Thee not; for what thou art yet wants a name; Dost fear so much, thou darest not wish. The king! There, there's the dreadful sound! the king's thy rival! Sel. Madam, the king is here, and entering now. Zara. As I could wish; by Heaven I'll be revenged. Enter the KING, PEREZ, and Attendants. King. Why does the fairest of her kind withdraw Her shining from the day, to gild this scene Zara. There, he, your prisoner, and that was King. How? better than my hopes? Does she accuse him? [Aside. Zara. Am I become so low by my captivity, And do your arms so lessen what they conquer, That Zara must be made the sport of slaves? And wrench the bolt red-hissing from the hand Of him that thunders, than but to think that insolence. 'Tis daring for a god. Hence to the wheel With that Ixion, who aspires to hold Divinity embraced; to whips and prisons Drag him with speed, and rid me of his face. [Guards seize Osmyn, and exeunt. Zura. Compassion led me to bemoan his state, Whose former faith had merited much more: And, through my hopes in you, I undertook He should be set at large! thence sprung his insolence, And what was charity, he construed love. King. Enough; his punishment be what you But let me lead you from this place of sorrow, But 'tis torn off-Why should that word alone Osm. But now, and I was closed within the Be torn from this petition? 'Twas to Heaven, But Heaven was deaf, Heaven heard him not; but thus, Thus as the name of Heaven from this is torn, So did it tear the ears of mercy from His voice, shutting the gates of prayer against him. If piety be thus debarred access On high, and of good men the very best Fooling the follower, betwixt shade and shining. camest thou hither? Enter HELI. Heli. The time's too precious to be spent in telling. The captain, influenced by Almeria's power, Osm. How does Almeria? But I know she is Is gone to rest, and Garcia is retired, She'll come; but whither, and to whom? Oh, To a vile prison, and a captived wretch; To one, whom, had she never known, she had Been happy. Why, why was that heavenly crea ture Abandoned o'er to love what Heaven forsakes? Heli. Have hopes, and hear the voice of better fate. I have learned there are disorders ripe for mutiny Among the troops, who thought to share the plunder, Which Manuel to his own use and avarice Converts. This news has reached Valentia's frontiers, Where many of your subjects, long oppressed The spirit which was deaf to my own wrongs, Where is Alphonso? Ha! where? where indeed? alty; Off, slavery. Oh, curse! that I alone VOL. I. roy Can beat and flutter in my cage, when I Would soar and stoop at victory beneath. Heli. Abate this ardour, sir, or we are lost; And think on what we may reduce to practice. Zara, the cause of your restraint, may be The means of liberty restored. That gained, Occasion will not fail to point out ways For your escape. Mean time, I have thought already With speed and safety to convey myself, Nightly, who hate this tyrant; some, who love So do. I will, with patience, wait my fortune. sion. Osm. I hate her not, nor can dissemble love: But as I may I'll do. I have a paper Which I would shew thee, friend, but that the sight Would hold thee here, and clog thy expedition. Within I found it, by my father's hand 'Twas writ; a prayer for me, wherein appears Paternal love, prevailing o'er his sorrows; Such sanctity, such tenderness, so mixed With grief, as would draw tears from inhumanity. Heli. The care of Providence sure left it there, To arm your mind with hope. Such piety Was never heard in vain. Heaven has in store For you those blessings it withheld from him. In that assurance live; which time, I hope, And our next meeting, will confirm. Osm. Farewell, My friend; the good thou dost deserve, attend thee. [Exit Heli. I have been to blame, and questioned, with im- Not so my father bore This lesson, in some hour of inspiration By him set down, when his pure thoughts were borne, Like fumes of sacred incense, o'er the clouds, And wafted thence, on angels' wings, through And promises a day to this dark dwelling?. Is it my love? Zaru. Oh, that thy heart had taught Thy tongue that saying! Osm. Zara! I am betrayed By my surprise. Have I done this? Tell me, am I so cursed? Osm. Time may have still one fated hour to come, [Lifting her veil. Which, winged with liberty, might overtake Occasion past. Zara. What does my face displease thee? Be drawn, and I will stand before thee, seeing, rage Has loaded thee with chains and galling irons. Well dost thou scorn me, and upbraid my false ness; Could one who loved, thus torture whom she loved? No, no, it must be hatred, dire revenge, I bear my fortunes with so low a mind, So kindly of my fault, to call it madness? Osm. Give it a name, Or being, as you please, such I will think it. Zara. Oh, thou