"Twas but a dream, where truth had not a place; A scene of fancy, moved so swift a pace, And shifted, that you can but think it was;— Let, then, the short vexatious vision pass. Almanz. My joys, indeed, are dreams; but not my pain: 'Twas a swift ruin, but the marks remain. When some fierce fire lays goodly buildings waste, Would you conclude There had been none, because the burning's past? Almah. It was your fault that fire seized all your breast; You should have blown up some to save the rest: so poor, I sadly view the ground I had before, But want a stock, and ne'er can build it more. Almah. Then say what charity I can allow; I would contribute if I knew but how. Take friendship; or, if that too small appear, Take love,-which sisters may to brothers bear. Almanz. Asister's love! that is so palled a thing, What pleasure can it to a lover bring? "Tis like thin food to men in fevers spent ; Just keeps alive, but gives no nourishment. What hopes, what fears, what transports can it move? 'Tis but the ghost of a departed love. Almah. You, like some greedy cormorant, All my whole life can give you in an hour. VOL. IV. H Since I gave up my love, that you might live, Almanz. Far from my breast be such an impious Your death would lose the quiet mine had sought. But you shall grant that I had rather die. Your image sticks so close, That the blood follows from my rending heart. For, since the last must come, the rest are vain, Like gasps in death, which but prolong our pain. But, since the king is now a part of me, I fear I shall have something still to say. [Veils. Almanz. Like one thrust out in a cold winter's night, Yet shivering underneath your gate I stay; One look Not one [She beckons him to be gone. Farewell: Whate'er my sufferings be Within, I'll speak farewell as loud as she: [She turns her back. I go I walk encumbered with a weight of love. 1 Fain I would leave the thought of you behind, But still, the more I cast you from my mind, You dash, like water, back, when thrown against the wind. [Exit. As he goes off, the King meets him with ABENAMAR; they stare at each other without saluting. Boab. With him go all my fears: A guard there wait, And see him safe without the city gate. To them ABDELMELECH. Now, Abdelmelech, is my brother dead? fled; Whom as Granada's lawful king they own, Boab. Haste and reduce it instantly by force. course. She will, perhaps, on summons yield the place. Boab. We cannot to your suit refuse her grace. [One enters hastily, and whispers ABENAMAR. Aben. How fortune persecutes this hoary head! My Ozmyn is with Selin's daughter fled. But he's no more my son : My hate shall like a Zegry him pursue, "Till I take back what blood from me he drew. Boab. Let war and vengeance be to-morrow's care; But let us to the temple now repair. A thousand torches make the mosque more bright: This must be mine and Almahide's night. 116 FIRST PART OF THE CONQUEST OF GRANADA. Hence, ye importunate affairs of state, EPILOGUE. SUCCESS, which can no more than beauty last, For, at both houses, 'twas a sickly year! And pity us, your servants, to whose cost, * In one such sickness, nine whole months are lost. * [The women were Nell Gwyn, Mrs. James, and Mrs. Davis, all of whom were ( away" in 1669, for reasons. The "year's delay" dates from the appearance of Tyrannic Love.-ED.] |