Zara. Of that hereafter; but, mean time, What if she had seen Osmyn? though 'twere

'tis fit You give strict charge that none may be mitted To see the pris'ner, but such mutes as I

Shall send.

King. Who waits there?

Enter PEREZ.

On your life take heed,

That only Zara's mutes, or such who bring
Her warrant, have admittance to the Moor.
Zara. They, and no other, not the princess'
self.

Per. Your majesty shall be obey'd.
King, Retire.
[Exit Perez.
Gon. That interdiction so particular,
Pronounc'd with vehemence against the princess,
Should have more meaning than appears bare-
fac'd.

The king is blinded by his love, and heeds
It not [Aside]-Your majesty sure might have
spar'd

The last restraint; you hardly can suspect
The princess is confed'rate with the Moor.
Zara. I've heard, her charity did once extend
So far, to visit him, at his request.

Gon. Ha!

King. How? She visit Osmyn! What, my daughter?

Affection to revolt.

King. I thank thee, friend;

There's reason in thy doubt, and I am warn'd.
But think'st thou that my daughter saw this
Moor?

Gon. If Osmyn be, as Zara has related,
Alphonso's friend, 'tis not impossible
But she might wish on his account to see him.
King. Say'st thou? By heaven thou hast
rous'd a thought,

That like a sudden earthquake shakes my frame.
Confusion! then my daughter's an accomplice,
And plots in private with this hellish Moor.
Gon. That were too hard a thought-but
see she comes-

Twere not amiss to question her a little,
And try, howe'er, if I've divin'd aright.
If what I fear be true, she'll be concern'd
For Osmyn's death, as he's Alphonso's friend:
Urge that, to try if she'll solicit for him.

Enter ALMERIA and LEONORA. King. Your coming has prevented me, Almeria; I had determin'd to have sent for you. Sel. Madam, take heed; or you have ruin'd Let your attendant be dismiss'd; I have [Aside to Zara.|

all.

[Leonora retires. Zara. And after did solicit you on his To talk with you. Come near; why dost thou

Her words and actions are obscure and double,
Sometimes concur and sometimes disagree:
I like it not.

King. What dost thou think, Gonsalez;
Are we not much indebted to this fair one?
Gon. I am a little slow of credit, sir,
In the sincerity of women's actions.
Methinks this lady's hatred to the Moor
Disquiets her too much; which makes it seem
As if she'd rather that she did not hate him.
I wish her mutes are meant to be employ'd
As she pretends-I doubt it now-Your guards
Corrupted! how? by whom? who told her so?
Ith' evening Osmyn was to die; at midnight
She begg'd the royal signet to release him;
Ith' morning he must die again; ere noon
Her mutes alone must strangle him, or he'll
Escape. This put together suits not well.
King. Yet that there's truth in what she has
discover'd,

shake?

What mean those swoln and red-fleck'd eyes,
that look

As they had wept in blood, and worn the night
In waking anguish? Why this, on the day
Which was design'd to celebrate thy nuptials;
But that the beams of light are to be stain'd
With reeking gore from traitors on the rack?
Wherefore I have deferr'd the marriage-rites,
Nor shall the guilty horrors of this day
Prophane that jubilee.

Alm. All days to me

Henceforth are equal: this the day of death,
To-morrow, and the next: and each that follows,
Will undistinguish'd roll, and but prolong
One bated line of more extended woe.

King. Whence is thy grief? Give me to
know the cause,

And look thou answer me with truth; for know
I am not unacquainted with thy falsehood.
Why art thou mute? base and degenerate maid!
Gon. Dear madam, speak, or you'll incense
the king.

Alm. What is't to speak? or wherefore
should I speak?

What mean these tears, but grief unutterable? King. They are the dumb confessions of thy mind:

They mean thy guilt; and say thou wert con

fed'rate

Is manifest from every circumstance.
With damn'd conspirators to take my life.
This tumult, and the lords who fled with Heli, O impious parricide! now can'st thou speak
Are confirmation-that Alphonso lives,

Agrees expressly too with her report.

