_Cort_. If that was great, how great was the relief! _Cyd_. The first love still the strongest we account. _Cort_. That seems more strong which could the first surmount: But if you still continue thus unkind, Whom I love best, you, by my death, shall find. _Cyd_. If you should die, my death shall yours pursue; But yet I am not satisfied you're true. _Cort_. Hear me, ye gods! and punish him you hear, If aught within the world I hold so dear. _Cyd_. You would deceive the gods and me; she's dead, And is not in the world, whose love I dread.-- Name not the world; say, nothing is so dear. _Cort_. Then nothing is,--let that secure your fear. _Cyd_. 'Tis time must wear it off, but I must go. Can you your constancy in absence show? _Cort_. Misdoubt my constancy, and do not try, But stay, and keep me ever in your eye. _Cyd_. If as a prisoner I were here, you might Have then insisted on a conqueror's right, And staid me here; but now my love would be The effect of force, and I would give it free. _Cort_. To doubt your virtue, or your love, were sin! Call for the captive prince, and bring him in. _Enter_ Guyomar, _bound and sad_. You look, sir, as your fate you could not bear: [_To_ Guy. Are Spanish fetters, then, so hard to wear? Fortune's unjust, she ruins oft the brave, And him, who should be victor, makes the slave. _Guy_. Son of the sun! my fetters cannot be But glorious for me, since put on by thee; The ills of love, not those of fate, I fear; These can I brave, but those I cannot bear: My rival brother, while I'm held in chains, In freedom reaps the fruit of all my pains. _Cort_. Let it be never said that he, whose breast Is filled with love, should break a lover's rest.-- Haste! lose no time!--your sister sets you free:-- And tell the king, my generous enemy, I offer still those terms he had before, Only ask leave his daughter to adore. _Guy_. Brother, (that name my breast shall ever own, [_He embraces him_. The name of foe be but in battles known;) For some few days all hostile acts forbear, That, if the king consents, it seem not fear: His heart, is noble, and great souls must be Most sought and courted in adversity.-- Three days, I hope, the wished success will tell. _Cyd_. Till that long time,-- _Cort_. Till that long time, farewell. [_Exeunt severally_. ACT III. SCENE I.--_A Chamber Royal_. _Enter_ ODMAR _and_ ALIBECH. _Odm_. The gods, fair Alibech, had so decreed, Nor could my valour against fate succeed; Yet though our army brought not conquest home, I did not from the fight inglorious come: If, as a victor, you the brave regard, Successless courage, then, may hope reward; And I, returning safe, may justly boast, To win the prize which my dear brother lost. _Enter_ GUYOMAR _behind him_. _Guy_. No, no, thy brother lives! and lives to be A witness, both against himself and thee; Though both in safety are returned again, I blush to ask her love for vanquished men.