his breast._

_Emp._ Slave, have I raised thee to this pomp and power,
To preach against my will?--Know, I am law;
And thou, not Mahomet's messenger but mine!--
Make it, I charge thee, make my pleasure lawful;
Or, first, I strip thee of thy ghostly greatness,
Then send thee post to tell thy tale above.
And bring thy vain memorials to thy prophet,
Of justice done below for disobedience.

_Muf._ For heaven's sake hold!--The respite of a moment!--
To think for you--

_Emp._ And for thyself.

_Muf._ For both.

_Bend._ Disgrace, and death, and avarice, have lost him! [_Aside._

_Muf._ 'Tis true, our law forbids to wed a Christian;
But it forbids you not to ravish her.
You have a conqueror's right upon your slave;
And then the more despite you do a Christian,
You serve the prophet more, who loathes that sect.

_Emp._ O, now it mends; and you talk reason, Mufti.--
But, stay! I promised freedom to Sebastian;
Now, should I grant it, his revengeful soul
Would ne'er forgive his violated bed.

_Muf._ Kill him; for then you give him liberty:
His soul is from his earthly prison freed.

_Emp._ How happy is the prince who has a churchman,
So learned and pliant, to expound his laws!

_Bend._ Two things I humbly offer to your prudence.

_Emp._ Be brief, but let not either thwart my love.

_Bend._ First, since our holy man has made rape lawful,
Fright her with that; Proceed not yet to force:
Why should you pluck the green distasteful fruit
From the unwilling bough,
When it may ripen of itself, and fall?

_Emp._ Grant her a day; though that's too much to give
Out of a life which I devote to love.

_Bend._ Then, next, to bar
All future hopes of her desired Sebastian,
Let Dorax be enjoined to bring his head.

_Emp._ [_To the Mufti._]
Go, Mufti, call him to receive his orders.-- [_Exit Mufti._
I taste thy counsel; her desires new roused,
And yet unslaked, will kindle in her fancy,
And make her eager to renew the feast.

_Bend._ [_Aside._] Dorax, I know before, will disobey:
There's a foe's head well cropped.--
But this hot love precipitates my plot,
And brings it to projection ere its time.

_Enter_ SEBASTIAN _and_ ALMEYDA, _hand in hand; upon sight of the
Emperor, they separate, and seem disturbed._

_Alm._ He breaks at unawares upon our walks,
And, like a midnight wolf, invades the fold.
Make speedy preparation of your soul,
And bid it arm apace: He comes for answer,
And brutal mischief