Alm. O earth, behold I kneel upon thy bosorn. And bend my flowing eyes, to stream upon

Gon. I grant it, sir; and doubt not, but in Thy face, imploring thee that thou wilt yield

rage

Of jealousy, she has discover'd what

She now repents. It may be I'm deceiv'd:

Open thy bowels of compassion, take

Into thy womb the last and most forlorn
Of all thy race. Hear me, thou common parent

But why that needless caution of the princess?—I have no parent else--be thou a mother,

And step between me and the curse of him,
Who was who was-but is no more a father,
But brands my innocence with horrid crimes,
And for the tender names of child and daughter,
Now calls me murderer and parricide.

King. Rise, I command thee-and, if thou
wouldst

Acquit thyself of those detested names,
Swear thou hast never seen that foreign dog,
Now doom'd to die, that most accursed Osmyn.
Alm. Never, but as with innocence I might,
And free of all bad purposes: so heav'n's
My witness.

King. Vile equivocating wretch!
With innocence! O patience! hear-she owns

it!

Confesses it! By heav'n, I'll have him rack'd,
Torn, mangl'd, flay'd, impal'd—all pains and

tortures

That wit of man and dire revenge can think,
Shall be, accumulated, under-bear.

Alm. Cursed be that rogue that bids me be of comfort!

Cursed my own tongue, that could not move his pity!

Aim. O, I am lost there fate begins to Cursed these weak hands, that could not hold

wound.

King. Hear me; then, if thou canst, reply:
know, traitress,

I'm not to learn that curs'd Alphonso lives:
Nor am I ignorant what Osmyn is-
Alm. Then all is ended, and we both must
die.

Since thou'rt reveal'd, alone thou shalt not die:
And yet alone would I have died, heav'n knows,
Repeated deaths, rather than have reveal'd thee.
King, Heil! hell! do I hear this, and yet
endure!

him here!

And deludes your sense. Alphonso, if living,
Is far from hence, beyond your father's power.
Alm. Hence, thou detested ill-tim'd flatterer!
Source of my woes! thou and thy race be
curs'd!

But doubly thou, who couldst alone have po-
licy

And fraud, to find the fatal secret out,
And know that Osmyn was Alphonso!
Gon. Ha!

Alm. Why dost thou start? what dost thou
see or hear?

What, dar'st thou to my face avow thy guilt?
Hence, ere I curse-fly my just rage with speed;
Lest I forget us both and spurn thee from me.
Alm. And yet a father! think I am your child.
Turn not your eyes away-look on me kneeling: Is it the doleful bell, tolling for death?
Now curse me if you can, now spurn me off. Or dying groans from my Alphonso's breast?
Did ever father curse his kneeling child? See, see; look yonder, where a grizzled, pale,
Never; for always blessings crown that posture. And ghastly head glares by, all smear'd with
O hear me then, thus crawling on the earth-
blood,
King. Be thou advis'd, and let me go, while

vet

The light impression thou hast made remains. Aim. No, never will I rise, nor loose this hold,

Till you are mov'd, and grant that he may live.
King. Ha! who may live? take heed, no
more of that;

For on my soul he dies, though thou and I,
And all should follow to partake his doom.
Away, off, let me go-Call her attendants.

Re-enter LEONORA and Women.
Aim. Drag me, harrow the earth with my
bare bosom,

not let go till you have spar'd my husband.
Aing. Ha! husband! Which? who?
Aim. He, he is my husband.
King. Who?

Aim. 0

[Faints.

Let me go, let me fall, sink deep-I'll dig,
fi. dig a grave, and tear up death; I will;
Yes, I will strip off life, and we will change:
I wil be death; then, though you kill my
husband,

he shall be mine still, and for ever mine.
King. What husband? whom dost thou
mean?

Gon. She raves!

