Enter ALMANZOR, his sword bloody, leading in ALMAHIDE attended
by ESPERANZA.

My other blessing, Almahide, is here!—­
I’ll to the king, and tell him she is near: 
You, Ozmyn, on your fair deliverer wait,
And with your private joys the public celebrate.
                                      [Exeunt ABEN.  OZM. and BENZ.

Almanz. The work is done; now, madam, you are free;
At least, if I can give you liberty: 
But you have chains which you yourself have chose;
And, O, that I could free you too from those! 
But you are free from force, and have full power
To go, and kill my hopes and me, this hour.—­
I see, then, you will go; but yet my toil
May he rewarded with a looking while.

Almah. Almanzor can from every subject raise
New matter for our wonder and his praise. 
You bound and freed me; but the difference is,
That showed your valour; but your virtue this.

Almanz. Madam, you praise a funeral victory, At whose sad pomp the conqueror must die.

Almah. Conquest attends Almanzor every where;
I am too small a foe for him to fear: 
But heroes still must be opposed by some,
Or they would want occasion to o’ercome.

Almanz. Madam, I cannot on bare praises live:  Those, who abound in praises, seldom give.

Almah. While I to all the world your worth make known, May heaven reward the pity you have shown!

Almanz. My love is languishing, and starved to death; And would you give me charity—­in breath?  Prayers are the alms of churchmen to the poor:  They send’s to heaven, but drive us from their door.

Almah. Cease, cease a suit
So vain to you, and troublesome to me,
If you will have me think that I am free. 
If I am yet a slave, my bonds I’ll bear;
But what I cannot grant, I will not hear.

Almanz. You will not hear!—­You must both hear and grant; For, madam, there’s an impudence in want.

Almah. Your way is somewhat strange to ask relief You ask with threatening, like a begging thief.—­ Once more, Almanzor, tell me, am I free?

Almanz. Madam, you are, from all the world,—­but me!—­
But as a pirate, when he frees the prize
He took from friends, sees the rich merchandize,
And, after he has freed it, justly buys;
So, when I have restored your liberty—­
But then, alas, I am too poor to buy!

Almah. Nay, now you use me just as pirates do:  You free me; but expect a ransom too.

Almanz. You’ve all the freedom that a prince can have;
But greatness cannot be without a slave. 
A monarch never can in private move,
But still is haunted with officious love. 
So small an inconvenience you may bear;
’Tis all the fine fate sets upon the fair.

Almah. Yet princes may retire, whene’er they please,
And breathe free air from out their palaces: 
They go sometimes unknown, to shun their state;
And then, ’tis manners not to know or wait.