The works of John Dryden ... Illustrated with notes, historical, critical, and explanatory, and a life of the author, by Walter Scott

Front matter

THE WORKS OF JOHN DRYDEN THE WORKS OF JOHN DRYDEN, NOW FIRST COLLECTED IN EIGHTEEN VOLUMES. ILLUSTRATED WITH NOTES, HISTORICAL, CRITICAL, AND EXPLANATORY, AND A LIFE OF THE AUTHOR, ut SIR WALTER SCOTT, Bart. SECOND EDITION. VOL. IV. EDINBURGH : PRINTED FOR ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE AND CO. EDINBURGH ; AND HURST, ROBINSON, AND CO. LONDON. 1821. Printed by James BaUantyne and Co. Edinburgh. CONTENTS OF VOLUME FOURTH. TAGE. Almanzor and Almahide, or the Conquest of Granada by the Spaniards, a Tragedy, Part First, ... 1 Epistle Dedicatory to the Duke of York, . . 9 Of Heroic Plays, an Essay, 16 Part II Ill Defence of the Epilogue ; or, an Essay on the Dramatic Poetry of the last Age, . . 211 Marriage A-la-Mode, a Comedy, 231 Epistle Dedicatory to the Earl of Rochester, 235 The Assignation, or Love in a Nunnery, a Comedy, 343 Epistle Dedicatory to Sir Charles Sedley, Bart ALMANZOR AND ALMAHIDE: OR, THE CONQUEST OF GRANADA BY THE SPANIABDS.

A TRAGEDY. Major rerum mihi nascitur ordo ; Majus opus moveo. Virg. Æneip. VOL. IV. A This play, — for the two parts only constitute an entire drama betwixt them, — seems to have been a favourite with Dryden, as •well as with the public. In the Essay upon Heroic Plays, as well as in the dedication, the character of Almanzor js dwelt upon with that degree of complacency which an author experiences in ana lysing a successful effort ot' his genius. Unquestionably the gross improbability of a hero, by his single arm, turning the tide of battle as he lists, did not appear so shocking in the age of Dryden, as in ours. There is no doubt, that, while personal strength and prowess were of more consequence than military skill and con duct, the feats of a single man were sometimes sufficient to de termine the fate of an engagement, more especially when exerted by a knight, sheathed in complete mail, against the heartless and half-armed mass, which constituted the feudal infantry.

Those, who have perused Barbour's History of Robert Bruce, Geoffrey de Vinsauf's account of the wars of Richard Cœur de Lion, or even the battles detailed by Froissart and Joinville, are familiar ■with instances of breaches defended, and battles decided, by the prowess of a single arm. The leader of a feudal army was ex pected by his followers not only to point out the path to victory, but to lead the way in person. It is true, that the military art had been changed in this particular long before the days of Dry den. Complete armour was generally laid aside ; fire-arms had superseded the use of the lance and battle-axe ; and, above nil, the universal institution of standing armies had given discipline and military skill their natural and decisive superiority over un taught strength, and enthusiastic valour.

Prologue

. And brought you more dull sense, dull sense much worse Than brisk gay nonsense, and the heavier curse. They bring old iron, and glass upon the stage, To barter with the Indians of our age. Still they write on, and like great authors show ; "I But 'tis as rollers in wet gardens grow > Heavy with dirt, and gathering as they go. J May none, who have so little understood, To like such trash, presume to praise what's good ! And may those drudges of the stage, whose fate Is damn'd dull farce more dully to translate, Fall under that excise the state thinks fit To set on all French wares, whose worst is wit. French farce, worn out at home, is sent abroad ; And, patch'd up here, is made our English mode. Henceforth, let poets, ere allow'd to write, Be search'd, like duelists before they fight, For wheel-broad hats, dull honour, all that chaff, Which makes you mourn, and makes the vulgar laugh : For these, in plays, are as unlawful arms, As, in a combat, coats of mail, and charms.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. Mahomet Boabdelin, the last King of Granada. Prince Abdalla, his Brother. Abdelmelech, Chief of the Abencerrages. Zulema, Chief of the Zegrys. Abenamah, an old Abencerrago. Selin, an old Zegry. Ozmyn, a brave young Abencerrago, Son to Abe namar. Hamet, Brother to Zulema, a Zegry. Gomel, a Zegry. Almanzor. Ferdinand, King of Spain. Duke of Ancos, his General. Don Alonzo D'Aguilar, a Spanish Captain. Almahide, Queen of Granada. Lyndaraxa, Sister of Zulema, a Zegry Lady. Benzayda, Daughter to Selin. Esperanza, Slave to the Queen. Halyma, Slave to Lyndaraxa. Isabella, Queen of Spain. Messengers, Guards, Attendants, Men, and Women SCENE. — Granada, and the Christian Camp besieging it. ALMANZOR AND ALMAHIDE; OR, the CONQUEST OF GRANADA* THE FIRST PART. ACT I. SCENE I. Enter Boabdelin, Abenamar, Abdelmelech, and Guards.

