Abdelm. Just heaven, must my poor heart your
To bandy, and make children's play in love?
Ah! how have I this cruelty deserved?
I, who so truly and so long have served!
And left so easily! oh cruel maid!
So easily! it was too unkindly said.
That heart, which could so easily remove,
Was never fixed, nor rooted deep in love.
Lyndar. You lodged it so uneasy in your breast,
I thought you had been weary of the guest.
First, I was treated like a stranger there;
But, when a household friend I did appear,
You thought, it seems, I could not live elsewhere.
Then, by degrees, your feigned respect withdrew;
You marked my actions, and my guardian grew.
But I am not concerned your acts to blame :
My heart to yours but upon liking came;
And, like a bird, whom prying boys molest,
Stays not to breed, where she had built her nest.
Abdelm. I have done ill,
And dare not ask you to be less displeased;
Be but more angry, and my pain is eased.
Lyndar. If I should be so kind a fool, to take
This little satisfaction which you make,
I know you would presume some other time
Upon my goodness, and repeat your crime.
Abdelm. Oh never, never, upon no pretence;
My life's too short to expiate this offence.
Lyndar. No, now I think on't, 'tis in vain to
try;
'Tis in your nature, and past remedy.
You'll still disquiet my too loving heart:
Now we are friends 'tis best for both to part.
Abdelm. By this-Will you not give me leave to swear?
Lyndar. You would be perjured if you should, I fear:
And, when I talk with Prince Abdalla next,
I with your fond suspicions shall be vext.
Abdelm. I cannot say I'll conquer jealousy,
But, if you'll freely pardon me, I'll try.
Lyndar. And, till you that submissive servant prove,
I never can conclude you truly love.
To them, the KING, ALMAHIDE, ABENAMAR, ESPERANZA, Guards, Attendants:
Boab. Approach, my Almahide, my charming fair,
peace, and recompence of war. This night is yours; and may your life still be The same in joy, though not solemnity.
Which love for none but happy lovers made,
I slept; and straight my love before me brought
Phyllis, the object of my waking thought.
Undressed she came my flames to meet,
While love strewed flowers beneath her feet;
Flowers which, so pressed by her, became more sweet.
From the bright vision's head
A careless veil of lawn was loosely spread:
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,
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!
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
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
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
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.
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 1
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