hats, dull honour, all that chaff,
Which makes you mourn, and makes the vulgar laugh:
For these, in plays, are as unlawful arms,
As, in a combat, coats of mail, and charms.

Footnote:
1. There is a vague tradition, that, in this grotesque dress, (for the
brims of the hat were as broad as a cart-wheel,) Nell Gwyn had the
good fortune first to attract the attention of her royal lover.
Where the jest lay, is difficult to discover: it seems to have
originated with the duke of York's players.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

MAHOMET BOABDELIN, _the last king of Granada._
_Prince_ ABDALLA, _his brother._
ABDELMELECH, _chief of the Abencerrages._
ZULEMA, _chief of the Zegrys._
ABENAMAR, _an old Abencerrago._
SELIN, _an old Zegry._
OZMYN, _a brave young Abencerrago, son to Abenamar._
HAMET, _brother to Zulema, a Zegry._
GOMEL, _a Zegry._
ALMANZOR.
FERDINAND, _king of Spain._
_Duke of_ ARCOS, _his General._
_Don_ ALONZO D'AGUILAR, _a Spanish Captain._

ALMAHIDE, _Queen of Granada._
LYNDARAXA, _Sister of_ ZULEMA, _a Zegry Lady._
BENZAYDA, _Daughter to_ SELIN.
ESPERANZA, _Slave to the Queen._
HALYMA, _Slave to_ LYNDARAXA.
ISABELLA, _Queen of Spain._

_Messengers, Guards, Attendants, Men, and Women._

SCENE.--_Granada, and the Christian Camp besieging it._

ALMANZOR AND ALMAHIDE,

OR, THE

CONQUEST OF GRANADA.

THE FIRST PART.

ACT I. SCENE I.

_Enter_ BOABDELIN, ABENAMAR, ABDELMELECH, _and Guards._

_Boab._ Thus, in the triumphs of soft peace, I reign;
And, from my walls, defy the powers of Spain;
With pomp and sports my love I celebrate,
While they keep distance, and attend my state.--
Parent to her, whose eyes my soul enthral, [_To_ ABEN.
Whom I, in hope, already father call,
Abenamar, thy youth these sports has known,
Of which thy age is now spectator grown;
Judge-like thou sit'st, to praise, or to arraign
The flying skirmish of the darted cane:
But, when fierce bulls run loose upon the place,
And our bold Moors their loves with danger grace,
Then heat new-bends thy slacken'd nerves again,
And a short youth runs warm through every vein.

_Aben._ I must confess the encounters of this day
Warmed me indeed, but quite another way,--
Not with the fire of youth; but generous rage,
To see the