_Bend._ Makes she no more of me than of a slave?-- [_Aside._ Madam, I thought I had instructed you [_To_ ALMEYDA. To frame a speech more suiting to the times: The circumstances of that dire design, Your own despair, my unexpected aid, My life endangered by his bold defence, And, after all, his death, and your deliverance, Were themes that ought not to be slighted o'er. _Must._ She might have passed over all your petty businesses, and no great matter; but the raising of my rabble is an exploit of consequence, and not to be mumbled up in silence, for all her pertness. _Alm._ When force invades the gift of nature, life, The eldest law of nature bids defend; And if in that defence a tyrant fall, His death's his crime, not ours, Suffice it, that he's dead; all wrongs die with him; When he can wrong no more, I pardon him: Thus I absolve myself, and him excuse, Who saved my life and honour, but praise neither. _Bend._ 'Tis cheap to pardon, whom you would not pay. But what speak I of payment and reward! Ungrateful woman, you are yet no queen, Nor more than a proud haughty christian slave: As such I seize my right. [_Going to lay hold of her._ _Alm._ [_Drawing a Dagger._] Dare not to approach me!-- Now, Africans, He shows himself to you; to me he stood Confessed before, and owned his insolence To espouse my person, and assume the crown, Claimed in my right; for this, he slew your tyrant; Oh no! he only changed him for a worse; Embased your slavery by his own vileness, And loaded you with more ignoble bonds. Then think me not ungrateful, not to share The imperial crown with a presuming traitor. He says, I am a Christian; true, I am, But yet no slave: If Christians can be thought Unfit to govern those of other faith, 'Tis left for you to judge. _Bend._ I have not patience; she consumes the time In idle talk, and owns her false belief: Seize her by force, and bear her thence unheard. _Alm._ [_To the People._] No, let me rather die your sacrifice, Than live his triumph. I throw myself into my people's arms; As you are men, compassionate my wrongs, And, as good men, protect me. _Ant._ Something must be done to save her. [_Aside to_ MUST.] This is all addressed to you, sir: she singled you out with her eye, as commander in chief of the mobility. _Must._ Think'st thou so, slave Antonio? _Ant._ Most certainly, sir; and you cannot, in honour, but protect her: now look to your hits, and make your fortune. _Must._ Methought, indeed, she cast a kind leer towards me. Our prophet was but just such another scoundrel as I am, till he raised himself to power, and consequently to holiness, by marrying his master's widow. I am resolved I'll put forward for myself; for why should I be my lord Benducar's fool and slave, when I may be my own fool and his master? _Bend._ Take her into possession, Mustapha.