of a Palace rais'd by Magick I boldly answer him that an Heroick Poet is not ty'd to a bare representation of what is true or exceeding probable but that he may let himself loose to visionary objects and to the representation of such things as depending not on sence and therefore not to be comprehended by knowledge may give him a freer scope for imagination 'T is enough that in all ages and Religions the greatest part of mankind have believ'd the power of Magick and that there are Spirits or Spectres which have appear'd This I say is foundation enough for Poetry and I dare farther affirm that the whole Doctrine of separated beings whether those Spirits are incorporeal substances which Mr. Hobbs with some reason thinks to imply a contradiction or that they are a thinner and more Aerial sort of bodies as some of the Fathers have conjectur'd may better be explicated by Poets than by Philosophers or Divines For their speculations on this subject are wholy Poetical they have onely their fancy for their guide and that being sharper in an excellent Poet than it is likely it should in a phlegmatick heavy gown-man will see farther in its own Empire and produce more satisfactory notions on those dark and doubtful Problems Some men think they have rais'd a great argument against the use of Spectres and Magique in Heroique Poetry by saying They are unnatural but whether they or I believe
darted Cane But when fierce Bulls run loose upon the Place And our bold Moors their Loves with danger grace Then heat new bends thy slacken'd Nerves again And a short youth runs warm through every Vein Aben. I must confess th' Encounters of this day Warm'd me indeed but quite another way Not with the fire of Youth but gen'rous rage To see the glories of my Youthful age So far outdone Abdel. Castile could never boast in all its pride A pomp so splendid when the lists set wide Gave room to the fierce Bulls which wildly ran In Sierra Ronda ' ere the War began Who with high Nostrils Snuffing up the Wind Now stood the Champions of the Salvage kind Just opposite within the circled place Ten of our bold Abencerrages race Each brandishing his Bull-spear in his hand Did their proud Ginnets gracefully command On their steel'd heads their demy-Lances wore Small pennons which their Ladies colours bore Before this Troop did Warlike Ozmyn goe Each Lady as he rode saluting low At the chief stands with reverence more profound His well-taught Courser kneeling touch'd the ground Thence rais'd he sidelong bore his Rider on Still facing till he out of sight was gone Boab. You praise him like a friend and I confess His brave deportment merited no less Abdelm. Nine Bulls were launch'd by his victorious arm Whose wary Ginnet shunning still the harm Seem'd to attend the shock and then leap'd wide Mean while his dext'rous Rider when he spy'd The beast just stooping 'twixt the neck and head His Lance with never erring fury sped Aben. My Son did well and so did Hamet too Yet did no more then we were wont to do But what the stranger did was more then man Abdel. He finish'd all those Triumphs we began One Bull with curld black head beyond the rest And dew-laps hanging from his brawny chest With nodding front awhile did daring stand And with his jetty hoof spurn'd back the sand Then leaping forth he bellow'd out aloud Th' amaz'd assistants back each other crow'd While Monach-like he rang'd the listed field Some toss'd some goar'd some trampling down he kill'd Th' ignobler Moors from far his rage provoke VVith woods of darts which from his sides he shooke Mean time your valiant Son who had before Gain'd fame rode round to every Mirador Beneath each Ladies stand a stop he made And bowing took th' applauses which they paid Just in that point of time the brave unknown Approach'd the Lists Boab. I mark'd him when alone Observ'd by all himself observing none He enter'd first and with a graceful pride His fiery Arab dextrously did guide Who while his Rider every stand survay'd Sprung loose and flew into an Escapade Not moving forward yet with every bound Pressing and seeming still to quit his ground What after pass'd Was far from the Ventana where I sate To Abdel. But you were near and can the truth relate Abdel. Thus while he stood the Bull who saw this foe His easier Conquests proudly did forego And making at him with a furious bound From his bent forehead aim'd a double wound A rising Murmure ran through all the field And every Ladies blood-with fear was chill'd Some schriek'd while others with more helpful care Cry'd out aloud beware brave youth beware At this he turn'd and as the Bull drew near Shun'd and receiv'd him on his pointed Spear The Lance broke short the beast then bellow'd lowd And his strong neck to a new onset bow'd Th' undaunted youth Then drew and from his Saddle bending low Just where the neck did to the shoulders grow With his full force discharg'd a deadly blow Not heads of Poppies when they reap the grain Fall with more ease before the lab'ring Swayn Then fell this head It fell so quick it did even death prevent And made imperfect bellowings as it went Then all the Trumpets Victory did sound And yet their clangors in our shouts were drown'd A confus'd noise within Boab. Th' Alarm-bell rings from our Alhambra walls And from the Streets sound Drums and Ataballes Within a Bell Drumms Trumpets How now from whence proceed these new alarms To them a Messenger Mess. The two fierce factions are again in arms And changing into blood the dayes delight The Zegrys with the Abencerrages fight On each side their Allies and Friends appear The Maças here the Alabezes there The Gazuls with the Bencerrages joyn And with the Zegrys all great Gomels line Boab. Draw up behind the Vivarambla place Double my guards these factions I will face And try if all the fury they can bring Be proof against the presence of their King Exit Boabdelin The Factions appear At the head of the Abencerrages Ozmyn at the head of the Zegrys Zulema Hamet Gomel and Selin Abenamat and Abdelmelech joyned with the Abencerrages Zulema The faint Abencerrages quit their ground Press 'em put home your thrusts to every wound Abdelmelech Zegry on manly force our Line relyes Thine poorly takes th' advantage of surprize Unarm'd and much outnumber'd we retreat You gain no fame when basely you defeat If thou art brave seek nobler Victory Save Moorish blood and while our bands stand by Let two to two an equal combat try Hamet 'T is not for fear the Combat we refuse But we our gain'd advantage will not loose Zul In combating but two of you will fall And we resolve we will dispatch you all Ozmyn Wee 'l double yet th' exchange before we dye And each of ours two lives of yours shall buy Almanzor enter's betwixt them as they stand ready to engage Almanz. I cannot stay to ask which cause is best But this is so to me because opprest Goes to the Abencerrages To them Boabdelin and his Guards going betwixt them Boab. On your Allegiance I command you stay Who passes here through me must make his way My life 's the Isthmos through this narrow line You first must cut before those Sea's can joyn What fury Zegrys has possest your minds What rage the brave Abencerrages blinds If of your Courage you new proofs wou'd show Without much travel you may find a foe Those foes are neither so remote nor few That you shou'd need each other to pursue Lean times and foreign Warrs should minds unite When poor men mutter but they seldome sight O holy Alha that I live to see Thy Granadins assist their Enemy You fight the Christians battels every life You lavish thus in this intestine strife Does from our weak foundations take one prop Which helpt to hold our sinking Country up Ozmyn 'T is fit our private Enmity should cease Though injur'd first yet I will first seek peace Zulem No Murd'rer no I never will be won To peace with him whose hand has slain my Son Ozmyn Our Prophets curse On me and all th' Abencerrages light If unprovok'd I with your Son did fight Abdelmel A band of Zegry's ran within the Place Match'd with a Troop of thirty of our race Your Son and
