_At the drawing up of the Curtain_, VERAMOND, _King of Arragon, appears_; XIMENA, _the Queen, by him_; VICTORIA, _their eldest Daughter, on the right Hand; and_ CELIDEA, _their younger Daughter, on the left; Courtiers stand attending in File on each Side of the stage; The Men on the one Hand, the Ladies on the other. Amongst the Men_, DON LOPEZ; _amongst the Women_, DALINDA, _his Daughter_. _Vera._ Now the long wars betwixt Castile and Arragon Are ended in the ruin of our foes; And fierce Ramirez, the Castilian king, Who tugged for empire with our warlike son, In single combat taken, adds his laurels To the young victor's brow: our tender maids, And trembling children, shall with scorn behold The haughty captive, who had made his vaunts, To lay their dwellings level; and with salt To sow the place, where Saragossa stood. _Xim._ Processions, prayers, and public thanks to heaven, Were fit to be decreed. _Vera._ Your sex is ever foremost in devotion. But for our brave confederate, young Navarre, He shall receive the prize reserved within My breast; and such a one, His youth and valour have right well deserved. _Xim._ I hear he comes along with our Alphonso, And, next our son, did best. _Vera._ Perhaps as well; Alphonso's action was indeed more glorious, To buckle with a king in single fight, And take him prisoner; but his fiery temper Still hurries him to daring rash attempts. _Xim._ Alphonso is impetuous, but he's noble; He will not take one atom from Navarre Of what's his right, nor needs he. _Vera._ If he should---- _Xim._ You take too bad impressions of your son. _Vera._ No more, Ximena, for I hear their trumpets Proclaim their entry; and our own their welcome. [_Trumpets from each side of the Stage._ _Enter_ ALPHONSO _and_ GARCIA, _hand in hand. After them, the Prisoner, King_ RAMIREZ, _alone; then the two Colonels_, SANCHO _and_ CARLOS; _after them, other Officers of the Army_. VERAMOND _advances to meet them; the Queen and the two Princesses follow him_. ALPHONSO _first kneels to his Father and Mother, and immediately runs to salute his Sister_ VICTORIA _tenderly; then slightly salutes_ CELIDEA, _and returns to_ VICTORIA. _In the mean time_ VERAMOND _embraces Don_ GARCIA, _who afterwards kisses the Queen's hand_. _Vera._ The triumphs of this day, auspicious prince, Proclaim themselves your gift, to us and Arragon; From you they are derived; to you return; For what we are, you make us. _Gar._ May heaven and your brave son, and, above all, Your own prevailing genius, guard your age From such another day of doubtful fate! But if it come, then Garcia will be proud To be again the foil of great Alphonso.