Must. Think’st thou so, slave Antonio?

Ant. Most certainly, sir; and you cannot, in honour, but protect her:  now look to your hits, and make your fortune.

Must. Methought, indeed, she cast a kind leer towards me.  Our prophet was but just such another scoundrel as I am, till he raised himself to power, and consequently to holiness, by marrying his master’s widow.  I am resolved I’ll put forward for myself; for why should I be my lord Benducar’s fool and slave, when I may be my own fool and his master?

Bend. Take her into possession, Mustapha.

Must. That’s better counsel than you meant it:  Yes, I do take her into possession, and into protection too.  What say you, masters, will you stand by me?

Omnes. One and all, one and all.

Bend. Hast thou betrayed me, traitor?—­Mufti, speak, and mind them of religion. [MUFTI shakes his head.

Must. Alas! the poor gentleman has gotten a cold with a sermon of two hours long, and a prayer of fear; and, besides, if he durst speak, mankind is grown wiser at this time of day than to cut one another’s throats about religion.  Our Mufti’s is a green coat, and the Christian’s is a black coat; and we must wisely go together by the ears, whether green or black shall sweep our spoils.
                                          [Drums within, and shouts.

Bend. Now we shall see whose numbers will prevail:  The conquering troops of Muley-Zeydan come, To crush rebellion, and espouse my cause.

Must. We will have a fair trial of skill for it, I can tell him that.  When we have dispatched with Muley-Zeydan, your lordship shall march, in equal proportions of your body, to the four gates of the city, and every tower shall have a quarter of you.
[ANTONIO draws them up, and takes ALM.
by_ the hand.  Shouts again, and Drums._

Enter DORAX and SEBASTIAN, attended by African Soldiers and
Portugueses. ALMEYDA and SEBASTIAN run into each others arms,
and both speak together.

Seb. and Alm. My Sebastian! my Almeyda!

Alm. Do you then live?

Seb. And live to love thee ever.

Bend. How!  Dorax and Sebastian still alive!  The Moors and Christians joined!—­I thank thee, prophet.

Dor. The citadel is ours; and Muley-Zeydan
Safe under guard, but as becomes a prince. 
Lay down your arms; such base plebeian blood
Would only stain the brightness of my sword,
And blunt it for some nobler work behind.

Must. I suppose you may put it up without offence to any man here present.  For my part, I have been loyal to my sovereign lady, though that villain Benducar, and that hypocrite the Mufti, would have corrupted me; but if those two escape public justice, then I and all my late honest subjects here deserve hanging.