K. Ferd. O blessed event!

D. Arcos. The Moors no longer fought; But all their safety by submission sought: Meantime my son grew faint with loss of blood, And on his bending sword supported stood; Yet, with a voice beyond his strength, he cried, "Lead me to live or die by Almahide.

K. Ferd. I am not for his wounds less grieved than you:

For, if what now my soul divines prove true,
This is that son, whom in his infancy

You lost, when by my father forced to fly.

D. Arcos. His sister's beauty did my passion

move,

(The crime for which I suffered was my love.)
Our marriage known, to sea we took our flight:
There, in a storm, Almanzor first saw light.
On his right arm a bloody heart was graved,
(The mark by which, this day, my life was saved :)
The bracelets and the cross his mother tied
About his wrist, ere she in childbed died.
How we were captive made, when she was dead,
And how Almanzor was in Afric bred,
Some other hour you may at leisure hear,
For see, the queen in triumph does appear.
Enter Queen ISABELLA, LYNDARAXA, Ladies,
Moors and Spaniards mixed as Guards,
ABDELMELECH, ABENAMAR, SELIN, Pri-

soners.

K. Ferd. [embracing Q. Isabel.] All stories which Granada's conquest tell,

Shall celebrate the name of Isabel.
Your ladies too, who, in their country's cause,
Led on the men, shall share in your applause;
And, for your sakes, henceforward I ordain,
No lady's dower shall questioned be in Spain.

Fair Lyndaraxa, for the help she lent,
Shall, under tribute, have this government.
Abdelm. O heaven, that I should live to see
this day!

Lyndar. You murmur now, but you shall soon obey.

I knew this empire to my fate was owed;
Heaven held it back as long as e'er it could.
For thee, base wretch, I want a torture yet—
[To ABDELM.
I'll cage thee; thou shalt be my Bajazet,
I on no pavement but on thee will tread;
And, when I mount, my foot shall know thy
head.

Abdelm. (Stabbing her with a poniard.) This
first shall know thy heart.
Lyndar. O! I am slain!

Abdelm. Now, boast thy country is betrayed to Spain.

K. Ferd. Look to the lady!-Seize the murderer!

Abdelm. (Stabbing himself.) I do myself that justice I did her.

Thy blood I to thy ruined country give,

[To LYNDAR. But love too well thy murder to outlive. Forgive a love, excused by its excess, Which, had it not been cruel, had been less. Condemn my passion, then, but pardon me, And think I murdered him who murdered thee.

[Dies. Lyndar. Die for us both; I have not leisure

now;

A crown is come, and will not fate allow :
And yet I feel something like death is near.

My guards, my guards,

Let not that ugly skeleton appear!

Sure destiny mistakes; this death's not mine;
She dotes, and meant to cut another line.
Tell her I am a queen;-but 'tis too late;
Dying, I charge rebellion on my fate,
Bow down, ye slaves:

[To the Moors. Bow quickly down, and your submission show.

[They bow. I'm pleased to taste an empire ere I go. [Dies. Selin. She's dead, and here her proud ambition ends.

Aben. Such fortune still such black designs attends.

K. Ferd. Remove those mournful objects

from our eyes,

And see performed their funeral obsequies.

[The bodies are carried off.

Enter ALMANZOR and ALMAHIDE, OZMYN and BENZAYDA; ALMAHIDE brought in a chair; ALMANZOR led betwixt Soldiers. ISABELLA salutes ALMAHIDE in dumb show.

D. Arcos. (Presenting ALMANZOR to the King.) See here that son, whom I with pride call mine; And who dishonours not your royal line.

K. Ferd. I'm now secure, this sceptre, which

I gain,

Shall be continued in the power of Spain;
Since he, who could alone my foes defend,
By birth and honour is become my friend;
Yet I can own no joy, nor conquest boast,

[TO ALMANZ.

While in this blood I see how dear it cost. Almanz. This honour to my veins new blood will bring;

Streams cannot fail, fed by so high a spring.

But all court-customs I so little know,

That I may fail in those respects I owe.

I bring a heart which homage never knew;
Yet it finds something of itself in you:
Something so kingly, that my haughty mind
Is drawn to yours, because 'tis of a kind.

Q. Isabel. And yet that soul, which bears itself so high,

If fame be true, admits a sovereignty.

This queen, in her fair eyes, such fetters brings, As chain that heart, which scorns the power of kings.

Almah. Little of charm in these sad eyes

appears;

If they had any, now 'tis lost in tears.

A crown, and husband, ravished in one day!Excuse a grief, I cannot choose but pay.

Q. Isabel. Have courage, madam; heaven has joys in store,

To recompense those losses you deplore.

Almah. I know your God can all my woes redress;

To him I made my vows in my distress:
And, what a misbeliever vowed this day,
Though not a queen, a Christian yet shall pay.
Q. Isabel. (Embracing her.) That Christian
name you shall receive from me,

And Isabella of Granada be.

Benz. This blessed change we all with joy receive;

And beg to learn that faith which you believe. Q. Isabel. With reverence for those holy rites prepare;

And all commit your fortunes to my care.

K. Ferd. to Almah. You, madam, by that crown you lose, may gain,

If you accept, a coronet of Spain,

Of which Almanzor's father stands possest.

Q. Isabel. to Almah. May you in him, and he in you, be blest!

Almah. I owe my life and honour to his sword; But owe my love to my departed lord.

Almanz. Thus, when I have no living force to
dread,

Fate finds me enemies amongst the dead.
I'm now to conquer ghosts, and to destroy
The strong impressions of a bridal joy.

Almah. You've yet a greater foe than these
can be,-

Virtue opposes you, and modesty.

Almanz. From a false fear that modesty does

grow,

And thinks true love, because 'tis fierce, its foe.
"Tis but the wax whose seals on virgins stay:
Let it approach love's fire, 'twill melt away :-
But I have lived too long; I never knew,
When fate was conquered, I must combat you.
I thought to climb the steep ascent of love;
But did not think to find a foe above.

"Tis time to die, when you my bar must be,
Whose aid alone could give me victory;
Without,

I'll pull up all the sluices of the flood,

And love, within, shall boil out all my blood.
Q. Isabel. Fear not your love should find so ·
sad success,

While I have power to be your patroness.
I am her parent now, and may command
So much of duty as to give her hand.

Gives him ALMAHIDE's hand.

Almah. Madam, I never can dispute your power,

Or as a parent, or a conqueror;

But, when my year of widowhood expires,
Shall yield to your command, and his desires.
Almanz. Move swiftly, sun, and fly a lover's
pace;

Leave weeks and months behind thee in thy race!

N