However, Gulnara is unhappy about the Pasha's attentions. She chafes at life in the harem, and longs for freedom and true love: "Vola talor dal carcere" / "At times my thought flies free from its prison". A eunuch brings Gulnara an invitation to a celebratory banquet anticipating the Pasha's victory in the impending sea battle with the corsairs. She expresses a hope of something better awaiting her in life: "Ah conforto è sol la speme" / "Ah, comfort lies only in hope for this lost soul" and the ladies of the harem tell her that "you are everyone's hope". "Scene 2: The banquet"  Seid and his men express their feelings that Allah will protect them: "Salve, Allah! tutta quanta" / "Hail Allah! All the earth resounds with his mighty name". A slave asks the Pasha if a Dervish who has apparently escaped from the corsairs might be admitted. Seid grants an audience and questions him. Suddenly everyone notices flames at sea: the Pasha's fleet is burning. As the Dervish whips off his disguise and reveals himself to be Corrado, his corsairs invade the banquet, and a battle takes place. At first, it seems that Corrado and his men will win, but he makes a fatal mistake. Seeing that the harem is burning, Corrado decides to rescue Gulnara and the other women. This gives the Pasha and his men time to regroup. They take Corrado prisoner and Seid confronts him – "Audace cotanto, mostrarti pur sai?" / "Yet so bold do you stand before me" – as he condemns Corrado to a grisly death, in spite of pleas from Gulnara and the harem to spare him for saving their lives. "Scene 1: Seid's quarters"  Seid is enjoying his victory, but he is not entirely satisfied: "Cento leggiadre vergini" / "A hundred lissom virgins asked love of me" he says, but "my heart beats only for Gulnara". He is afraid she has fallen for the dashing Corrado. Sending for her, he proclaims his basic credo of revenge: "S'avvicina il tuo momento" / "Your moment approaches, dread thirst for vengeance".