_Old Man (turning to the bands)._ He bears himself most like an insolent Spaniard! 75 _Maurice._ And ye like slaves, that have destroy'd their master, But know not yet what freedom means; how holy And just a thing it is! He's a fallen foe! Come, come, forgive him! _All._ No, by Mahomet! _Francesco._ O mercy, mercy! talk to them of mercy! 80 _Old Man._ Mercy to thee! No, no, by Mahomet! _Maurice._ Nay, Mahomet taught mercy and forgiveness. I am sure he did! _Old Man._ Ha! Ha! Forgiveness! Mercy! _Maurice._ If he did not, he needs it for himself! _Alhadra._ Blaspheming fool! the law of Mahomet 85 Was given by him, who framed the soul of man. This the best proof--it fits the soul of man! Ambition, glory, thirst of enterprize, The deep and stubborn purpose of revenge, With all the boiling revelries of pleasure-- 90 These grow in the heart, yea, intertwine their roots With its minutest fibres! And that Being Who made us, laughs to scorn the lying faith, Whose puny precepts, like a wall of sand, Would stem the full tide of predestined Nature! 95 _Naomi (who turns toward Francesco with his sword)._ Speak! _All (to Alhadra)._ Speak! _Alhadra._ Is the murderer of your chieftain dead? Now as God liveth, who hath suffer'd him To make my children orphans, none shall die Till I have seen his blood! Off with him to the vessel! [_A part of the_ Morescoes _hurry him off._ _Alhadra._ The Tyger, that with unquench'd cruelty, 100 Still thirsts for blood, leaps on the hunter's spear With prodigal courage. 'Tis not so with man. _Maurice._ It is not so, remember that, my friends! Cowards are cruel, and the cruel cowards. _Alhadra._ Scatter yourselves, take each a separate way, 105 And move in silence to the house of Velez. [_Exeunt._ SCENE.--_A Dungeon._ _ALBERT (alone) rises slowly from a bed of reeds._