Was he not in thy camp? and in disguise?

Tarik. No: I will answer thee.

Muza. Audacious man! Had not the Kalif Walid placed thee here, Chains, and a traitor’s death, should be thy doom. Speak, Abdalazis! Egilona, speak. Were ye not present? was not I, myself, And aided not this Julian his escape?

Jul. ’Tis true.

p. 109Tarik. Away then friendship; to thy fate I leave thee: thou hast render’d Muza just, Me hostile to thee. Who is safe! a man Arm’d with such power and with such perfidy!

p. 109

Jul. Stay, Tarik! hear me; for, to thee alone Would I reply.

Tarik. Thou hast replied, already.

[Goes.

Muza. We, who were enemies, would not inquire Too narrowly what reasons urged thy wrath Against thy sovran lord; beneath his flag The christians first assailed us from these shores, And we seized gladly the first aid we found To quell a wealthy and a warlike king. We never held to thee the vain pretence That ’twas thy quarrel our brave youth espoused, Thine, who hast wrought us much disgrace and woe. From perils and from losses, here we rest And drink of the fresh fountain at our feet, p. 110Not madly following such illusive streams As overspread the dizzy wilderness, And vanish from the thirst they have seduced. Ours was the enterprise, the land is ours: What gain we by our toils if he escape Whom we came hither solely to subdue?

p. 110

Jul. Is there no gain to live in amity?

Muza. The gain of traffickers and idle men; Courage and zeal expire upon such calms. Further, what amity can Moors expect When you have joined your forces?

Jul. From the hour That he was vanquished, I have laid aside All power, all arms.

Muza. How can we trust thee, once Deceived, and oftener than this once despised? Thou camest hither with no other aim Than to deprive Roderigo of his crown For thy own brow.

Egil. Julian, base man, ’tis true. He comes a prince, no warrior, at this hour.

p. 111Muza. His sword, O queen, would not avail him now.

p. 111

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