Selin. Since by you I live,

your

I, for your sake, your family forgive.
Let hard father still my life pursue,
I hate not him, but for his hate to you;
Even that hard father yet may one day be
By kindness vanquished, as you vanquished me;
Or, if my death can quench to you his rage,
Heaven makes good use of my remaining age.
Abdal. I grieve your joys are mingled with my

cares;

But all take interest in their own affairs;

And, therefore, I must ask how mine proceed. Selin. They now are ripe, and but your presence need:

For Lyndaraxa, faithless as the wind,

Yet to your better fortunes will be kind;
For, hearing that the Christians own your cause,
From thence the assurance of a throne she draws.
And since Almanzor, whom she most did fear,
Is gone, she to no treaty will give ear;

But sent me her unkindness to excuse.

Abdal. You much surprise me with your pleasing

news.

Selin. But, sir, she hourly does the assault expect, And must be lost if you her aid neglect:

For Abdelmelech loudly does declare,
He'll use the last extremities of war,
If she refuse the fortress to resign.

Abdal. The charge of hastening this relief be mine.
Selin. This while I undertook, whether beset,
Or else by chance, Abenamar I met;

Who seemed, in haste, returning to the town.

Abdal. My love must in my diligence be shown.And, [To ARCOS.] as my pledge of faith to Spain, this hour

I'll put the fortress in your master's power.

Selin. An open way from hence to it there lies, And we with ease may send in large supplies, Free from the shot and sallies of the town.

:

D. Arcos. Permit me, sir, to share in your re

nown;

First to my king I will impart the news,
And then draw out what succours we shall use.
[Exit Duke of ARCOS.
Abdal. [Aside.] Grant that she loves me not, at
least I see

She loves not others, if she loves not me.-
'Tis pleasure, when we reap the fruit of pain:
'Tis only pride, to be beloved again.

How many are not loved, who think they are!
Yet all are willing to believe the fair;

And, though 'tis beauty's known and obvious cheat,
Yet man's self-love still favours the deceit.

[Exit ABDAL. Selin. Farewell, my children! equally so dear, That I myself am to myself less near: While I repeat the dangers of the war, Your mutual safety be each other's care. Your father, Ozmyn, till the war be done, As much as honour will permit, I'll shun: If by his sword I perish, let him know It was, because I would not be his foe.

Ozm. Goodness and virtue all your actions guide; You only err in choosing of your side. That party I, with honour, cannot take; But can much less the care of you forsake: I must not draw my sword against my prince, But yet may hold a shield in your defence. Benzayda, free from danger, here shall stay, And for a father and a lover pray.

Benz. No, no! I gave not on those termsmy heart,

That from my Ozmyn I should ever part:

That love I vowed, when you did death attend,
'Tis just that nothing but my death should end.
What merchant is it, who would stay behind,
His whole stock ventured to the waves and wind?
I'll pray for both, but both shall be in sight;
And heaven shall hear me pray, and see you fight.
Selin. No longer, Ozmyn, combat a design,
Where so much love, and so much virtue join.
Ozm. [To BENZ.] Then conquer, and your con-
quest happy be,

Both to yourself, your father, and to me.--
With bended knees our freedom we'll demand
Of Isabel, and mighty Ferdinand:

Then while the paths of honour we pursue,
We'll interest heaven for us, in right of you.

SCENE II.-The Albayzyn.

[Exeunt.

An alarm within; then Soldiers running over the stage. Enter ABDELMELECH, victorious, with Soldiers.

Abdelm. 'Tis won, 'tis won! and Lyndaraxa, now,
Who scorned to treat, shall to a conquest bow.
To every sword I free commission give;
Fall on, my friends, and let no rebel live.
Spare only Lyndaraxa; let her be

In triumph led, to grace my victory.
Since by her falsehood she betrayed my love,
Great as that falsehood my revenge shall prove.-

Enter LYNDARAXA, as frightened, attended by

women.

Go, take the enchantress, bring her to me bound! Lyndar. Force needs not, where resistance is not found:

I come, myself, to offer you my hands ;
And, of my own accord, invite your bands.
I wished to be my Abdelmelech's slave;
I did but wish,-and easy fortune gave.

Abdelm. O, more than woman false !-but 'tis in vain.

Can you ere hope to be believed again?
I'll sooner trust the hyæna, than your smile;
Or, than your tears, the weeping crocodile.
In war and love none should be twice deceived;
The fault is mine if you are now believed.

Lyndar. Be overwise, then, and too late repent;
Your crime will carry its own punishment.
I am well pleased not to be justified;
I owe no satisfaction to your pride.
It will be more advantage to my fame,
To have it said, I never owned a flame.
Abdelm. 'Tis true, my pride has satisfied itself:
I have at length escaped the deadly shelf.
The excuses you prepare will be in vain,
Till I am fool enough to love again.
Lyndar. Am I not loved?

Abdelm. I must with shame avow,

I loved you once; but do not love you now. Lyndar. Have I for this betrayed Abdalla's trust? You are to me, as I to him, unjust. [Angrily. Abdelm. "Tis like you have done much for love

of me,

Who kept the fortress of my enemy.

Lyndar. "Tis true, I took the fortress from his hand;

But, since, have kept it in my own command. Abdelm. That act your foul ingratitude did show. Lyndar. You are the ungrateful, since 'twas kept

for you.

Abdelm. "Twas kept indeed; but not by your in

tent:

For all your kindness I may thank the event.
Blush, Lyndaraxa, for so gross a cheat:
'Twas kept for me,-when you refused to treat!
[Ironically.
Lyndar. Blind man! I knew the weakness of the
place:

It was my plot to do your arms this grace.
Had not my care of your renown been great,
I loved enough to offer you to treat.

She, who is loved, must little lets create;
But you bold lovers are to force your fate.
This force, you used, my maiden blush will save;
You seemed to take, what secretly I gave.
I knew we must be conquered; but I knew
What confidence I might repose in you.
I knew, you were too grateful to expose
My friends, and soldiers, to be used like foes.
Abdelm. Well, though I love you not, their lives
shall be

Spared out of pity and humanity.

Alferez, [To a Soldier.] go, and let the slaughter cease.
[Exit the Alferez.
Lyndar. Then must I to your pity owe my peace?
Is that the tenderest term you can afford?
Time was, you would have used another word.
Abdelm. Then, for your beauty I your soldiers

spare:

For, though I do not love you, you are fair.
Lyndar. That little beauty why did heaven im-
part,

To please your eyes, but not to move your heart!
I'll shroud this gorgon from all human view,
And own no beauty, since it charms not you!
Reverse your orders, and your sentence give;
My soldiers shall not from my beauty live.