Boab. Thus, in the triumphs of soft peace I reign, And, from my walls, defy the. powers of Spain ; With pomp and sports my love I celebrate, While they keep distance, and attend my state. — Parent to her, whose eyes my soul enthral, [To Aben. Whom I, in hope, already father call, Ahena>m.ar, thy youth these sports has known, Of which thy age is now spectator grown ; Judge-like thou sitt'st, to praise, or to arraign The flying skirmish of the darted cane : vol. iv. c ACT I. THE FIRST PART OF But when fierce bulls run loose upon the place, And our bold Moors their loves with danger grace, Then heat new-bends thy slacken'd nerves again, And a short youth runs warm through every vein. Aben, I must confess the encounters of this day Warm'd me indeed, but quite another way, — Not with the fire of youth ; but generous rage, To see the glories of my youthful age So far out-done.

Abdelm. Castile could never boast, in all its pride, A pomp so splendid, when the lists, set wide, Gave room to the fierce bulls, which wildly ran In Sierra Ronda, ere the war began ; Who, with high nostrils snuffing up the wind, Now stood the champion of the savage kind. Just opposite, within the circled place, Ten of our bold Abencerrages race (Each brandishing his bull-spear in his hand,) Did their proud jennets gracefully command. On their steel'd heads their demi-lances wore Small pennons, which their ladies' colours bore. Before this troop did warlike Ozmyn go ; Each lady, as he rode, saluting low ; At the chief stands, with reverence more profound, His well-taught courser, kneeling, touch'd the ground ; Thence raised, he sidelong bore his rider on, Still facing, till he out of sight was gone.

Boab. You praise him like a friend; and I confess, His brave deportment merited no less. Abdelm, Nine bulls were launch'd by his victorious arm, Whose wary jennet, shunning still the harm, Seem'd to attend the shock, and then leap'd wide : Meanwhile, his dext'rous rider, when he spied The beast just stooping, 'twixt the neck and head His lance, with never-erring fury, sped. Aben. My son did well, and so did Hamet too ; Yet did no more than we were wont to do ; But what the stranger did was more than man. Abdelm. He finish'd all those triumphs we began. One bull, with curl'd black head, beyond the rest, And dew-laps hanging from his brawny chest, With nodding front a while did daring stand, And with his jetty hoof spurn'd back the sand ; Then, leaping forth, he bellow'd out aloud. The amaz'd assistants back each other crowd, While, monarch-like, he ranged the listed field ; Some toss'd, some gored, some trampling down he kill'd. The ignobler Moors from far his rage provoke With woods of darts, which from his sides he shook.

Mean time your valiant son, who had before Gain'd fame, rode round to every Mirador ; Beneath each lady's stand a stop he made, And, bowing, took the applauses which they paid. Just in that point of time, the brave unknown Approach'd the lists. Boab. I mark'd him, when alone (Observed by all, himself observing none) He enter'd first, and, with a graceful pride> His fiery Arab dextrously did guide, Who, while his rider every stand survey'd, Sprung loose, and flew into an escapade ; Not moving forward, yet, with every bound, Pressing, and seeming still to quit his ground. What after pass'd Was far from the Ventanna where I sate, But you were near, and can the truth relate. [ To Abdelm. Abdelm, Thus while he stood, the bull, who saw his foe, His easier conquests proudly did forego ; ACT L 36 THE FIRST PART OF And, making at him with a furious bound, From his bent forehead aim'd a double wound.

A rising murmur ran through all the field, And every lady's blood with fear was chill'd. Some shriek'd, while others, with more helpful care, Cried out aloud,— Beware, brave youth,- beware ! At this he turn'd, and, as the bull drew near, Shunn'd, and received him on his pointed spear. The lance broke short, the beast then bellow'd loud, And his strong neck to a new onset bow'd. The undaunted youth Then drew ; and, from his saddle bending low, Just where the neck did to the shoulders grow, With his full force discharged a deadly blow. Not heads of poppies (when they reap the grain) Fall with more ease before the labouring swain, Than fell his head : It fell so quick, it did even death prevent, And made imperfect bellowings as it went. Then all the trumpets victory did sound, And yet their clangors in our shouts were drown'd. [A confused noise within.

