Ozm. I cast it from me, like a garment torn,
Ragged, and too indecent to be worn: 
Besides, there is contagion in my fate, [To BENZ. 
It makes your life too much unfortunate.—­
But, since her faults are not allied to mine,
In her protection let your favour shine. 
To you, great queen, I make this last request,
(Since pity dwells in every royal breast)
Safe, in your care, her life and honour be: 
It is a dying lover’s legacy.

Benz. Cease, Ozmyn, cease so vain a suit to move;
I did not give you on those terms my love. 
Leave me the care of me; for, when you go,
My love will soon instruct me what to do.

Q.  Isabel. Permit me, sir, these lovers’ doom to give: 
My sentence is, they shall together live. 
The courts of kings
To all distressed should sanctuaries be,
But most to lovers in adversity. 
Castile and Arragon,
Which long against each other war did move,
My plighted lord and I have joined by love;
And, if to add this conquest heaven thinks good,
I would not have it stained with lovers’ blood.

K.  Ferd. Whatever Isabella shall command Shall always be a law to Ferdinand.

Benz. The frowns of fate we will no longer fear.  Ill fate, great queen, can never find us here.

Q.  Isabel. Your thanks some other time I will receive: 
Henceforward safe in my protection live. 
Granada is for noble loves renowned: 
Her best defence is in her lovers found. 
Love’s an heroic passion, which can find
No room in any base degenerate mind: 
It kindles all the soul with honour’s fire,
To make the lover worthy his desire. 
Against such heroes I success should fear,
Had we not too an host of lovers here. 
An army, of bright beauties come with me;
Each lady shall her servant’s actions see: 
The fair and brave on each side shall contest;
And they shall overcome, who love the best. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.—­The Alhambra.

  Enter ZULEMA.

Zul. True, they have pardoned me; but do they know
What folly ’tis to trust a pardoned foe? 
A blush remains in a forgiven face: 
It wears the silent tokens of disgrace. 
Forgiveness to the injured does belong;
But they ne’er pardon, who have done the wrong. 
My hopeful fortunes lost! and, what’s above
All I can name or think, my ruined love! 
Feigned honesty shall work me into trust,
And seeming penitence conceal my lust. 
Let heaven’s great eye of Providence now take
One day of rest, and ever after wake.

  Enter BOABDELIN, ABENAMAR, and Guards.

Boab. Losses on losses! as if heaven decreed Almanzor’s valour should alone succeed.

Aben. Each sally we have made, since he is gone, Serves but to pull our speedy ruin on.