_ Imposed, but not received.--Take back that falsehood.
_Emp._ Thou art not married to Almeyda?
_Seb._ Yes.
_Emp._ And own'st the usurpation of my love?
_Seb._ I own it, in the face of heaven and thee;
No usurpation, but a lawful claim,
Of which I stand possessed.
_Emp._ She has chosen well,
Betwixt a captive and a conqueror.
_Alm._ Betwixt a monster, and the best of men!--
He was the envy of his neighbouring kings;
For him their sighing queens despised their lords;
And virgin daughters blushed when he was named.
To share his noble chains is more to me,
Than all the savage greatness of thy throne.
_Seb._ Were I to chuse again, and knew my fate,
For such a night I would be what I am.
The joys I have possessed are ever mine;
Out of thy reach; behind eternity;
Hid in the sacred treasure of the past:
But blest remembrance brings them hourly back.
_Emp._ Hourly indeed, who hast but hours to live.
O, mighty purchase of a boasted bliss!
To dream of what thou hadst one fugitive night,
And never shalt have more!
_Seb._ Barbarian, thou canst part us but a moment!
We shall be one again in thy despite.
Life is but air,
That yields a passage to the whistling sword,
And closes when 'tis gone.
_Alm._ How can we better die than close embraced,
Sucking each other's souls while we expire?
Which, so transfused, and mounting both at once,
The saints, deceived, shall, by a sweet mistake,
Hand up thy soul for mine, and mine for thine.
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