Boab. The alarm-bell rings from our Alhambra walls, And from the streets sound drums and ataballes. [ Within, a bell, drums, and trumpets. Enter a Messenger. How now? from whence proceed these new alarms? Mess. The two fierce factions are again in arms ; And, changing into blood the day's delight, The Zegrys with the Abencerrages fight ; On each side their allies and friends appear ; The Macas here, the Alabezes there : The Gazuls with the Bencerrages join, And, with the Zegrys, all great Gomel's line. -Boab. Draw up behind the Vivarambla place ; Double my guards, — these factions I will face ; And try if all the fury they can bring, Be proof against the presence of their king. [Exit Boab. The Factions appear. At the head of the Abencerrages, Ozmyn; at the head of the Zegrys, Zulema, Hamet, Gomel, and Selin.

ABENAMAIt«?^^/ABDELMELECH,t;o^»- ed with the Abencerrages. Zul. The faint Abencerrages quit their ground. Press them ; put home your thrusts to every wound. Abdelm. Zegry, on manly force our line relies ; Thine poorly takes the advantage of surprise. Unarm'd and much out-number d we retreat ; You gain no fame,, when basely you defeat. If thou art brave, seek nobler victory ; Save Moorish blood ; and, while our bands stand by, Let two and two an equal combat try. Ham. 'Tis not for fear the combat we refuse, But we our gain'd advantage will not lose. Zul. In combating, but two of you will fall ; And we resolve we will despatch you all. Ozm. We'll double yet the exchange before we die, And each of ours two lives of yours shall buy. Almanzor enters betwixt them, as they stand ready to engage. Aim.

I cannot stay to ask which cause is best ; But this is so to me, because oppress. [Goes to the Aben. To them Boabdelin and his guards, going ber twixt them. Boab. On your allegiance, I command you stay ! Who passes here, through me must make his way > THE FIRST PART OF ACT I. My life's the isthmus ; through this narrow line You first must cut, before those seas can join. What fury, Zegrys, has possess'd your minds? What rage the brave Abencerrages blinds ? Jf of your courage you new proofs would show, Without much travel you may find a foe. Those foes are neither so remote nor few, That you should need each other to pursue. Lean times and foreign wars should minds unite ; When poor, men mutter, but they seldom fight. O, holy Alha ! that I live to see Thy Granadines assist their enemy ! You fight the Christians' battles ; ever}' life You lavish thus, in this intestine strife, Does from our weak foundations take one prop, Which help'd to hold our sinking country up.

Ozm. 'Tis fit our private enmity should cease ; Though injured first, yet I will first seek peace. Zul. No, murderer, no ; I never will be won To peace with him, whose hand has slain my son. Ozm. Our prophet's curse On me, and all the Abencerrages light, If, unprovoked, I with your son did fight. Abdelm. A band of Zegrys ran within the place, Match'd with a troop of thirty of our race. Your son and Ozmyn the first squadrons led, Which, ten by ten, like Parthians, charged and fled. The ground was strow'd with canes where we did meet, Which crackled underneath our coursers' feet. When Tarifa (I saw him ride apart) Changed his blunt cane for a steel-pointed dart, And, meeting Ozmyn next, — Who wanted time for treason to provide, — He basely threw it at him, undefied. Ozm. [Shewing his arms.} Witness this blood — which when by treason sought, That follow'd, sir, which to myself I ought.

Zul. His hate to thee was grounded on a grudge, Which all our generous Zegrys just did judge : Thy villain-blood thou openly didst place Above the purple of our kingly race. Boab. From equal stems their blood both houses draw, They from Morocco, you from Cordova. Ham. Their mongrel race is mix'd with Christian breed ; » Hence 'tis that they those dogs in prisons feed. Abdelm. Our holy prophet wills, that charity Should even to birds and beasts extended be : None knows what fate is for himself design'd ; The thought of human chance should make us kind. Gom. We waste that time we to revenge should give : Fall on : let no Abencerrago live ! [Advancing before the rest of his party. Almanzok, advancing on the other side, and describing a line with his sword. Almanz. Upon thy life, pass not this middle space ; Sure death stands guarding the forbidden place.

