But, are we foes? Look round, my lord, and see; For you, Benzayda will herself disclaim; And shame itself is now o'ercome at last. [Runs to BENZ., and embraces her. Benzayda, 'twas your virtue vanquished me; That could alone surmount my cruelty. [Runs to SELIN, and unbinds him. Forgive me, Selin, my neglect of you; But men, just waking, scarce know what they do. Ozm. O father! Benz. Father! Aben. Dare I own that name! Speak, speak it often, to remove my shame. [They all embrace him. O Selin, O my children, let me go! I have more kindness than I yet can show. For my recovery I must shun your sight; Eyes used to darkness cannot bear the light. [He runs in, they following him, SCENE II.-The Albayzyn. Enter ALMANZOR, ABDELMELECH, Soldiers. Almanz. "Tis war again, and I am glad 'tis so; Success shall now by force and courage go. Treaties are but the combat of the brain, Where still the stronger lose, and weaker gain. Abdelm. On this assault, brave sir, which we pre pare, Depends the sum and fortune of the war. Almanz. The minds of heroes their own measures are, They stand exempted from the rules of war. Does all the military art controul : While timorous wit goes round, or fords the shore, He shoots the gulph, and is already o'er; And, when the enthusiastic fit is spent, Looks back amazed at what he underwent. [Exeunt. [An alarum within. Re-enter ALMANZOR and ABDELMELECH, with their Soldiers. Abdelm. They fly, they fly; take breath and charge again. Almanz. Make good your entrance, and bring up more men. I feared, 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; Who, much o'erpowered, could scarce the shock withstand. Almanz. Ere night we shall the whole Albayzyn gain. But see, the Spaniards march along the plain [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. Abdelm. No, prince, that mean advantage I refuse; 'Tis in your power a nobler fate to choose. [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 only means for me, To die, and leave you Lyndaraxa free. Abdelm. He, who is vanquished and is slain, is blest : The wretched conqueror can ne'er have rest; 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 even Lyndaraxa's crimes defend. Abdelm. Maintain her cause, then, better than thy own, Than thy ill got, and worse defended throne. Abdelm. Now ask [They fight, ABDALLA falls, your life. Abdal. "Tis gone; that busy thing, The soul, is packing up, and just on wing, Enter LYNDARAXA hastily, sees them, and is going out again. ABDELMELECH stops her. Abdelm. No, you shall stay, and see a sacrifice, Not offered by my sword, but by your eyes. From those he first ambitious poison drew, And swelled to empire from the love of Accursed fair! you, Thy comet-blaze portends a prince's fate; I would have forced you, but it wonnot be; You, fairest, to my memory be kind! [To LYNDAR, [Dies. [She puts her handkerchief to her eyes, Abdelm. Weep on, weep on, for it becomes you now; These tears you to that love may well allow. Lyndar. He's gone, and peace go with a constant mind! His love deserved I should have been more kind; Abdelm. I was his enemy, and rival too, Yet I some tears to his misfortune owe: You owe him more; weep then, and join with me; So much is due even to humanity. Lyndar. Weep for this wretch, whose memory hate! Whose folly made us both unfortunate! · Abdelm. Had fortune favoured him, and frowned on me, I then had been that heavy fool, not he: My love, half blasted, yet in time would shoot; Lyndar. These little piques, which now your anger move, Will vanish, and are only signs of love. You've been too fierce; and, at some other time, I pardon, and forget whate'er's amiss. |