_Selin._ You are my principal invited guest, Whose eyes I would not only feed, but feast: You are to smile at his last groaning breath, And laugh to see his eye-balls roll in death; To judge the lingering soul's convulsive strife, When thick short breath catches at parting life. _Benz._ And of what marble do you think me made? _Selin._ What! can you be of just revenge afraid? _Benz._ He killed my brother in his own defence. Pity his youth, and spare his innocence. _Selin._ Art thou so soon to pardon murder won? Can he be innocent, who killed my son? Abenamar shall mourn as well as I; His Ozmyn, for my Tarifa, shall die. But since thou plead'st so boldly, I will see That justice, thou would'st hinder, done by thee. Here, [_Gives her his sword._] take the sword, and do a sister's part: Pierce his, fond girl, or I will pierce thy heart. _Ozm._ To his commands I join my own request; All wounds from you are welcome to my breast: Think only, when your hand this act has done, It has but finished what your eyes begun. I thought, with silence, to have scorned my doom; But now your noble pity has o'ercome; Which I acknowledge with my latest breath,-- The first whoe'er began a love in death. _Benz._ to _Selin._ Alas, what aid can my weak hand afford? You see I tremble when I touch a sword: The brightness dazzles me, and turns my sight; Or, if I look, 'tis but to aim less right. _Ozm._ I'll guide the hand which must my death convey; My leaping heart shall meet it half the way. _Selin_ to _Benz._ Waste not the precious time in idle breath. _Benz._ Let me resign this instrument of death. [_Giving the sword to her father, and then pulling it back._ Ah, no! I was too hasty to resign: 'Tis in your hand more mortal than in mine. _Enter_ HAMET. _Hamet._ The king is from the Alhambra beaten back, And now preparing for a new attack; To favour which, he wills, that instantly You reinforce him with a new supply. _Selin_ to _Benz._ Think not, although my duty calls me hence, That with the breach of yours I will dispense. Ere my return, see my commands you do: Let me find Ozmyn dead, and killed by you.-- Gazul and Reduan, attend her still; And, if she dares to fail, perform my will. [_Exeunt_ SELIN _and_ HAMET. [BENZAYDA _looks languishing on him, with her sword down_; GAZUL _and_ REDUAN _standing with drawn swords by her._ _Ozm._ Defer not, fair Benzayda, my death: Looking on you, I should but live to sigh away my breath. My eyes have done the work they had to do: I take your image with me, which they drew; And, when they close, I shall die full of you. _Benz._ When parents their commands unjustly lay, Children are privileged to disobey; Yet from that breach of duty I am clear, Since I submit the penalty to bear. To die, or kill you, is the alternative; Rather than take your life, I will not live.