ABDELMELEC
The
Portugal, led with deceiving hope,
Hath
raised his power, and received our foe
With
honourable welcomesand regard,
In
hope to help Mahamet to a crown,
And
chase us hence, and plant this Negro-Moor,
And
clads himself in coat of hammered steel
To
heave us from the honour we possess.
But,
for I have myself a soldier been,
I
have, in pity to the Portugal,
Sent
secret messengers to councel him.
As
for the aid of Spain, whereof they hoped,
We
have dispatch’d our lettersto their prince,
To
crave that in a quarrel so unjust,
He
that entitled is the Catholic king,
Would
not assist a careless Christian prince,
And,
as by letters we are let to know,
Our
offer of the seven holds we made
He
thankully receives with all conditions,
Differing
in mind far from allhis words
And
promises to King Sebastian,
As
we would wish, or you, my lords, desire.
ARGERD ZAREO
What
reseth, then, but Abdelmelec may
Beat
back this proud invading Portugal,
And
chastise this ambitious Nego-Moor
With
thousand deaths for thousand damned deeds?
ABDELMELEC
Forward,Zareo, and ye manly Moors!-
Sebastian,see
in time unto thself:
If
thou and thine misled do thrive amiss,
Guiltless
is Abdelmelec of thy blood.
Exeunt.