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Because I still was easy to myself.

The loss of her I loved would touch me nearest;
Yet, if I found her, I might love too much,
And that's uneasy pleasure.

Dor. If she be fated

To be your wife, your fate will find her for you: Predestinated ills are never lost.

Ant. I had forgot

To inquire before, but long to be informed,
How, poisoned and betrayed, and round beset,
You could unwind yourself from all these dangers,
And move so speedily to our relief?

Dor. The double poisons, after a short combat, Expelled each other in their civil war,

By nature's benefit, and roused my thoughts
To guard that life which now I found attacked.
I summoned all my officers in haste,

On whose experienced faith I might rely;
All came resolved to die in my defence,
Save that one villain who betrayed the gate.
Our diligence prevented the surprise

We justly feared: So Muley-Zeydan found us
Drawn up in battle, to receive the charge.

Ant. But how the Moors and Christian slaves were joined,

You have not yet unfolded.

Dor. That remains.

We knew their interest was the same with ours:
And, though I hated more than death Sebastian,
I could not see him die by vulgar hands;
But, prompted by my angel, or by his,
Freed all the slaves, and placed him next myself,
Because I would not have his person known.
I need not tell the rest, the event declares it.
Ant. Your conquests came of course; their men

were raw,

And yours were disciplined.---One doubt remains,

Why you industriously concealed the king,
Who, known, had added courage to his men?
Dor. I would not hazard civil broils betwixt
His friends and mine; which might prevent our
combat.

Yet, had he fallen, I had dismissed his troops;
Or, if victorious, ordered his escape.-

But I forgot a new increase of joy

To feast him with surprise; I must about it:
Expect my swift return.

Enter a Servant.

[Exit.

Serv. Here's a lady at the door, that bids me tell you, she is come to make an end of the game, that was broken off betwixt you.

Ant. What manner of woman is she? Does she not want two of the four elements? has she any thing about her but air and fire?

Serv. Truly, she flies about the room as if she had wings instead of legs; I believe she's just turning into a bird:-A house bird I warrant her:-And so hasty to fly to you, that, rather than fail of entrance, she would come tumbling down the chimney, like a swallow.

Enter MORAYMA.

Ant. [Running to her, and embracing her.] Look, if she be not here already!-What, no denial it seems will serve your turn? Why, thou little dun, is thy debt so pressing?

Mor. Little devil, if you please: Your lease is out, good master conjurer, and I am come to fetch your soul and body; not an hour of lewdness longer in this world for you.

Ant. Where the devil hast thou been? and how the devil didst thou find me here?

Mor. I followed you into the castle-yard, but

there was nothing but tumult and confusion: and I was bodily afraid of being picked up by some of the rabble; considering I had a double charge about me, my jewels, and my maidenhead.

Ant. Both of them intended for my worship's sole use and property.

Mor. And what was poor little I among them all?

Ant. Not a mouthful a-piece: 'Twas too much odds, in conscience!

Mor. So, seeking for shelter, I naturally ran to the old place of assignation, the garden-house; where, for the want of instinct, you did not follow

me.

Ant. Well, for thy comfort, I have secured thy father; and I hope thou hast secured his effects for

us.

Mor. Yes, truly, I had the prudent foresight to consider, that, when we grow old, and weary of solacing one another, we might have, at least, wherewithal to make merry with the world; and take up with a worse pleasure of eating and drinking, when we were disabled for a better.

Ant. Thy fortune will be even too good for thee; for thou art going into the country of serenades and gallantries, where thy street will be haunted every night with thy foolish lovers, and my rivals, who will be sighing and singing, under thy inexorable windows, lamentable ditties, and call thee cruel, and goddess, and moon, and stars, and all the poetical names of wicked rhime; while thou and I are minding our business, and jogging on, and laughing at them, at leisure minutes, which will be very few; take that by way of threatening.

Mor. I am afraid you are not very valiant, that you huff so much beforehand. But, they say, your

churches are fine places for love-devotion; many a she-saint is there worshipped.

Ant. Temples are there, as they are in all other countries, good conveniences for dumb interviews. I hear the protestants are not much reformed in that point neither; for their sectaries call their churches by the natural name of meeting-houses. Therefore I warn thee in good time, not more of devotion than needs must, good future spouse, and always in a veil; for those eyes of thine are damned enemies to mortification.

Mor. The best thing I have heard of Christendom is, that we women are allowed the privilege of having souls; and I assure you, I shall make bold to bestow mine upon some lover, whenever you begin to go astray; and, if I find no convenience in a church, a private chamber will serve the turn.

Ant. When that day comes, I must take my revenge, and turn gardener again; for I find I am much given to planting.

Mor. But take heed, in the mean time, that some young Antonio does not spring up in your own family; as false as his father, though of another man's planting.

Re-enter DORAX, with SEBASTIAN and ALMEYDA, SEBASTIAN enters speaking to DORAX, while in the mean time ANTONIO presents MORAYMA to AL

MEYDA.

Seb. How fares our royal prisoner, Muley-Zey

dan?

Dor. Disposed to grant whatever I desire, To gain a crown, and freedom. Well I know him, Of easy temper, naturally good,

And faithful to his word.

Seb. Yet one thing wants,

To fill the measure of my happiness;

I'm still in pain for poor Alvarez' life.

Dor. Release that fear, the good old man is safe;

I paid his ransom,

And have already ordered his attendance.

Seb. O bid him enter, for I long to see him.

Enter ALVAREZ with a Servant, who departs when ALVAREZ is entered.

Alv. Now by my soul, and by these hoary hairs, [Falling down, and embracing the King's knees, I'm so o'erwhelmed with pleasure, that I feel A latter spring within my withering limbs, That shoots me out again.

Seb. Thou good old man,

[Raising him.

Thou hast deceived me into more, more joys,
Who stood brim-full before.

Alo. O my dear child,

I love thee so, I cannot call thee king,

Whom I so oft have dandled in these arms! What, when I gave thee lost, to find thee living! 'Tis like a father, who himself had 'scaped

A falling house, and, after anxious search,
Hears from afar his only son within;

And digs through rubbish, till he drags him out,
To see the friendly light.

Such is my haste, so trembling is my joy,

To draw thee forth from underneath thy fate.

Seb. The tempest is o'erblown, the skies are clear, And the sea charmed into a calm so still,

That not a wrinkle ruffles her smooth face.

Alv. Just such she shows before a rising storm; And therefore am I come with timely speed, To warn you into port.

Alm. My soul forebodes

Some dire event involved in those dark words,
And just disclosing in a birth of fate.

[Aside,

Ale. Is there not yet an heir of this vast empire,

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