Enter ZULEMA.

Assist me, Zulema, if thou wouldst be
That friend thou seem'st, assist me against me.
Betwixt my love and virtue I am tossed;
This must be forfeited, or that be lost.
I could do much to merit thy applause,-
Help me to fortify the better cause;
My honour is not wholly put to flight,
But would, if seconded, renew the fight.
Zul. I met my sister, but I do not see
What difficulty in your choice can be:
She told me all; and 'tis so plain a case,
You need not ask what counsel to embrace.
Abdal. I stand reproved, that I did doubt at all;
My waiting virtue staid but for thy call:
Tis plain that she, who, for a kingdom, now
Would sacrifice her love, and break her vow,
Not out of love, but interest, acts alone,

And would, even in my arms, lie thinking of a throne.

Zul. Add to the rest, this one reflection more: When she is married, and you still adore,

Think then, and think what comfort it will bring,She had been mine,

Had I but only dared to be a king!

Abdal. I hope you only would my honour try; I'm loth to think you virtue's enemy.

Zul. If, when a crown and mistress are in place, Virtue intrudes, with her lean holy face, Virtue's then mine, and not I virtue's foe. Why does she come where she has nought to do? Let her with anchorites, not with lovers, lie; Statesmen and they keep better company.

Abdal. Reason was given to curb our head-strong will.

Zul. Reason but shews a weak physician's skill;

Gives nothing, while the raging fit does last,
But stays to cure it, when the worst is past.
Reason's a staff for age, when nature's gone;
But youth is strong enough to walk alone.

Abdal. In cursed ambition I no rest should find, But must for ever lose my peace of mind.

Zul. Methinks that peace of mind were bravely lost;

A crown, whate'er we give, is worth the cost.

Abdal. Justice distributes to each man his right; But what she gives not, should I take by might? Zul. If justice will take all, and nothing give, Justice, methinks, is not distributive.

Abdal. Had fate so pleased, I had been eldest born, And then, without a crime, the crown had worn!Zul. Would you so please, fate yet a way would find;

Man makes his fate according to his mind.
The weak low spirit, fortune makes her slave;
But she's a drudge, when hectored by the brave:
If fate weaves common thread, he'll change the
doom,

And with new purple spread a nobler loom.

Abdal. No more!-I will usurp the royal seat; Thou, who hast made me wicked, make me great. Zul. Your way is plain: the death of Tarifa Does on the king our Zegrys' hatred draw: Though with our enemies in show we close, 'Tis but while we to purpose can be foes. Selin, who heads us, would revenge his son; But favour hinders justice to be done. Proud Ozmyn with the king his power maintains, And, in him, each Abencerrago reigns. Abdal. What face of any title can I bring? Zul. The right an eldest son has to be king. Your father was at first a private man, And got your brother ere his reign began:

When, by his valour, he the crown had won,
Then you were born a monarch's eldest son.
Abdal. To sharp-eyed reason this would seem un-
true;

But reason I through love's false optics view.

Zul. Love's mighty power has led me captive too; I am in it unfortunate as you.

Abdal. Our loves and fortunes shall together go; Thou shalt be happy, when I first am so.

Zul. The Zegrys at old Selin's house are met,
Where, in close council, for revenge they sit:
There we our common interest will unite;
You their revenge shall own, and they your right.
One thing I had forgot, which may import:
I met Almanzor coming back from court,
But with a discomposed and speedy pace,
A fiery colour kindling all his face:
The king his prisoner's freedom has denied,
And that refusal has provoked his pride.
Abdal. 'Would he were ours!—

I'll try to gild the injustice of his cause,
And court his valour with a vast applause.

Zul. The bold are but the instruments o'the wise;

They undertake the dangers we advise :
And, while our fabric with their pains we raise,
We take the profit, and pay them with praise.

ACT III. SCENE I.

Enter ALMANZOR and ABDalla.

[Exeunt.

Almanz. That he should dare to do me this dis

grace!

Is fool, or coward, writ upon my face?

Refuse my prisoner!-I such means will use,
He shall not have a prisoner to refuse.

Abdal. He said, you were not by your promise tied;

That he absolved your word, when he denied, Almanz. He break my promise, and absolve my vow!

"Tis more than Mahomet himself can do!

The word, which I have given, shall stand like fate;
Not like the king's, that weather-cock of state.
He stands so high, with so unfixed a mind,
Two factions turn him with each blast of wind:
But now, he shall not veer! my word is past;
I'll take his heart by the roots, and hold it fast.
Abdal. You have your vengeance in your hand
this hour;

Make me the humble creature of your power:
The Granadines will gladly me obey;
(Tired with so base and impotent a sway)
And, when I shew my title, you
shall see,

I have a better right to reign than he.

Almanz. It is sufficient that you make the claim You wrong our friendship when your right you

name.

When for myself I fight, I weigh the cause;
But friendship will admit of no such laws:
That weighs by the lump; and, when the cause is
light,

Puts kindness in to set the balance right.
True, I would wish my friend the juster side;
But, in the unjust, my kindness more is tried;
And all the opposition I can bring,

Is, that I fear to make you such a king.

Abdal. The majesty of kings we should not blame, When royal minds adorn the royal name; The vulgar, greatness too much idolize, But haughty subjects it too much despise.

Almanz. I only speak of him,

Whom pomp and greatness sit so loose about,
That he wants majesty to fill them out.

Abdal. Haste, then, and lose no time!-
The business must be enterprised this night:
We must surprise the court in its delight.

Almanz. For you to will, for me 'tis to obey: But I would give a crown in open day; And, when the Spaniards their assault begin, At once beat those without, and these within. [Exit ALMANZ.

Enter ABDELMELECH.

Abdelm. Abdalla, hold!-There's somewhat I in

tend

To speak, not as your rival, but your friend.
Abdal. If as a friend, I am obliged to hear;
And what a rival says I cannot fear.

Abdelm. Think, brave Abdalla, what it is
Your quiet, honour, and our friendship too,
All for a fickle beauty you forego.

Think, and turn back, before it be too late.
Behold in me the example of your fate:

you do:

I am your sea-mark; and, though wrecked and lost, My ruins stand to warn you from the coast.

Abdal. Your counsels, noble Abdelmelech, move

My reason to accept them, not my love.

Ah, why did heaven leave man so weak defence, To trust frail reason with the rule of sense!

'Tis over-poised and kicked up in the air, While sense weighs down the scale, and keeps it there;

Or, like a captive king, 'tis borne away,

And forced to countenance its own rebels' sway. Abdelm. No, no; our reason was not vainly lent;

Nor is a slave, but by its own consent;