_Almanz._ Make good your entrance, and bring up more men. I feared, brave friend, my aid had been too late. _Abdelm._ You drew us from the jaws of certain fate. At my approach, The gate was open, and the draw-bridge down; But, when they saw I stood, and came not on, They charged with fury on my little band, Who, much o'erpowered, could scarce the shock withstand. _Almanz._ Ere night we shall the whole Albayzyn gain. But see, the Spaniards march along the plain To its relief; you, Abdelmelech, go, And force the rest, while I repulse the foe. [_Exit_ ALMANZOR. _Enter_ ABDALLA, _and some few Soldiers, who seem fearful._ _Abdal._ Turn cowards, turn! there is no hope in flight; You yet may live, if you but dare to fight. Come, you brave few, who only fear to fly, We're not enough to conquer, but to die. _Abdelm._ No, prince, that mean advantage I refuse; 'Tis in your power a nobler fate to choose. Since we are rivals, honour does command We should not die, but by each other's hand. Retire; and, if it prove my destiny [_To his men._ To fall, I charge you let the prince go free. [_The Soldiers depart on both sides._ _Abdal._ O, Abdelmelech, that I knew some way This debt of honour, which I owe, to pay! But fate has left this only means for me, To die, and leave you Lyndaraxa free. _Abdelm._ He, who is vanquished and is slain, is blest; The wretched conqueror can ne'er have rest; But is reserved a harder fate to prove. Bound in the fetters of dissembled love. _Abdal._ Now thou art base, and I deserve her more; Without complaint I will to death adore. Dar'st thou see faults, and yet dost love pretend? I will even Lyndaraxa's crimes defend. _Abdelm._ Maintain her cause, then, better than thy own,-- Than thy ill got, and worse defended throne. [_They fight,_ ABDALLA _falls._ _Abdelm._ Now ask your life. _Abdal._ 'Tis gone; that busy thing, The soul, is packing up, and just on wing, Like parting swallows, when they seek the spring: Like them, at its appointed time, it goes, And flies to countries more unknown than those. _Enter_ LYNDARAXA _hastily, sees them, and is going out again._ ABDELMELECH _stops her._ _Abdelm._ No, you shall stay, and see a sacrifice, Not offered by my sword, but by your eyes. From those he first ambitious poison drew, And swelled to empire from the love of you. Accursed fair! Thy comet-blaze portends a prince's fate; And suffering subjects groan beneath thy weight.