Enter ALMANZOR, with the Duke of ARCOS, prisoner.

Hamet. See, here he comes, And leads in triumph him, who did command The vanquished army of king Ferdinand.

Almanz. [To the Duke.]
Thus far your master’s arms a fortune find
Below the swelled 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, shows
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. 
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, thy 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 all 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 and LYNDARAXA whisper; then ZUL.
                           goes out, and LYNDAR. is going after.