_Fer._ Alas! What fault of theirs deserved such punishment? _Sa._ That they refused confession of the prophet. _Fer._ To acknowledge him were to renounce their faith. That is no wrong. _Sa._ Whether it be wrong or no, ’Tis not my will they undergo these pains. _Fer._ I pray thee lead me to them, if thou mayst. _Sa._ Nay, bide thou here, I will throw back the gate, And bid them forth: and for thy less constraint 750 Will then depart. [_Goes to back, and exit._ _Fer._ Such courtesy and cruelty in one I never thought to have met, nor found on earth So fair a prison, with an angel in it, And no hope of deliverance. Now I see Nature hath vainly lavished on these Moors Bravery and beauty and all gifts of pride; And left them barbarous for lack of thee, Sweet Pity, of human sorrow born: ’tis thou Dost raise man ’bove the brutes: ’tis thou dost make His heart so singular, that he alone, 760 Himself commiserating, against heaven Pushes complaint, and finds within his heart Room for all creatures, that like him are born To suffer and perish. _Enter Captives from gate; they run to Ferdinand as they see him._ CHOR. Hail, mighty Ferdinand!— Hail, generous prince!—Behold Thy countrymen enslaved.— What hope? what hope? O say— Arm of our fatherland, 770 What mercy may be told?— Com’st thou to set us free?— Are we already saved?— Or is it true, the boast We hear, the triumph-song?— And art thou too as we,— (O miserable day)— Faln into the enemy’s hand?— And com’st thou thus alone? Thine army slain and lost,— 780 The cause of Christ o’erthrown.— What hope? what hope? O say.— _Fer._ My friends, the worst is true. Trust still in God. _Ch._ Alas! have all our prayers been made in vain? _Fer._ Despair not yet. _Ch._ What hope then dost thou bring? _Fer._ I bring you courage, friends. I come to share Your prison, since I cannot set you free. _Ch._ Alas! thou too art captive. All is lost.— But if thou share our prison, shall we share Thy ransom also, when thou goest free? 790 _Fer._ I have no ransom, friends, that ye could share. _Ch._ No ransom! _Fer._ Nay, no ransom. _Ch._ Not for thee? _Fer._ But such a ransom as cannot be paid. _Ch._ So great? _Fer._ Ay, even so great, that ye yourselves Would not consent to share. _Ch._ Tell us the sum. _Fer._ ’Tis to surrender Ceuta to the Moor. Now are ye silent. _Ch._ We are flesh and blood. _Fer._ Say ye? _Ch._ The stones of Ceuta cannot bleed, The walls of Ceuta would not pine as we. _Fer._ Then take them for example: be as they: 800 Lament not, pine not.