ACT II. SCENE Į.

Enter AbdaLLA, ABDELMELECH, OZMYN, ZULEMA,

and HAMET, as returning from the sally. Abdal. This happy day does to Granada bring A lasting peace, and triumphs to the king ! The two fierce factions will no longer jar, Since they have now been brothers in the war. Those who, apart, in emulation fought, The common danger to one body brought; And, to his cost, the proud Castilian finds Our Moorish courage in united minds.

Abdelm. Since to each others aid our lives we owe,
Lose we the name of faction, and of foe;
Which I to Zulema can bear no more,
Since Lyndaraxa's beauty I adore.

Zul. I am obliged to Lyndaraxa's charms,
Which gain the conquest I should lose by arms;
And wish my sister may continue fair,
That I may keep a good,
Of whose possession I should else despair.

Ozm. While we indulge our common happiness,
He is forgot, by whom we all possess;
The brave Almanzor, to whose arms we owe
All that we did, and all that we shall do;
Who, like a tempest, that out-rides the wind,
Made a just battle ere the bodies joined.
Abdelm. His victories we scarce could keep in

view, Or polish them so fast as he rough-drew.

Abdol. Fate, after him, below with pain did move, .Ind victory could scarce keep pace above:

Death did at length so many slain forget,
And lost the tale, and took them by the great.
Enter ALMANZOR, with the Duke of Arcos,

prisoner.
Hamet. Sec, here he comes,
And leads in triumph him, who did command
The vanquished army of king Ferdinand.
Almanz. (To the Duke.] Thus far your master's

arms a fortune find
Below the swelled ambition of his mind;
And Alha shuts a misbeliever's reign
From out the best and goodliest part of Spain.
Let Ferdinand Calabrian conquests make,
And from the French contested Milan take;
Let him new worlds discover to the old,
And break up shining mountains, big with gold;
Yet he shall find this small domestic foe,
Still sharp and pointed, to his bosom grow.
D. Arcos. Of small advantages too much you

boast;
You beat the out-guards of my master's host:
This little loss, in our vast body, shows
So small, that half have never heard the news.
Fame's out of breath, ere she can fly so far,
To tell them all, that you have e'er made war.
· Almanz. It pleases me your army is so great;
For now I know there's more to conquer yet.
By heaven! I'll see what troops you have behind :
I'll face this storm, that thickens in the wind;
And, with bent forehead, full against it go,
'Till I have found the last and utmost foe.

D. Arcos. Believe, you shall not long attend in
", vain :
To-morrow's dawn shall cover all the plain;
Bright arms shall flash upon you from afar,
A wood of lances, and a moving war.

But I, unhappy, in my bonds, must yet
Be only pleased to hear of your defeat,
And with a slave's inglorious ease remain,
'Till conquering Ferdinand has broke my chain.
Almanz. Vain man, thy hopes of Ferdinand are

weak!
I hold thy chain too fast for him to break.
But, since thou threaten’st us, I'll set thee free,
That I again may fight, and conquer thee.

D. Arcos. Old as I am, I take thee at thy word, And will to-morrow thank thee with my sword.

Almanz. I'll go, and instantly acquaint the king, And sudden orders for thy freedom bring. Thou canst not be so pleased at liberty, As I shall be to find thou darest be free.

[Exeunt ALMANZOR, Arcos, and the rest, er

cepting only ABDALLA and ZULEMA. Abdal. Of all those Christians who infest this

town, This duke of Arcos is of most renown.

Zul. Oft have I heard, that, in your father's reign, His bold adventurers beat the neighbouring plain; Then under Ponce Leon's name he fought, And from our triumphs many prizes brought; Till in disgrace from Spain at length he went, And since continued long in banishment. Abdal. But, see, your beauteous sister does appear,

Enter LYNDARAXA. Zul. By ny desire she came to find me here. [ZULEMA and LYNDARAXA whisper; then Zul

goes out, and LYNDAR. is going after. Abdal. Why, fairest Lyndaraxa, do you fly

Staying her. A prince, who at your feet is proud to die? Lyndar. Sir, I should blush to own so rude a thing,

[Staying. As 'tis to shun the brother of my king.

INDARAXA.

me

Abdal. In my hard fortune, I some ease should

find,
Did your disdain extend to all mankind.
But give me leave to grieve, and to complain,
That you give others what I beg in vain.

Lyndar. Take my esteem, if you on that can live;
For, frankly, sir, 'tis all I have to give:
If from my heart you ask or hope for more,
I grieve the place is taken up before.

Abdal. My rival merits you.To Abdelmelech I will justice do; For he wants worth, who dares not praise a foe. ;

Lyndar. That for his virtue, sir, you make defence, Shows in your own a noble confidence.. But him defending, and excusing me, I know not what can your advantage be.

Abdal. I fain would ask, ere I proceed in this, If, as by choice, you are by promise his? Lyndar. The engagement only in my love does

lie, But that's a knot which you can ne'er untie. . Abdal. When cities are besieged, and treat to

yield,
If there appear relievers from the field,
The flag of parley may be taken down,
Till the success of those without is known.

Lyndar. Though Abdelmelech has not yet possest, Yet I have sealed the treaty in my breast.

Abdal. Your treaty has not tied you to a day;
Some chance might break it, would you but delay.
If I can judge the secrets of your heart,
Ambition in it has the greatest part;
And wisdom, then, will shew some difference,
Betwixt a private person, and a prince.

Lyndar. Princes are subjects still. -
Subject and subject can small difference bring :
The difference is 'twixt subjects and a king.

VOL. IV.

And since, sir, you are none, your hopes remove; For less than empire I'll not change my love.

Abdal. Had I a crown, all I should prize in it,
Should be the power to lay it at your feet.
Lyndar. Had you that crown, which you but wish,

not hope,
Then I, perhaps, might stoop, and take it up.
But till your wishes and your hopes agree,
You shall be still a private man with me.

Abdal. If I am king, and if my brother die,
Lyndar. Two if's scarce make one possibility.

Abdal. The rule of happiness by reason scan;
You may be happy with a private man.

Lyndar. That happiness I may enjoy, 'tis true; But then that private man must not be you. Where'er I love, I'm happy in my choice; If I make you so, you shall pay my price.

Abdal. Why would you be so great?

Lyndar. Because I've seen, This day, what 'tis to hope to be a queen.Heaven, how you all watched each motion of her

eye! None could be seen while Almahide was by, Because she is to be her majesty ! Why would I be a queen? Because my face Would wear the title with a better grace. If I became it not, yet it would be Part of your duty, then, to flatter me. These are but half the charms of being great; I would be somewhat, that I know not yet: Yes! I avow the ambition of my soul, To be that one to live without controul ! And that's another happiness to me, To be so happy as but one can be. Abdal. Madam,-because I would all doubts re

move,“ Would you, were I a king, accept my love?