_Sebast._ No, thou canst only shew me for a man: Afric is stored with monsters; man's a prodigy, Thy subjects have not seen. _M. Mol._ Thou talk'st as if Still at the head of battle. _Sebast._ Thou mistakest, For then I would not talk. _Bend._ Sure he would sleep. _Sebast._ Till doomsday, when the trumpet sounds to rise; For that's a soldier's call. _M. Mol._ Thou'rt brave too late; Thou shouldst have died in battle, like a soldier. _Sebast._ I fought and fell like one, but death deceived me; I wanted weight of feeble Moors upon me, To crush my soul out. _M. Mol._ Still untameable! In what a ruin has thy head-strong pride, And boundless thirst of empire, plunged thy people! _Sebast._ What sayst thou? ha! no more of that. _M. Mol._ Behold, What carcases of thine thy crimes have strewed, And left our Afric vultures to devour. _Bend._ Those souls were those thy God intrusted with thee, To cherish, not destroy. _Sebast._ Witness, O heaven, how much This sight concerns me! would I had a soul For each of these; how gladly would I pay The ransom down! But since I have but one, 'Tis a king's life, and freely 'tis bestowed. Not your false prophet, but eternal justice Has destined me the lot, to die for these: 'Tis fit a sovereign so should pay such subjects; For subjects such as they are seldom seen, Who not forsook me at my greatest need; Nor for base lucre sold their loyalty, But shared my dangers to the last event, And fenced them with their own. These thanks I pay you; [_Wipes his eyes._ And know, that, when Sebastian weeps, his tears Come harder than his blood. _M. Mol._ They plead too strongly To be withstood. My clouds are gathering too, In kindly mixture with his royal shower. Be safe; and owe thy life, not to my gift, But to the greatness of thy mind, Sebastian. Thy subjects too shall live; a due reward For their untainted faith, in thy concealment. _Muf._ Remember, sir, your vow. [_A general shout._ _M. Mol._ Do thou remember Thy function, mercy, and provoke not blood. _Mul. Zeyd._ One of his generous fits, too strong to last. [_Aside to_ BENDUCAR. _Bend._ The Mufti reddens; mark that holy cheek. [_To him._ He frets within, froths treason at his mouth, And churns it thro' his teeth; leave me to work him. _Seb._ A mercy unexpected, undesired, Surprises more: you've learnt the art to vanquish. You could not,--give me leave to tell you, sir,-- Have given me life but in my subjects' safety: Kings, who are fathers, live but in their people. _M. Mol._ Still great, and grateful; that's thy character.-- Unveil the woman; I would view the face, That warmed our Mufti's zeal: These pious parrots peck the fairest fruit: Such tasters are for kings. [_Officers go to_ ALMEYDA _to unveil her._ _Alm._ Stand off, ye slaves! I will not be unveiled. _M. Mol_ Slave is thy title:--force her.