University of Virginia Library

ACT II.

SCENE A Bed-Chamber: Zelinda upon a Couch, Abinomin kneeling by her, Zaida attending.
Abin.
Look up, my Love, and raise thee from the Earth;
Abinomin calls; thy Lover, and thy Husband:
Enough thou hast mourn'd the noble Ozmins fall;
Add not thy own untimely Fate to his;
Sorrow like this, will break thy tender Heart;
And sink thy early Beauties to the Grave:
Nor can Abinomin survive thy loss;
O then! for both our sakes cease this vain Grief;
And think again of Love, and Peace, and me.

Zelin.
Oh Ozmin! Oh my Father! thou art dead;
Zelinda, now is left an helpless Orphan:
What will become of me? I dare not think!
I have now no tender Parent to attone:
O my Abinomin! our fatal Marriage
Will wind us both in everlasting Ruine!
Had Ozmin liv'd, we might have been secure;
My pleading Tears had mov'd his God-like Nature
To have blest our stoll'n Joys with wish'd Consent.

Abin.
O do not melt me to a Female softness!
Thy killing Griefs pierce thro' my very Soul!
Great Ozmin, I lament as well as you;
And oft have curst the Cause that made us Foes;
Hop'd those blest Stars that gave thee to my Arms,
VVou'd Reconcile our bleeding Families.

Zelin.
Had my dear Father liv'd, it might ha' been;
He view'd thy forward Youth with just Regard;
Admir'd thy matchless Virtues, as they grew;
And prais'd and wish'd Zelinda such a Lord;
That made me bold to hope he wou'd forgive,
VVhen he shou'd know thou wast indeed my Husband
But all my Hopes of Peace with him are lost;
My haughty Mother, Ozmins second choice,
VVith endless Rage, pursues thy hated Line;
And when the fatal Secret shall be known,
VVill sacrifice me to her black Revenge.

Abin.
Fear not, my Love, but think our mighty Prophet
Has given me to thee in a Fathers stead,
VVith all the Tenderness of Faithful Love,
To guide and to protect thy beautious Innocence
Then smile at Fate, and know thy self secure,
VVhilst these fond Arms are opened to receive thee;
VVhilst my Eternal Constancy remains;
VVhilst this beating, this transported Heart
Harbours no joy, no wish, no thought, but thee:
If the Alhambra Tower grow hateful to thee,
Be then the Court of Albovade our Refuge;
VVhich will, with joyful Pride, receive Abinomin,
The only Son of an indulgent Father;
And with him, what he values more than Life,
His dearest better part, his charming Bride.

Zelin.
Alass, you have forgot your sacred VVord,
VVhich holds you here, till the slow Treaty end,
A willing Prisoner to Prince Abdolin.

Abin.
I bless those Chains, because they gave me yours;
But these will off, our sorrows too shall cease.
Since all must dye, Reason tells the Mourner,
Grief is in vain, for Death restores to none—
O! my Zelinda! what fatal Pangs are these?
I swear thou must not weep; another Tear
Will break the Heart of thy Abinomin!

Zelin.
My Father Murder'd!
O my dear Lord! tis such a shock of Fate!
So sudden, and so sad, 'twou'd surely kill me,
Did not thy faithful, soft, endearing Love,
Like a rich Cordial, stay my fleeting Soul.
(Knocking here.
But thou must leave me, fear of barbarous Power
Tears thee from poor Zelinda's trembling Heart.

(Exit Zaida.
Abin.
It shall not be; we cannot, will not part.

Zelin.
This lone Apartment, by my Fathers fondness
Made sacred, and entire to my self,
In the Confusion of this dismal Day,
Will grow most publick.

Enter Zaida.
Za.
Madam, here are several Messengers without,
VVho bring the VVidow'd Abenede's Commands,
That to the Castle Hall you shou'd attend her.

Zelin.
Begone, my dearest Life, fly thro' the Garden;
The well-known way that leads to the Alhambra—
But tell me first, when shall we meet again?
This Grief, these rising Sighs, and streaming Tears,
VVill ne're be hushd but on thy tender Bosom.