Gasping as it would speak; and after see!
Behold a damp dead hand has dropp'd a dagger:
I'll catch it-Hark! a voice cries murder! ah!
My father's voice! hollow it sounds, and calls
Me from the tomb-I'll follow it; for there
I shall again behold my dear Alphonso.

[Exeunt Almeria and Leonora. Gon. She's greatly griev'd: nor am I less surpris'd.

Osmyn Alphonso! no; she over-rates
My policy: I ne'er suspected it:

Nor now had known it but from her mistake.
Her husband too! Ha! where is Garcia then?
And where the crown that should descend on
him,

To grace the line of my posterity?
Hold, let me think-if I should tell the king-
Things come to this extremity; his daughter
Wedded already-what if he should yield?
Knowing no remedy for what is past;
And urg'd by nature pleading for his child,
With which he seems to be already shaken.
And though I know he hates beyond the grave
Anselmo's race; yet if that if concludes me.
To doubt, when I may be assur'd, is folly.
But how prevent the captive queen, who means
To set him free? Ay, now 'tis plain: O, well
Invented tale! He was Alphonso's friend.
This subtle woman will amuse the king,

With rash and greedy haste at once to cram One to my wish. Alonzo, thou art welcome. The morsel down his throat. I caught his arm,

Rank traitors; thou art with the rest combin'd: Of those, though purchas'd by his death, I'd Thou knew'st that Osmyn was Alphonso,

Thee such reward as should exceed thy wish. My daughter privately with him conferr'd,
Alon. Conclude it done. Where shall I And wert the spy and pander to their meeting.
Per. By all that's holy, I'm amaz'd-
King. Thou ly'st.

Ent'ring he met my eyes, and started back
Frighted, and fumbling one hand in his bosom, His teeth may grin and mock at her remorse.
As to conceal th' importance of his errand.
[Perez going.

[Alonzo follows him, and re--Stay thee-I've further thought-I'll add to
turns with a Paper.

Alon. A bloody proof of obstinate fidelity!
King. What dost thou mean?
Alon. Soon as I seiz'd the man,

And give her eyes yet greater disappointment:
When thou hast ended him, bring me his robe;
And let the cell where she'll expect to see him

He snatch'd from out his bosom this-and strove Be darken'd, so as to amuse the sight.

I'll be conducted thither-mark me well—
There with his turban, and his robe array'd,
And laid along, as he now lies, supine,
I shall convict her, to her face, of falsehood.
When for Alphonso's she shall take my hand,
And breathe her sighs upon my lips for his;
Sudden I'll start, and dash her with her guilt. And could not pass me unperceiv'd-What,

Th' imperfect look, and sternly turn'd away.
Zara. Shun me when seen! I fear thou What means this blood? and why this face

And all as still as at the noon of night!
Sure death already has been busy here.
There lies my way; that door too is unlock'd. Rather than or to see, or to relate
[Looks in. This deed!-0, dire mistake! O, fatal blow!

Ha! sure he sleeps-all's dark within, save what The king-
A lamp, that feebly lifts a sickly flame,
By fits reveals-his face seems turn'd to favour
Th' attempt; I'll steal and do it unperceiv'd.
What noise? somebody coming? 'st, Alonzo!
Nobody. Sure he'll wait without-I would O whence, or how, or wherefore was this done?
Twere done - I'll crawl and sting him to the But what imports the manner of the cause?
heart;
Nothing remains to do, or to require,
Then cast my skin, and leave it there to an-But that we all should turn our swords against
Ourselves, and expiate, with our own, his blood.
Gon. O wretch! O, curs'd and rash deluded
fool!

Gar. Where? where, Alonzo, where's my On me, on me, turn your avenging swords!

Should make atonement by a death as horrid,
And fall beneath the hand of my own son.
Gar. Ha! what? atone this murder with a

greater!

Re-enter Mutes.

What have you seen? Ha! wherefore stare

you thus [Mutes return, and look affrighted.

across?

