_Emp._ No, not for my affairs; But, for your own, too much. _Seb._ You talk in clouds; explain your meaning, sir. _Emp._ Explain yours first.--What meant you, hand in hand? And, when you saw me, with a guilty start, You loosed your hold, affrighted at my presence. _Seb._ Affrighted! _Emp._ Yes, astonished and confounded. _Seb._ What mak'st thou of thyself, and what of me? Art thou some ghost, some demon, or some god, That I should stand astonished at thy sight? If thou could'st deem so meanly of my courage, Why didst thou not engage me man for man, And try the virtue of that Gorgon face, To stare me into statue? _Emp._ Oh, thou art now recovered; but, by heaven, Thou wert amazed at first, as if surprised At unexpected baseness brought to light. For know, ungrateful man, that kings, like gods, Are every where; walk in the abyss of minds, And view the dark recesses of the soul. _Seb._ Base and ungrateful never was I thought; Nor, till this turn of fate, durst thou have called me: But, since thou boast'st the omniscience of a god, Say in what cranny of Sebastian's soul, Unknown to me, so loathed a crime is lodged? _Emp._ Thou hast not broke my trust, reposed in thee! _Seb._ Imposed, but not received.--Take back that falsehood. _Emp._ Thou art not married to Almeyda? _Seb._ Yes. _Emp._ And own'st the usurpation of my love? _Seb._ I own it, in the face of heaven and thee; No usurpation, but a lawful claim, Of which I stand possessed. _Emp._ She has chosen well, Betwixt a captive and a conqueror. _Alm._ Betwixt a monster, and the best of men!-- He was the envy of his neighbouring kings; For him their sighing queens despised their lords; And virgin daughters blushed when he was named. To share his noble chains is more to me, Than all the savage greatness of thy throne. _Seb._ Were I to chuse again, and knew my fate, For such a night I would be what I am. The joys I have possessed are ever mine; Out of thy reach; behind eternity; Hid in the sacred treasure of the past: But blest remembrance brings them hourly back. _Emp._ Hourly indeed, who hast but hours to live. O, mighty purchase of a boasted bliss! To dream of what thou hadst one fugitive night, And never shalt have more! _Seb._ Barbarian, thou canst part us but a moment! We shall be one again in thy despite. Life is but air, That yields a passage to the whistling sword, And closes when 'tis gone. _Alm._ How can we better die than close embraced, Sucking each other's souls while we expire? Which, so transfused, and mounting both at once, The saints, deceived, shall, by a sweet mistake, Hand up thy soul for mine, and mine for thine. _Emp._ No, I'll untwist you: I have occasion for your stay on earth. Let him mount first, and beat upon the wing, And wait an age for what I here detain; Or sicken at immortal joys above, And languish for the heaven he left below. _Alm._ Thou wilt not dare to break what heaven has joined?