Remember the great act you did this day: And wonders are with wonder paid alone. Almanz. I would that minute before ages chuse. No more; but know, Almanzor, I can die. Almanz. Hold, hold! [Going to stab herself. Such fatal proofs of love you shall not give: Almah. "Tis generous to have conquered your desire; You mount above your wish, and lose it higher. Almanz. 'Tis time I should be gone. And, like a lion, whom no arts can tame, Shall tear even those, who would my rage reclaim. [Exeunt severally. [ZULEMA and HAMET watch ALMANZOR; and when he is gone, go in after the Queen. Enter ABDELMELECH and LYNDARAXA. Lyndar. It is enough, you've brought me to this place: Here stop, and urge no further my disgrace. Abdelm. "Tis therefore I this punishment provide: Enter ALMAHIDE shrieking; her hair loose; she runs over the stage. Almah. Help, help, O heaven, some help! Enter ZULEMA and HAMET. Zul. Make haste before, And intercept her passage to the door. Abdelm. Villains, what act are you attempting here! Almah. I thank thee, heaven! some succour does appear. [AS ABDELMELECH is going to help the Queen, LYNDARAXA pulls out his sword, and holds it. Abdelm. With what ill fate my good design is curst! Zul. We have no time to think; dispatch him first. Abdelm. O for a sword! [They make at ABDELMELECH; he goes off at one door, while the Queen escapes at the other. Zul. Ruined! Hamet. Undone! Lyndar. And, which is worst of all, He is escaped. Zul. I hear them loudly call. Lyndar. Your fear will lose you; call as loud as they: I have not time to teach you what to say. [ZUL. and HAMET retire, and within cry,-+Help! Enter, at several doors, the King, ABENAMAR, SELIN, OZMYN, ALMANZOR, with Guards attending BOABDELIN. Boab. What can the cause of all this tumult be? And what the meaning of that naked sword? Lyndar. I'll tell, when fear will so much breath afford. The queen and Abdelmelech-Twill not out- Almanz. Did she not name the queen? Lyndar. How dare I speak what I have seen?— With Hamet, and with Zulema I went, To pay both theirs, and my acknowledgment We chose this hour, which we believed most frée, Yet thought it was the queen at prayers alone, Almanz. Let her go on. Lyndar. And how,-then murmured in a bigger tone Another voice,--and how should it be known? Second her words, and fear not the event. ZULEMA and HAMET enter. The King embraces them. See here the gratitude of pardoned foes! When duty called us, he was so no more. Almanz. Damn your delay!-you torturers, proceed! I will not hear one word but Almahide. Boab. When you, within, the traitor's voice did hear, What did you then? Zul. I durst not trust my ear; But, peeping through the key-hole, I espied I hope I shall have life to hear you out. Zul. What had been, sir, you may suspect too well; What followed, modesty forbids to tell : Lyndar. His sword, in so much haste, he could not mind; But left this witness of his crime behind. Boab. O proud, ungrateful, faithless womankind! How changed, and what a monster am I made! My love, my honour, ruined and betrayed! Almanz. Your love and honour! mine are ruined worse: Furies and hell!-What right have you to curse? What can your love, or what your honour, be? Boab. Go; when the authors of my shame are found, Let them be taken instantly and bound: Lyndar. The law demands two witnesses; and she Is cast, for which heaven knows I grieve, by three. Ozm. Hold, sir! since you so far insist on law, We can from thence one just advantage draw: |