University of Virginia Library

ACT IV.

SCENE I.

Enter Abenede follow'd by Zelinda and Zaida
Zelin.
Turn, Oh, stay yet a little, Princess stay;
I dare not use the tenderest of all Sounds;
That which melts abdurate Hearts, in hearing;
The Universal Name, that brings us first to Life,
The Name of Nature, and of Earth, 'tis Mother—
And sure in Heaven, where now my Parents dwell,
My first Mother looks down with pity on me.
Oh, Madam! new Miseries are hardest born;
Late, to seem the darling care of Providence,
A Father's chiefest Bliss, and only Hope:
Then chas'd from Peace, no kind Friend to save me;
Dash'd back by Rocks, and sunk by the impending Storm.

Aben.
They who seek Destruction, and then complain,
Who fondly trace the Path which leads to ruine,
Are they the Objects of Compassion?

Zelin.
Oh! pass by my Faults, tho' they are many,
My Sufferings sure out-weigh my Errors;
Reflect alone upon my matchless Woes,
Nor to a Fathers loss add a Husbands,
A guiltless Husband: Put off the sad Hour,
Till he prove his Innocence, and defeat his Foes.

Aben.
Ha! dar'st thou, Zelinda, canst thou ask it,
For thy Fathers Murderer? me dost thou ask?
With thy impious Love assault my Virtue;
Forgetful of thy Fathers, my Ozmin's Death,
By thy fond Tears shall my just Vengeance lagg:
No, were Mankind to beg a Moments stay,
And future Happiness hung on the Prayer,
The Race shou'd be undone e're I'd delay
The piercing Wracks my boundless rage has form'd.

Zel.
Head-long cruel Rage! what Voice can move ye?
Mercy alone shou'd dwell in your soft Breast,
And in that Face, the lovely Work of Nature:
Those Eyes which drew great Ozmin to adore,
Have lost their tender Fires, no Pity left:
Can you love and not Commisserate a Lover?
O, my Abinomin will by your Fury dye!
And afterwards his Innocence appear!
Think, Madam, then, how you your self will grieve!
Ha! the bare Imagination tears my Brain,
And turns my Senses into wild Despair!
Hear me, hear me kneeling; look on me; thus
Behold my streaming Eyes: Let my poor Hands,
That tremble as they grasp ye, move your Heart.
Heaven oft delays, when Vengeance is most just;
And he is innocent: Forbear a while,
My Mother, my Hope, my only Refuge!

Aben.
Stand off, nor dare pollute me with thy hold,
The fell Monster, stain'd with the horrid Deed,
Is not more dreadful to my aking Sight.
From noble Ozmin's Loyns coudst thou Proceed?
How ill repaid is all his love and care!
Is this the fondl'd Maid? Her Fathers Joy!
Who for his Blessing never kneel'd in Vain;
Whose Tenderness supply'd all Offices of Love;
Who Nurst thy Infant Beauties, till they grew
To an admir'd height; smil'd on the perfect Work,
And prais'd our Prophet, at the wondrous Sight;
Is his Remembrance lost, then foolish Girl?
Pleadst thou for that curst Youth by whom he fell?
Away, ungrateful! unhand me, Sorceress!
To Abinomin's Destruction I will fly,
Swift as the lightning Darts from angry Heaven,
My Wrath shall crush the vile Wretch to nothing.

(Exit.
Zelin.
Unerring Powers! What means this cruelty?
Oh, she is gone! gone to destroy my Love,
The Treasure of my Soul, best of his Race,
And I, forlorn, must never see him more.
Then let sad darkness seal these useless Eyes,
Least I curse the chearful Light:
All Objects the returning Hours in their heavy March
Shall bring along, hateful now for ever.
What shall I Act? I have great Examples:
Fam'd Portia, how she lov'd her Brutus;
Brutus, not half so much deserv'd as thee,
His Fate was then in doubt, mine is certain.
Say, canst thou not rid me of this Anguish?
Fetch me a Draught that gives Eternal Rest;
On this burthen'd Earth I'll leave my Sorrows:
The Peaceful Grave refuses none; the Wretch,
In that dark Night lyes down, and hopes to find
A blissful Morning: Haste, bring me Comfort

Zaida.
Will you then leave your Love, this darling Youth?
Leave him a Prey to his relentless Foes;
Rather to the Prince your sad Petition make,
He has lov'd; Love lets Compassion in:
The Prince must be mov'd at your Afflictions,
And will grant at least that you may see him.

