Benz. No, Ozmyn, no; it is a much less ill
To leave me, than dispute a father's will:
If I had any title to your love,

Your father's greater right does mine remove:
Your vows and faith I give you back again,
Since neither can be kept without a sin.

Ozm. Nothing but death my vows can give me

back:

They are not yours to give, nor mine to take.
Benz. Nay, think not, though I could

your vows

resign, My love or virtue could dispense with mine. I would extinguish your unlucky fire, To make you happy in some new desire: I can preserve enough for me and you, And love, and be unfortunate, for two. Ozm. In all that's good and great You vanquish me so fast, that in the end I shall have nothing left me to defend. From every post you force me to remove; But let me keep my last entrenchment, love. Benz. Love then, my Ozmyn; I will be content [Giving her hand. To make you wretched by your own consent: Live poor, despised, and banished for my sake, And all the burden of my sorrows take; For, as for me, in whatsoe'er estate,

While I have you, I must be fortunate.

Ozm. Thus then, secured of what we hold most dear,

(Each other's love) we'll go-I know not where. For where, alas, should we our flight begin? The foe's without; our parents are within.

Benz. I'll fly to you, and you shall fly to me; Our flight but to each other's arms shall be. To providence and chance permit the rest; Let us but love enough, and we are blest. [Exeunt.

VOL. IV.

SCENE II.

Enter BOABDELIN, ABENAMAR, ABDELMELECH, Guards: ZULEMA and HAMET, Prisoners.

Abdelm. They are Lyndaraxa's brothers; for her sake,

Their lives and pardon my request I make.

Boab. Then, Zulema and Hamet, live; but know, Your lives to Abdelmelech's suit you owe.

Zul. The grace received so much my hope exceeds,

That words come weak and short to answer deeds. You've made a venture, sir, and time must shew, If this great mercy you did well bestow.

Boab. You, Abdelmelech, haste before 'tis night, And close pursue my brother in his flight.

[Exeunt ABDELMELECH, ZULEMA, and HAMET.

Enter ALMANZOR, ALMAHIDE, and ESPERANZA. But see, with Almahide

The brave Almanzor comes, whose conquering sword The crown, it once took from me, has restored. How can I recompence so great desert!

Almanz. I bring you, sir, performed in every part,

My promise made; your foes are fled or slain ;
Without a rival, absolute you reign.

Yet though, in justice, this enough may be,
It is too little to be done by me:

I beg to go,

Where my own courage and your fortune calls,

To chase these misbelievers from our walls.

I cannot breathe within this narrow space;
My heart's too big, and swells beyond the place.
Boab. You can perform, brave warrior, what you
please;

Fate listens to your voice, and then decrees.

Now I no longer fear the Spanish powers;
Already we are free, and conquerors.
Almanz. Accept, great king, to-morrow,
hand,

;

from my

The captive head of conquered Ferdinand.
You shall not only what you lost regain,
But o'er the Biscayan mountains to the main,
Extend your sway, where never Moor did reign.
Aben. What, in another, vanity would seem,
Appears but noble confidence in him
No haughty boasting, but a manly pride;
A soul too fiery, and too great to guide:
He moves excentric, like a wandering star,
Whose motion's just, though 'tis not regular.
Boab. It is for you, brave man, and only you,
Greatly to speak, and yet more greatly do.
But, if your benefits too far extend,

I must be left ungrateful in the end :
Yet somewhat I would pay,

Before my debts above all reckoning grow,

To keep me from the shame of what I owe.
But you

Are conscious to yourself of such desert,

That of your gift I fear to offer part.

Almanz. When I shall have declared my high request,

So much presumption there will be confest,
That you will find your gifts I do not shun ;
But rather much o'er-rate the service done.

Boab. Give wing to your desires, and let 'em fly,
Secure they cannot mount a pitch too high.
So bless me, Alha, both in peace and war,
As I accord, whate'er your wishes are.

Almanz. Emboldened by the promise of a prince, [Putting one knee to the ground.

I ask this lady now with confidence.

Boab. You ask the only thing I cannot grant. [The King and ABENAMAR look amazedly on each other.

But, as a stranger, you are ignorant

Of what by public fame my subjects know;
She is my mistress.

Aben.

And my daughter too.

Almanz. Believe, old man, that I her father knew: What else should make Almanzor kneel to you?Nor doubt, sir, but your right to her was known: For had you had no claim but love alone, I could produce a better of my own.

Almah. [softly to him.] Almanzor, you forget my last request:

Your words have too much haughtiness expressed.
Is this the humble way you were to move?
Almanz. [to her.] I was too far transported by
my love.

Forgive me; for I had not learned to sue
To any thing before, but heaven and you.—
Sir, at your feet, I make it my request-

[To the King. [First line kneeling: second, rising, and boldly. Though, without boasting, I deserve her best; For you her love with gaudy titles sought, But I her heart with blood and dangers bought. Boab. The blood, which you have shed in her defence,

Shall have in time a fitting recompence:
Or, if you think your services delayed,

Name but your price, and you shall soon be paid. Almanz. My price!-why, king, you do not think you deal

With one who sets his services to salę?
Reserve your gifts for those who gifts regard;

And know, I think myself above reward.

Boab. Then sure you are some godhead; and

our care

Must be to come with incense and with prayer.

Almanz. As little as you think yourself obliged, You would be glad to do't, when next besieged. But I am pleased there should be nothing due; For what I did was for myself, not you.

Boab. You with contempt on meaner gifts look down;

And, aiming at my queen, disdain my crown.
That crown, restored, deserves no recompence,
Since you would rob the fairest jewel thence.
Dare not henceforth ungrateful me to call;
Whate'er I owed you, this has cancelled all.
Almanz. I'll call thee thankless, king, and per-
jured both:

Thou sworst by Alha, and hast broke thy oath.
But thou dost well; thou tak'st the cheapest way;
Not to own services thou canst not pay.

Boab. My patience more than pays thy service past;

But now this insolence shall be thy last.
Hence from my sight! and take it as a grace,
Thou liv'st, and art but banished from the place.
Almanz. Where'er I go, there can no exile be;
But from Almanzor's sight I banish thee:
I will not now, if thou wouldst beg me, stay;
But I will take my Almahide away.

Stay thou with all thy subjects here; but know,
We leave thy city empty when we go.

[Takes ALMAHIDE's hand.

Boab. Fall on; take; kill the traitor.

[The Guards fall on him; he makes at the King through the midst of them, and falls upon him; they disarm him, and rescue the King. Almanz. -Base and poor,