Abin.
I ll still be near thee as thy Guardian Angel,
Meet thee at Ozmin's mournful Obsequies,
And offer my Assistance to thy Mother;
Both to detect, and to revenge his fall.

Zelin.
Again I am summon'd! Oh Abinomin!
(Knocking without.
A new Oppression sinks my boding Heart;
Convulsive Fear trembles thro' all my Veins;
And wild Despair, has turn'd my very Brain:
Methinks I see thee, on a sudden chang'd;
Fainting, and cold; pale as my Fathers Ghost!
Oh take me to thy Arms, and hide me there,
From the black Purpose of malicious Stars!
Hide, me if possible, from Thought it self;
For I indeed am lost!

Abin.
O say not so, my lovely mourning Fair!
VVhilst I have Life, thou must be safe and happy.

Zelin.
In vain you seek to ease my bleeding Heart,
VVhich cannot bear a Moments separation,
But swells as it wou'd break.

Abin.
Ye mighty Powers, that favour Innocence,
Protect my Love, and ease her burthen'd Soul;
On my devoted Head hurle all your Plagues,
I shall not feel them when Zelinda's blest.

Zelin.
Hear me, great Prophet!—
Regard my Lord; he's worthy of your Care;
And tho' I fall the untimely Sacrifice
To proud Ambition, or to fierce Revenge,
Bless my Abinomin, my Love, my Husband;
And I'll not once upbraid, not once complain.
Forbear your neeedless Importunity,
(Knocking without.
For now I come, my dearest Life, farewel.

Abin.
Best of thy Sex, farewel!
All Blessings wait thee.

(Exit severally.
SCENE A Hall: Enter Abenede, Zelinda attended, Oliman and Abass.
Abene.
D'ye not blush, ye mean degenerate Cowards?
Thus basely to survive the noble Ozmin;
Who fought your Cause, ungrateful as you are,
Unworthy of the glorious Name of Zegrees!
What was it less then to betray my Lord,
To leave him to the Rage of barb'rous Foes?
Tell me, ye timerous disloyal Slaves,
Wou'd he have left the meanest of you all,
At such a time, to such a fatal End?
No, he has often sav'd you with his Blood.
What Mercy then can you expect from us?
His injur'd Widow, and his wretch'd Orphan?
Think ye, you shall not all be made a Sacrifice,
To appease the Ghost of my dear murder'd Lord?

Enter Abd. Selim, Abin. Guards.
Abd.
See, Abenede, at this unhappy News,
Your Prince is come to swell the Pomp of Grief!
Nor is my loss in Ozmin less than yours;
For I beheld him, as my better Genius,
The bravest Warriour, and the truest Friend.

Ol.
All these, tho' rashly injur'd, clear themselves,
By their unfeign'd concern for Ozmin's fall;
My self commanded them, and saw them Fight:
Nay, more, I saw them warm, and conquer too;
Ozmin drew off, most sure of Victory,
But fell beneath the Walls of Albovade.

Abin.
How fell he there?

Ol.
Ask the Assassins that; I found him dying.

Aben.
Speak, worthy Kinsman, and forgive my rage;
What were his latest Words, and who his Murderers?

Ol.
From Villains in disguise, he met his Fate,
And dying, begg'd you wou'd revenge his Murder;
Commanded me to assist; and for Reward,
Assign'd his beauteous Daughter.

Zelin.
'Tis false! my Father wou'd not give me so,
Not Sacrifice his Daughter to Revenge.

Aben.
Be Dumb;—nor dare to contradict such Truths.

Ol.
All I had left to ask (a sad Request)
Was the pale Lifeless Clay of that great Man.
But Albovade, with most inveterate Rage,
Dragg'd in the Body, and bid us be assur'd,
Our Hero now, was Food for ravenous Beasts

Aben.
Ha!

