_Tar._ What here I have seen, Might I not take it with me when I go, Would hold me fast until the day of doom. 690 _Sa._ (_aside_). And may the day of doom come ere thou take it! [_Exeunt K. and T._ (_To F._) Most generous prince, forgive me. _Fer._ I thank thee, Sala. _Sa._ I pressed the king so far as I may dare. He hath a temper to resent advice, Which urged, will rather drive him from the matter It looks to favour, than assist him towards it. I must find other paths for my goodwill. Deem me thy servant: and o’erlook the wrong I seem to have done thee, being again constrained To fight against thee. _Fer._ Say no more, my friend. 700 We serve our kings. Thou didst defeat our people By numbers, merely numbers. I prithee tell me The name of your princess. _Sa._ Almeh. _Fer._ Betrothed Already to the prince my conqueror? _Sa._ The thing is new. Thou know’st as much as I. _Fer._ The prince is fortunate. _Sa._ So is the king In his alliance. _Fer._ Is the marriage then Between the kingdoms rather than the parties? _Sa._ If ’twas your war that hath determined it. _Fer._ It were a strained ungentle consequence, 710 That I should sail from Portugal to force A lover on this lady’s inclination. _Sa._ I were like grieved. _Fer._ Her beauty far exceeds All that I thought to find. In my own country Our court holds not her equal. _Sa._ I believe it. _Fer._ And if her mind be as her speech, endowed.... _Sa._ Thou owest her so much praise for kindnesses Done to your prisoned countrymen. _Fer._ Ah, Sala, Where be these captives kept? if thou wouldst help me, I pray thee bring me in time where I may see them. I must speak with them. _Sa._ That is easy, prince. 721 Behind these garden grounds is a deep pit, Used as a quarry once; steep hanging sides Of rock it hath, that hewn away below Are inaccessible to any foot Save the soft lizard, that hath made his home Among the clefts with scorpions and snakes, And on the scorching ledges basks all day. ’Tis there these Christians lie. One way there is Climbing by solid steps of native stone, 730 That comes up to the ground. Between those rocks Thou seest the iron gate, and by the gate The sentinel that keeps it. I would guide thee To see thy countrymen; but there’s no need To make the hard descent; for once a day, At prayer and pity of our good princess, ’Tis granted them to come and walk above In shadow of yon balmy cypress grove, That skirts the northern brink: and but for this, Their sole refreshment, all were like to have died 740 Of woe, and scant food, and the daily stroke Shelterless of the hot meridian sun.