who infest this town This Duke of Arcos is of most renown Zulema Oft have I heard that in your Fathers reign His bold Advent'rers beat the Neighbring Plain Then under Ponce Leon's name he fought And from our Triumphs many Prizes brought Till in disgrace from Spain at length he went And since continued long in banishment Abdalla But see your beauteous Sister does appear To them Lindaraxa Zulema By my desire she came to find me here Zulema and Lindaraxa whisper then Zulema goes out and Lindaraxa is going after Abdalla Why fairest Lindaraxa do you fly staying her A Prince who at your feet is proud to dye Lindaraxa Sir I should blush to own so rude a thing staying As 't is to shun the Brother of my King Abdal In my hard fortune I some ease should find Did your disdain extend to all Mankind But give me leave to grieve and to complain That you give others what I beg in vain Lindar Take my Esteem if you on that can live For franckly Sir 't is all I have to give If from my heart you ask or hope for more I grieve the place is taken up before Abdal My Rivall merits you To Abdelmelech I will Justice doe For he wants Worth who dares not praise a Foe Lind. That for his Vertue Sir you make defence Shows in your own a Noble confidence But him defending and excusing me I know not what can your advantage be Abdal I fain would ask ere I proceed in this If as by choice you are by promise his Lindar Th' Engagement only in my Love does lye But that 's a knot which you can ne're untye Abdal When Cities are besieg'd and treat to yeild If there appear Relievers from the Field The Flagg of Parley may be taken down Till the success of those without be known Lindar Though Abdelmelech has not yet possest Yet I have seal'd the Treaty for my brest Abdal Your Treaty has not ty'd you to a day Some chance might break it would you but delay If I can judge the Secrets of your heart Ambition in it has the greatest part And wisdome then will shew some difference Betwixt a private Person and a Prince Lindar Princes are Subjects still Subject and Subject can small diff'rence bring The diff'rence is 'twixt Subjects and a King And since Sir you are none your hopes remove For less then Empire I 'le not change my love Abdal Had I a Crown all I should prize in it Should be the pow'r to lay it at your feet Lin. Had you that Crown which you but wish not hope Then I perhaps might stoop and take it up But till your wishes and your hopes agree You shall be still a private Man with me Abdall If I am King and if my Brother dye Lindar Two if's scarce make one possibility Abd. The rule of happiness by reason scan You may be happy with a Private man Lindar That happiness I may enjoy 't is true But then that Private man must not be you Where e're I love I 'm happy in my choice If I make you so you shall pay my price Abdall Why wou'd you be so great Lindar Because I 've seen This day what 't is to hope to be a Queen Heav'n how y'all watch'd each motion of her Eye None conld be seen while Almahide was by Because she is to be her Majesty Why wou'd I be a Queen because my Face Wou'd wear the Title with a better grace If I became it not yet it wou'd be Part of your duty then to Flatter me These are not half the Charms of being great I wou'd be somewhat that I know not yet Yes I avowe th' ambition of my Soul To be that one to live without controul And that 's another happiness to me To be so happy as but one can be Abdall Madam because I would all doubts remove Wou'd you were I a King accept my Love Lind. I wou'd accept it and to show 't is true From any other man as soon as you Abdall Your sharp replies make me not love you less But make me seek new paths to Happiness What I design by time will best be seen You may be mine and yet may be a Queen When you are so your Word your Love assures Lind. Perhaps not love you but I will be yours He offers to take her hand and kiss it Stay Sir that grace I cannot yet allow Before you set the Crown upon my Brow That favour which you seek Or Abdelmelech or a King must have When you are so then you may be my slave Exit but looks smiling back on him Abdal How ' ere imperious in her words she were Her parting looks had nothing of severe A glancing smile allur'd me to command And her soft fingers gently prest my hand I felt the pleasure glide through every part Her hand went through me to my very heart For such another pleasure did he live I could my Father of a Crown deprive What did I say Father that impious thought has shock'd my mind How bold our Passions are and yet how blind She 's gone and now Methinks there is less glory in a Crown My boyling passions settle and goe down Like Amber chaf't when she is near she acts When farther off inclines but not attracts To him Zulema Assist me Zulema if thou wouldst be That friend thou seem'st assist me against me Betwixt my love and vertue I am tost This must be forfeited or that be lost I could do much to merit thy applause Help me to fortify the better cause My Honour is not wholly put to flight But would if seconded renue the fight Zul I met my sister but I do not see What difficulty in your choice can be She told me all and 't is so plain a case You need not ask what council to embrace Abdalla I stand reprov'd that I did doubt at all My waiting Vertue stay'd but for thy call 'T is plain that she who for a Kingdom now Would sacrifice her love and break her vow Not out of Love but int'rest acts alone And wou'd Ev'n in my arms lie thinking of a throne Zulema Add to the rest this one reflection more When she is married and you still adore Think then and think what comfort it will bring She had been mine Had I but onely dar'd to be a King Abdalla I hope you only would my honour try I 'm loath to think you vertue 's enemy Zulema If when a Crown and Mistress are in place Vertue intrudes with her lean holy face Vertues then mine and not I vertues foe Why does she come where she has nought to do Let her with Anchorit's not with Lovers lye States-men and they keep better Company Abdal Reason was giv'n to curb our headstrong will Zulema Reason but shews a weak Physitians skill Gives nothing while the raging fit does last But stayes to cure it when the worst is past Reason's a staff for age when Nature 's gone But Youth is strong
