Chapter 16

_Enter, on one side_, ALMANZOR, ABDALLA, ABDELMELECH, ZULEMA, HAMET. _On the other side, the Duke of_ ARCOS, BOABDELIN, LYNDARAXA, _and their Party. After which the bars are opened; and at the same time_ BOABDELIN _and_ ABDALLA _pass by each other, each to his Party; when_ ABDALLA _is passed on the other side, the Duke of_ ARCOS _approaches the bars, and calls to_ ALMANZOR.

_D. Arcos._ The hatred of the brave with battles ends, And foes, who fought for honour, then are friends. I love thee, brave Almanzor, and am proud To have one hour when love may be allowed. This hand, in sign of that esteem, I plight; We shall have angry hours enough to fight. [_Giving his hand._

_Almanz._ The man who dares, like you, in fields appear, And meet my sword, shall be my mistress here. If I am proud, 'tis only to my foes; Rough but to such who virtue would oppose. If I some fierceness from a father drew, A mother's milk gives me some softness too.

_D. Arcos._ Since first you took, and after set me free, (Whether a sense of gratitude it be, Or some more secret motion of my mind, For which I want a name that's more than kind) I shall be glad, by whate'er means I can, To get the friendship of so brave a man; And would your unavailing valour call, From aiding those whom heaven has doomed to fall. We owe you that respect, Which to the gods of foes besieged was shown, To call you out before we take your town.

_Almanz._ Those whom we love, we should esteem them too, And not debauch that virtue which we woo. Yet, though you give my honour just offence, I'll take your kindness in the better sense; And, since you for my safety seem to fear, I, to return your bribe, should wish you here. But, since I love you more than you do me, In all events preserve your honour free; For that's your own, though not your destiny.

_D. Arcos._ Were you obliged in honour by a trust, I should not think my own proposals just; But since you fight for an unthankful king, What loss of fame can change of parties bring?

_Almanz._ It will, and may with justice too be thought, That some advantage in that change I sought. And though I twice have changed for wrongs received, That it was done for profit none believed. The king's ingratitude I knew before; So that can be no cause of changing more. If now I stand, when no reward can be, 'Twill show the fault before was not in me.

_D. Arcos._ Yet there is a reward to valour due, And such it is as may be sought by you; That beauteous queen, whom you can never gain, While you secure her husband's life and reign.

_Almanz._ Then be it so; let me have no return [_Here_ LYNDARAXA _comes near, and hears them._ From him but hatred, and from her but scorn. There is this comfort in a noble fate, That I deserve to be more fortunate. You have my last resolve; and now, farewell: My boding heart some mischief does foretell; But what it is, heaven will not let me know. I'm sad to death, that I must be your foe.

_D. Arcos._ Heaven, when we meet, if fatal it must be To one, spare him, and cast the lot on me. [_They retire._

_Lyndar._ Ah, what a noble conquest were this heart! I am resolved I'll try my utmost art: In gaining him, I gain that fortune too, Which he has wedded, and which I but woo. I'll try each secret passage to his mind, And love's soft bands about his heart-strings wind. Not his vowed constancy shall 'scape my snare; While he without resistance does prepare, I'll melt into him ere his love's aware. [_She makes a gesture of invitation to_ ALMANZOR, _who returns again_.

_Lyndar._ You see, sir, to how strange a remedy A persecuted maid is forced to fly: Who, much distressed, yet scarce has confidence To make your noble pity her defence.

_Almanz._ Beauty, like yours, can no protection need; Or, if it sues, is certain to succeed. To whate'er service you ordain my hand, Name your request, and call it your command.

_Lyndar._ You cannot, sir, but know, that my ill fate Has made me loved with all the effects of hate: One lover would, by force, my person gain; Which one, as guilty, would by force detain. Rash Abdelmelech's love I cannot prize, And fond Abdalla's passion I despise. As you are brave, so you are prudent too; Advise a wretched woman what to do.

_Almanz._ Have courage, fair one, put your trust in me; You shall, at least, from those you hate, be free. Resign your castle to the king's command, And leave your love concernments in my hand.