Zelin.
Ha! thou hast wak'd desire; a fond desire
Once again to view that dear Sufferer;
To tell the mournful Things, my Soul contains;
To part so sadly, that my Heart may break;
Put on this sable Veil, then be my guide:
Thus, like the Daughter of Despair, I'll move,
Whilst Tears and Prayers solicite for my Love.

(Exeunt.
SCENE the Palace.
Enter Abdolin meeting Selim.
Abd.
Hast thou obey'd our Orders,
And summon'd all these Harpies of the Law,
Whose business 'tis to Murder by Authority?

Selim.
I have, and they will meet with speed:
But, Oh! I have a Tale will make you sigh;
As I pass'd hither I beheld a sight,
Which forc'd Compassion from my stony Heart;
The beautious Wife of the Abencerrago,
The hopeless fair Zelinda comes this way,
From the Alhambra Tower she slowly moves,
In Sables Veil'd, the Emblems of her Grief;
Her pompous Train by weeping Virgins born.
Whilst all stand gazing at the sad Procession,
Which strikes with horror each Beholder dumb.

Abd.
Oh, Love! what Heccatombs are due to thee!
How well hast thou repai'd her haughty scorn!
Withdraw, and see that she have quick admittance,
But keep her Women in the outer Room;
Thy care, my Selim, shall be well rewarded.
(Ex. Selim.
Which way shall I receive this lovely Charmer?
My kindling Veins confess the Goddess near;
Hope and Despair, Desire and Fear at once
Assault my Heart, in bright Zelinda's Name.

Enter Zelinda Veil'd: Speaks entering.
Zel.
Protect me, Heaven! for I am left alone,
To what in happier Days I shou'd have fear'd,
But now Abinomin is all my Thought,
And self Regard is lost.
See, gracious Prince, a wretched Suplicant.

(Kneeling.
Abd.
Zelinda, rise, nor doubt thy wish'd success;
Throw off that envious Veil, and be assur'd
Thy charming Eyes will force me to comply,
Tho' thy Request shou'd prove my utter ruine.

Zelin.
Ruine, alas, is my unhappy Portion!
O! may you never taste the bitter Draught;
I have a Husband, dear to me as Life;
O cruel turn of Speech! I had a Father,
But he is murder'd by Inhumane Villains!
Hard is my Fate, and worthy of your Pity;
To sue when Malice has the least appearance;
To call my dearest Lord his deadly Foe—
But they are all forsworn, most perjur'd all:
By the sacred Powers, in these Arms I held him,
When that curst Deed was done.

Abd.
Ten Thousand Plagues Revenge that Theft of Love.
(Aside.
I fear, Zelinda, your averring this
Is not of force to clear Abinomin;
But to the Righteous Law his Cause is left;
I am no Judge, what would you have of me?

Zelin.
Be you my Friend, and all I wish is granted;
I fear the practis'd wresting of the Law;
I fear Revenge, disguis'd like awful Justice;
I fear my Mother's boundless cruelty;
The haste she makes is dreadful to my Thoughts:
Stay but till Albovade can hear the News,
That he may come and save his guiltless Son.

Abd.
For such delay, what wou'd Zelinda give?

Zel.
The World wou'd be too little for Reward;
Cou'd the vast Sea give up its numerous Wrecks,
Which, since the first unskilful Pilot ventur'd,
Has been o'rewhelm'd in the profound Abyss;
Or cou'd devouring Flames restore the Wealth
Which they have snatch'd from greedy Misers Hoards;
Cou'd they repair the Havock they have made
Of Temples, Palaces, and spacious Cities;
Saw I this Treasure heap'd in one huge Pile,
And all the shining Massy Store was mine;
Without a wish or thought to save the Trash,
I'd give it to retrieve my Husbands Fate.

Abd.
To give what we esteem not is meer Trash,
Indeed, a very Triflle, not worth naming.
Therefore, were all you speak of in your Power,
Still you would offer nothing for your Lord.

Zelin.
Instruct me, Sir, O! take my Life, and save him!

Abd.
And woudst thou part with Life, thou tender fair one?
Now I will speak to thee, and urge my Suit;
You feel the Pangs of inauspicious Love,
Rackt with Despair; just now you knelt to me—
But see, I throw me trembling at thy Feet;
Behold thy Prince is thy Petitioner!
I suffer greater pains than thou canst paint;
Nay, look not round, here is no cause for fear;
No force is threaten'd with these languid Eyes;
I wou'd obtain my Bliss by softer means.

Zelin.
Is this a time, ye Powers! to hear of Love?

Abd.
It is my only time, for you must love me,
Or what's as well, grant me the Effects of Love;
If you refuse, my happy Rival dyes.