enough to walk alone Abdall In curst ambition I no rest should find But must for ever loose my peace of mind Zul Methinks that peace of mind were bravely lost A Crown what 're we give is worth the cost Abdal Justice distributes to each man his right But what she gives not should I take by might Zulem If Justice will take all and nothing give Justice methinks is not distributive Abdal Had fate so pleas'd I had been eldest born And then without a Crime the Crown had worn Zul Would you so please Fate yet a way would find Man makes his fate according to his mind The weak low Spirit Fortune makes her slave But she 's a drudge when Hector'd by the brave If Fate weaves common Thrid he 'l change the doom And with new purple spread a Nobler loom Abdal No more I will usurp the Royal Seat Thou who hast made me wicked make me great Zulema Your way is plain the Death of Tarifa Does on the King our Zegry's hatred draw Though with our Enemies in show we close 'T is but while we to purpose can be foes Selin who heads us would revenge his Son But favour hinders justice to be done Proud Ozmyn with the king his pow'r maintains And in him each Abencerrago reigns Abdalla What face of any title can I bring Zul The right an eldest Son has to be King Your Father was at first a private man And got your brother ' ere his reign began When by his Valour he the Crown had won Then you were born a Monarch's eldest Son Abdal To sharp ey'd reason this would seem untrue But reason I through Loves false Optiques view Zul Loves mighty pow'r has led me Captive too I am in it unfortunate as you Abdalla Our Loves and fortunes shall together go Thou shalt be happy when I first am so Zul The Zegry's at old Selin's house are met Where in close Council for revenge they sit There we our common int'rest will unite You their revenge shall own and they your right One thing I had forgot which may import I met Almanzor coming back from Court But with a discompos'd and speedy pace A fiery colour kindling all his face The King his Pris'ners freedom has deny'd And that refusal has provok'd his pride Abdal Would he were ours I 'le try to guild th ' injustice of the cause And court his valour with a vast applause Zulema The bold are but the Instruments o' th' wise They undertake the dangers we advise And while our fabrick with their pains we raise We take the profit and pay them with praise Exeunt ACT. III. Almanzor Abdalla Alman THat he should dare to do me this disgrace Is Fool or Coward writ upon my face Refuse my Pris'ner I such means will use He shall not have a Pris'ner to refuse Abdal He said you were not by your promise ty'd That he absolv'd your word when he deny'd Almanz. He break my promise and absolve my vow 'T is more than Mahomet himself can do The word which I have giv'n shall stand like Fate Not like the King 's that weathercock of State He stands so high with so unfixt a mind Two Factions turn him with each blast of wind But now he shall not veer my word is past I 'll take his Heart by th' roots and hold it fast Abdal You have your Veng'ance in your hand this hour Make me the humble Creature of your pow'r The Cranadins will gladly me obey Tir'd with so base and impotent a sway And when I shew my Title you shall see I have a better right to Reign than he Almanz. It is sufficient that you make the claim You wrong our Friendship when your Right you name When for my self I fight I weigh the cause But Friendship will admit of no such Laws That weighs by th'lump and when the cause is light Puts kindness in to set the Ballance right True I would wish my friend the juster side But in th'unjust my kindness more is try'd And all the opposition I can bring Is that I fear to make you such a King Abdal The Majesty of Kings we should not blame When Royal minds adorn the Royal name The vulgar greatness too much idolize But haughty Subjects it too much despise Almanz. I onely speak of him Whom Pomp and Greatness sit so loose about That he wants Majesty to fill 'em out Abdal Haste then and lose no time The business must be enterpriz'd this night We must surprize the Court in its delight Almanz. For you to Will for me 't is to obey But I wou'd give a Crown in open day And when the Spaniards their Assault begin At once beat those without and these within Exit Almanzo Enter Abdelmelech Abdelm. Abdalla hold there 's some what I intend To speak not as your Rival but your Friend Abdal If as a Friend I am oblig'd to hear And what a Rival says I cannot fear Abdelm. Think brave Abdalla what it is you do Your Quiet Honour and our Friendship too All for a fickle Beauty you foregoe Think and turn back before it be too late Behold in me th' example of your Fate I am your Sea-mark and though wrack'd and lost My Ruines stand to warn you from the Coast. Abdal Your Councels noble Abdelmelech move My reason to accept 'em not my Love Ah why did Heav'n leave Man so weak defence To trust frail reason with the rule of Sence 'T is over-pois'd and kick'd up in the Air While sence weighs down the Scale and keeps it there Or like a Captive King 't is born away And forc'd to count'nance it s own Rebels sway Abdelm. No no our Reason was not vainly lent Nor is a slave but by its own consent If Reason on his Subjects Triumph wait An easie King deserves no better Fate Abdal You speak too late my Empire 's lost too far I cannot fight Abdelm. Then make a flying War Dislodge betimes before you are beset Abdal Her tears her smiles her every look's a Net Her voice is like a Syren's of the Land And bloody Hearts lie panting in her hand Abdelm. This do you know and tempt the danger still Abdal Love like a Lethargy has seiz'd my Will I 'm not my self since from her sight I went I lean my Trunck that way and there stand bent As one who in some frightful Dream would shun His pressing Foe labours in vain to run And his own slowness in his sleep bemoans With thick short Sighs weak Cries and tender Groans So I Abdelm. Some Friend in Charity should shake And rowse and call you loudly till you wake Too well I know her blandishments to gain Usurper-like till setled in her Reign Then proudly she insults and gives you cares And jealousies short hopes and long despairs To this hard yoke you must hereafter bow Howe're she shines all Golden to you now Abdal Like him who on the ice Slides swiftly on and sees the water near Yet cannot stop
with Torches by my side Farr be the Omen though my Love I 'le guide No like his better Fortune I 'le appear With open Arms loose Vayl and flowing Hair Just flying forward from my rowling Sphere My Smiles shall make Abdalla more then Man Let him look up and perish if he can Exit An Alarm nearer then Enter Almanzor and Selin in the head of the Zegrys Ozmyn Pris'ner Almanz. We have not fought enough they fly too soon And I am griev'd the noble sport is done This onely man of all whom chance did bring Pointing to Ozmyn To meet my Arms was worth the Conquering His brave resistance did my Fortune grace So slow so threatning forward he gave place Hâ—s Chains be easie and his Usage fair Selin I beg you would commit him to my care Alm. Next the brave Spaniard free without delay And with a Convoy send him safe away Exit a Guard To them Hamet and others Hamet The King by me salutes you and to show That to your Valour he his Crown does owe Would from your Mouth I should the Word receive And that to these you would your Orders give Alm. He much o're-rates the little I have done Almanzor goes to the door and there seems to give out Orders by sending People several ways Selin to Ozmin Now to revenge the Murder of my Son To morrow for thy certain death prepare This night I onely leave thee to despair Ozmyn Thy idle Menaces I do not fear My business was to die or conquer here Sister for you I grieve I could no more My present State betrays my want of pow'r