Volume Ii Part 16 (2/2)

_Enter_ Abdelazer, Roderigo, Osmin, Zarrack, _and some others of his Party_.

_Rod_. Oh, fly, my Lord, fly, for the Day is lost.

_Abd_. There are three hundred and odd Days i'th Year, And cannot we lose one? dismiss thy Fears, They'll make a Coward of thee.

_Osm_. Sir, all the n.o.ble _Spaniards_ have forsook you; Your Soldiers faint, are round beset with Enemies, Nor can you shun your Fate, but by your Flight.

_Abd_. I can--and must--in spite of Fate: The Wheel of War shall turn about again, And dash the Current of his Victories.-- This is the Tent I've pitched, at distance from the Armies, To meet the Queen and Cardinal; Charm'd with the Magick of Dissimulation, I know by this h'as furl'd his Ensigns up, And is become a tame and coward a.s.s.

[_A Retreat is sounded_.

--Hark--hark, 'tis done: oh, my inchanting Engine!

--Dost thou not hear Retreat sounded?

_Rod_. Sure 'tis impossible.

_Abd_. She has prevail'd--a Woman's Tongue and Eyes Are Forces stronger than Artilleries.

_Enter_ Queen, Cardinal, _Women, and Soldiers_.

--We are betray'd--

_Qu_. What means this Jealousy? lay by your Weapons.

And embrace--the sight of these beget Suspicion: --_Abdelazer_, by my Birth he comes in peace; Lord Cardinal, on my Honour so comes he.

_Abd_. Let him withdraw his Troops then.

_Qu_. They're Guards for all our Safeties: Give me your Hand, Prince Cardinal--thine, _Abdelazer_-- [_She brings them together, they embrace_.

This blest Accord I do behold with Joy.

_Card. Abdelazer_, I at the Queen's Command have met you here, To know what 'tis you will propose to us.

_Abd_. Peace and eternal Friends.h.i.+p 'twixt us two.

How much against my Will I took up Arms, Be witness, Heav'n: nor was it in revenge to you, But to let out th' infected Blood of _Philip_, Whose sole aim Is to be King--which Spain will never suffer; Spain gave me Education, though not Birth, Which has int.i.tled it my native Home, To which such Reverence and Esteem I bear, I will preserve it from the Tyrant's Rage.

The People who once lov'd him, now abhor him, And 'tis your Power alone that buoys him up: And when you've lifted him into a Throne, 'Tis time to shake you off.

_Card_. Whilst I behold him as my native Prince, My Honour and Religion bids me serve him; Yet not when I'm convinc'd that whilst I do so, I injure _Spain_.

_Abd_. If he were so, the Powers above forbid We should not serve, adore, and fight for him; But _Philip_ is a b.a.s.t.a.r.d:--nay, 'twill surprize ye, But that 'tis Truth, the Queen will satisfy you.

_Qu_. With one bold Word he has undone my Honour.

[_Weeps_.

Too bluntly, _Abdelazer_, you repeat That which by slow Degrees you shou'd have utter'd.

_Abd_. Pardon my Roughness, Madam, I meant well.

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