From her white temples fell her shaded hair,
Like cloudy sunshine, not too brown nor fair;
Her hands, her lips, did love inspire;
Her every grace my heart did fire:

But most her eyes, which languished with desire.

III.

Ah, charming fair, said I,

How long can you my bliss and yours deny?
By nature and by love, this lonely shade
Was for revenge of suffering lovers made.
Silence and shades with love agree;
Both shelter you and favour me:
You cannot blush, because I cannot see.

No, let me die, she said,

IV.

Rather than lose the spotless name of maid!
Faintly, methought, she spoke; for all the while
She bid me not believe her, with a smile.
Then die, said I: She still denied;

And is it thus, thus, thus, she cried,
You use a harmless maid?and so she died!

V.

I waked, and straight I knew,

I loved so well, it made my dream prove true:
Fancy, the kinder mistress of the two,
Fancy had done what Phyllis would not do!
Ah, cruel nymph, cease your disdain,

While I can dream you scorn in vain,-
Asleep or waking you must ease my pain.

[After the dance, a tumultuous noise of drums
and trumpets.

To them OZMYN; his sword drawn.

Ozm. Arm, quickly arm; yet all, I fear, too late; The enemy's already at the gate.

Boab. The Christians are dislodged; what foe is

near?

Ozm. The Zegrys are in arms, and almost here: The streets with torches shine, with shoutings ring, And Prince Abdalla is proclaimed the king. What man could do, I have already done, But bold Almanzor fiercely leads them on. Aben. The Alhambra yet is safe in my command; [To the King. Retreat you thither, while their shock we stand. Boab. I cannot meanly for my life provide; I'll either perish in't, or stem this tide. To guard the palace, Ozmyn, be your care: If they o'ercome, no sword will hurt the fair. Ozm. I'll either die, or I'll make good the place. Abdelm. And I with these will bold Almanzor face.

[Exeunt all but the Ladies. An alarum within. Almah. What dismal planet did my triumphs light!

Discord the day, and death does rule the night:
The noise my soul does through my senses wound.
Lyndar. Methinks it is a noble, sprightly sound,
The trumpet's clangor, and the clash of arms!
This noise may chill your blood, but mine it warms.
[Shouting and clashing of swords within.
We have already passed the Rubicon;
The dice are mine; now, fortune, for a throne!
[A shout within, and clashing of swords afar
off.

The sound goes farther off, and faintly dies;
Curse of this going back, these ebbing cries!

Ye winds, waft hither sounds more strong and

quick;

Beat faster, drums, and mingle deaths more thick.
I'll to the turrets of the palace go,

And add new fire to those that fight below:
Thence, hero-like, with torches by my side,
(Far be the omen, though) my love will guide.
No; like his better fortune I'll

appear,

With open arms, loose veil, and flowing hair,
Just flying forward from my rolling sphere:
My smiles shall make Abdalla more than man;
Let him look up, and perish if he can.

[Exit.

An alarum nearer: Then Enter ALMANZOR and SELIN, at the head of the Zegrys; OzмYN Prisoner.

Almanz. We have not fought enough; they fly

too soon;

And I am grieved the noble sport is done.
This only man, of all whom chance did bring

[Pointing to OZMYN.
To meet my arms, was worth the conquering.
His brave resistance did my fortune grace;
So slow, so threatning forward he gave place.
His chains be easy, and his usage fair.

Selin. I beg you would commit him to my care. Almanz. Next, the brave Spaniard free without delay;

And with a convoy send him safe away.

[Exit a Guard.

To them HAMET and others.

Hamet. The king by me salutes you; and, to show That to your valour he his crown does owe,

Would from your mouth I should the word receive, And that to these you would your orders give.

Almanz. He much o'er-rates the little I have done. [ALMANZOR goes to the door, and there seems to give out orders, by sending people several

ways.

Selin to Ozmyn. Now, to revenge the murder of

my son,

To morrow for thy certain death prepare;
This night I only leave thee to despair.
Ozmyn. Thy idle menaces I do not fear:
My business was to die or conquer here.
Sister, for you I grieve I could no more:
My present state betrays my want of power;
But, when true courage is of force bereft,
Patience, the only fortitude, is left.

[Exit with SELIN.
Almah. Ah, Esperanza, what for me remains
But death, or, worse than death, inglorious chains!
Esper. Madam, you must not to despair give place;
Heaven never meant misfortune to that face.
Suppose there were no justice in your cause,
Beauty's a bribe that gives her judges laws.
That you are brought to this deplored estate,
Is but the ingenious flattery of your fate;
Fate fears her succour, like an alms, to give;
And would you, God-like, from yourself should live.
Almah. Mark but how terribly his eyes appear!
And yet there's something roughly noble there,
Which, in unfashioned nature, looks divine,
And, like a gem, does in the quarry shine.

[ALMANZOR returns; she falls at his feet, being veiled.

Almah. Turn, mighty conqueror, turn your face this way,

Do not refuse to hear the wretched pray!

Almanz. What business can this woman have with me?

Almah. That of the afflicted to the Deity.

So may your arms success in battle find;
So may the mistress of your vows be kind,
If you have any; or, if you have none,
So may your liberty be still your own!

Almanz. Yes, I will turn my face, but not my mind:

You bane and soft destruction of mankind,
What would you have with me?

Almah. I beg the grace

You would lay by those terrors of

[Unveiling.

your face.

Till calmness to your eyes you first restore,

I am afraid, and I can beg no more.

Almanz. [Lookingly fixedly on her.] Well; my fierce visage shall not murder you.

Speak quickly, woman; I have much to do.
Almah. Where should I find the heart to speak
one word?

Your voice, sir, is as killing as your sword.
As you have left the lightning of your eye,
So would you please to lay your thunder by.
Almanz. I'm pleased and pained, since first her
eyes I saw,

As I were stung with some tarantula.
Arms, and the dusty field, I less admire,
And soften strangely in some new desire;
Honour burns in me not so fiercely bright,
But pale as fires when mastered by the light:
Even while I speak and look, I change yet more,
And now am nothing that I was before.

I'm numbed, and fixed, and scarce my eye-balls

move:

I fear it is the lethargy of love!

"Tis he; I feel him now in every part:
Like a new lord he vaunts about my heart;
Surveys, in state, each corner of my breast,
While poor fierce I, that was, am dispossessed