Bend. Makes she no more of me than of a slave? Madam, I thought I had instructed you [Aside. [To ALMEYDA. To frame a speech more suiting to the times: The circumstances of that dire design, Your own despair, my unexpected aid, My life endangered by his bold defence, And, after all, his death, and your deliverance, Were themes that ought not to be slighted o'er. Must. She might have passed over all your petty businesses, and no great matter; but the raising of my rabble is an exploit of consequence, and not to be mumbled up in silence, for all her pertness. Alm. When force invades the gift of nature, life, The eldest law of nature bids defend; And if in that defence a tyrant fall,. Suffice it, that he's dead; all wrongs die with him; Who saved my life and honour, but praise neither. pay. But what speak I of payment and reward! me! Now, Africans, He shows himself to you; to me he stood And loaded you with more ignoble bonds. Bend. I have not patience; she consumes the time In idle talk, and owns her false belief: Seize her by force, and bear her thence unheard. Alm. [To the People.] No, let me rather die your sacrifice," Than live his triumph. I throw myself into my people's arms; As you are men, compassionate my wrongs, Ant. Something must be done to save her. [Aside to MUST.] This is all addressed to you, sir: she singled you out with her eye, as commander in chief of the mobility. Must. Think'st thou so, slave Antonio? Ant. Most certainly, sir; and you cannot, in honour, but protect her: now look to your hits, and make your fortune. Must. Methought, indeed, she cast a kind leer towards me. Our prophet was but just such another scoundrel as I am, till he raised himself to power, and consequently to holiness, by marrying his master's widow. I am resolved I'll put forward for myself; for why should I be my lord Benducar's fool and slave, when I may be my own fool and his master? Bend. Take her into possession, Mustapha. Must. That's better counsel than you meant it: Yes, I do take her into possession, and into protec tion too. What say you, masters, will you stand by me? Omnes. One and all, one and all. Bend. Hast thou betrayed me, traitor?---Mufti, speak, and mind them of religion. [MUFTI shakes his head. Must. Alas! the poor gentleman has gotten a cold with a sermon of two hours long, and a prayer of four; and, besides, if he durst speak, mankind is grown wiser at this time of day than to cut one another's throats about religion. Our Mufti's is a green coat, and the Christian's is a black coat; and we must wisely go together by the ears, whether green or black shall sweep our spoils. Drums within, and shouts. Bend. Now we shall see whose numbers will prevail : The conquering troops of Muley-Zeydan come, Must. We will have a fair trial of skill for it, I can tell him that. When we have dispatched with Muley-Zeydan, your lordship shall march, in equal proportions of your body, to the four gates of the city, and every tower shall have a quarter of you. [ANTONIO draws them up, and takes ALM. by the hand. Shouts again, and Drums. Enter DORAX and SEBASTIAN, attended by African Seb. and Alm. My Sebastian! my Almeyda! Seb. And live to love thee ever. Bend. How! Dorax and Sebastian still alive! The Moors and Christians joined !-I thank thee, prophet. Dor. The citadel is ours; and Muley-Zeydan Safe under guard, but as becomes a prince. Lay down your arms; such base plebeian blood Must. I suppose you may put it up without offence to any man here present. For my part, I have been loyal to my sovereign lady, though that villain Benducar, and that hypocrite the Mufti, would have corrupted me; but if those two escape public justice, then I and all my late honest subjects here deserve hanging. Bend. [To DoR.] I'm sure I did my part to poi- What saint soe'er has soldered thee again: more, And drenched him with a draught so deadly cold, That, hadst not thou prevented, had congealed The channel of his biood, and froze him dry. Bend. Thou interposing fool, to mangle mischief, And think to mend the perfect work of hell! Dor. Thus, when heaven pleases, double poisons cure I will not tax thee of ingratitude To me, thy friend, who hast betrayed thy prince: Go, bear him to his fate, And send him to attend his master's ghost, Ant. You are fallen into good hands, father-inlaw; your sparkling jewels, and Morayma's eyes, * Et quum fata volunt, bina venena juvant.-AUSONIUS. may prove a better bail than you deserve. Muf. The best that can come of me, in this condition, is, to have my life begged first, and then to be begged for a fool afterwards t. [Exeunt ANTONIO, with the Mufti; and, at the same time, BENDUCAR is carried off. Dor. [To MUST.] You, and your hungry herd, depart untouched; For justice cannot stoop so low, to reach That still rise upmost when the nation boils; [Exeunt MUSTAPHA and Rabble. Alm. With gratitude as low as knees can pay [Kneeling to him. To those blest holy fires, our guardian angels, Receive these thanks, till altars can be raised. Dor. Arise, fair excellence, and pay no thanks, [Raising her up. Till time discover what I have deserved. Seb. More than reward can answer. Idiots were anciently wards of the crown; and the custody of their person, and charge of their estate, was often granted to the suit of some favourite, where the extent of the latter rendered it an object of plunder. Hence the common phrase of being begged for a fool. |