But when true Courage is of force bereft Patience the noblest Fortitude is left Exit cum Selin Alma Ah Esperanza what for me remains But Death or worse than Death inglorious Chains Esper. Madam you must not to Despair give place Heav'n never meant misfortune to that Face Suppose there were no justice in your cause Beauty 's a Bribe that gives her Judges Laws That you are brought to this deplor'd estate Is but th' ingenious Flatt'ry of your Fate Fate fears her Succor like an Alms to give And would you God-like from your self should live Almah Mark but how terrible his Eyes appear And yet there 's something roughly noble there Which in unfashion'd Nature looks Divine And like a Gemm does in the Quarry shine Almanzor returns she falls at his feet being veyld Almah Turn Mighty Conqu'ror turn your Face this way Do not refuse to hear the wretched pray Almanz. What business can this Woman have with me Almah That of th' afflicted to the Deity So may your Arms success in battels find So may the Mistris of your vows be kind If you have any or if you have none So may your Liberty be still your own Almanz. Yes I will turn my face but not my mind You bane and soft destruction of mankind What would you have with me Almahide I beg the grace unveyling You would lay by those terrours of your face Till calmness to your eyes you first restore I am afraid and I can beg no more Almanzor looking fixedly on her Well my fierce visage shall not murder you Speak quickly woman I have much to do Almah Where should I finde the heart to speake one word Your voice Sir is as killing as your sword As you have left the lightning of your eye So would you please to lay your thunder by Alman I 'me pleas'd and pain'd since first her eyes I saw As I were stung with some Tarantula Armes and the dusty field I less admire And soften strangely in some new desire Honour burns in me not so fiercely bright But pale as fires when master'd by the light Ev'n while I speak and look I change yet more And now am nothing that I was before I 'm numm'd and fix'd and scarce my eye balls move I fear it is the Lethargy of Love 'T is he I feel him now in every part Like a new Lord he vaunts about my Heart Surveys in state each corner of my Brest While poor fierce I that was am dispossest I 'm bound but I will rowze my rage again And though no hope of Liberty remaine I 'll fright my Keeper when I shake my chaine You are angrily Almah Almah I know I am your Captive Sir Alman You are You shall And I can scarce forbear Almah Alas Almanz. 'T is all in vain it will not do aside I cannot now a seeming anger show My Tongue against my heart no aid affords For Love still rises up and choaks my words Almah In half this time a tempest would be still Almanz. 'T is you have rais'd that tempest in my will I wonnot love you give me back my heart But give it as you had it fierce and brave It was not made to be a womans slave But Lyon-like has been in desarts bred And us'd to range will ne're be tamely led Restore its freedom to my fetter'd will And then I shall have pow'r to use you ill Almah My sad condition may your pity move But look not on me with the eyes of Love I must be brief though I have much to say Almanz. No speak for I can hear you now all day Her suing sooths me with a secret pride softly A suppliant beauty cannot be deni'd aside Ev'n while I frown her charms the furrows seize And I 'm corrupted with the pow'r to please Almah Though in your worth no cause of fear I see I fear the insolence of Victory As you are Noble Sir protect me then From the rude outrage of insulting men Almanz. Who dares touch her I love I 'm all o're love Nay I am Love Love shot and shot so fast He shot himself into my brest at last Almah You see before you her who should be Queen Since she is promis'd to Boabdelin Almanz. Are you belov'd by him O wretched fate First that I love at all then love too late Yet I must love Almah Alas it is in vain Fate for each other did not us ordain The chances of this day too clearly show That Heav'n took care that it should not be so Almanz. Would Heav'n had quite forgot me this one day But fate 's yet hot I 'le make it take a bent another way He walks swiftly and discomposedly studying I bring a claim which does his right remove You 're his by promise but you 're mine by Love 'T is all but Ceremony which is past The knots to tie which is to make you fast Fate gave not to Boabdelin that pow'r He woo'd you but as my Ambassadour Almah Our Souls are ty'd by holy Vows above Almanz. He sign'd but his but I will seal my love I love you better with more Zeale then he Almah This day I gave my faith to him he his to me Almanz. Good Heav'n thy book of fate before me lay But to tear out the journal of this day Or if the order of the world below Will not the gap of one
whole day allow Give me that Minute when she made her vow That Minute ev'n the happy from their bliss might give And those who live in griefe a shorter time would live So small a link if broke th' eternal chain Would like divided waters joyn again It wonnot be the fugitive is gone Prest by the crow'd of following Minutes on That precious Moment's out of Nature fled And in the heap of common rubbish layd Of things that once have been and are decay'd Almah Your passion like a fright suspends my pain It meets ' ore-powr's and bears mine back again But as when tydes against the Current flow The Native stream runs its own course below So though your griefs possess the upper part My own have deeper Channels in my heart Almanz. Forgive that fury which my Soul does move 'T is the Essay of an untaught first love Yet rude unfashion'd truth it does express 'T is love just peeping in a hasty dress Retire fair Creature to your needful rest There 's something noble lab'ring in my brest This raging fire which through the Mass does move Shall purge my dross and shall refine my Love Exeunt Almahide and Esperanza She goes And I like my own Ghost appear It is not living when she is not here To him Abdalla as King attended Abdal My first acknowledgments to heav'n are due My next Almanzor let me pay to you Alm. A poor surprize and on a naked foe What ever you confess is all you owe. And I no merit own or understand That fortune did you justice by my hand Yet if you will that little service pay With a great favour I can shew the way Abdal I have a favour to demand of you That is to take the thing for which you sue Alman Then briefly thus when I th' Albayzyn won I found the Beauteous Almahide alone Whose sad condition did my pity move And that compassion did produce my love Abdal This needs no sute in justice I declare She is your Captive by the right of war Alm. She is no Captive then I set her free And rather then I will her Jaylour be ' I le Nobly loose her in her liberty Abdal Your generosity I much approve But your excess of that shows want of Love Alman No 't is th' excess of love which mounts so high That seen far off it lessens to the eye Had I not lov'd her and had set her free That Sir had been my generosity But 't is exalted passion when I show I dare be wretched not to make her so And while another Passion fils her brest I 'le be all wretched rather then half blest Abdalla May your heroique Act so prosperous be That Almahide may sigh you set her free Enter Zulema Zulema Of five tall tow'rs which fortifie this Town All but th' Alhambra your dominion own Now