oab._ When you, within, the traitor's voice did hear,
What did you then?

_Zul._ I durst not trust my ear;
But, peeping through the key-hole, I espied
The queen, and Abdelmelech by her side;
She on the couch, he on her bosom lay;
Her hand about his neck his head did stay,
And from his forehead wiped the drops away.

_Boab._ Go on, go on, my friends, to clear my doubt;
I hope I shall have life to hear you out.

_Zul_ What had been, sir, you may suspect too well;
What followed, modesty forbids to tell:
Seeing what we had thought beyond belief,
Our hearts so swelled with anger and with grief,
That, by plain force, we strove the door to break.
He, fearful, and with guilt, or love, grown weak,
Just as we entered, 'scaped the other way;
Nor did the amazed queen behind him stay.

_Lyndar._ His sword, in so much haste, he could not mind;
But left this witness of his crime behind.

_Boab._ O proud, ungrateful, faithless womankind!
How changed, and what a monster am I made!
My love, my honour, ruined and betrayed!

_Almanz._ Your love and honour! mine are ruined worse:--
Furies and hell!--What right have you to curse?
Dull husband as you are,
What can your love, or what your honour, be?
I am her lover, and she's false to me.

_Boab._ Go; when the authors of my shame are found,
Let them be taken instantly and bound:
They shall be punished as our laws require:
'Tis just, that flames should be condemned to fire.
This, with the dawn of morning shall be done.

_Aben._ You haste too much her execution.
Her condemnation ought to be deferred;
With justice, none can be condemned unheard.

_Boab._ A formal process tedious is, and long;
Besides, the evidence is full and strong.

_Lyndar._ The law demands two witnesses; and she
Is cast, for which heaven knows I grieve, by three.

_Ozm._ Hold, sir! since you so far insist on law,
We can from thence one just advantage draw:
That law, which dooms adultresses to die,
Gives champions, too, to slandered chastity.

_Almanz._ And how dare you, who from my bounty live,
Intrench upon my love's prerogative?
Your courage in your own concernments try;
Brothers are things remote, while I am by.

_Ozm._ I knew not you thus far her cause would own,
And must not suffer you to fight alone:
Let two to two in equal combat join;
You vindicate her person, I her line.

_Lyndar._ Of all mankind, Almanzor has least right
In her defence, who wrong'd his love, to fight.

_Almanz._ 'Tis