Abin.
O let this Sacred Presence give me way,
To justifie my absent injur'd Father!
Now, by the Righteous Powers, 'tis false as Hell!
Against the Nature of that God-like Man;
Who wou'd not violate his spotless Honour,
To take Revenge against his vilest Foe,
Much less consent to act a Villains Part,
And barr the Funeral Rights to worthy Ozmin.

Aben.
Hear me, great Abdolin: Is not this your Prisoner?

Abd.
Madam, he is.

Aben.
Then let your speedy Justice dash his Insolence:
Dungeons, and heaviest Fetters be his Doom.
Shall the proud Son of cruel Albovade,
Of that accurst Abencerraga, brave me!

Abd.
Guards, seize and bind him: 'Tis indeed but just,
Till this foul Treason be discover'd.

Ol.
He perhaps may prove
Chief Actor in this Bloody Scene.

Abin.
Dar'st thou accuse me, double meaning Dog?
What mean these Slaves? shall I not answer him?

Abd.
Away; confine him close.

Zelin.
First hear Zelinda speak: Can you refuse?
Madam, will not you hear what I can say?—
'Tis all in vain, and I am lost.

Abin.
Oh faithless Prince! are these the Laws of War?

Abd.
Away.—

(Exit Abin. forc'd off.
Abin.
Why dost thou send such guilty eager Glances
After that most abhorr'd Abencerrago?
Go, bath thy wanton Eyes in Floods of Tears;
Let Darkness hide thee from degenerate Love;
Nor longer shame thy Race.

Zelin.
Send me, then, to Everlasting Darkness—
Oh my Father! do I not weep for thee?
Do's not my Grief exceed a Publick show?—
Then let our mighty Prophet, if 'tis possible,
Heap greater Ills upon my destin'd Head.

(Exit.
Abel.
Is there no way to trace this horrid Murder,
And offer just Revenge to Ozmin's Shade?
Are the Contrivers of so black a Deed
Secur'd by Hell for ever from our Knowledge?
No, we will search till we have found the Villains;
Those that design'd, and those that wrought the mischief;
Not Power, nor Mercy's self shall save one Wretch.

Abin.
You, Oliman, command the Troops of Ozmin:
Now let your Zeal in this unhappy Cause,
Witness how well you lov'd your murder'd Lord.
To his sad Tomb, design'd the sacred Place,
Where undisturb'd, his Ashes might have slept,
I go, with pious Care, to Sacrifice:
His Wreaths of Victory, and tatter'd Ensigns,
The Trophies of his honorable Toyls,
The Pride and Glory of Granada once;
Now, of no farther use, but to adorn
The empty Monument of that great Man!
Sooner or later to the Silent Grave,
The Monarchs Scepter, and the Warriour's Sword,
Wealth, Honour, Learning, Virtue, all must come,
And Deck at last, that melancholly Home,

(Exeunt.
Manent Ol. and Abass.
Ol.
Now my Abass ! to draw this subtle Thread,
And hamper these unwary honest Fools,
Whilst we, enlarg'd by our designs, are free,
To laugh at Terrors we our selves have made;
Say, shall we not succeed?—

Abass.
The Business of the lab'ring Brain be yours;
And when you have formed the Ruine you intend,
Here is the ready Arm to execute.

Ol.
'Tis well, be dilligent and faithful, Fortune's thine;
Double the Guard about the Castle [illeg.]ines;
And if any shou'd approach from Albovade,
Upon thy Life dispatch them, hear them not,
Mind not their Summons, but dispatch them.

Abass.
They dye; believe it done already.

Ol.
Thou wast made to be my Friend;
Long try'd, and fitted to my horrid Purpose;
Yet such a Scheme of mischief I have laid,
I yet must doubt, and probe thy very Soul.
For now, like Hydra's Heads, new Evils grow,
Unthought of, and of fatal consequence.
'Tis plain, Zelinda loves Abinomin,
And therefore will not me; I cannot hope it:
Then let my Thirst of Vengeance be appeas'd,
I'll ruine all, and drown my Love in Blood—
Canst thou be resolute?—

Abass.
Else, bravely strike thro' my mistrusted Heart,
And choose another Slave, perhaps less faithful.

