_Zul._ I hear them loudly call. _Lyndar._ Your fear will lose you; call as loud as they: I have not time to teach you what to say. The court will in a moment all be here; But second what I say, and do not fear. Call help; run that way; leave the rest to me. [ZUL. _and_ HAMET _retire, and within cry,_--Help! _Enter, at several doors, the King_, ABENAMAR, SELIN, OZMYN, ALMANZOR, _with Guards attending_ BOABDELIN. _Boab._ What can the cause of all this tumult be? And what the meaning of that naked sword? _Lyndar._ I'll tell, when fear will so much breath afford.-- The queen and Abdelmelech--'Twill not out-- Even I, who saw it, of the truth yet doubt, It seems so strange. _Almanz._ Did she not name the queen? Haste; speak. _Lyndar._ How dare I speak what I have seen?-- With Hamet, and with Zulema I went, To pay both theirs, and my acknowledgment To Almahide, and by her mouth implore Your clemency, our fortunes to restore. We chose this hour, which we believed most free, When she retired from noise and company. The ante-chamber past, we gently knocked, Unheard it seems, but found the lodgings locked, In duteous silence while we waited there, We first a noise, and then long whispers hear; Yet thought it was the queen at prayers alone, Till she distinctly said,--If this were known, My love, what shame, what danger would ensue! Yet I,--and sighed,--could venture more for you! _Boab._ O heaven, what do I hear! _Almanz._ Let her go on. _Lyndar._ And how,--then murmured in a bigger tone Another voice,--and how should it be known? This hour is from your court attendants free; The king suspects Almanzor, but not me. _Zul._ I find her drift; Hamet, be confident; [_At the door._ Second her words, and fear not the event. ZULEMA _and_ HAMET _enter. The King embraces them._ _Boab._ Welcome, my only friends;--behold in me, O kings, behold the effects of clemency! See here the gratitude of pardoned foes! That life, I gave them, they for me expose! _Hamet._ Though Abdelmelech was our friend before, When duty called us, he was so no more. _Almanz._ Damn your delay!--you torturers, proceed! I will not hear one word but Almahide. _Boab._ When you, within, the traitor's voice did hear, What did you then? _Zul._ I durst not trust my ear; But, peeping through the key-hole, I espied The queen, and Abdelmelech by her side; She on the couch, he on her bosom lay; Her hand about his neck his head did stay, And from his forehead wiped the drops away. _Boab._ Go on, go on, my friends, to clear my doubt; I hope I shall have life to hear you out. _Zul_ What had been, sir, you may suspect too well; What followed, modesty forbids to tell: Seeing what we had thought beyond belief, Our hearts so swelled with anger and with grief, That, by plain force, we strove the door to break. He, fearful, and with guilt, or love, grown weak, Just as we entered, 'scaped the other way; Nor did the amazed queen behind him stay.