Boab. I'll rather call my death. Go, and bring up my guards to my defence: Aben. Since blind opinion does their reason sway, You must submit to cure them their own way. You to their fancies physic must apply; Give them that chief on whom they most rely. Under Almanzor prosperously they fought; Almanzor, therefore, must with prayers be brought. Enter a second Messenger. 2 Mess. Haste all you can their fury to assuage: You are not safe from their rebellious rage. Enter a third Messenger. 3 Mess. This minute, if you grant not their desire, They'll seize your person, and your palace fire. Abdelm. Your danger, sir, admits of no delay. Boab. Intumults people reign, and kings obey.Go and appease them with the vow I make, That they shall have their loved Almanzor back. [Exit ABDEL. Almanzor has the ascendant o'er my fate; I'm forced to stoop to one I fear and hate: Disgraced, distress'd, in exile, and alone, He's greater than a monarch on his throne: Without a realm, a royalty he gains; Kings are the subjects over whom he reigns. [A shout of acclamation within. Aben. These shouts proclaim the people satisfied. Boab. We for another tempest must provide. To promise his return as I was loth, So I want power now to perform my oath. Aben. The adverse winds his passage yet detain ; Boab. Abenamar, this evening thither haste; Desire him to forget his usage past: Use all your rhetoric, promise, flatter, pray. To them ALMAHIDE, attended. Aben. Good fortune shews you yet a surer way: Nor prayers nor promises his mind will move; 'Tis inaccessible to all, but love.. Boab. Oh, thou hast roused a thought within my That will for ever rob me of my rest. Or why have I alone that wretched taste, And 'tis from you that I must seek relief. [To the company. Leave us; to sorrow there's a reverence due: Sad kings, like suns eclipsed, withdraw from view. [The Attendants go off, and chairs are set for the King and Queen. Almah. So, two kind turtles, when a storm is nigh, Look up, and see it gathering in the sky: Each calls his mate, to shelter in the groves, Leaving, in murmur, their unfinish'd loves: Perch'd on some drooping branch, they sit alone, And coo, and hearken to each other's moan. Boab. Since, Almahide, you seem so kind a wife, [Taking her by the hand. What would you do to save a husband's life? Almah. When fate calls on that hard necessity, I'll suffer death, rather than you shall die. Boab. Suppose your country should in danger be; What would you undertake to set it free? Almah. It were too little to resign my breath: My own free hand should give me nobler death. Boab. That hand, which would so much for glory do, Must yet do more; for it must kill me too. Almah. I see to what your speech you now direct; I have no room, but for your image, here. Boab. This, Almahide, would make me cease to Were that Almanzor never to return: I banish'd him for ever from my sight. His banishment was to my virtue due; Boab. To your entreaties he will yield alone, Almah. In his return, too sadly I foresee Boab. Cursed be that fatal hour when I was born! But I'll your love-plot quickly countermine. Almah. You please me well, that in one common fate You wrap yourself, and me, and all your state. Boab. 'Tis better; but you wives have still one way: Whene'er your husbands are obliged, you pay. Almah. Thou, heaven, who know'st it, judge my innocence ! You, sir, deserve not I should make defence. Boab. If I have been suspicious or unkind, Two such excuses no one man e'er had; And each of them enough to make me mad: I leave you to your thoughts; but love me still! [Exit BOABDELIN. ALMAHIDE solus. My jealous lord will soon to rage return ; I'll cherish honour, then, and life despise ; |