University of Virginia Library

ACT IV.

SCENE I.

ALMANSOR, GOMELLA
ALMANSOR.
You shall not go alone to meet my mother,
I'l follow you, Gomella.

GOMELLA.
That needs not
Her order doth oblige you to expect her
Here at my house.

ALMANSOR.
But nature doth impose
A stronger law upon me.

GOMELLA.
Sir she hath not
Vnderstood of your comming yet, your sight
Will be too sudden a surprise, for bear
Till I acquaint her with it.

ALMANSOR.
I expect
No blame in this encounter; If I should
Surprise her, it would be delightfully:

GOMELLA.
Seeing you will, let's go together then.

ALMANSOR.
I do but what I ought.

GOMELLA.
I speak my thoughts.

ALMANSOR.
Zegry comes forth his house; before I go,
I must embrace him.

GOMELLA.
Stay, you may not do it.

ALMANSOR.
Constraint's unjust, as much as it is cruell:
Ought I to fly a friend so dear, so faithfull?
Suffer me to speak to him, and I'l follow you
Immediately.

GOMELLA.
I cannot, for I have an expresse order
Vnto the contrary.—

Exeunt.

SCENE II.

ZEGRY, ORMIN.
ZEGRY.
Ormin , didst thou observe how carefully
That traitor shun'd me assoon as he saw me?
Did'st mark how he was troubled at sirst,
How he advanc'd, a step or two to Wards me,
And then went back again, how he resign'd
The place unto me in confusion,
Press'd with the stings of his ingratitude?

ORMIN.
What ever I observed, it can never
Enter into my thought Almansor should
Be guilty of so base and black a crime;
And though in shew I find him culpable,
I esteem him incapable to commit
Any base act; he still appear'd vnto me
A person of much honour, and too jealous
Thereof, so ill t'imploy the life which he
Holdeth of you: besides I find within me
A certain secret instinct which I
Can't comprehend, that when I should accuse him,
Forceth me to defend him.

ZEGRY.
Seeing me
To cheris'h that too much belov'd Ingratefull,
Thou art accustom'd also to caresse him.
I can't believe, neither that he betrays me,
Nor can I doubt ont, that's my punishment.
And those sweet motions, which I scarce can banish,
Aggravate his offence, instead of lessening it:
Iudge then how much I am to be lamented
In this condition, the onely good
That rests to me, is to fear nothing more.
Fortune would not afflict me hcer by halfs;
I lose a Mistresse, and a friend together:
Both injure me, and I have so much weaknes.
That I can't hate the Mistresse, nor the Friend;
But could'st thou yesterday learn from Charifa
Why fair Fatima hath so much contempt
Within her bosome for me? thou hast told me
That Adibar doth charm her, but thou hast not
Tould me from whence her hatred doth proceed.

ORMIN.
Fatima, if I may believe what hath
Been told me, alwaies did abhore you for
Vnfaithfullnes, she hath some reason to
Beiieve you false, and this is that as far
As I can understand, which doth oblige her
To be so cruell to you.

ZEGRY.
False, sayst thou?
I never was so.

ORMIN.
She hath understood though,
That a maid call'd zelinda, faire enough,
Very young, and of an illustrious family,
And who received sometime many services
From you, being almost on the point to see you
Her husband, and when all things were dispos d
And ready for the mariage was fouly
For saken by you and despis'd; it seems
That this example toucheth, and doth teach her
That who can once, can chāge a thousād times.

ZEGRY.
Ormin, this change is no inconstancy.

ORMIN.
It would be very hard to prove it innocent:

ZEGRY.
VVithout doubt this pretended mariage
Made a great noise; but I will tell thee all

ORMIN.
VVhat will th'ingratefull say?—

aside.
ZEGRY.
Before that mariage was concluded which
VVas to unite us to Abencerage blood,
And by that means at last to quench the heat
Of an old hatred, fair Fatima was
Already Mistresse of my heart; to make me
Take a new chain, Zelinda, whō they offered me
In my opinion, was not fair enough:
So that I saw her without loving her:
Her feeble Beauty could not shake the fetters
VVhich tied me, yet I indeavoured
To have som kindnes for her, but her eyes
Or my heart were not strong enoug to work it;
And if I did her any services,
It was but in design to please my parents:
Fatima there fore is to blame to think
That I am false: since I had never love
For any but for her.

