Almanz. ’Tis true; what justice in that heaven can be,
Which thus affronts me with the sight of thee? 
Why must I be from just revenge debarred? 
Chains are thy arms, and prisons are thy guard: 
The death, thou diest, may to a husband be
A satisfaction; but ’tis none to me. 
My love would justice to itself afford;
But now thou creep’st to death below my sword.

Abdelm. This threatening would show better were I free.

Almanz. No; wert thou freed, I would not threaten thee;
This arm should then—­but now it is too late! 
I could redeem thee to a nobler fate. 
As some huge rock,
Rent from its quarry, does the waves divide,
So I
Would souse upon thy guards, and dash them wide: 
Then, to my rage left naked and alone,
Thy too much freedom thou should’st soon bemoan: 
Dared like a lark, that, on the open plain
Pursued and cuffed, seeks shelter now in vain;
So on the ground wouldst thou expecting lie,
Not daring to afford me victory. 
But yet thy fate’s not ripe; it is decreed,
Before thou diest, that Almahide be freed. 
My honour first her danger must remove,
And then revenge on thee my injured love. [Exeunt severally.

SCENE II.

  The SCENE changes to the Vivarambla, and appears
  filled with Spectators; a Scaffold hung with black.

  Enter the QUEEN guarded, with ESPERANZA.

Almah. See how the gazing people crowd the place,
All gaping to be filled with my disgrace. [A shout within.
That shout, like the hoarse peals of vultures, rings,
When over fighting fields they beat their wings.—­
Let never woman trust in innocence,
Or think her chastity its own defence;
Mine has betrayed me to this public shame,
And virtue, which I served, is but a name.

Esper. Leave then that shadow, and for succour fly
To Him we serve, the Christian’s Deity. 
Virtue’s no god, nor has she power divine: 
But He protects it, who did first enjoin. 
Trust then in Him; and from his grace implore
Faith to believe, what rightly we adore.

Almah. Thou Power unknown, if I have erred, forgive! 
My infancy was taught what I believe. 
But if the Christians truly worship thee,
Let me thy Godhead in thy succour see: 
So shall thy justice in my safety shine,
And all my days, which thou shalt add, be thine!

  Enter the KING, ABENAMAR, LYNDARAXA, BENZAYDA:  then ABDELMELECH
  guarded; and after him SELIN and ALABEZ, as Judges of the
  Field.

Boab. You, judges of the field, first take your place.—­
The accusers and accused bring face to face. 
Set guards, and let the lists be opened wide;
And may just heaven assist the juster side!