ake at_ ABDELMELECH; _he goes off at
one door, while the Queen escapes at the
other._

_Zul._ Ruined!

_Hamet._ Undone!

_Lyndar._ And, which is worst of all,
He is escaped.

_Zul._ I hear them loudly call.

_Lyndar._ Your fear will lose you; call as loud as they:
I have not time to teach you what to say.
The court will in a moment all be here;
But second what I say, and do not fear.
Call help; run that way; leave the rest to me.
[ZUL. _and_ HAMET _retire, and within cry,_--Help!

_Enter, at several doors, the King_, ABENAMAR, SELIN, OZMYN,
ALMANZOR, _with Guards attending_ BOABDELIN.

_Boab._ What can the cause of all this tumult be?
And what the meaning of that naked sword?

_Lyndar._ I'll tell, when fear will so much breath afford.--
The queen and Abdelmelech--'Twill not out--
Even I, who saw it, of the truth yet doubt,
It seems so strange.

_Almanz._ Did she not name the queen?
Haste; speak.

_Lyndar._ How dare I speak what I have seen?--
With Hamet, and with Zulema I went,
To pay both theirs, and my acknowledgment
To Almahide, and by her mouth implore
Your clemency, our fortunes to restore.
We chose this hour, which we believed most free,
When she retired from noise and company.
The ante-chamber past, we gently knocked,
Unheard it seems, but found the lodgings locked,
In duteous silence while we waited there,
We first a noise, and then long whispers hear;
Yet thought it was the queen at prayers alone,
Till she distinctly said,--If this were known,
My love, what shame, what danger would ensue!
Yet I,--and sighed,--could venture more for you!

_Boab._ O heaven, what do I hear!

_Almanz._ Let her go on.

_Lyndar._ And how,--then murmured in a bigger tone
Another voice,--and how should it be known?
This hour is from your court attendants free;
The king suspects Almanzor, but not me.

_Zul._ I find her drift; Hamet, be confident; [_At the door._
Second her words, and fear not the event.

ZULEMA _and_ HAMET _enter. The King embraces them._

_Boab._ Welcome, my only friends;--behold in me,
O kings, behold the effects of clemency!
See here the gratitude of pardoned foes!
That life, I gave them, they for me expose!

_Hamet._ Though Abdelmelech was our friend before,
When duty called us, he was so no more.

_Almanz._ Damn your delay!--you torturers, proceed!
I will not hear one word but Almahide.

_B