Gom. To dare that death, I will approach yet nigher ; Thus, — wert thou compass'd in with circling fire. [They fight. Boab. Disarm them both ; if they resist you, kill. [Almanzor, in the midst of the guards, kills Gomel, and then is disarmed. Almanz. Now you have but the leavings of my will. Boab. Kill him ! this insolent unknown shall fall, And be the victim to atone you all. Ozm. If he must die, not one of us will live : That life he gave for us, for him we give. THE FIRST PART OF ACT I. Boab. It was a traitor's voice that spoke those words ; So are you all, who do not sheath your swords. Zul. Outrage unpunish'd, when a prince is by, Forfeits to scorn the rights of majesty : No subject his protection can expect, Who what he owes himself does first neglect; Aben. This stranger, sir, is he, lately in the Vivarambla place Did, with so loud applause, your triumphs grace.

Boab. The word which I have given, I'll not revoke ; If he be brave, he's ready for the stroke. Almanz. No man has more contempt than I of breath, But whence hast thou the right to give me death ? Obey'd as sovereign by thy subjects be, But know, that 1 alone am king of me ! I am as free as nature first made man, Ere the base laws of servitude began, When wild in woods the noble savage ran. Boab. Since, then, no power above your own you know, Mankind should use you like a common foe ; You should be hunted like a beast ofprey : By your own law I take your life away. Almanz. My laws are made but only for my sake ; No king against himself a law can make. If thou pretend'st to be a prince like me, Blame not an act, which should thy pattern be. I saw the oppress'd, and thought it did belong To a king's office to redress the wrong : Ibrought that succour, which thou ought'st to bring, And so, in nature, am thy subjects' king.

Boab.t I do not want your counsel to direct, Or aid to help me punish or protect. Almanz. Thou want'st them both, or better thou would'st know, Than to let factions in thy kingdom grow. Divided interests, while thou think'st to sway, Draw, like two brooks, thy middle stream away : For though they band and jar, yet both combine To make their greatness by the fall of thine. Thus, like a buckler, thou art held in sight, While they behind thee with each other fight. Boab. Away, and execute him instantly ! [ To his Guards. Almanz. Stand off! I have not leisure yet to die. To them, enter Abdalla hastily. Abdal. Hold, sir ! for heaven's sake hold ! Defer this noble stranger's punishment, Or your rash orders you will soon repent. Boab. Brother, you know not yet his insolence. Abdal. Upon yourself you punish his offence : If we treat gallant strangers in this sort, Mankind will shun the inhospitable court ; And who, henceforth, to our defence will come, If death must be the brave Almanzor's doom ?

From Africa I drew him to your aid, And for his succour have his life betray'd. Boab. Is this the Almanzor whom at Fez you knew, When first their swords the Xeriff brothers drew ? Abdal. This, sir, is he, who for the elder fought, And to the juster cause the conquest brought ; Till the proud Santo, seated on the throne, Disdain'd the service he had done to own : Then to the vanquish'd part his fate he led ; The vanquish'd triumph'd, and the victor fled, Vast is his courage, boundless is his mind, Rough as a storm, and humorous as wind ; Honour's the only idol of his eyes ; THE FIRST PART OF ACT I The charms of beauty like a pest he flies ; And, raised by valour from a birth unknown, Acknowledges no power above his own, [Boabdelin coming to Almanzok. Boab. Impute your danger to our ignorance ; The bravest men are subject most to chance : Granada much does to your kindness owe ; But towns, expecting sieges, cannot show More honour, than to invite you to a foe.

Almanz. I do not doubt but I have been to blame: But, to pursue the end for which I came, Unite your subjects first ; then let us go, And pour their common rage upon the foe. Boab. [To the Factions.} Lay down your arms, and let me beg you cease Your enmities. Zul. We will not hear of peace, Till we by force have first revenged our slain. Abdelm, The action we have done we will maintain. Selin. Then let the king depart, and we will try Our cause by arms. Zul. For us and victory. Boab. A king entreats you. Almanz. What subjects will precarious kings regard ? A beggar speaks too softly to be heard : Lay down your arms ! 'tis I command you now. Do it — or, by our prophet's soul I vow, My hands shall right your king on him I seize. Now let me see whose look but disobeys. All. Long live King Mahomet Boabdelin !

