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 compassed 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.

Boab. It was a traitor’s voice that spoke those words; So are you all, who do not sheath your swords.

Zul. Outrage unpunished, 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,
Who 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? 
Obeyed as sovereign by thy subjects be,
But know, that I 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 of prey: 
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 oppressed, and thought it did belong
To a king’s office to redress the wrong: 
I brought that succour, which thou ought’st to bring,
And so, in nature, am thy subjects’ king.

Boab. 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.