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Show The Conqiuft of Granada. 420 ;~n^vTleft was 1 before this fatal day W h e n all I knew of Love, was to obey 'Twas life becalm'd, without a gentle breath . Though not fo cold, yet motionlefs as Death. A h( lietftate: but love all ltrite, All rapid, is the Hurrican of Life. Had love not fhown me, 1 had never feen An Excellence beyond Boabdelin. I had not, aiming higher, loft m y reft ; But with a Vulgar Good been dullv blcit. But, in Almanzor, hiving feen whats raie, N o w I have learnt too lharpjy to compare; And, like a Fav'rite, quickly_in diigrace, Aimanzor bound and guarded. luft know the value e'er 1 loft the place [To her Almanzor s ^ Almanz. I fee the end for which I'm hither fent, L" ^ i To double, by your fight, m y punifhment. There is a lhame in bonds I cannot bear ; Almahide unbinding hint. Far more than Death to meet your Eyes I fear. yumam* 9 Almah. That fhame of long continuance fhall not De. The King, at m y intreaty, fets you free. Almanz. The King ! my wonder's greater than before . H o w did he dare m y freedom to reftore ? He like fome Captive Lyon ufes m e ; He runs away before he fets me free, And takes a fan&uary in his Court: ^ ( I'll rather 1( [c m y Life than thank him for t. Almah. If any Subject for your thanks there be, The King expects 'em not; you owe 'em me. Our freedoms through each others hands have paft; You give me m y revenge in winning laft. Almanz. Then Fate commodioufly for m e has done; To lofe mine there where I would have it won. Almah. Almanzor, you too foon will underftand That what 1 win is on another's hand. The King (who doom'd you to a cruel Fate) Gave to m y Pray'rs both his revenge and hate : But at no other price would rate your life, Than m y confent and oath to be his Wife. Almanz. Would you to fave m y life, m y love betray > p Here; take me ; bind me ; carry me away; -, , r Kill me : I'll kill you, if you difobey. . lTo the Guards.^ Almah. That ablolute command your love does give I take; and charge you, by that pow'r, to live. Almanz. W h e n death, the laft of comforts, you refute, Your pow'r, like Heav'n upon the damn'd, you ufe : You force mc in m y being to remain, To make me laft, and keep me frefh for pain. W h e n all m y joys arc gone W h a t caufe can I, for living longer, give, But a dull lazy habitude to live ? Almah. Rafh men, like you, and impotent of will, Give chance no time to turn, but urge her ftill : She would repent; you pufh the quarrel on, And once, becaufe flic went, (lie muft be gone. Almanz. She fhall not turn ; what is it (he can do To recompence me for thc lots of you ! Almah. Heav'n will reward your worth fome better way. At leaft, forme, you have but loft one day. Nor is't a real lofs which you deplore ; You fought a heart that was engag'd before. Twas a Swift Love which took you in his way ; Flew only through your heart, but made to ftay. Twas but a Dream, where truth had not a pla ce; A fcene of fancy, mov'd fo fwift a pace, And The Conqueft of Granada. i\.\ 1 And fhifted, that you can but think it was • Let, then, the fhort vexatious Vifion pafs.' Almanz. My joys indeed are dreams; but not m y pain: Twas a fwift ruine; but the marks remain. W h e n fome fierce fire lays goodly building waft- Would you conclude There had been non, becaufe the burning's paft ? Almah. It was your ffhlt that fire feiz'd all your breaft, You fhould have blown up fome to fave the reft. But tis, at worft, but fo confum'd by Fire As Cities are, that by their fall rife higher. Build Love a Nobler Temple in m y place- You'll find the fire has but enlarge! your fpace. Almanz. Love has undone me, I am grown fo poor 1 I fadly view the ground I had before, C But want a ftock; and n'er can build it more. S Almah. Then fay what charity I can allow • I would contribute, if I knew but how. Take friendfhip: or if that too fmall appear, Take love which Sifters m y to Brothers bear. Almanz. A Sifters love ! that is fo palfd a thing, W h a t pleafure can if to a 1. •. er bring? Tis like thin food to men in fevers fpent; Juft keeps alive, but gives no nourishment. W h a t hopes, what fears, what tranfports can it move? Tis but the Ghoft of a departed Love. Almah. You, like fome greedy Cormorant, devour All m y whole life can give you, in an hour. W h a t more I can do for you, is to die; And that muft follow, ifyou this deny. Since I gave up m y Love that you might live, You, in refuting life, m y fentence give. Almanz. Far from m y breaft be fuch an impious thought : Your death would lofe the quiet mine had fought. I'll live for you, in fpight of mifery: But you fhall grant that I had rather die. I'll be fo wretched, fill'd with fuch defpair, That you fhall fee, to live, was more to dare Almah. Adieu, then, O m y Souls far better part, Your Image flicks fo clofe That the blood follows from m y rending heart. A laft farwel ! For fince a laft muft come, the reft are vain ! Like gafps in death, which but prolong our pain. But, fince the King is n o w a part of me, Ceafe from henceforth to be his Enemy. G o now, for pity go, or if you ftay I fear I fhall have fomething ftill to fay. T h u s - I for ever fhut you from m y fight. Almanz. Like one thruft out in a cold Winters night, Yet fhivering, underneath your gate I ftay: One look 1 cannot go before 'tis day Not one Farewel: whate'er m y fufferings be Within; I'll fpeak Farewel, as loud as fhe: I will not be out-done in Conftancy. " Then like a dying Conqueror I go ; At leaft I have look't laft upon m y foe. I a 0 but if too heavily I move, I &vvalk encurubred with a weight of Love. Fain I would leave the thought of you behind • But ftill the more I caft you from m y mind, You dafh like wafer, back, when thrown againft the wind. [As he %oes off the King meets him with Abenamar, thy fare ot >: without fainting: [FelL [She beckons him to be gone- [She Turns her > |