Almanz. No more ; but hush'd as midnight silence go : He will not have your acclamations now. Hence, you unthinking crowd ! — [The Common People go off on both parties. Empire, thou poor and despicable thing, When such as these make or unmake a king ! Abdal. How much of virtue lies in one great soul, [Embracing him. Whose single force can multitudes controul ! [A trumpet within. Enter a Messenger. Messen. The Duke of Arcos, sir, Does with a trumpet from the foe appear. Boab. Attend him ; he shall have his audience here. Enter the Duke of Arcos. D.Arcos, The monarchs of Castile and Arragon Have sent me to you, to demand this town, To which their just and rightful claim is known. Boab. Tell Ferdinand, my right to it appears By long possession of eight hundred years : When first my ancestors from Afric sail'd, In Rodrique's death your Gothic title sail'd, D.Arcos.

The successorsof Rodriquestill remain, And ever since have held some part of Spain : Even in the midst of your victorious powers, The Asturias, and all Portugal, were ours. You have no right, except you force allow ; And if yours then was just, so ours is now. Boab. 'Tis true, from force the noblest title spri ngs ; I therefore hold from that, which first made kings. D. Arcos. Since then by force you prove your title true, Ours must be just, because we claim from you. When with your father you did jointly reign, Invading with your Moors the south of Spain, I, who that day the Christians did command. Then took, and brought you bound to Ferdinand. ACT I. 44 THE FIRST PART OF Boab. I'll hearnomore; defer what you would say: In private we'll discourse some other day. D. Arcos. Sir,you shall hear, however you areloth, That, like a perjured prince, you broke your oath : To gain your freedom you a contract sign'd, By which your crown you to my king resign'd, From thenceforth as his vassal holding it, And paying tribute such as he thought fit ; Contracting, when your father came to die, To lay aside all marks of loyalty, And at Purchena privately to live, Which, in exchange, King Ferdinand did give.

Boab. The force used on me made that contract void. D. Arcos. Why have you then its benefits enjoy'd? By it you had not only freedom then, But, since, had aid of money and of men ; And, when Granada for your uncle held, You were by us restored, and he expell'd. Since that, in peace we let you reap your grain, Recall'd our troops, that used to beat your plain ; And more- Almanz. Yes, yes, you did, with wonderous care, Against his rebels prosecute the war, While he secure in your protection slept ; For him you took, but for yourself you kept. Thus, as some fawning usurer does feed, With present sums, the unwary spendthrift's need, You sold your kindness at a boundless rate, And then o'erpaid the debt from his estate ; Which, mouldering piecemeal, in vour hands did fall, Till now at last you come to swoop it all.

D. Arcos. The wrong you do my king, I cannot bear ; Whose kindness you would odiously compare.— The estate was his ; which yet, since you deny, He's now content, in his own wrong, to buy. Almanz. And he shall buy it dear ! What his he calls, We will not give one stone from out these walls. Boab. Take this for answer, then : — Whate'er your arms have conquer'd of my land, I will, for peace, resign to Ferdinand. To harder terms my mind I cannot bring ; But, as I still have lived, will die a king. D. Arcos. Since thus you have resolved, henceforth prepare For all the last extremities of war : My king his hope from heaven's assistance draws. Almanz. The Moors have heaven, and me, to assist their cause. [Exit Aitcos. Enter Esperanza. Esper. Fair Almahide, (Who did with weeping eyes these discords see, And fears the omen may unlucky be,) Prepares a zambra to be danced this night, In hope soft pleasures may your minds unite.

Boab. My mistress gently chides the fault I made: But tedious business has my love delay'd, — Business, which dares the joys of kings invade. Almanz. First let us sally out, and meet the foe. Abdal. Led on by you, we on to triumph go. Boab. Then with the day let war and tumult cease ; The night be sacred to our love and peace : 'Tis just some joys on weary kings should wait ; 'Tis all we gain by being slaves to state. [Exeunt. ACT II 46 THE FIRST PART OF ACT II. SCENE I. Enter Abdalla, Abdelmelech, Ozmyn, Zulema, and Hamet, as returning from the sally. Abdal. This happy day does to Granada bring A lasting peace, and triumphs to the king ! — The two fierce factions will no longer jar, Since they have now been brothers in the war. Those who, apart, in emulation fought, The common danger to one body brought ; And, to his cost, the proud Castilian finds Our Moorish courage in united minds.

Abdelm, Since to each other's aid our lives we owe, Lose we the name of faction, and of foe ; Which I to Zulema can bear no more, Since Lyndaraxa's beauty I adore. Zul, I am obliged to Lyndaraxa's charms, Which gain the conquest I should lose by arms ; And wish my sister may continue fair, That I may keep a good, Of whose possession I should else despair. Ozm. While we indulge our common happiness, He is forgot, by whom Ave all possess ; The brave Almanzor, to whose arms we owe All that we did, and all that we shall do ; Who, like a tempest, that out-rides the wind, Made a just battle ere the bodies join'd. Abdelm. His victories we scarce could keep in view, Or polish them so fast as he rough-drew. Abdal, Fate, after him, below with pain did move, And victory could scarce keep pace above : Death did at length so many slain forget, And lost the tale, and took them by the great.

