ABD. [taking his hand.]
Thou feelest what thou speakest, and thy Spain
Will ne'er be sheltered from her fate by thee.
We, whom the prophet sends o'er many lands,
Love none above another; Heaven assigns
Their fields and harvests to our valiant swords,
And 'tis enough--we love while we enjoy.
Whence is the man in that fantastic guise?
Suppliant? or herald? he who stalks about,
And once was even seated while we spoke:
For never came he with us o'er the sea.
JUL. He comes as herald.
ROD. Thou shalt know full soon,
Insulting Moor.
ABD. He cannot bear the grief
His country suffers; I will pardon him.
He lost his courage first, and then his mind;
His courage rushes back, his mind still wanders.
The guest of heaven was piteous to these men,
And princes stoop to feed them in their courts.
FIRST ACT: FIFTH SCENE.
RODERIGO is going out when MUZA enters with EGILONA; RODERIGO starts
back.
MUZA [sternly to EGILONA.]
Enter, since 'tis the custom in this land.
EGI. [passing MUZA disdainfully, points to ABDALAZIS, and says to
JULIAN.]
Is this our future monarch, or art thou?
JUL. 'Tis Abdalazis, son of Muza, prince
Commanding Africa, from Abyla
To where Tunisian pilots bend the eye
O'er ruined temples in the glassy wave.
Till quiet times and ancient laws return,
He comes to govern here.
ROD. To-morrow's dawn
Proves that.
MUZA. What art thou?
ROD. [drawing his sword.
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