ORMIN.
Alas! I need not
Doubt more of his contempt! I was inquisitive
To know too much, and now I doe repent it.

—aside.
ZEGRY.
This is a truth, which easily can bee prov'd?
But how comes it my sister,s up so soon?

SCENE III.

ZAIDA, MEDINA, ZEGRY, ORMIN.
Zaida,
Brother, have you receiv'd th'intelligence
Is given me of the death of him which was
Designed for my husband?

ZEGRY.
Yes, I've heard it;
It is too true, he died in Argier
O'th spotted feaver.

Zaida.
I'm unhappy by it;
But you are neer you ioy, and may discourse
Of mariage and love.

ZEGRY.
Oh, Sister, rather
Say that I must no longer now discourse
Of love nor Mariage: say that I must punish
A base and an ingratefull spirit with death
One that hath wickedly betray'd my friēdship:
Fury alone presides now in my soul,
And I must think nor speak of any thing
But of destroying a perfidious wretch.

ZAIDA.
Who is that traitor? let me know, I pray you,
What signall crime provoketh you so highly.

ZEGRY.
Thou know'st too well the Authour of my injury
His name's Almansor, his love is his crime,

ZAIDA.
His love! what hear I?

ZEGRY.
Sister, tis too true,
His insolent love hath stirred up mine anger.

ZAIDA,
He knoweth that Almansor loveth me,
And that is it enrageth him.—

aside.
ZEGRY.
His death,
Is just, add he shall die, base, and ingratefull!

ZAIDA.
Brother, you should examine without passion
All that which might be of a friend suspected,
And we should never judge of his offence
But with much care and much indulgence: alwaies
Almansor htth appcar'd too generous
To mingle any foul or unjust thing
In his affections; and he oweth you
Too much, to have a thought to wrong a friēd
That sav'd his life.

ZEGRY.
Sister, thou dost oblige me;
Thy arguments with little contradiction
Disarm all my resentments quite; Almansor
Is so dear to me, that how ere he wrongs me,
Thou wilt do me a couttesie, to stop
My anger.

ZAIDA.
Perhaps, you have accused him unjustly.

ZEGRY.
Would that it pleased Heaven I were abus'd!
But alas! my suspition is too just,
I'l tell't thee now; he loveth

ZAIDA.
Who?

ZEGRY.
Fatima:

ZAIDA.
How! should he love Fatima? really
That crime is black:

ZEGRY.
The better to assure thee on't, tis best
Thou go to vissit her, I do believe
Thou'lt vnderstand frō her that he adores her,
And that he's false to me.

ZAIDA.
Traitor! Inconstant!
Pernitious Spirit!

ZEGRY.
But, Sister, VVhy appear you
So troubled in your eyes and countenance?

ZAIDA.
The trouble of mine eyes cleerly denotes
That my heart feels the evils which your friend doth you,
Your friēd, what haye I said? that name suits ill
With his condition, if he be your Rivall,
He's not your friend. Goe persently to quench
His life and Love, and wash away the crimes
Of his soul in his blood.

ZEGRY.
No, Sister, no;
We should examine without passion
All that which might be of a friend suspected,
And one should never judge of his offence
But with much care and much indulgence; alwaies
Almansor hath appear'd too generous,
To mingle any foul, or vnjust thing
In his affections; and he oweth me
Too much, to have a thought to wrōg a friēd
That sau'd his life.

ZAIDA.
In what an errour are you?

ZEGRY.
If I am in an errour, I receiv'd it
From you: these were your sentiments, good Sister,
And shall be mine.

Zaida.
Then knew I not his crime;
But now that it is plain, take your revenge,
I will no more restrain you.

ZEGRY.
Stop me rather;
Condemn my anger, not my amity.
In favour of Almansor I would be
Abus'd; I will accuse him, but I would
That others should excuse him, I speak of
Revenge, but seek it not, and threaten only
But to the end to have my arme restrain'd.
His passion, perhaps, may be condemn'd
Vnjustly: possibly it might be born.
Before our friendship, and, perhaps Fatima
Answereth unto it, and that to unite them,
Gomellas orders do invite him heer;
If it be so, to free my self from crime,
Sister, tis just I yeild Fatima to him:
I'l break my chains, and with a setled heart
Will make the pleasures of my friend mine own.

