_Lyndar._ His sword, in so much haste, he could not mind; But left this witness of his crime behind. _Boab._ O proud, ungrateful, faithless womankind! How changed, and what a monster am I made! My love, my honour, ruined and betrayed! _Almanz._ Your love and honour! mine are ruined worse:-- Furies and hell!--What right have you to curse? Dull husband as you are, What can your love, or what your honour, be? I am her lover, and she's false to me. _Boab._ Go; when the authors of my shame are found, Let them be taken instantly and bound: They shall be punished as our laws require: 'Tis just, that flames should be condemned to fire. This, with the dawn of morning shall be done. _Aben._ You haste too much her execution. Her condemnation ought to be deferred; With justice, none can be condemned unheard. _Boab._ A formal process tedious is, and long; Besides, the evidence is full and strong. _Lyndar._ The law demands two witnesses; and she Is cast, for which heaven knows I grieve, by three. _Ozm._ Hold, sir! since you so far insist on law, We can from thence one just advantage draw: That law, which dooms adultresses to die, Gives champions, too, to slandered chastity. _Almanz._ And how dare you, who from my bounty live, Intrench upon my love's prerogative? Your courage in your own concernments try; Brothers are things remote, while I am by. _Ozm._ I knew not you thus far her cause would own, And must not suffer you to fight alone: Let two to two in equal combat join; You vindicate her person, I her line. _Lyndar._ Of all mankind, Almanzor has least right In her defence, who wrong'd his love, to fight. _Almanz._ 'Tis false: she is not ill, nor can she be; She must be chaste, because she's loved by me. _Zul._ Dare you, what sense and reason prove, deny? _Almanz._ When she's in question, sense and reason lie. _Zul._ For truth, and for my injured sovereign, What I have said, I will to death maintain. _Ozm._ So foul a falsehood, whoe'er justifies, Is basely born, and, like a villain, lies. In witness of that truth, be this my gage. [_Takes a ring from his finger._ _Hamet._ I take it; and despise a traitor's rage. _Boab._ The combat's yours.--A guard the lists surround; Then raise a scaffold in the encompassed ground, And, by it, piles of wood; in whose just fire, Her champions slain, the adultress shall expire. _Aben._ We ask no favour, but what arms will yield. _Boab._ Choose, then, two equal judges of the field: Next morning shall decide the doubtful strife, Condemn the unchaste, or quit the virtuous wife. _Almanz._ But I am both ways cursed: For Almahide must die, if I am slain; Or for my rival I the conquest gain. [_Exeunt._ ACT V. SCENE I. ALMANZOR _solus._