watched by warm desire.

_Almah._ Guards, who all day on painful duty keep,
In dangers are not privileged to sleep.

_Almanz._ And with what dangers are you threatened here?
Am I, alas! a foe for you to fear?
See, madam, at your feet this enemy; [_Kneels._
Without your pity and your love I die.

_Almah._ Rise, rise, and do not empty hopes pursue;
Yet think that I deny myself, not you.

_Almanz._ A happiness so high I cannot bear:
My love's too fierce, and you too killing fair.
I grow enraged to see such excellence!--
If words, so much disordered, give offence,
My love's too full of zeal to think of sense.
Be you like me; dull reason hence remove,
And tedious forms, and give a loose to love.
Love eagerly; let us be gods to-night;
And do not, with half yielding, clash delight.

_Almah._ Thou strong seducer, opportunity!
Of womankind, half are undone by thee!
Though I resolve I will not be misled,
I wish I had not heard what you have said!
I cannot be so wicked to comply;
And, yet, am most unhappy to deny!
Away!

_Almanz._ I will not move me from this place:
I can take no denial from that face!

_Almah._ If I could yield,--but think not that I will,--
You and myself I in revenge should kill;
For I should hate us both, when it were done,
And would not to the shame of life be won.

_Almanz._ Live but to-night, and trust to-morrow's mind:
Ere that can come, there's a whole life behind.
Methinks, already crowned with joys I lie,
Speechless and breathless, in an ecstasy!
Not absent in one thought: I am all there:
Still close, yet wishing still to be more near.

_Almah._ Deny your own desires; for it will be
Too little now to be denied by me.
Will he, who does all great, all noble seem,
Be lost and forfeit to his own esteem?
Will he, who may with heroes claim a place,
Belie that fame, and to himself be base?
Think how august and godlike you did look,
When my defence, unbribed, you undertook;
But, when an act so brave you disavow,
How little, and how mercenary now!

_Almanz._ Are, then, my services no higher prized?
And can I fall so low, to be despised?

_Almah._ Yes; for whatever may be bought, is low;
And you yourself, who sell yourself, are so.
Remember the great act you did this day:
How did your love to virtue then give way!
When you gave freedom to my captive lord,--
That rival who possessed what you adored,--
Of such a deed what price can there be made?
Think well; is