I'm bound; but I will rouse my rage again; Almah. I know I am your captive, sir. [Angrily. Almanz. You are-You shall-And I can scarce forbear Almah. Alas! Almanz. Tis all in vain; it will not do: [Aside. I cannot now a seeming anger show: My tongue against my heart no aid affords; For love still rises up, and choaks my words. Almah. In half this time a tempest would be still. Almanz. "Tis you have raised that tempest in my will. I wonnot love you; give me back my heart; Almanz. No, speak; for I can hear you now all day. Her sueing sooths me with a secret pride: [Softly. A suppliant beauty cannot be denied : [Aside. Even while I frown, her charms the furrows seize; And I'm corrupted with the power to please. Almah. Though in your worth no cause of fear I see, I fear the insolence of victory; As you are noble, sir, protect me then Almanz. Who dares touch her I love? I'm all o'er love: Nay, I am love; love shot, and shot so fast, Almah. You see before you her, who should be queen, Since she is promised to Boabdelin. Almanz. Are you beloved by him? O wretched fate, First that I love at all; then, loved too late! Almah. Alas, it is in vain; Fate for each other did not us ordain. But fate's yet hot I'll make it take a bent another way. [He walks swiftly and discomposedly, studying. I bring a claim which does his right remove; You're his by promise, but you're mine by love. 'Tis all but ceremony which is past; The knot's to tie which is to make you fast. Almah. Our souls are tied by holy vows above. Almanz. He signed but his: but I will seal my love. I love you better, with more zeal than he. Almah. This day I gave my faith to him, he his to me. Almanz. Good heaven, thy book of fate before me lay, But to tear out the journal of this day: Or, if the order of the world below Will not the gap of one whole day allow, Give me that minute when she made her vow! That minute, ev'n the happy from their bliss might give; And those, who live in grief, a shorter time would live. So small a link, if broke, the eternal chain Of things that once have been, and are decayed. Almah. Your passion, like a fright, suspends my pain; It meets, o'erpowers, and beats mine back again: move; 'Tis the essay of an untaught first love: Yet rude, unfashioned truth it does express; "Tis love just peeping in a hasty dress. Retire, fair creature, to your needful rest; There's something noble labouring in my breast: This raging fire, which through the mass does move, Shall purge my dross, and shall refine my love. She [Exeunt ALMAHIDE and ESPERANZA. goes, and I like my own ghost appear; It is not living when she is not here. To him ABDALLA as King, attended. Abdal. My first acknowledgments to heaven are due; My next, Almanzor, let me pay to you. Almanz. A poor surprise, and on a naked foe, Whatever you confess, is all you owe; And I no merit own, or understand That fortune did you justice by my hand: Yet, if you will that little service pay With a great favour, I can shew the way. Abdal. I have a favour to demand of you; That is, to take the thing for which you sue. Almanz. Then, briefly, thus: when I the Albay zyn won, I found the beauteous Almahide alone, Almanz. She is no captive then; I set her free; And, rather than I will her jailor be, I'll nobly lose her in her liberty. Abdal. Your generosity I much approve; That, seen far off, it lessens to the eye. Abdal. May your heroic act so prosperous be, Enter ZULEMA. Zul. Of five tall towers which fortify this town, All but the Alhambra your dominion own: Now, therefore, boldly I confess a flame, Which is excused in Almahide's name. If you the merit of this night regard, Almanz. She your reward! why, she's a gift so great, That I myself have not deserved her yet; I'll not dispute, because I do not know ; Almanz. Thou, single, art not worth my answering: But take what friends, what armies thou canst bring; What worlds; and, when you are united all, Zul. If you will free your part of her, you may; But, sir, I love not your romantic way. Dream on, enjoy her soul, and set that free; To be so impudent, as to despair. Zul. The Zegrys, sir, are all concerned to see How much their merit you neglect in me. |