Zul. Let not this insolent unpunish'd go; Give your commands; your justice is too slow. [ZULEMA, HAMET, and others are going after him.

Abdal. Stay, and what part he pleases let him take:

I know my throne's too strong for him to shake.
But my fair mistress I too long forget;
The crown I promis'd is not offer'd yet.
Without her presence all my joys are vain,
Empire a curse, and life itself a pain.

ACT IV. SCENE I.

[Exeunt.

Enter BOABDELIN, ABENAMAR, and Guards. Boab. Advise, or aid, but do not pity me: No monarch born can fall to that degree. Pity descends from kings to all below; But can, no more than fountains, upward flow. Witness, just heaven, my greatest grief has been, I could not make your Almahide a queen.

Aben. I have too long the effects of fortune known,

Either to trust her smiles, or fear her frown.
Since in their first attempt you were not slain,
Your safety bodes you yet a second reign.
The people like a headlong torrent go,
And ev'ry dam they break, or overflow;
But, unopposed, they either lose their force,
Or wind, in volumes, to their former course.
Boab. In walls we meanly must our hopes in-
close,

To wait our friends, and weary out our foes:
While Almahide

8

To lawless rebels is exposed a prey,

And forced the lustful victor to obey.

Aben. One of my blood, in rules of virtue bred! Think better of her, and believe she's dead.

Enter ALMANZOR.

Boab. We are betray'd, the enemy is here; We have no farther room to hope or fear.

Almanz. It is indeed Almanzor whom you see, But he no longer is your enemy.

You were ungrateful, but your foes were more;
What your injustice lost you, theirs restore.
Make profit of my vengeance while you may,
My two-edged sword can cut the other way.-
I am your fortune, but am swift like her,
And turn my hairy front if you defer;
That hour, when you deliberate, is too late;
I point you the white moment of your fate.
Aben. Believe him sent as Prince Abdalla's spy;
He would betray us to the enemy.

Almans. Were I, like thee, in cheats of state
grown old,

(Those public markets, where, for foreign gold,
The poorest prince is to the richest sold,)
Then thou might'st think me fit for that low part;
But I am yet to learn the statesman's art.
My kindness and my hate unmask'd I wear;
For friends to trust, and enemies to fear.
My heart's so plain,

That men on every passing through may look,
Like fishes gliding in a crystal brook;

When troubled most, it does the bottom show,
"Tis weedless all above, and rockless all below.

Aben. Ere he be trusted, let him then be tried He may be false, who once has changed his side.

Almanz. In that you more accuse yourselves than

me;

None who are injured can inconstant be.

You were inconstant, you, who did the wrong;
To do me justice does to me belong.

Great souls by kindness only can be tied;
Injured again, again I'll leave your side.
Honour is what myself, and friends, I owe;
And none can lose it who forsake a foe.
Since, then, your foes now happen to be mine,
Though not in friendship, we'll in interest join;
So while my loved revenge is full and high,
I'll give you back your kingdom by the by.
Boab. That I so long delay'd what

you desire, [Embracing him. Was, not to doubt your worth, but to admire. Almanz. This counsellor an old man's caution

shows,

Who fears that little, he has left, to lose :
Age sets a fortune; while youth boldly throws.
But let us first your drooping soldiers cheer;
Then seek out danger, ere it dare appear:
This hour I fix your crown upon your brow;
Next hour fate gives it, but I give it now.
[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Enter LYNDARAXA.

Lyndar. O, could I read the dark decrees of fate, That I might once know whom to love, or hate! For I myself scarce my own thoughts can guess, So much I find them varied by success. As in some weather-glass, my love I hold; Which falls or rises with the heat or cold. I will be constant yet, if fortune can; I love the king,-let her but name the man.

Enter HALYMA.

Hal. Madam, a gentleman, to me unknown, Desires that he may speak with you alone. Lyndar. Some message from the king.-Let him appear.

Enter ABDELMELECH: who throws off his disguise. She starts.

Abdelm. I see you are amazed that I am here: But let at once your fear and wonder end. In the usurper's guards I found a friend, Who led me safe to you in this disguise.

Lyndar. Your danger brings this trouble in my

eyes.

But what affair this 'venturous visit drew?

Abdelm. The greatest in the world, the seeing

you.

Lyndar. The courage of your love I so admire, That, to preserve you, you shall straight retire. [She leads him to the door. Go, dear! each minute does new dangers bring; You will be taken; I expect the king.

Abdelm. The king!-the poor usurper of an hour:
His empire's but a dream of kingly power.-
I warn you, as a lover and a friend,

To leave him, ere his short dominion end:
The soldier I suborn'd will wait at night,
And shall alone be conscious of your flight.
Lyndar. I thank you, that you so much care be-
stow;

But, if his reign be short, I need not go.
For why should I expose my life, and yours,
For what, you say, a little time assures?

Abdelm. My danger in the attempt is very small : And, if he loves you, yours is none at all.

But, though his ruin be as sure as fate,
Your proof of love to me would come too late.
This trial I in kindness would allow ;
'Tis easy; if you love me, shew it now.

Lyndar. It is because I love you, I refuse;
For all the world my conduct would accuse,
If I should go with him I love away;

And, therefore, in strict virtue, I will stay.
Abdelm. You would in vain dissemble love to me;
Through that thin veil your artifice I see.
You would expect the event, and then declare;
But do not, do not drive me to despair :
For, if you now refuse with me to fly,
Rather than love you after this, I'll die;
And, therefore, weigh it well before you speak;
My king is safe, his force within not weak.
Lyndar. The counsel you have given me, may
be wise;

But, since the affair is great, I will advise.
Abdelm. Then that delay I for denial take.

[Is going. Lyndar. Stay; you too swift an exposition make. If I should go, since Zulema will stay,

I should my brother to the king betray.

Abdelm. There is no fear; but, if there were, I

see

You value still your brother more than me.-
Farewell! some ease I in your falsehood find;
It lets a beam in, that will clear my mind:
My former weakness, I with shame confess,
And, when I see you next, shall love you less.

[Is going again.

Lyndar. Your faithless dealings you may blush

to tell;

[Weeping. This is a maid's reward who loves too well.

[He looks back.