Chapter 17

_Enter_ ABENAMAR, _and Soldier._

_Aben._ Haste and conduct the prisoner to my sight. [_Exit Soldier, and immediately enters with_ SELIN _bound._

_Aben._ Did you, according to my orders, write? [_To_ SELIN And have you summoned Ozmyn to appear?

_Selin._ I am not yet so much a slave to fear, Nor has your son deserved so ill of me, That by his death or bonds I would be free.

_Aben._ Against thy life thou dost the sentence give; Behold how short a time thou hast to live.

_Selin._ Make haste, and draw the curtain while you may; You but shut out the twilight of my day. Beneath the burden of my age I bend: You kindly ease me ere my journey's end. [_To them a Soldier with_ OZMYN; OZMYN _kneels._

_Aben._ to _Selin._ It is enough, my promise makes you free; Resign your bonds, and take your liberty.

_Ozm._ Sir, you are just, and welcome are these bands; 'Tis all the inheritance a son demands.

_Selin._ Your goodness, O my Ozmyn, is too great; I am not weary of my fetters yet: Already, when you move me to resign, I feel them heavier on your feet than mine.

_Enter another Soldier._

_Sold._ A youth attends you in the outer room, Who seems in haste, and does from Ozmyn come.

_Aben._ Conduct him in.--

_Ozm._ Sent from Benzayda, I fear, to me.

_To them_ BENZAYDA, _in the habit of a man._

_Benz._ My Ozmyn here!

_Ozm._ Benzayda! 'tis she!-- Go youth, I have no business for thee here; Go to the Albayzyn, and attend me there. I'll not be long away; I pray thee go, By all our love and friendship--

_Benz._ Ozmyn, no: I did not take on me this bold disguise, For ends so low, to cheat your watchmen's eyes. When I attempted this, it was to do An action, to be envied even by you; But you, alas, have been too diligent, And what I purposed fatally prevent! Those chains, which for my father I would bear, I take with less content to find you here; Except your father will that mercy show, That I may wear them both for him and you.

_Aben._ I thank thee, fortune! thou hast, in one hour, Put all I could have asked thee in my power. My own lost wealth thou giv'st not only back, But driv'st upon my coast my pirate's wreck.

_Selin._ With Ozmyn's kindness I was grieved before, But yours, Benzayda, has' undone me more.

_Aben._ to a _Soldier._ Go fetch new fetters, and the daughter bind.

_Ozm._ Be just at least, sir, though you are not kind: Benzayda is not as a prisoner brought, But comes to suffer for another's fault.

_Aben._ Then, Ozmyn, mark, that justice which I do, I, as severely, will exact from you: The father is not wholly dead in me; Or you may yet revive it, if it be. Like tapers new blown out, the fumes remain, To catch the light, and bring it back again. Benzayda gave you life, and set you free; For that, I will restore her liberty.

_Ozm._ Sir, on my knees I thank you.

_Aben._ Ozmyn, hold; One part of what I purpose is untold: Consider, then, it on your part remains, When I have broke, not to resume your chains. Like an indulgent father, I have paid All debts, which you, my prodigal, have made. Now you are clear, break off your fond design, Renounce Benzayda, and be wholly mine.

_Ozm._ Are these the terms? Is this the liberty? Ah, sir, how can you so inhuman be? My duty to my life I will prefer; But life and duty must give place to her.

_Aben._ Consider what you say, for, with one breath, You disobey my will, and give her death.

_Ozm._ Ah, cruel father, what do you propose! Must I then kill Benzayda, or must lose? I can do neither; in this wretched state. The least that I can suffer is your hate; And yet that's worse than death: Even while I sue, And choose your hatred, I could die for you. Break quickly, heart, or let my blood be spilt By my own hand, to save a father's guilt.

_Benz._ Hear me, my lord, and take this wretched life, To free you from the fear of Ozmyn's wife. I beg but what with ease may granted be, To spare your son, and kill your enemy; Or, if my death's a grace too great to give, Let me, my lord, without my Ozmyn live. Far from your sight and Ozmyn's let me go, And take from him a care, from you a foe.

_Ozm._ How, my Benzayda! can you thus resign That love, which you have vowed so firmly mine? Can you leave me for life and liberty?

_Benz._ What I have done will show that I dare die; But I'll twice suffer death, and go away, Rather than make you wretched by my stay: By this my father's freedom will be won; And to your father I restore a son.

_Selin._ Cease, cease, my children, your unhappy strife, Selin will not be ransomed by your life. Barbarian, thy old foe defies thy rage; [_To_ ABEN. Turn, from their youth, thy malice to my age.

_Benz._ Forbear, dear father! for your Ozmyn's sake, Do not such words to Ozmyn's father speak.

_Ozm._ Alas, 'tis counterfeited rage; he strives But to divert the danger from our lives: For I can witness, sir, and you might see, How in your person he considered me. He still declined the combat where you were; And you well know it was not out of fear.

_Benz._ Alas, my lord, where can your vengeance fall? Your justice will not let it reach us all. Selin and Ozmyn both would sufferers be; And punishment's a favour done to me. If we are foes, since you have power to kill, 'Tis generous in you not to have the will; But, are we foes? Look round, my lord, and see; Point out that face which is your enemy. Would you your hand in Selin's blood embrue? Kill him unarmed, who, armed, shunned killing you? Am I your foe? Since you detest my line, That hated name of Zegry I resign: For you, Benzayda will herself disclaim; Call me your daughter, and forget my name.

_Selin._ This virtue would even savages subdue; And shall it want the power to vanquish you?

_Ozm._ It has, it has; I read it in his eyes; 'Tis now not anger, 'tis but shame denies; A shame of error, that great spirits find, When keeps down virtue struggling in the mind.

_Aben._ Yes, I am vanquished! The fierce conflict's past, And shame itself is now o'ercome at last. 'Twas long before my stubborn mind was won; But, melting once, I on the sudden run; Nor can I hold my headlong kindness more, Than I could curb my cruel rage before. [_Runs to_ BENZ., _and embraces her._ Benzayda, 'twas your virtue vanquished me; That could alone surmount my cruelty. [_Runs to_ SELIN, _and unbinds him._ Forgive me, Selin, my neglect of you; But men, just waking, scarce know what they do.

_Ozm._ O father!

_Benz._ Father!

_Aden._ Dare I own that name! Speak, speak it often, to remove my shame. [_They all embrace him._ O Selin, O my children, let me go! I have more kindness than I yet can show. For my recovery I must shun your sight; Eyes used to darkness cannot bear the light. [_He runs in, they following him._