therefore boldly I confess a flame Which is excus'd in Almahida's name If you the merit of this night regard In her possession I have my reward Almanz. She your reward why she 's a gift so great That I my self have not deserv'd her yet And therefore though I wonn her with my sword I have with awe my sacrilege restor'd Zul What you deserve I le not dispute because I do not know This onely I will say she shall not goe Almanz. Thou single art not worth my answering But take what friends what armyes thou canst bring What worlds and when you are united all Then I will thunder in your ears she shall Zul I 'le not one tittle of my right resign Sir your implicite promise made her mine When I in general terms my love did show You swore our fortunes should together goe Abdalla The merits of the cause I 'le not decide But like my love I would my gift divide Your equal titles then no longer plead But one of you for love of me recede Alm. I have receded to the utmost line When by my free consent she is not mine Then let him equally recede with me And both of us will join to set her free Zul If you will free your part of her you may But Sir I love not your Romantique way Dream on enjoy her Soul and set that free I 'me pleas'd her person should be left for me Alman Thou shalt not wish her thine thou shalt not dare To be so impudent as to despair Zul The Zegrys Sir are all concern'd to see How much their merit you neglect in me Hamet Your slighting Zulema this very hour VVill take ten thousand Subjects from you'r pow'r Almanz. VVhat are ten thousand subjects such as they If I am scorn'd I 'le take my self away Abdalla Since both cannot possess what both pursue I grieve my friend the chance should fall on you But when you hear what reasons I can urge Almanz. None none that your ingratitude can purge Reason's a trick when it no grant affords It stamps the face of Majesty on words Abdal Your boldness to your services I give Now take it as your full reward to live Almanz. To live If from thy hands alone my death can be I am immortal and a God to thee If I would kill thee now thy fate 's so low That I must stoop ' ere I can give the blow But mine is fix'd so far above thy Crown That all thy men Pil'd on thy back can never pull it down But at my ease thy destiny I send By ceasing from this hour to be thy friend Like Heav'n I need but onely to stand still And not concurring to thy life I kill Thou canst not title to my duty bring I 'm not thy Subject and my Soul 's thy King Farewell when I am gone There 's not a starr of thine dare stay with thee I 'le whistle thy tame fortune after me And whirl fate with me wheresoe're I fly As winds drive storms before 'em in the sky Exit Zulema Let not this Insolent unpunish'd goe Give your Commands your Justice is too slow Zulema Hamet and others are going after him Abdal Stay and what part he pleases let him take I know my Throne 's too strong for him to shake But my fair Mistriss I too long forget The Crown I promis'd is not offer'd yet Without her presence all my Joys are vain Empire a Curse and life it self a pain Exeunt ACT. IV. Boabdelin Abenamar Guards Boab. ADvise or aid but do not pity me No Monarch born can fall to that degree Pity descends from Kings to all below But can no more then fountains upward flow Witness just heav'n my greatest grief has been I could not make your Almahide a Queen Aben. I have too long th' effects of Fortune known Either to trust her smiles or fear her frown Since in their first attempt you were not slain Your safety bodes you yet a second reign The people like a headlong torrent goe And every dam they break or overflow But unoppos'd they either loose their force Or wind in volumes to their former
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
Lind. I fear your feign'd Repentance comes too late I dye to see you still thus obstinate But yet in Death my truth of Love to show Lead me if I have strength enough I 'le goe Abdel. By Heav'n you shall not goe I will not be O'recome in Love or Generosity All I desire to end th' unlucky strife Is but a Vow that you will be my Wife Lind. To tie me to you by a Vow is hard It show's my Love you as no Tie regard Name any thing but that and I 'le agree Abdel. Swear then you never will my Rival's be Lind. Nay prithee this is harder then before Name any thing good Dear but that thing more Abdel. Now I too late perceive I am undone Living and seeing to my Death I run I know you false yet in your Snares I fall You grant me nothing and I grant you all Lind. I would grant all but I must curb my will Because I love to keep you jealous still In your Suspicion I your Passion find But I will take a time to cure your mind Halyma Oh Madam the new King is drawing neer Lind. Hast quickly hence least he should find you here Abdel. How much more wretched then I came I goe I more my Weakness and your Falshood know And now must leave you with my greatest Foe Exit Abdelmelech Lynd. Go how I love thee Heav'n can onely tell And yet I love thee for a Subject well Yet whatsoever Charms a Crown can bring A Subject's greater then a little King I will attend till Time this Throne secure And when I climb my footing shall be sure Musique without Musique and I believe addrest to me SONG 1. WHerever I am and whatever I doe My Phillis is still in my mind When angry I mean not to Phillis to goe My Feet of themselves the way find Vnknown to my self I am just at her door And when I would raile I can bring out no more Than Phillis too fair and unkind 2. VVhen Phillis I see my Heart bounds in my Breast And the Love I would stifle is shown But asleep or awake I am never at rest When from my Eyes Phillis is gone Sometimes a sad Dream does delude my sad mind But alas when I wake and no Phillis I find How I sigh to my self all alone 3. Should a King be my Rival in her I adore He should offer his Treasure in vain O let me alone to be happy and poor And give me my Phillis again Let Phillis be mine and but ever be kind I could to a Desart with her be confin'd And envy no Monarch his Raign 4. Alas I discover too much of my Love And she too well knows her own power She makes me each day a new Martyrdom prove And makes me grow jealous each hour But let her each minute torment my poor mind I had rather love Phillis both False and Vnkind Then ever be freed from her Pow'r Abdalla enters with Guards Abdal Now Madam at your Feet a King you see Or rather if you please a Scepter'd Slave 'T is just you should possess the pow'r you gave Had Love not made me yours I yet had bin But the first Subject to Boabdelin Thus Heav'n declares the Crown I bring your due And had forgot my Title but for you Lynd. Heav'n to your Merits will I hope be kind But Sir it has not yet declar'd its mind 'T is true it holds the Crown above your Head But does not fix it till your Brother's dead Abdal All but th' Alhambra is within my pow'r And that my forces goe to take this hour Lynd. When with its Keys your Brothers Head you bring I shall believe you are indeed a King Abdal But since th' events of all things doubtful are And of Events most doubtful those of Warre I beg to know before if Fortune frown Must I then loose your Favour with my Crown Lynd. You 'll soon return a Conquerour again And therefore Sir your question is in vain Abdall I think to certain Victory I move But you may more assure it by your Love That grant will make my