Enter SEBASTIAN and ALMEYDA, hand in hand; upon sight of the
  Emperor, they separate, and seem disturbed.

Alm. He breaks at unawares upon our walks,
And, like a midnight wolf, invades the fold. 
Make speedy preparation of your soul,
And bid it arm apace:  He comes for answer,
And brutal mischief sits upon his brow.

Seb. Not the last sounding could surprise me more,
That summons drowsy mortals to their doom,
When called in haste to fumble for their limbs,
And tremble, unprovided for their charge: 
My sense has been so deeply plunged in joys,
The soul out-slept her hour; and, scarce awake,
Would think too late, but cannot:  But brave minds,
At worst, can dare their fate. [Aside.

Emp. [Coming up to them.] Have you performed Your embassy, and treated with success?

Seb. I had no time.

Emp. No, not for my affairs; But, for your own, too much.

Seb. You talk in clouds; explain your meaning, sir.

Emp. Explain yours first.—­What meant you, hand in hand?  And, when you saw me, with a guilty start, You loosed your hold, affrighted at my presence.

Seb. Affrighted!

Emp. Yes, astonished and confounded.

Seb. What mak’st thou of thyself, and what of me? 
Art thou some ghost, some demon, or some god,
That I should stand astonished at thy sight? 
If thou could’st deem so meanly of my courage,
Why didst thou not engage me man for man,
And try the virtue of that Gorgon face,
To stare me into statue?

Emp. Oh, thou art now recovered; but, by heaven,
Thou wert amazed at first, as if surprised
At unexpected baseness brought to light. 
For know, ungrateful man, that kings, like gods,
Are every where; walk in the abyss of minds,
And view the dark recesses of the soul.

Seb. Base and ungrateful never was I thought;
Nor, till this turn of fate, durst thou have called me: 
But, since thou boast’st the omniscience of a god,
Say in what cranny of Sebastian’s soul,
Unknown to me, so loathed a crime is lodged?

Emp. Thou hast not broke my trust, reposed in thee!

Seb. Imposed, but not received.—­Take back that falsehood.

Emp. Thou art not married to Almeyda?

Seb. Yes.

Emp. And own’st the usurpation of my love?

Seb. I own it, in the face of heaven and thee;
No usurpation, but a lawful claim,
Of which I stand possessed.

Emp. She has chosen well, Betwixt a captive and a conqueror.

Alm. Betwixt a monster, and the best of men!—­
He was the envy of his neighbouring kings;
For him their sighing queens despised their lords;
And virgin daughters blushed when he was named. 
To share his noble chains is more to me,
Than all the savage greatness of thy throne.