On your fair face the marks of sorrow lie;
But I read fury in your husband's eye:
And, in that passion, I too plainly find
That you're unhappy, and that he's unkind.

Almah. Not new-made mothers greater love ex-
press

Than he, when with first looks their babes they bless;

Not Heaven is more to dying martyrs kind,
Nor guardian angels to their charge assigned.
Boab. O goodness counterfeited to the life!
O the well-acted virtue of a wife!

Would you with this my just suspicions blind?
You've given me great occasion to be kind!
The marks, too, of your spotless love appear;
Witness the badge of my dishonour there.

[Pointing to ALMANZOR's scarf. Almanz. Unworthy owner of a gem so rare! Heavens! why must he possess, and I despair? Why is this miser doomed to all this store; He, who has all, and yet believes he's poor? Almah. [to ALMANZ.] You're much too bold, tọ blame a jealousy

So kind in him, and so desired 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 lose.
Distrust in lovers is too warm a sun,

But yet 'tis night in love when that is gone;
And in those climes which most his scorching know,
He makes the noblest fruits and metals grow.
Almanz. Yes; there are mines of treasure in

breast,

Seen by that jealous sun, but not possest,

your

He, like a devil, among the blest above,

Can take no pleasure in your heaven of love.
Go, take her; and thy causeless fears remove;
[To the King
Love her so well, that I with rage may die :
Dull husbands have no right to jealousy:

If that's allowed, it must in lovers be.

Boab. The succour, which thou bring'st me, makes thee bold:

But know, without thy aid, my crown I'll 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'll do, I'll suffer any thing but thee.

Almanz. I wonnot go; I'll not be forced away:

I came not for thy sake; nor do I stay.
It was the queen who for my aid did send;
And 'tis I only can the queen defend:

I, for her sake, thy sceptre will maintain;
And thou, by me, in spite of thee, shalt reign.
Boab. Had I but hope I could defend this place
Three days, thou should'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.

Almah. [to BOAB.] As for your sake I for Almanzor sent,

So, when you please, he goes to banishment.
You shall, at last, my loyalty approve :
I will refuse no trial of my love.

Boab. How can I think you love me, while I see That trophy of a rival's victory?

I'll tear it from his side.

Almanz. I'll hold it fast

As life, and when life's gone, I'll hold this last;

And if thou tak'st it after I am slain,

I'll send my ghost to fetch it back again.

Almah. When I bestowed that scarf, I had not thought,

Or not considered it might be a fault;

But, since my lord's displeased that I should make
So small a present, I command it back.
Without delay the unlucky gift restore;
Or, from this minute, never see me more.

Almanz. The shock of such a curse I dare not stand:
[Pulling it off hastily, and presenting it to her.

Thus I obey your absolute command.

[She gives it to the King. Must he the spoils of scorn'd Almanzor wear?-May Turnus' fate be thine, who dared to bear The belt of murdered Pallas! from afar Mayest thou be known, and be the mark of war! Live, just to see it from thy shoulders torn By common hands, and by some coward worn. [An alarm within

Enter ABDELMELECH, ZULEMA, HAMET, ABENA MAR; their swords drawn.

Abdelm. Is this a time for discord or for grief? We perish, sir, without your quick relief. I have been fooled, and am unfortunate; The foes pursue their fortune and our fate.

Zul. The rebels with the Spaniards are agreed. Boab. Take breath; my guards shall to the fight succeed.

Aben. [to ALMANZOR.] Why stay you, sir? the conquering foe is near:

Give us their courage, and give them our fear. Hamet. Take arms, or we must perish in your sight. Almanz. I care not: perish: for I will not fight. I wonnot lift an arm in his defence:

And yet I wonnot stir one foot from hence.

I to your king's defence his town resign;
This only spot, whereon I stand, is mine.—
Madam, be safe, and lay aside your fear,

You are as in a magic circle here.

[To the Queen.

Boab. To our own valour our success we'll owe. Haste, Hamet, with Abenamar to go;

You two draw up, with all the speed you may,
Our last reserves, and yet redeem the day.

[Exeunt HAMET and ABENAMAR one way, the
King the other, with ABDELMELECH, &c.
Alarm within.

Enter ABDELMELECH, his sword drawn. Abdelm. Granada is no more! the unhappy king Venturing too far, ere we could succour bring, Was by the duke of Arcos prisoner made, And, past relief, is to the fort conveyed.

Almanz. Heaven, thou art just! go, now despise my aid.

Almah. Unkind Almanzor, how am I betrayed! Betrayed by him in whom I trusted most! But I will ne'er outlive what I have lost. Is this your succour, this your boasted love! I will accuse you to the saints above! Almanzor vowed he would for honour fight, And lets my husband perish in my sight.

[Exeunt ALMAHIDE and ESPERANZA. Almanz. Oh, I have erred; but fury made me blind;

And, in her just reproach, my fault I find!
I promised even for him to fight, whom I-
But since he's loved by her, he must not die.
Thus, happy fortune comes to me in vain,
When I myself must ruin it again.

To him ABENAMAR, HAMET, ABDELMELECH, ZULEMA, Soldiers.

Aben. The foe has entered the Vermillion towers; And nothing but the Alhambra now is ours. Almanz. Even that's too much, except we may have more;

You lost it all to that last stake before.

Fate, now come back; thou canst not farther get; The bounds of thy libration here are set.

Thou know'st this place,

And, like a clock wound up, strik'st here for me; Now, Chance, assert thy own inconstancy,

And, Fortune, fight, that thou may'st Fortune be!— They come here, favoured by the narrow place,

[A noise within.

I can, with few, their
gross battalion face.
By the dead wall, you, Abdelmelech, wind;
Then charge, and their retreat cut off behind.

[Exeunt.

[An alarm within.

Enter ALMANZOR and his Party, with ABDALLA

prisoner.

Almanz. You were my friend: and to that name

I owe

[To ABDAL.
The just regard, which you refused to show.
Your liberty I frankly would restore,
But honour now forbids me to do more.
Yet, sir, your freedom in your choice shall be,
When you command to set your brother free.
Abdal. The exchange, which you propose, with
joy I take;

An offer easier than my hopes could make.
Your benefits revenge my crimes to you,
For I
my shame in that bright mirror view.