arms invincible Lynd. My pray'rs and wishes your success foretell Go then and fight and think you fight for me I wait but to reward your Victory Abdal But if I loose it must I loose you too Lynd. You are too curious if you more would know I know not what my future thoughts will be Poor womens thoughts are all Extempore Wise men indeed Before hand a long chain of thoughts produce But ours are onely for our present use Abdal Those thoughts you will not know too well declare You mean to waite the final doom of Warr. Lynd. I finde you come to quarrel with me now Would you know more of me then I allow Whence are you grown that great Divinity That with such ease into my thoughts can pry Indulgence does not with some tempers sute I see I must become more absolute Abdalla I must submit On what hard terms so e're my peace be bought Lynd. Submit you speak as you were not in fault 'T is evident the injury is mine For why should you my secret thoughts divine Abdal Yet if we might be judg'd by Reasons Laws Lynd. Then you would have your reason judge my cause Either confess your fault or hold your tongue For I am sure I 'm never in the wrong Abdalla Then I acknowledge it Lynd. Then I forgive Abdall Under how hard a Law poor Lovers live Who like the vanquish'd must their right release And with the loss of reason buy their peace aside Madam to show that you my pow'r command I put my life and safety in your hand Dispose of the Albayzin as you please To your fair hands I here resign the keyes Lyn. I'take your gift because your love it shows And faithful Selin for Alcalde choose Abdall Selin from her alone your Orders take This one request yet Madam let me make That from those turrets you th' assault will see And Crown once more my arms with Victorie Leads her out Selin remaines with Gazul and Reduan his Servants Selin Gazul go tell my daughter that I waite You Reduan bring the Pris'ner to his fate Exeunt Gazul and Reduan ' Ere of my charge I will possession take A bloody sacrifice I mean to make The Manes of my son shall smile this day While I in blood my Vows of Vengeance pay Enter at one door Benzayda with Gazul at the other Ozmyn bound with Reduan Selyn I sent Benzaida to glad your eies These rites we owe your brothers Obsequies To Gazul and Reduan You two th' accurst Abencerrago bind You need no more t' instruct you in my mind They bind him to one corner of the Stage Benz. In what sad Object am I call'd to share Tell me what is it Sir you here prepare Selin 'T is what your dying brother did bequeath A Scene of Vengeance and a Pomp of death Benz. The horrid Spectacle my Soul does fright
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
Though not thy fort thy person shall be mine He goes to take her she runs and cries help Enter Abdalla Arcos Spaniards Abdelmelech retreats fighting and is pursued by the adverse party off the Stage An Alarm within Enter again Abdalla and the Duke of Arcos with Lyndaraxa Arcos Bold Abdelmelech twice our Spaniards fac'd Though much outnumbred and retreated last Abdalla to Lyndar Your Beauty as it moves no common fire So it no common courage can inspire As he fought well so had he prosper'd too If Madam he like me had fought for you Lind. Fortune at last has chosen with my eies And where I would have giv'n it plac'd the prize You see Sir with what hardship I have kept This precious gage which in my hands you left But I was the love of you which made me fight And gave me Courage to maintain your right Now by Experience you my faith may find And are to thank me that I seem'd unkind When your malicious fortune doom'd your fall My care restrain'd you then from loosing all Against your destiny I shut the Gate And Gather'd up the Shipwracks of your fate I like a friend did ev'n your self withstand From throwing all upon a loosing hand Abdal My love makes all your Acts unquestion'd go And sets a Soveraign stamp on all you doe Your Love I will believe with hoodwink'd eyes In faith much merit in much blindness lies But now to make you great as you are fair The Spaniards an Imperial Crown prepare Lin. That gift's more welcome which with you I share Let us no time in fruitless courtship loose But sally out upon our frighted Foes No Ornaments of pow'r so please my eies As purple which the blood of Princes dies Exeunt He leading her SCENE The Alhambra Boabdelin Abenamar Almahide Guards c. The Queen wearing a Scarfe Abenamar My little journey has successfull been The fierce Almanzor will obey the Queen I found him like Achilles on the shore Pensive complaining much but threatning more And like that injur'd Greek he heard our woes Which while I told a gloomy smile arose From his bent brows and still the more he heard A more severe and sullen joy appear'd But when he knew we to despair were driv'n Betwixt his teeth he mutter'd thanks to Heav'n Boab. How I disdain this aid which I must take No for my own but Almahida's sake Aben. But when he heard it was the Queen who sent That her command repeal'd his banishment He took the summons with a greedy joy And ask'd me how she would his sword employ Then bid me say her humblest slave would come From her fair mouth with joy to take his doom Boab. Oh that I had not sent you though it cost My Crown though I and it and all were lost Aben. While I to bring this news came on before I met with Selin Boab. I can hear no more Enter Hamet Hamet Almanzor is already at the gate And throngs of people on his entrance wait Boab. Thy news does all my faculties surprize He bears two Basilisks in those fierce eyes And that tame Demon which should guard my throne Shrinks at a Genius greater than his own Exit Boabdelin with Aben. and Guards Enter Almanzor seing Almahide approach him he speaks Alman So Venus moves when to the thunderer In smiles or tears she would some sute prefer When with her Cestos girt And drawn by Doves she cuts the liquid skies And kindles gentle fires where ' ere she flies To every eye a Goddess is confest By all the Heav'nly Nation she is blest And each with secret joy admits her to his brest To her bowing Madam your new Commands I come to know If yet you can have any where I goe If to the Regions of the dead they be You take the speediest course to send by me Almah Heav'n has not destin'd you so soon to rest Heroes must live to succour the distrest Almanz. To serve such beauty all mankind should live And in our service our reward you give But stay me not in torture to behold And ne're enjoy as from anothers gold The Miser hastens in his own defence And shuns the sight of tempting excellence So having seen you once so killing fair A second sight were but to move despair I take my eies from what too much would please As men in feavors famish their disease Almah No you may find your Cure an easier way If you are pleas'd to seek it in your stay All objects loose by too familiar view When that great charm is gone of being new By often seeing me you soon will find Defects so many in my face and mind That to be free'd from Love you need not doubt And as you look'd it in you 'll look it out Almanz. I rather like weak armies should retreat And so prevent my more entire defeat For your own sake in quiet let me goe Press not too far on a despairing foe I may turn back and arm'd against you move With all the furious trayn of hopeless love Almah Your honour cannot to ill thoughts give way And mine can run no