Enter Almanzor, with the Duke of Arcos, prisoner. Hamet. See, here he comes, And leads in triumph him, who did command The vanquish'd army of king Ferdinand. Almanz. [To the Duke.} Thus far your master's arms a fortune find Below the swell'd ambition of his mind ; And Alha shuts a misbeliever's reign From out the best and goodliest part of Spain. Let Ferdinand Calabrian conquests make, And from the French contested Milan take ; Let him new worlds discover to the old, And break up shining mountains, big with gold ; Yet he shall find this small domestic foe, Still sharp and pointed, to his bosom grow. D. Arcos. Of small advantages too much you boast ; You beat the out-guards of my master's host : This little loss, in our vast body, shews So small, that half have never heard the news. Fame's out of breath, ere she can fly so far, To tell them all, that you have e'er made war.

Almanz. It pleases me your army is so great ; For now I know there's more to conquer yet. By heaven ! I'll see what troops you have behind : I'll face this storm, that thickens in the wind ; And, with bent forehead, full against it go, 'Till I have found the last and utmost foe. D. Arcos. Believe, you shall not long attend in vain : To-morrow's dawn shall cover all the plain ; Bright arms shall flash upon you from afar, A wood of lances, and a moving war. ACT II. 48 THE FIRST PART OF But I, unhappy in my bonds, must yet Be only pleased to hear of your defeat, And with a slave's inglorious ease remain, 'Till conquering Ferdinand has broke my chain. Almanz. Vain man, thv hopes of Ferdinand are weak ! I hold thy chain too fast for him to break. But, since thou threaten'st us, I'll set thee free, That I again may fight, and conquer thee.

D. Arcos. Old as I am, I take thee at thy word, And will to-morrow thank thee with my sword. Almanz. I'll go, and instantly acquaint the king, And sudden orders for thy freedom bring. Thou canst not be so pleased at liberty, As I shall be to find thou darest be free. [Exeunt Almanzor, Arcos, and the rest, excepting only Abdalla, and Zulema. Abdal. Of ail those Christians who infest this town, This duke of Arcos is of most renown. Zul. Oft have I heard, that, in your father's reign, His bold adventurers beat the neighbouring plain ; Then under Ponce Leon's name he fought, And from our triumphs many prizes brought ; Till in disgrace from Spain at length he went, And since continued long in banishment. Abdal. But, see, your beauteous sister does appear. Enter Lyndaraxa. Zul. By my desire she came to find me here. [ZuLEMA«wc?LYrNDARAXA ivhisper; thenZvL,. goes out, and Lyndar. is going after.

Abdal. Why, fairest Lyndaraxa, do you fly, [Staying her. A prince who at your feet is proud to die ? Lyndar. Sir, I should blush to own sorudeathing, [Staying. As 'tis to shun the brother of my king. Abdal. In my hard fortune, I some ease should find, Did your disdain extend to all mankind. But give me leave to grieve, and to complain, That you give others what I beg in vain. Lyndar. Take my esteem, if you on that can live ; For, frankly, sir, 'tis all I have to give. If from my heart you ask or hope for more, I grieve the place is taken up before. Abdal. My rival merits you. To Abdelmelech I will justice do ; For he wants worth, who dares not praise a foe. Lyndar. Thatforhisvirtue, sir, you makedefence, Shews in your own a noble confidence. But him defending, and excusing me, I know not what can your advantage be.

Abdal. I fain would ask, ere I proceed in this, If, as by choice, you are by promise his ? Lyndar. The engagement only in my love does lie, But that's a knot which you can ne'er untie. Abdal. When cities are besieged, and treat to yield, If there appear relievers from the field, The flag of parley may be taken down, Till the success of those without is known. Lyndar. Though Abdelmelechhasnotyetpossest, Yet I have sealed the treaty in my breast. Abdal. Your treaty has not tied you to a day ; Some chance might break it, would you but delay. If I can judge the secrets of your heart, Ambition in it has the greatest part ; And wisdom, then, will shew some difference, Betwixt a private person, and a prince. Lyndar. Princes are subjects still. Subject and subject can small difference bring The difference is 'twixt subjects and a king.