Enter another Soldier.

Sold. A youth attends you in the outer room, Who seems in haste, and does from Ozmyn come.

Aben. Conduct him in.—­

Ozm. Sent from Benzayda, I fear, to me.

  To them BENZAYDA, in the habit of a man.

Benz. My Ozmyn here!

Ozm. Benzayda! ’tis she!—­
Go youth, I have no business for thee here;
Go to the Albayzyn, and attend me there. 
I’ll not be long away; I pray thee go,
By all our love and friendship—­

Benz. Ozmyn, no: 
I did not take on me this bold disguise,
For ends so low, to cheat your watchmen’s eyes. 
When I attempted this, it was to do
An action, to be envied even by you;
But you, alas, have been too diligent,
And what I purposed fatally prevent! 
Those chains, which for my father I would bear,
I take with less content to find you here;
Except your father will that mercy show,
That I may wear them both for him and you.

Aben. I thank thee, fortune! thou hast, in one hour,
Put all I could have asked thee in my power. 
My own lost wealth thou giv’st not only back,
But driv’st upon my coast my pirate’s wreck.

Selin. With Ozmyn’s kindness I was grieved before, But yours, Benzayda, has’ undone me more.

Aben. to a Soldier. Go fetch new fetters, and the daughter bind.

Ozm. Be just at least, sir, though you are not kind: 
Benzayda is not as a prisoner brought,
But comes to suffer for another’s fault.

Aben. Then, Ozmyn, mark, that justice which I do,
I, as severely, will exact from you: 
The father is not wholly dead in me;
Or you may yet revive it, if it be. 
Like tapers new blown out, the fumes remain,
To catch the light, and bring it back again. 
Benzayda gave you life, and set you free;
For that, I will restore her liberty.

Ozm. Sir, on my knees I thank you.

Aben. Ozmyn, hold;
One part of what I purpose is untold: 
Consider, then, it on your part remains,
When I have broke, not to resume your chains. 
Like an indulgent father, I have paid
All debts, which you, my prodigal, have made. 
Now you are clear, break off your fond design,
Renounce Benzayda, and be wholly mine.

Ozm. Are these the terms?  Is this the liberty? 
Ah, sir, how can you so inhuman be? 
My duty to my life I will prefer;
But life and duty must give place to her.

Aben. Consider what you say, for, with one breath, You disobey my will, and give her death.

Ozm. Ah, cruel father, what do you propose! 
Must I then kill Benzayda, or must lose? 
I can do neither; in this wretched state. 
The least that I can suffer is your hate;
And yet that’s worse than death:  Even while I sue,
And choose your hatred, I could die for you. 
Break quickly, heart, or let my blood be spilt
By my own hand, to save a father’s guilt.