ACT V. SCENE I.

ABDALLA _alone, under the walls of the Albayzyn._

_Abdal._ While she is mine, I have not yet lost all, But in her arms shall have a gentle fall: Blest in my love, although in war o'ercome, I fly, like Antony from Actium, To meet a better Cleopatra here.-- You of the watch! you of the watch! appear.

_Sold._ [_above._] Who calls below? What's your demand?

_Abdal._ 'Tis I: Open the gate with speed; the foe is nigh.

_Sold._ What orders for admittance do you bring?

_Abdal._ Slave, my own orders; look, and know the king.

_Sold._ I know you; but my charge is so severe, That none, without exception, enter here.

_Abdal._ Traitor, and rebel! thou shalt shortly see Thy orders are not to extend to me.

_Lyndar._ [_above._] What saucy slave so rudely does exclaim, And brands my subject with a rebel's name?

_Abdal._ Dear Lyndaraxa, haste; the foes pursue.

_Lyndar._ My lord, the Prince Abdalla, is it you? I scarcely can believe the words I hear; Could you so coarsely treat my officer?

_Abdal._ He forced me; but the danger nearer draws: When I am entered, you shall know the cause.

_Lyndar._ Entered! Why, have you any business here?

_Abdal._ I am pursued, the enemy is near.

_Lyndar._ Are you pursued, and do you thus delay To save yourself? Make haste, my lord, away.

_Abdal._ Give me not cause to think you mock my grief: What place have I, but this, for my relief?

_Lyndar._ This favour does your handmaid much oblige, But we are not provided for a siege: My subjects few; and their provision thin; The foe is strong without, we weak within. This to my noble lord may seem unkind, But he will weigh it in his princely mind; And pardon her, who does assurance want So much, she blushes when she cannot grant.

_Abdal._ Yes, you may blush; and you have cause to weep. Is this the faith you promised me to keep? Ah yet, if to a lover you will bring No succour, give your succour to a king.

_Lyndar._ A king is he, whom nothing can withstand; Who men and money can with ease command. A king is he, whom fortune still does bless; He is a king, who does a crown possess. If you would have me think that you are he, Produce to view your marks of sovereignty; But if yourself alone for proof you bring, You are but a single person, not a king.

_Abdal._ Ungrateful maid, did I for this rebel? I say no more; but I have loved too well.

_Lyndar._ Who but yourself did that rebellion move: Did I e'er promise to receive your love? Is it my fault you are not fortunate? I love a king, but a poor rebel hate.

_Abdal._ Who follow fortune, still are in the right; But let me be protected here this night.

_Lyndar._ The place to-morrow will be circled round; And then no way will for your flight be found.

_Abdal._ I hear my enemies just coming on; [_Trampling within._ Protect me but one hour, till they are gone.

_Lyndar._ They'll know you have been here; it cannot be; That very hour you stay, will ruin me: For if the foe behold our interview, I shall be thought a rebel too, like you. Haste hence; and, that your flight may prosperous prove, I'll recommend you to the powers above. [_Exit_ LYND. _from above._

_Abdal._ She's gone: Ah, faithless and ungrateful maid!-- I hear some tread; and fear I am betrayed. I'll to the Spanish king; and try if he, To countenance his own right, will succour me: There is more faith in Christian dogs, than thee. [_Exit._

_Enter_ OZMYN, BENZAYDA, _and_ ABENAMAR.

_Benz._ I wish (To merit all these thanks) I could have said, My pity only did his virtue aid; 'Twas pity, but 'twas of a love-sick maid. His manly suffering my esteem did move; That bred compassion, and compassion love.

_Ozm._ O blessing sold me at too cheap a rate! My danger was the benefit of fate. [_To his father._ But that you may my fair deliverer know, She was not only born our house's foe, But to my death by powerful reasons led; At least, in justice, she might wish me dead.

_Aben._ But why thus long do you her name conceal?

_Ozm._ To gain belief for what I now reveal: Even thus prepared, you scarce can think it true, The saver of my life from Selin drew Her birth; and was his sister whom I slew.

_Aben._ No more; it cannot, was not, must not be: Upon my blessing, say not it was she. The daughter of the only man I hate! Two contradictions twisted in a fate!

_Ozm._ The mutual hate, which you and Selin bore, Does but exalt her generous pity more. Could she a brother's death forgive to me, And cannot you forget her family? Can you so ill requite the life I owe, To reckon her, who gave it, still your foe? It lends too great a lustre to her line, To let her virtue ours so much out-shine.

_Aben._ Thou gav'st her line the advantage which they have, By meanly taking of the life they gave. Grant that it did in her a pity shew; But would my son be pitied by a foe? She has the glory of thy act defaced: Thou kill'dst her brother; but she triumphs last: Poorly for us our enmity would cease; When we are beaten, we receive a peace.

_Benz._ If that be all in which you disagree, I must confess 'twas Ozmyn conquered me. Had I beheld him basely beg his life, I should not now submit to be his wife; But when I saw his courage death controul, I paid a secret homage to his soul; And thought my cruel father much to blame, Since Ozmyn's virtue his revenge did shame.

_Aben._ What constancy can'st thou e'er hope to find In that unstable, and soon conquered mind? What piety can'st thou expect from her, Who could forgive a brother's murderer? Or, what obedience hop'st thou to be paid, From one who first her father disobeyed?

_Ozm._ Nature, that bids us parents to obey, Bids parents their commands by reason weigh; And you her virtue by your praise did own, Before you knew by whom the act was done.

_Aben._ Your reasons speak too much of insolence; Her birth's a crime past pardon or defence. Know, that as Selin was not won by thee, Neither will I by Selin's daughter be. Leave her, or cease henceforth to be my son: This is my will; and this I will have done. [_Exit_ ABEN.

_Ozm._ It is a murdering will, That whirls along with an impetuous sway, And, like chain-shot, sweeps all things in its way. He does my honour want of duty call; To that, and love, he has no right at all.

_Benz._ No, Ozmyn, no; it is a much less ill To leave me, than dispute a father's will: If I had any title to your love, Your father's greater right does mine remove: Your vows and faith I give you back again, Since neither can be kept without a sin.

_Ozm._ Nothing but death my vows can give me back: They are not yours to give, nor mine to take.

_Benz._ Nay, think not, though I could your vows resign, My love or virtue could dispense with mine. I would extinguish your unlucky fire, To make you happy in some new desire: I can preserve enough for me and you, And love, and be unfortunate, for two.

_Ozm._ In all that's good and great You vanquish me so fast, that in the end I shall have nothing left me to defend. From every post you force me to remove; But let me keep my last entrenchment, love.

_Benz._ Love then, my Ozmyn; I will be content [_Giving her hand._ To make you wretched by your own consent: Live poor, despised, and banished for my sake, And all the burden of my sorrows take; For, as for me, in whatsoe'er estate, While I have you, I must be fortunate.

_Ozm._ Thus then, secured of what we hold most dear, (Each other's love) we'll go--I know not where. For where, alas, should we our flight begin? The foe's without; our parents are within.

_Benz._ I'll fly to you, and you shall fly to me; Our flight but to each other's arms shall be. To providence and chance permit the rest; Let us but love enough, and we are blest. [_Exeunt._