ZAIDA,
What strange abuse, what secret charm thus softens
Your heart in the behalf of an Ingratefull:
He owes his life unto you: ought he not
T'acquit him self to wards you by all possible
Indeavours? if he be your Rivall, can you
Without much weaknes tamely give him up
Your Mistresse? if he be your friend, as you
Esteem him, ought he not to give you up
The object which you love.

ZEGRY.
Without reply
Go presently to visit fair Fatima:
And fail not fully to inform your self
Of their intelligence.—
Exit Zegry.

MEDINA ZAIDA.
Medina.
You astonish me;
I can't conceive how one can love a man.
And presse his death.

ZAIDA.
Oh! say not that I love
Such an ingratefull and inconstant wretch:
Believe that if I have fires, they are fires
Of rage, and that my heart will ne'r be quiet
Till this perfidious Lover be a sacrifice
To my just anger.

Medina.
But you weep, Madam.

ZAIDA,
True, I weep, Medina:
If that false one should perish, I should die;
I feel that rage and tendernes, hate and love
Triumph by Turns within me: I'm his Enemy,
And yet I am his Lover, when my anger
Encreaseth, th'other Kinder passion springs:
And though that he be louely, and hath falsely
Betray'd me, I can neither love, nor hate him

MEDINA.
Madam, speak softer, you will elce be heard.
Adibar comes to wards us.

ZAIDA.
I'l not stay.

SCENE V.

ADIBAR, ZAIDA, MEDINA.
ADIBAR.
Zaida, where go you with my heart?

ZAIDA,
I pray you,
Leave me alone, and do not trouble me,
Adieu.

Adibar.
Receive my services.

ZAIDA,
I have
No need of them.

Adibar.
I do beseech you, hear me.

ZAIDA.
You must excuse me, I have other busines.

Adibar.
With a look onely, consolate my griefs;
Tis you I seek.

ZAIDA.
And tis you that I fly.

Adibar.
How! treat you such a faithfull Lover so?

ZAIDA.
Fatima there will be lesse cruell to you.

Adibar.
Mock not at her, Fatima is as fair,
Although lesse proud then you.

SCENE VI.

FATIMA, ZAIDA, ADIBAR, CHARIFA, MEDINA.
Fatima.
VVhat Adibar
Still with this scornfull? my revenge is just.
'Tis time that it break forth. Zaida, I find and heavy melancholy,
That I lose the design which brought me hither:
Shall I dare speak of dances, revels, feasts,
And of a mariage in the condition
Wherein you are?

ZAIDA.
What say you, of a mariage?

FATIMA.
Since you presse me,
You shall know all; know rhat my Father hath
Provided one for me.

Zaida,
For you, Fatima?

FATIMA.
Yes, Zaida, and the busines is well forward.

ZAIDA.
In your contents I claim an interest:
I should be glad to know your Lovers name,

FATIMA.
He's an accomplish'd man, noble, and brave
And of a charming presence, and rare merit:
I doubt not but you will approve the choice
My Father hath made of him.

ZAIDA.
How she makes me
Languish to meet death?—
aside.
Well, who is the man?

FATIMA.
You know him very well;
He made long time his ordinary residence
At home with you, your brother Zegrys friēd
Have I yet said ynough?

ZAIDA.
Tell me his name too.

FATIMA,
Divine you not that he is call'd Almansor!

ZAIDA,
I can no more, but faint and die.—
aside.

FATIMA.
How she
Is chang'd, she feels my pain, and I'm reveng'd

AdibaR.
I have much interest in this event.

ZAIDA.
This match without doubt cannot chuse but please you.

FATIMA.
True, I am not of those who through a maxime
Of I know not, what modesty, blush at mariage
As if it were a crime, feign to sigh at it,
And yet in secret are sad at the heart,
If it should not be consummate. I assure you.
Vpon this point I not dissemble with you:
I no way hate the Lover that's design'd me,
I prize his love, his services, his merit
At a high rate, and if he loves me much,
He is no lesse belov'd.

ZAIDA.
It seemeth then,
He loves you very much.

FATIMA.
I can't expresse it:
He lives but for me, breatheth but for me:
I am the sole original of his good
Or evill fortune: when he sees me not,
He is in torments, and when hazard brings me
Vnto his sight, again, I have great cause
To fear that he might die with sudden joy;
Lastly if any truth be in his oaths,
All other beauties are contemptible to him.

