Lyndar. That gift's more welcome, which with you I share.
Let us no time in fruitless courtship lose,
But sally out upon our frighted foes.
No ornaments of power so please my eyes,
As purple, which the blood of princes dies. [Exeunt.
SCENE III.—The Alhambra.
Boabdelin, Abenamar, Almahide, and Guards, &c. The Queen wearing a scarf.
Aben. My little journey has successful been,
The fierce Almanzor will obey the queen.
I found him, like Achilles on the shore,
Pensive, complaining much, but threatening more;
And, like that injured Greek, he heard our woes,
Which, while I told, a gloomy smile arose
From his bent brows: And still, the more he heard,
A more severe and sullen joy appeared.
But, when he knew we to despair were driven,
Betwixt his teeth he muttered thanks to heaven.
Boab. How I disdain this aid! which I must take,
Not for my own, but Almahide's sake.
Aben. But when he heard it was the queen who sent,
That her command repealed his banishment,
He took the summons with a greedy joy,
And asked me how she would his sword employ:
Then bid me say, her humblest slave would come,
From her fair mouth with joy to take his doom.
Boab. Oh that I had not sent you! though it cost
My crown! though I, and it, and all were lost!
Aben. While I, to bring this news, came on before,
I met with Selin—
Boab. I can hear no more.
Enter Hamet.