Zelin.
Then he must dye—

Abd.
O, think again! before thou dost resolve—
Think what I offer for Imperfect Joy.
To take thee thus polluted as thou art,
Nor Soul nor Body left intirely mine;
To place thee on Granada's awful Throne;
And send Abinomin safe to Albovade;
Forgetting rivall'd Love, and murder'd Ozmin;
This is no easy Task; Oh, think and yield!

Zelin.
Yield to what! for my distracted Soul
By halves the cruel meaning understands.
But Oh! too plain I find I am undone!
Too well I see the Rigour of my Fate!
That all my Prayers are lost in fleeting Air,
And move not Heaven nor Man to my Relief!
Where shall I make my last Appeal for Justice?
To whom shall I prefer my last Request?
That I once more may see my wrong'd Abinomin!

Abd.
Before you ask again, your Suit is granted;
Yes, stubborn Beauty, you shall see Abinomin.
Who waits there?
Enter Selim.
Bring here the Pris'ner, this is your Warrant.
(Gives a Ring.
See, Madam, I am generous, and leave you,
In my own Palace, to receive your Love.
Your Father's Murder will exact his Chains;
Were he but clear from that, he shou'd be free

(Exit Abdolin, Selim.
Zelin.
What means this sudden turn? No good I'm sure,
For goodness is a Stranger in Granada;
Yet Heaven forbears, till repining Crimes compel
The unwilling Vengeance, to perform its Office:
Then, like the blast of Death, without distinction,
It falls promiscuously on all our Heads.
Hear me, great Prophet; spare the Innnocent,
Spare my Abinomin my guiltless Husband:
But see my fainting Limbs bend me to Earth;
Look down ye Powers thro' all those blest Tracts of Light;
Regard my Prayers and Pity my Afflictions.

Enter Abinomin.
Abin.
What Cherubs that fixt on its Native Heaven!
'Tis my Zelinda! my Hearts dearest Treasure:
How came this Gleam of Joy allow'd to me?
O, let me steal insensibly along!
Least the rude noise of these vile slavish Chains
Disturb my better Angel as I raise her.

Zelin.
'Tis he! it's my Love, my Life my Husband;
Come, seat thee by me, on this cold hard Floor,
And let us here improve our latest Moments,
Forget the horror that our Fate allots,
And talk of Love, for sure you love me still.

Abin.
(Witness ye mighty Rulers of the World)
To the Eternal Ardour of my Soul!
O, my Zelinda! I am lost in Thought,
And Words but poorly can relate my Passion:
Not Gold to Misers, Glory to the Brave,
Nor smiling Mercy to the kneeling Penitent,
Is half so dear as thou art to Abinomin:
Thy pleasing Accents thrill thro' every Vein;
And with soft Transports, tremble at my Heart.

Zelin.
'Tis hard, 'tis wondrous hard, that we must die
In sight of all the Happiness we wish,
The endless Joys which mutual Love wou'd give;
But sure there is a Paradice in being;
Where spotless Lovers meet again hereafter:
So our great Prophet taught us to believe,
When we shall meet secure from barb'rous Foes;
And long unnumber'd Years, taste true Felicity;
My Father's sacred Ghost will there acquit thee,
And own us for his Children, will he not?

Abin.
Talk not so mournfully, I cannot bear it.

Zelin.
Come to my Arms thou best of Humane Kind,
And rest thy sorrows on my tender Bosom.
Give me thy poor Chain'd Hands, that I may grasp them;
Here let our sorrows end, here fix us Fate,
The Everlasting Monument of Love.

Enter Abdolin and Selim.
Abd.
Ha! but I shall wake you from your Extasie;
'Tis well the Scene is heightn'd to my wish:
Back to thy Dungeon, treacherous Murderer,
And leave thy Wife to be possess'd by me.

Abin.
You dare not touch her; no, by Heaven, you dare not,
With all thy Scarlet Sins about thy Soul;
Her sacred Virtue will have Power to awe thee.
Thou canst not wrong her, 'tis impossible;
The Guard and Seal of Providence is on her;
Which will defend the chaste imploring Fair,
Tho' I shou'd fall a Victim to thy hate.

Abd.
Rave on, thou canst not talk me from my Purpose;
Selem, take hence the Prisoner—
Young Hero, say, whose shall Zelinda be?
Now turn thy gloomy Eyes despairing back,
And curse in vain, thy cruel Fate and me.

