e could love you more.
But may you never think me innocent,
Lest it should cause you trouble to repent.

_Boab._ 'Tis pity so much beauty should not live; [_Aside._
Yet I too much am injured, to forgive. [_Goes to his seat._

_Trumpets: Then enter two Moors, bearing two naked swords before the
accusers_ ZULEMA _and_ HAMET, _who follow them. The Judges seat
themselves; the_ QUEEN _and_ ABDELMELECH _are led to the Scaffold._

_Alabez._ Say for what end you thus in arms appear;
What are your names, and what demand you here?

_Zul._ The Zegrys' ancient race our lineage claims;
And Zulema and Hamet are our names.
Like loyal subjects in these lists we stand,
And justice in our king's behalf demand.

_Hamet._ For whom, in witness of what both have seen,
Bound by our duty, we appeach the queen
And Abdelmelech, of adultery.

_Zul._ Which, like true knights, we will maintain, or die.

_Alabez._ Swear on the Alcoran your cause is right,
And Mahomet so prosper you in fight.
[_They touch their foreheads with the Alcoran,
and bow._

_Trumpets on the other side of the Stage; two Moors, as before, with
bare swords before_ ALMANZOR _and_ OZMYN.

_Selin._ Say for what end you thus in arms appear;
What are your names, and what demand you here?

_Almanz._ Ozmyn is his, Almanzor is my name;
We come as champions of the queen's fair fame.

_Ozm._ To prove these Zegrys, like false traitors, lie;
Which, like true knights, we will maintain, or die.

_Selin._ [_to_ ALMAH.]
Madam, do you for champions take these two,
By their success to live or die?

_Almah._ I do.

_Selin._ Swear on the Alcoran your cause is right;
And Mahomet so prosper you in fight. [_They kiss the Alcoran._
[OZMYN _and_ BENZAYDA _embrace, and take leave
in dumb show; while_ LYNDARAXA _speaks to her
Brother._

_Lyndar._ If you o'ercome, let neither of them live,
But use with care the advantages I give:
One of their swords in fight shall useless be;
The bearer of it is suborned by me. [_She and_ BENZAYDA _retire._

_Alabez._ Now, principals and seconds, all advance,
And each of you assist his fellow's chance.

_Selin._ The wind and sun we equally divide,
So let the event of arms the truth decide.
The chances of the fight, and every wound,
The trumpets, on the victor's part, resound.