Almah. This sudden change I do not understand.  Have you so soon forgot your own command?

Boab. Grant that I did the unjust injunction lay,
You should have loved me more than to obey. 
I know you did this mutiny design;
But I’ll your love-plot quickly countermine. 
Let my crown go; he never shall return;
I, like a phoenix, in my nest will burn.

Almah. You please me well; that in one common fate
You wrap yourself, and me, and all your state. 
Let us no more of proud Almanzor hear: 
’Tis better once to die, than still to fear;
And better many times to die, than be
Obliged, past payment, to an enemy.

Boab. ’Tis better; but you wives have still one way:  Whene’er your husbands are obliged, you pay.

Almah. Thou, heaven, who know’st it, judge my innocence!—­
You, sir, deserve not I should make defence. 
Yet, judge my virtue by that proof I gave,
When I submitted to be made your slave.

Boab. If I have been suspicious or unkind,
Forgive me; many cares distract my mind: 
Love, and a crown! 
Two such excuses no one man e’er had;
And each of them enough to make me mad: 
But now my reason reassumes its throne,
And finds no safety when Almanzor’s gone. 
Send for him then; I’ll be obliged, and sue;
’Tis a less evil than to part with you. 
I leave you to your thoughts; but love me still! 
Forgive my passion, and obey my will. [Exit BOABDELIN.

  ALMAHIDE solus.

My jealous lord will soon to rage return;
That fire, his fear rakes up, does inward burn. 
But heaven, which made me great, has chose for me,
I must the oblation for my people be. 
I’ll cherish honour, then, and life despise;
What is not pure, is not for sacrifice. 
Yet for Almanzor I in secret mourn! 
Can virtue, then, admit of his return? 
Yes; for my love I will by virtue square;
My heart’s not mine, but all my actions are. 
I’ll like Almanzor act; and dare to be
As haughty, and as wretched too, as he. 
What will he think is in my message meant? 
I scarcely understand my own intent: 
But, silk-worm like, so long within have wrought,
That I am lost in my own web of thought. [Exit ALMAHIDE.

ACT II.

SCENE I.—­A Wood.

  Enter OZMYN and BENZAYDA.

Ozm. ’Tis true, that our protection here has been
The effect of honour in the Spanish queen;
But, while I as a friend continue here,
I to my country must a foe appear.

Benz. Think not, my Ozmyn, that we here remain
As friends, but prisoners to the power of Spain. 
Fortune dispenses with your country’s right;
But you desert your honour in your flight.

Ozm. I cannot leave you here, and go away;
My honour’s glad of a pretence to stay.
                         [A noise within,—­Follow, follow, follow!—­