ZAIDA.
Oh Heaven! what hear I, where am I? oh traitor!
Ingratefull wretch!—
aside.
But could you so soon love him
Before yov knew him?

FATIMA.
I cannot be blam'd
For this quick love, I saw in him at first
All things that might induce a maid to love:
Besides heerein I execute the order
My Father doth ordain, I willingly
Obey his will; and since he hath chosen him
For son in law and for support, I think
That he is worthy of it, and conform
My self unto him.

ZAIDA.
But what are your thoughts
Of Adibar?

Adibar.
I dare not to pretend
To her pass'd goodness more.

Fatima.
He deserv'd not
The honour of my love; he changed first,
And I change at my turn.

ZAIDA.
He was not alwaies
Vnworthy to please you; can you forget him?

Fatima.
Yes, and with much justice, and reason too,
He is to me the most ingratefull person
Vpon the earth; his contempt was unjust,
But mine is not so. Let us cease to speak
Of that inconstant Lover; I will pay him
Hatred for hatred, contempt for contempt.
Let us again talk of our mariage,
And let me know if I may have the honour
To see you there,

ZAIDA.
Excuse me, I'm oppress'd
With a great pain, which is redoubled
Since your discourse, so that I'm rendered
Incapable to be present there, and am
Enforc'd to quit you at this very instant.

ADIBAR.
I wait you; suffer me to pay the service
I owe you.—

He leads her by the arm?
ZAIDA,
I am forced through my weaknes
To accept your support.

Exeunt Zaida & Adibar

SCENE VII.

FATIMA, CHARIFA.
FATIMA,
Zaida feels my discase, but Adibar
Flies me; herein my revenge is compleat,
Though my hope be destroyd.

Charifa.
You have lost nothing
By that, Almansor's worth a thousand of him

FATIMA.
Iudge better of my plaint, what I have said
Is but a fiction; I perceive Medina
And thou are intimate, she could not chuse
But tell thee that Almansor's very dear
To the ingratefull Zaida, this I heard
From thy own mouth.

Charifa.
Well.

Fatima.
This devise of mine,
In feigning that Almansor was to marry me,
Is to revenge me of her for admitting,
Contrary to her promise, my false Lover
To addresse courtship to her, and to punish her
For the evills which she hath procured me.

Charifa.
How cunning are you! this deccit is notable.

SCENE VIII.

ADIBAR FATIMA
FATIMA.
How! quit so soon the object of your heart?

Adibar.
I studied more her rest then my content.

Fatima.
You appear seised with an extream sadnes.

Adibar.
I cannot see that suffer which I love.
Without grief:

Fatima.
Zaida sure, repulsed you.

ADIBAR.
My respect only put me of, and not
Her cruelty,

Fatima.
If she were just, or generous
She would despise a lover that's unfaithfull.

ADIBAR.
I were to blame, if I should complain of her.

Fatima.
Almansers fortune is more sweet with me.

Adibar.
I'm to well satisfied, to be jealous of it.

Fatima.
You do but flatter you with a vain hope,
Zaida hath but disdain, and hate for you.

Adibar.
Her hate and her disdain are ended now;
And our hearts speedily shall be united
By mariage.

Fatima.
But Sir, you may be mistaken
In your accompt, and hope; do you not know
That Zaida's promis'd?

Adibar.
Rather you may be
Deceived in this point: perhaps you know not
That he who was to marry her, is dead.

Fatima.
How is he dead?

Adibar.
Yes Madam, and fair Zaida
Propitious at last, will render justice
To my devout affection, and did
Assure me when I took my leave of her
That she would marry me, if I could get
Her brother to consent unto't; adiew;
To obtain this so dear and pretious Beauty,
I must addresse me to her brother, and
Solicit my best friends.—
Exit Adibar.

SCENE IX.

FATIMA, CHARIFA.
FATIMA.
What have I done?
Alas! my fiction hath only serv'd
To dispose Zaida to deprive me of
My Lover.

Charifa.
Madam.—

Fatima.
Leave me; in a fate
So sad as this, every thing hurts, destroyes,
And makes me desperate.

CHARIFA,
Will you not hear me?

Fatima.
No, I hear nothing but the fury which
Raigns in my confus'd spirits, grief seiseth me
And anger doth transport me.

CHARIFA.
Madam, comfort you.

Fatima.
Oh that I were dead! cease to comfort me
In such a just despair put me to bed,
Or in my grave there to lye buried.