Ol.
Forgive thy Master, 'tis a dismal Road;
Yet I will on; too far already enter'd,
To think of a retreat, I must proceed;
And be it so; from small obscure Beginnings,
Great Revolutions, oft have been accomplisht;
When even my setting forth was Ozmins Death:
A Deed that wou'd stamp Villain on endless Penitence,
Why! let me then plunge deeper, deeper yet;
Till so inur'd to Crimes, I may at last
Forbear to think them such.

Abass.
Spare these Reflections—
Least they shake your noblest Resolves.

Ol.
Alas! What hardn'd Wretch, but first or last
Has Qualms, and Struglings, which Fools calls Conscience?
I, Custom, and the curse of Education:
The Noble Savage takes Revenge at Will;
Nor from past Actions ever feels Remorse:
'Tis only Man that's plagu'd with thought.

Abass.
See, Abenede Returns!

Ol.
Fly, my Abass, and wait me in the Grotto;
She must not see thee here alone with me.

(Exit Abass.
Enter Abenede.
Aben.
The Weakness of my Sex, my Soul disdains;
Nor, till thy Death, great Ozmin, be reveng'd,
Will I give way to idle Sighs and Tears.
My melting Griefs shall turn to raging Fire.
O! Oliman, instruct and aid my Vengeance
In this Oblation to the Ghost of Ozmin!
Be dilligent; nor let a Victim 'scape;
Tho' but in Thought, suspected.

Ol.
Might I advise—
Before the Rights begin at Ozmin's Tomb,
Summon with care, the Chiefs of all our Faction;
Then, with august Solemnity, Proclaim,
(By Abdolin's Power) pardon, and vast Reward
To him who can reveal the bloody Treason
Of Ozmin's Death: but here Grief stops my Words.

Aben.
O worthy Oliman! be thine the charge.
Soon as my dear, my injur'd Lords atton'd,
Lift up thy Eyes, high as Ambition points,
To all the glorious Honours he possest;
Thou shallt be Heir to them, and to his Wealth.

Ol.
I covet neither, our great Prophet knows;
From nobler Motives, and from dearer Ties
My Zeal proceeds, and warrants all my Actions.
With you, let fair Zelinda share in Peace
Her Fathers ample Fortune as her Right;
And let her bless some happy fated Youth,
With (what transcends Titles, or Wealth, or Fame)
The softest, richest Prize, her lovely self.
I know not why, but a strange Thought disturbs me.
Methinks I wou'd not wish, for her own sake,
To see Abinomin her Husband.

Aben.
Abinomin! she dares not think to wed him—
Now, by the Royal Zegree-Blood, that flyes
To dye my Face, a Witness of my scorn,
By the warm Vengeance that surrounds my Heart,
By the fierce Rage, that sparkles in my Eyes,
She shall not dare to form a secret wish
In favour of that curst Abencerrago.
But let her not be nam'd, she wrongs our purpose:
Revenge and Ozmin fill thy lab'ring Thought,
Prepare thy solemn Rites, and think of Blood—
Look from thy enlightn'd Orb, thou Saint betray'd,
Look down, and point the Author of thy Death!
The Wretch that durst with impious Hands approach—
So shall thy sacred Spirit be at rest,
And all my rage dissolve to gentle Tears!

Ol.
Request, that Prince Abinomin be present,
And with him all the Pris'ners of their Faction,
That they be shook with unexpected Horror,
When they shall hear your dreadful Will proclaim'd.

Aben.
Be it so:
That I may Thunder in their Coward Ears,
Such Punishments will chill them with Despair,
And force them to lament their treacherous hate;
Cursing the gloomy Hour, when Ozmin fell.
To thee I leave the Form of our Procession;
Nor will I fail in ought may aid our Justice.
Oh Ozmin! hear thy faithful Abenede:
Fierce as thy Love, and great as thy Renown;
Raging and wild my dire Revenge shall prove
Guide thou aright my active pious care;
Nor Sex, nor Friend, my boundless Rage shall spare,
But offer all to thee, and to Despair.

(Exeunt.