Your heavy and desponding heads hung down?
Why is't you more than speak in these sad

The horror of that thought has damp'd my rage. With haggard eyes? Why are your arms
Gon. O, my son! from the blind dotage
Of a father's foudness these ills arose:
For thee I've been ambitious, base, and bloody;
For thee I've plung'd into this sea of sin;
Stemming the tide with only one weak hand,
While t'other bore the crown (to wreathe thy
brow),

Whose weight has sunk me ere I reach'd the shore.

signs?

Give me more ample knowledge of this mourning.

[They go to the Scene, which opening, she perceives the Body. Ha! prostrate! bloody! headless! O-I'm lost! Gar. Fatal ambition! Hark! the foe is en-O Osmyn! O Alphonso! Cruel fate!

ter'd!

Cruel, cruel, O more than killing object! The shrillness of that shout speaks 'em at hand. I came prepar'd to die, and see thee die[Shout. Nay, came prepar'd myself to give thee deathAlon. My lord, I've thought how to con- But cannot bear to find thee thus, my OsmynO, this accurs'd, this base, this treacherous king.

ceal the body:

Require me not to tell the means, till done,
Lest you forbid what then you may approve.
Goes in. Shout.

Gon. They shout again! Whate'er he means
to do,

'Twere fit the soldiers were amus'd with hopes;
And in the mean time fed with expectation
To see the king in person at their head.
Gar. Were it a truth, I fear 'tis now too

late:

But I'll omit no cave nor haste; and try
Or to repel their force, or bravely die. [Exit.

Re-enter ALONZO.

Gon. What hast thou done, Alonzo?
Alon. Such a deed

As but an hour ago I'd not have done,
Though for the crown of universal empire.
But what are kings, reduc'd to common clay?
Or who can wound the dead?—I've from the
body

Sever'd the head, and in an obscure corner
Dispos'd it, muffled in the mute's attire,
Leaving to view of them who enter next,
Alone the undistinguishable trunk;
Which may be still mistaken by the guards
For Osmyn, if in seeking for the king
They chance to find it.

Gon. 'Twas an act of horror,
And of a piece with this day's dire misdeeds.
But 'tis no time to ponder or repent.
Haste thee, Alonzo, haste thee hence with
speed,

To aid my son. I'll follow with the last
Reserve, to reinforce his arms: at least,
I shall make good and shelter his retreat.
[Exeunt severally.
Enter ZARA, followed by SELIM, and two
Mutes bearing the Bowls.

Zara. Silence and solitude are every where! Through all the gloomy ways and iron doors at hither lead, nor human face nor voice en or heard.

Tis not that he is dead! for 'twas decreed
We both should die. Nor is't that I survive;
I have a certain remedy for that.
But oh! he died unknowing in my heart.
He knew I lov'd, but knew not to what height;
Nor that I meant to fall before his eyes,
A martyr and a victim to my vows;
Insensible of this last proof he's gone:
Then wherefore do I pause? give me the bowl.
[A Mute kneels and gives one
of the Bowls.

Hover a moment yet, thou gentle spirit,
Soul of my love, and I will wait thy flight.
This to our mutual bliss, when join'd above.
[Drinks.

O, friendly draught! already in my heart.
Cold, cold! my veins are icicles and frost.
I'll creep into his bosom, lay me there;
Cover us close-or I shall chill his breast,
And fright him from my arms-See! see! he

slides

Still further from me; look, he hides his face! I cannot feel it-quite beyond my reach. m set down the bowls, and warn Al-JO, now he's gone, and all is dark

phonso

I am here-so. [Mutes go in] You re-
turn and find

king: tell him what he requir'd I've done, And wait his coming to approve the deed.

[Dies. Mutes kneel and mourn

over her.

Enter ALMERIA and LEONORA.

Alm. O, let me seek him in this horrid cell; [Exit Selim. For in the tomb, or prison, I alone