hazard by your stay Almanz. Do you then think I can with patience see That sov'raign good possest and not by me No I all day shall languish at the sight And rave on what I do not see all night My quick imagination will present The Scenes and Images of your Content When to my envy'd Rival you dispence Joyes too unruly and too fierce for sence Almahide These are the day-dreams which wild fancy yields Empty as shaddows are that fly o're fields O whether would this boundless fancy move 'T is but the raging Calenture of Love Like the distracted Passenger you stand And see in Seas imaginary Land Cool Groves and Flow'rs Meads and while you think To walk plunge in and wonder that you sink Alman Love's Calenture too well I understand But sure your Beauty is no Fairy Land Of your own Form a Judge you cannot be For Glow-worm-like you shine and do not see Almah Can you think this and would you go away Alman What recompence attends me if I stay Almah You know I am from recompence debarr'd But I will grant you merit a reward Your Flame 's too noble to deserve a Cheat And I too plain to practice a Deceit I no return of Love can ever make But what I ask is for my Husband's sake He I confess has been ungrateful too But he and I are ruin'd if you goe Your Vertue to the hardest proof I bring Unbrib'd preserve a Mistress and a King Alman I 'le stop at nothing that appears so brave I 'le do 't and now I no Reward will have You 've given my Honour such an ample Field That I may dye but that shall never yield Spight of my self I 'le Stay Fight Love Despair And I can do all this because I dare Yet I may own one suit That Scarfe which since by you it has been born Is Blest
like Relicks which by Saints were worn Almah Presents like this my Vertue durst not make But that 't is giv'n you for my Husbands sake Gives the Scarfe Alman This Scarfe to Honourable Raggs I 'le wear As conqu'ring Soldiers tatter'd Ensigns bear But oh how much my Fortune I despise Which gives me Conquest while she Love denies Exeunt ACT. III. SCENE The Alhambra Almahide Esperanza Espe AFFected Modesty has much of Pride That scarfe he begg'd you could not have deny'd Nor does it shock the Vertue of a Wife When giv'n that man to whom you owe your life Almah Heav'n knows from all intent of ill 't was free Yet it may feed my Husbands jealousie And for that cause I wish it were not done To them Boabdelin and walks apart See where he comes all pensive and alone A gloomy Fury has o're-spread his Face 'T is so and all my Fears are come to pass Boabdelin aside Marriage thou curse of Love and snare of Life That first debas'd a Mistress to a Wife Love like a Scene at distance should appear But Marriage views the gross-daub'd Landschape neer Loves nauseous cure thou cloyst whom thou shoudst pleas And when thou cur'st then thou art the disease When Hearts are loose thy Chain our bodies tyes Love couples Friends but Marriage Enemies If Love like mine continues after thee 'T is soon made sowr and turn'd by Jealousie No sign of Love in jealous Men remains But that which sick men have of life their pains Almahide walking to him Has my dear Lord some new affliction had Have I done any thing that makes him sad Boab. You nothing You but let me walk alone Almah I will not leave you till the cause be known My knowledge of the ill may bring relief Boab. Thank ye You never faile to cure my grief Trouble me not my grief concerns not you Almah While I have life I will your steps pursue Boab. I 'me out of humour now you must not stay Almah I fear it is that Scarfe I gave away Boab. No 't is not that but speak of it no more Go hence I am not what I was before Almah Then I will make you so give me your hand Can you this pressing and these Tears withstand Boab sighing and going off from her O Heav'n were she but mine or mine alone Ah why are not the Hearts of Women known False Women to new joys unseen can move There are no prints left in the paths of Love All Goods besides by publick marks are known But what we most desire to keep has none Almah approaching him Why will you in your Brest your passion croud Like unborn Thunder rowling in a Cloud Torment not your poor Heart but set it free And rather let its fury break on me I am not married to a God I know Men must have Passions and can bear from you I fear th' unlucky Present I have made Boab. O pow'r of Guilt how Conscience can upbraid It forces her not onely to reveal But to repeat what she would most conceal Almah Can such a toy and giv'n in publick too Boab. False Woman you contriv'd it should be so That publick Gift in private was design'd The Embleme of the Love you meant to bind Hence from my sight ungrateful as thou art And when I can I 'le banish thee my heart she weeps To them Almanzor wearing the scarfe he sees her weep Almanz. What precious drops are those Which silently each others track pursue Bright as young Diamonds in their infant dew Your lustre you should free from tears maintain Like Egypt rich without the help of rain Now curst be he who gave this cause of grief And double curst who does not give relief Almah Our common fears and publick miseries Have drawn these tears from my afflicted eies Alman Madam I cannot easily believe It is for any publick cause you grieve On your fair face the marks of sorrow lie But I read fury in your Husbands eye And in that passion I too plainly find That you 'r unhappy and that he 's unkind Almah Not new-made Mothers greater love express Than he when with first looks their babes they bless Not Heav'n is more to dying Martyrs Kind Nor guardian Angels to their charge asign'd Boab. O goodness counterfeited to the life O the well acted vertue of a wife Would you with this my just suspitions blind You 've given me great occasion to be kind The marks too of your spotless love appear Witness the badge of my dishonor there Pointing to Almonzor's scarfe Almanz. Unworthy owner of a gemme so rare Heav'ns why must he possess and I despair Why is this Miser doom'd to all this store He who has all and yet believes he 's poor Almah to Almanz. You 'r much too bold to blame a jealousy So kind in him and so desir'd by me The faith of wives would unrewarded prove Without those just observers of our love The greater care the higher passion shows We hold that dearest we most fear to loose Distrust in Lovers is too warm a Sun But yet 't is Night in Love when that is gone And in those Clymes which most his scorching know He makes the noblest fruits and Metals grow Alman Yes there are mines of Treasure in your brest Seen by that jealous Sun but not possest He like a dev'l among the blest above Can take no pleasure in your Heaven of love Go take her and thy causless fears remove To the K. Love her so well that I with rage may dy Dull husbands have no right to jealousie If that 's allow'd it must in Lovers be Boab. The succor which thou bring'st me makes thee bold But know without thy ayd my Crown I 'le hold Or if I cannot I will fire the place Of a full City make a naked space Hence then and from a Rival set me free I 'le do I 'le suffer any thing but thee Almanz. I wonnot goe I 'le not be forc'd away I came not for thy sake nor do I stay It was the Queen who for my ayd did send And 't is I only can the Queen defend I for her sake thy Scepter will maintain And thou by me in spight of thee shalt raign Boab. Had I but hope I could defend this place Three daies thou shoud'st not live to my disgrace So small a time Might I possess my Almahide alone I would live ages out'ere they were gone I should not be of love or life bereft All should be spent before and nothing left Almahide to Boabdelin As for your sake for Almanzor sent So when you please he goes to banishment You shall at last my Loyalty approve I will refuse no tryal of my love Boab. How can I think you love me while I see That trophee of a Rivals Victory I 'le tear it from his side Almanz. I 'le hold it fast As life and when life 's gone I 'le hold this last And if thou tak'st it after I am slain I 'le send my
