Enter ABDELMELECH and LYNDARAXA.

Lyndar. It is enough, you’ve brought me to this place: 
Here stop, and urge no further my disgrace. 
Kill me; in death your mercy will be seen,
But make me not a captive to the queen.

Abdelm. ’Tis therefore I this punishment provide: 
This only can revenge me on your pride. 
Prepare to suffer what you shun in vain;
And know, you now are to obey, not reign.

  Enter ALMAHIDE shrieking; her hair loose; she runs over the
  stage.

Almah. Help, help, O heaven, some help!

Enter ZULEMA and HAMET.

Zul. Make haste before, And intercept her passage to the door.

Abdelm. Villains, what act are you attempting here!

Almah. I thank thee, heaven! some succour does appear.
                       [As ABDELMELECH is going to help the Queen,
                        LYNDARAXA pulls out his sword, and holds it.

Abdelm. With what ill fate my good design is curst!

Zul. We have no time to think; dispatch him first.

Abdelm. O for a sword! [They make at ABDELMELECH; he goes off at
                           one door, while the Queen escapes at the
                           other.

Zul. Ruined!

Hamet. Undone!

Lyndar. And, which is worst of all, He is escaped.

Zul. I hear them loudly call.

Lyndar. Your fear will lose you; call as loud as they: 
I have not time to teach you what to say. 
The court will in a moment all be here;
But second what I say, and do not fear. 
Call help; run that way; leave the rest to me.
                    [ZUL. and HAMET retire, and within cry,—­Help!

  Enter, at several doors, the King, ABENAMAR, SELIN, OZMYN,
  ALMANZOR, with Guards attending BOABDELIN.

Boab. What can the cause of all this tumult be?  And what the meaning of that naked sword?

Lyndar. I’ll tell, when fear will so much breath afford.—­
The queen and Abdelmelech—­’Twill not out—­
Even I, who saw it, of the truth yet doubt,
It seems so strange.

Almanz. Did she not name the queen?  Haste; speak.

Lyndar. How dare I speak what I have seen?—­
With Hamet, and with Zulema I went,
To pay both theirs, and my acknowledgment
To Almahide, and by her mouth implore
Your clemency, our fortunes to restore. 
We chose this hour, which we believed most free,
When she retired from noise and company. 
The ante-chamber past, we gently knocked,
Unheard it seems, but found the lodgings locked,
In duteous silence while we waited there,
We first a noise, and then long whispers hear;
Yet thought it was the queen at prayers alone,
Till she distinctly said,—­If this were known,
My love, what shame, what danger would ensue! 
Yet I,—­and sighed,—­could venture more for you!