_Lyndar._ The king, like them, is fierce, and faithless too; How can I trust him who has injured you? Keep for yourself, (and you can grant no less) What you alone are worthy to possess. Enter, brave sir; for, when you speak the word, These gates will open of their own accord; The genius of the place its lord will meet, And bend its tow'ry forehead to your feet. That little citadel, which now you see, Shall, then, the head of conquered nations be; And every turret, from your coming, rise The mother of some great metropolis.

_Almanz._ 'Tis pity, words, which none but gods should hear, Should lose their sweetness in a soldier's ear: I am not that Almanzor whom you praise; But your fair mouth can fair ideas raise:-- I am a wretch, to whom it is denied To accept, with honour, what I wish with pride; And, since I light not for myself, must bring The fruits of all my conquests to the king.

_Lyndar._ Say rather to the queen, to whose fair name I know you vow the trophies of your fame. I hope she is as kind as she is fair; Kinder than inexperienced virgins are To their first loves; (though she has loved before, And that first innocence is now no more:) But, in revenge, she gives you all her heart, (For you are much too brave to take a part.) Though, blinded by a crown, she did not see Almanzor greater than a king could be, I hope her love repairs her ill-made choice: Almanzor cannot be deluded twice.

_Almanz._ No, not deluded; for none count their gains, Who, like Almanzor, frankly give their pains.

_Lyndar._ Almanzor, do not cheat yourself, nor me; Your love is not refined to that degree: For, since you have desires, and those not blest, Your love's uneasy, and at little rest.

_Almanz._ 'Tis true, my own unhappiness I see; But who, alas, can my physician be? Love, like a lazy ague, I endure, Which fears the water, and abhors the cure.

_Lyndar._ 'Tis a consumption, which your life does waste, Still flattering you with hope, till help be past; But, since of cure from her you now despair, You, like consumptive men, should change your air: Love somewhere else; 'tis a hard remedy, But yet you owe yourself so much, to try.

_Almanz._ My love's now grown so much a part of me, That life would, in the cure, endangered be: At least, it like a limb cut off would show; And better die than like a cripple go.

_Lyndar._ You must be brought like madmen to their cure, And darkness first, and next new bonds endure: Do you dark absence to yourself ordain, And I, in charity, will find the chain.

_Almanz._ Love is that madness which all lovers have; But yet 'tis sweet and pleasing so to rave: 'Tis an enchantment, where the reason's bound; But Paradise is in the enchanted ground; A palace, void of envy, cares and strife, Where gentle hours delude so much of life. To take those charms away, and set me free, Is but to send me into misery; And prudence, of whose cure so much you boast, Restores those pains, which that sweet folly lost.

_Lyndar._ I would not, like philosophers, remove, But show you a more pleasing shape of love. You a sad, sullen, froward love did see; I'll show him kind, and full of gaiety. In short, Almanzor, it shall be my care To show you love; for you but saw despair.

_Almanz._ I, in the shape of love, despair did see; You, in his shape, would show inconstancy.

_Lyndar._ There's no such thing as constancy you call; Faith ties not hearts; 'tis inclination all. Some wit deformed, or beauty much decayed, First constancy in love a virtue made. From friendship they that land-mark did remove, And falsely placed it on the bounds of love. Let the effects of change be only tried; Court me, in jest, and call me Almahide: But this is only counsel I impart, For I, perhaps, should not receive your heart.

_Almanz._ Fair though you are As summer mornings, and your eyes more bright Than stars that twinkle in a winter's night; Though you have eloquence to warm and move Cold age, and praying hermits, into love; Though Almahide with scorn rewards my care,-- Yet, than to change, 'tis nobler to despair. My love's my soul; and that from fate is free; 'Tis that unchanged and deathless part of me.

_Lyndar._ The fate of constancy your love pursue! Still to be faithful to what's false to you. [_Turns from him, and goes off angrily._

_Almanz._ Ye gods, why are not hearts first paired above, But some still interfere in others' love! Ere each for each by certain marks are known, You mould them up in haste, and drop them down; And, while we seek what carelessly you sort, You sit in state, and make our pains your sport. [_Exeunt on both sides._