Boab. 'Tis better; but you wives have still one way: Whene'er your husbands are obliged, you pay. Almah. Thou, heaven, who know'st it, judge my innocence! You, sir, deserve not I should make defence. Two such excuses no one man e'er had; I leave you to your thoughts; but love me still! [Exit BOABDELIN. ALMAHIDE Solus. My jealous lord will soon to rage return; I'll cherish honour, then, and life despise; But, silk-worm like, so long within have wrought, That I am lost in my own web of thought. [Exit ALMAHIDE. ACT II. SCENE I.-A Wood. Enter OZMYN and BENZAYDA. Ozm. 'Tis true, that our protection here has been The effect of honour in the Spanish queen; But, while I as a friend continue here, I to my country must a foe appear. Benz. Think not, my Ozmyn, that we here re- As friends, but prisoners to the power of Spain. [A noise within,-Follow, follow, follow!- A year, the dregs of life too, from the grave.. [Sits down on the ground. Here will I sit, and here attend my fate, With the same hoary majesty and state, Benz. It is my father; and he seems distressed. That life he sought, for his I'll freely give; Bénz. I'll call more succour, since the camp is near, And fly on all the wings of love and fear. [Exit BENZ. Enter ABENAMAR, and four or five Moors. He looks and finds SELIN. Aben. You've lived, and now behold your latest hour. Selin. I scorn your malice, and defy your power. A speedy death is all I ask you now; And that's a favour you may well allow. Ozm. [shewing himself.] Who gives you death, shall give it first to me; Fate cannot separate our destiny. [Knows his father. My father here! then heaven itself has laid The snare, in which my virtue is betrayed. To bring me back that fugitive, my son; want, For your own sake my last petition grant; VOL. IV. I And kill not a disarmed, defenceless foe, My father!-I mistake;—I meant, who was. son! Ozm. Swear but to save his life, I'll yield my own. Aben. Nor tears, nor prayers, thy life, or his, shall buy. Ozm. Then, sir, Eenzayda's father shall not die!— [Putting himself before SELIN. And, since he'll want defence when I am gone, I will, to save his life, defend my own. Aben. This justice, parricides, like thee, should have!- [ABEN. and his party attack them both. Ozм. parries his father's thrusts, and thrusts at the others. Enter BENZAYDA, with ABDALLA, the Duke of ARCOS, and Spaniards. Benz. O, help my father! and my Ozmyn save! Abdal. Villains, that death you have deserved is near! Ozm. Stay, prince! and know, I have a father [Stops ABDALLA's hand. here! I were that parricide, of whom he spoke, Did not my piety prevent your stroke. D. Arcos. to Aben. Depart, then, and thank heaven you had a son. Aben. I am not with these shows of duty won. But, while Benzayda lives, it is not mine. Will I be won; but, with my latest breath, I'll curse thee here, and haunt thee after death. [Exit ABEN. with his party. Ozm. Can you be merciful to that degree, [Kneeling to SELIN. As to forgive my father's faults in me? The death of him I slew in my defence, In short, now kill me, sir, or pardon me. In this [Offers him his sword. my hard fate appears. silence your Selin. I'll answer you, when I can speak for tears. But, till I can, Imagine what must needs be brought to pass; [Embraces him. My heart's not made of marble, nor of brass. Did I for you a cruel death prepare, And have you, have you made my life your care! There is a shame contracted by my faults, Which hinders me to speak my secret thoughts. And I will tell you-when the shame's removedYou are not better by my daughter loved.— Benzayda be yours.-I can no more. Ozm. Blessed be that breath which does my life restore! [Embracing his knees. Benz. I hear my father now; these words con fess That name, and that indulgent tenderness. Selin. Benzayda, I have been too much to blame; But let your goodness expiate my shame: You Ozmyn's virtue did in chains adore, And part of me was just to him before.My son! Ozm. My father!- |