All the band cry out—No mercy! no mercy! [300]

[Naomi advances with the sword towards Osorio.

Alhadra. Nay, bear him forth! Why should this innocent maid
Behold the ugliness of death?

Osorio (with great majesty). O woman!
I have stood silent like a slave[596:1] before thee,
That I might taste the wormwood and the gall,
And satiate this self-accusing spirit [305]
With bitterer agonies than death can give.

[The Moors gather round him in a crowd, and pass off the stage.

Alhadra. I thank thee, Heaven! thou hast ordain'd it wisely,
That still extremes bring their own cure. That point
In misery which makes the oppressed man
Regardless of his own life, makes him too 310
Lord of the oppressor's! Knew I an hundred men
Despairing, but not palsied by despair,
This arm should shake the kingdoms of this world;
[[597]] The deep foundations of iniquity
Should sink away, earth groaning from beneath them; 315
The strong holds of the cruel men should fall,
Their temples and their mountainous towers should fall;
Till desolation seem'd a beautiful thing,
And all that were and had the spirit of life
Sang a new song to him who had gone forth [320]
Conquering and still to conquer!

THE END[597:1]

FOOTNOTES:

[596:1] In MS. II 'worm' has the place of 'slave', which is the word in MS. I.