dost wound me more with this thy goodness, Than e'er thou couldst with bitterest reproaches; Thy anger could not pierce thus to my heart. Osm. Yet I could wish Zara. Haste me to know it; what? Osm. That at this time I had not been this thing. Zara. What thing? Osm. This slave. Zara. Oh, Heaven! my fears interpret This thy silence; somewhat of high concern, Long fashioning within thy labouring mind, And now just ripe for birth, my rage has ruined. Zara. Swift as occasion, I Myself will fly; and earlier than the morn, Wake thee to freedom. Now 'tis late; and yet Some news few minutes past arrived, which seemed To shake the temper of the king-Who knows Osm. I have not merited this grace; Zara. Thou canst not owe me more, nor have I more To give, than I have already lost. But now, Osm. This woman has a soul, [Erit. Of godlike mould, intrepid and commanding, My life, my health, my liberty, my all! How run into thy arms, withheld by fetters? And pinioned, like a thief or murderer?` Thou toldst me thou wouldst think how we might meet, To part no more-) That ever I should think beholding thee Though 'tis because thou lovest me. Do not say, One cup the common stream of both our eyes, In vain, with the remorseless chains, which gnaw Osm. Oh! O Alm. Give me that sigh. Why dost thou heave, and stifle in thy griefs? Thy heart will burst, thy eyes look red, and start; Give thy soul way, and tell me thy dark thought. Osm. For this world's rule, I would not wound thy breast With such a dagger as then stuck my heart. Alm. Why? why? To know it, cannot wound me more Than knowing thou hast felt it. Tell it me, If there he shoot not every other shaft; Osm. Oh, thou hast searched too deep: That piece-meal grind, are beds of down and balm To that soul-racking thought, Alm, Then I am cursed Indeed, if that be so! if I am thy torment, Oh, that thy words had force to break those bonds, As they have strength to tear this heart in sunder; So shouldst thou be at large from all oppression. Am I, am I of all thy woes the worst? Osm. My all of bliss, my everlasting life, Soul of my soul, and end of all my wishes, Why dost thou thus unman me with thy words, And melt me down to mingle with thy weepings? Why dost thou ask? Why dost thou talk thus piercingly? Thy sorrows have disturbed thy peace of mind, And thou dost speak of miseries impossible. Alm. Didst not thou say, that racks and wheels were balm, And beds of ease, to thinking me thy wife? Osm. No, no; nor should the subtlest pains that hell, Or hell-born malice, can invent, extort A wish, or thought, from me to have thee other. Yet unaccomplished: his mysterious rites Burns dim, and glimmers with expiring light, Because not knowing danger. But look forward; Think of to-morrow, when thou shalt be torn From these weak, struggling, unextended arms: Think how my heart will heave, and eyes will strain, To grasp and reach what is denied my hands: Think how the blood will start, and tears will gush, To follow thee, my separating soul. Think how I am, when thou shalt wed with Garcia ! Then will I smear these walls with blood, disfigure And dash my face, and rive my clotted hair, Alm. Heart-breaking horror! Osm. Then Garcia shall lie panting on thy bo som, Luxurious, revelling amidst thy charms; Hell! hell! have I not cause to rage and rave? Which, shot into my breast, now melt and chill Zara. I did not know the princess' favourite. Your pardon, sir-mistake me not; you think I am angry; you are deceived. I came to set You free; but shall return much better pleased, To find you have an interest superior. Osm. You do not come to mock my miseries? Zara. I do. Osm. I could at this time spare your mirth. Zara. I know thou couldst; but I am not often pleased, And will indulge it now. What miseries? To have contending queens, at dead of night, Osm. Come, it is too much. Osm. How, madam! Zara. Thou liest, for now I know for whom thou wouldst live. Osm. Then you may know for whom I would die. Zara. Hell! hell! Yet I will be calm-Dark and unknown be trayer! But now the dawn begins, and the slow hand Of fate is stretched to draw the veil, and leave Thee bare, the naked mark of public view. Osm. You may be still deceived, 'tis in my power Zara. Ha! sayest thou-but I will prevent itWho waits there? As you will answer it, look this slave [To the guard. Attempt no means to make himself away. I have been deceived. The public safety now Requires he should be more confined, and none, No, not the princess, suffered or to see Or speak with him. I will quit you to the king. Vile and ingrate! too late thou shalt repent The base injustice thou hast done my love: Yes, thou shalt know, spite of thy past distress, And all those ills which thou so long hast mourned; Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned [Exeunt. |