Boab. Yes; you will spend your life in prayers for me,
And yet this hour my hated rival see.
She might a husband's jealousy forgive;
But she will only for Almanzor live.
It is resolved; I will myself provide
That vengeance, which my useless laws denied;
And, by Almanzor's death, at once remove
The rival of my empire, and my love. [Exit Boab.
Enter Almahide, led by Almanzor, and followed by Esperanza; she speaks, entering.
Almah. How much, Almanzor, to your aid I owe,
Unable to repay, I blush to know;
Yet, forced by need, ere I can clear that score,
I, like ill debtors, come to borrow more.
Almanz. Your new commands I on my knees attend:
I was created for no other end.
Born to be yours, I do by nature serve,
And, like the labouring beast, no thanks deserve.
Almah. Yet first your virtue to your succour call,
For in this hard command you'll need it all.
Almanz. I stand prepared; and whatsoe'er it be,
Nothing is hard to him, who loves like me.
Almah. Then know, I from your love must yet implore
One proof:—that you would never see me more.
Almanz. I must confess, [Starting back.
For this last stroke I did no guard provide;
I could suspect no foe was near that side.
From winds and thickening clouds we thunder fear,
None dread it from that quarter which is clear;
And I would fain believe, 'tis but your art
To shew
You knew where deepest you could wound my heart.
Almah. So much respect is to your passion due,
That sure I could not practise arts on you.
But that you may not doubt what I have said,
This hour I have renounced my husband's bed:
Judge, then, how much my fame would injured be,
If, leaving him, I should a lover see.
Almanz. If his unkindness have deserved that curse,
Must I, for loving well, be punished worse?