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
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
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
void that promise which you made For now I have no farther need of ayd That vow which to my plighted Lord was giv'n I must not break but may transfer to Heav'n I will with Vestals live There needs no guard at a Religious door Few will disturb the praying and the poor Almanz. Let me but near that happy Temple stay And through the grates peep on you once a day To famish'd hope I would no banquet give I cannot sterve and wish but just to live Thus as a drowning man Sinks often and does still more faintly rise With his last hold catching what ' ere he spies So faln from those proud hopes I had before Your Aid I for a dying wretch implore Almah I cannot your hard destiny withstand Boabdelin and guards above But slip like bending rushes from your hand Sink all at once since you must sink at last Almanz. Can you that last relief of sight remove And thrust me out the utmost line of love Then since my hopes of happiness are gone Deny'd all favours I will seyze this one Catches her hand and kisses it Boab. My just revenge no longer I 'le forbear I 've seen too much I need not stay to hear descends Almanz. As a small Show'r To the parch'd earth does some refreshment give So in the strength of this one day I 'le live A day a year an age for ever now betwixt each word he kisses her hand by force she struggling I feel from every touch a new Soul flow she snatches her hand away My hop'd Eternity of joy is past 'T was insupportable and could not last Were heav'n not made of less or duller joy 'T would break each Minute and it self destroy Enter King and guards below King Boab. This this is he for whom thou didst deny To share my bed Let 'em together dye Almah Hear me my Lord. Boab. Your flatt'ring Arts are vain Make haste and execute what I ordain to Guards Almanz. Cut piece-meal in this cause From every wound I shou'd new Vigour take And every limb should new Almanzors make He puts himself before the Queen the guards attaque him with the King Enter Abdelmelech Abdelm. to the King What angry God to exercise his spight Has arm'd your left hand to cut off your right The King turns and the fight ceases Hast not to give but to prevent a Fate The foes are enter'd at the Elvira gate False Lyndaraxa ' has the Town betray'd And all the Zegrys give the Spanyards ayd Boab. O mischief not suspected nor foreseen Abdelm. Already they have gain'd the Zacatin And thence the Vivarambla place possest While our faint Souldiers scarce defend the rest The Duke of Arcos does one squadron head The next by Ferdinand himself is led Almah Now brave Almanzor be a god again Above our Crimes and your own passions reign My Lord has been by Jealousy misled To think I was not faithful to his bed I can forgive him though my death he sought For too much love can never be a fault Protect him then and what to his defence You give not give to clear my innocence Alman Listen sweet Heav'n and all ye blest above Take rules of Vertue from a Mortal love You 've rais'd my Soul and if it mount more high 'T is as the Wren did on the Eagle fly Yes I once more will my revenge neglect And whom you can forgive I can protect Boab. How hard a fate is mine still doom'd to shame I make Occasions for my Rivals fame Exeunt An Alarm within Enter Ferdinand Isabel Don Alonzo d' Aguilar Spaniards and Ladies Ferd. Already more than half the Town is gain'd But there is yet a doubtful fight maintain d Alonz. The fierce young King the enter'd does attacque And the more fierce Almanzor drives 'em back Ferd The valiant Moores like raging Lyons fight Each youth encourag'd by his Ladies sight Qu. Isab. I will advance with such a shining train That Moorish beauties shall oppose in vain Into the press of clashing swords we 'll goe And where the darts-fly thickest seek the foe K. Ferd. May Heav'n which has inspir'd this gen'rous thought Avert those dangers you have boldly sought Call up more troops the women to our shame Will ravish from the men their part of fame Exeunt Isabella and Ladies Enter Alabez and kisses the Kings hand Alabez Fair Lyndaraxa and the Zegry line Have led their forces with your troops to join The adverse part which obstinately fought Are broke and Abdelmelech pris'ner brought K. Ferd. Fair Lyndaraxa and her friends shall find Th' effects of an oblig'd and grateful mind Alabez But marching by the Vivarambla place The combat carry'd a more doubtful face In that vast square the Moors and Spaniards met Where the fierce conflict is continued yet But with advantage on the adverse side Whom fierce Almanzor does to conquest guide K. Ferd. With my Castilian foot I 'le meet his rage Is going out shouts within are heard Victoria Victoria But these loud clamours better news presage Enter the Duke of Arcos and Souldiers their swords drawn and bloody D. of Arcos Granada now is yours and there remain No Moors but such as own the pow'r of Spain That squadron which their King in person led We charg'd but found Almanzor in their head Three several times we did the Moors attacque And thrice with slaughter did he drive us back Our troops then shrunk and still we lost more ground Till from our Queen we needful succour found Her Guards to our assistance bravely flew And with fresh vigour did the fight renew At the same time Did Lyndaraxa with her troops appear And while we charg'd the front ingag'd the rear Then fell the King slain by a Zegry's hand K. Ferd. How could he such united force withstand D. of Arcos Discourag'd with his death the Moorish pow'rs Fell back and falling back were press'd by ours But as when winds and rain together crow'd They swell till they have burst the bladder'd clowd And first the Lightning flashing deadly clear Flyes falls consumes ' ere scarce it does appear So from his shrinking troops Almanzor flew Each blow gave wounds and with each wound he slew His force at once I envy'd and admir'd And rushing forward where my men retir'd Advanc'd alone K. Ferd. You hazarded too far Your person and the fortune of the Warr. D. of Arcos Already both our armes for fight did bare Already held 'em threatning in the air When Heav'n it must be Heav'n my sight did guid To view his arm upon whose wrist I spy'd A ruby Cross in Diamond bracelets ty'd And just above it in the brawnier part By nature was engrav'd a bloody Heart Struck with these tokens which so well I knew And stagg'ring back some paces I withdrew He follow'd and suppos'd it was my fear When from above a shrill voice reach'd his ear Strike not thy father it was heard to cry Amaz'd and casting round his wond'ring eye He stop'd then
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