Abin.
Wretch that I am, thus to be made thy scorn!
Faithless, Inhumane Monster! canst thou Hope
Heaven's Righteous Vengeance will for ever Sleep?
O my tormented Heart! What can I do?
My Eye-balls sure will burst their Lucid Globes;
I cannot bear the Malice of my Fortune—
Zelinda, Oh, my Wife!

Zelin.
My Husband, my Abinomin! O save me!
Save thy Zelinda from the Tyrant's Power.

Aben.
Ha! Will not my Hands break these ignoble Chains?
And can Despair do nothing for my Love?
Then let me know the Fortune of a Slave;
And throwing thus my self across your way,
Grasping your Robe, and trembling at your Feet,
In all the humble Language of Affliction,
Implore your Pity, and prevent your Crime:
See, Prince! no common Cause cou'd urge these Tears!
Oh! swear you will not violate my Wife!

Abd.
No Power on Earth, shall make me quit my Prey;
Much less a crawling Wretch, whom I despise:
VVhere are our Guards?
Enter Guards.
Take back this hated Murderer to his Prison;
There let him rave, or pray to list'ning VValls.

Zelin.
Thy fetter'd Hands have yet a little hold,
Oh keep me here! Torture, it will not be;
Help! Murder! Hear me, Prophet! sink the Tyrant there no Succour? Oh, Abinomin!

Abin.
(falling)
Furies and Hell! it is not to be born!

(Exit Abdolin forcing off Zelinda.
Selim.
This is no Place to entertain your Griefs;
You heard our Orders were to bear you back.

Abin.
Ha! did you not hear a VVoman call for help?
Had you Mothers, and will you not assist her?

Selim.
She's with the Prince and cannot want our Aid,
Nor is the care of her your Province now.

Abin.
It may be 'tis not! Heaven, can I hear these Sufferings
These most unequall'd VVrongs! Yet keep my Temper!
No, for my Brain is on the Virge of madness!
VVhere is she? VVhere's my VVife? my lovely Bride?
Speak, Selim! Villain! Flatterer! Parasite!
I know thee well, thou Factor for Damnation!
VVhere's my Zelinda? my poor helpless Love?
Go snatch her from the Tyrant's brutal Power;
And give her safe to my despairing Arms;
Or I will tear thee, Slave, to Attoms, tear thee!

Selim.
Take off this Madman, bear him to his Dungeon,
Darkness best suits Distraction.

Abin.
Alas! it does; then do as he commands,
And bury me in Everlasting Darkness;
VVhere gloomy Night in solemn Sadness Reigns;
There let me rest, for I am sick of Day;
Silence, Despair and Death can better please me;
VVelcome ye baleful Sounds; Oh, my Zelinda!

(Exit guarded.
Enter Oliman.
Oli.
How do's my Fate surround me!
On distant Plains the invading Spaniards lye,
Within the Walls, from fierce contending Factions.
Dreadful Events, and dayly Horrors rise,
Yet in my Bosom, greater Wars than those;
Ambition, Murder, Love, Remorse, Despair,
Rage with malignant Force, and threaten Ruine.
I stand uneasie, because I stand unsafe;
My Enemies destroy'd, my Peace returns;
Now with just Cause I fear,
Albovades Messengers every Hour repell'd,
Assures me, there's Important News from thence.
I must be speedy to dispatch his Son;
Then all is mine; the fair Zelinda mine;
For there's the beautious Cause that works my Brain,
And animates my Soul with Resolution.

Enter Zaida.
Za.
Degenerate Oliman, stand'st thou idly here!
Unaiding to the fairest of her Sex,
Who sinks beneath most vile Indignities.

Oli.
Indignities, from whom?

Za.
The Prince! he bears Zelinda thro' the Palace;
Pretends only to keep her from her Husband,
But towards his own Seraglio drags the Fair.
Whilst her loud Screams alarm the affrighted Hearers.

Oli.
Fly, and Prevent the intended Violence;
I'll follow with Religious Holy Train,
To warn him to the Tryal of Abinomin.

Za.
Be swift, the Dangers Eminent.—

(Exit
Oli.
I find Granada's Ruine is decreed.
This lovely Helen, fatal as the first—
With her bright Eyes will do the Work of Spain;
And whilst we burn with most resistless Fires,
The poor neglected City we shou'd aid,
Becomes a Prey to Wars devouring Rage.
But why do I Pause? the Prince now has her.
Oh Zelinda! Let thy Genius guard thee,
But for a Moment longer, and thou art safe;
Then hated Oliman will bring Deliverance—
So the Ambitious Monarch seems a Friend,
Saves the fair Province from some mightier Crown,
Then snatches the bright Jewel to enrich his own.

(Exeunt.