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SCENE I.—A Room of State.

ZARA and SELIM.

ACT IV.

Zara. THOU hast already racked me with thy stay;

Therefore require me not to ask thee twice:
Reply at once to all. What is concluded?

Sel. Your accusation highly has incensed
The king, and were alone enough to urge
The fate of Osmyn; but, to that, fresh news
Is since arrived, of more revolted troops.
'Tis certain Heli, too, is fled, and with him
(Which breeds amazement and distraction) some
Who bore high offices of weight and trust,
Both in the state and army. This confirms
The king in full belief of all you told him
Concerning Osmyn, and his correspondence
With them who first began the mutiny.
Wherefore a warrant for his death is signed;
And order given for public execution.

Zara. Ha! haste thee! fly, prevent his fate and mine;

Find out the king, tell him I have of weight,
More than his crown, to impart ere Osmyn die.
Sel. It needs not, for the king will straight be
here,

And, as to your revenge, not his own interest,
Pretend to sacrifice the life of Osmyn.

Zara. What shall I say, invent, contrive, ad-
vise?

Something to blind the king, and save his life,
In whom I live. Spite of my rage and pride,
I am a woman, and a lover still.

Oh! 'tis more grief but to suppose his death,
Than still to meet the rigour of his scorn.
From my despair my anger had its source;
When he is dead I must despair for ever.
For ever! that's despairit was distrust
Before; distrust will ever be in love,
And anger in distrust; both short-lived pains.
But in despair, and ever-during death,
No term, no bound, but infinite of woe.

Oh, torment, but to think! what then to bear?
Not to be borne-Devise the means to shun it,
Quick; or, by Heaven, this dagger drinks thy
blood.

Sel. My life is yours, nor wish I to preserve it, But to serve you. I have already thought. Zara. Forgive my rage; I know thy love and

truth.

But say, what's to be done, or when, or how,
Shall I prevent or stop the approaching danger?
Sel. You must still seem more resolute, and
fixed

On Osmyn's death; too quick a change of mercy
Might breed suspicion of the cause. Advise
That execution may be done in private.
Zara. On what pretence?

Sel. Your own request is enough,

However, for a colour, tell him, you

Have cause to fear his guards may be corrupted,
And some of them bought off to Osmyn's interest,
Who, at the place of execution, will
Attempt to force his way for an escape;
The state of things will countenance all suspicions.
Then offer to the king, to have him strangled
In secret, by your mutes; and get an order,
That none but mutes may have admittance to
him.

I can no more, the king is here. Obtain
This grant, and I'll acquaint you with the rest.

Enter KING, GONSALEZ, and PEREZ.

King. Bear to the dungeon those rebellious
slaves,

The ignoble curs that yelp to fill the cry,
And spend their mouths in barking tyranny.
But for their leaders, Sancho and Ramirez,
Let them be led away to present death.
Perez, see it performed.

Gons. Might I presume,

Their execution better were deferred,
Till Osmyn die. Mean time we may learn more
Of this conspiracy.

King. Then be it so.

Stay, soldier; they shall suffer with the Moor. Are none of those returned who followed Heli?

Gons. None, sir. Some papers have been

since discovered

In Roderigo's house, who fled with him,
Which seemed to intimate, as if Alphonso
Were still alive, and arming in Valentia:
Which wears, indeed, this colour of a truth,
They who are fled have that way bent their

course.

Of the same nature divers notes have been
Dispersed, to amuse the people; whereupon
Some, ready of belief, have raised this rumour:
That, being saved upon the coast of Afric,
He there disclosed himself to Albuccacim,
And, by a secret compact made with him,
Opened and urged the way to this invasion;
While he himself, returning to Valentia,
In private, undertook to raise this tumult.

Zara. Ha! hearest thou that? Is Osmyn then
Alphonso?

Oh, Heaven! a thousand things occur at once
To my remembrance now, that make it plain.
Oh, certain death for him, as sure despair
For me, if it be known-If not, what hope
Have I? Yet 'twere the lowest baseness now,
To yield him up-No, I will conceal him,
And try the force of yet more obligations.

Gons. 'Tis not impossible. Yet it may be,
That some impostor has usurped his name.
Your beauteous captive Zara can inform,
If such a one, so escaping, was received,
At any time, in Albuccacim's court.

King. Pardon, fair excellence, this long ne- | To cast beneath your feet the crown you have

glect:

An unforeseen, unwelcome hour of business,
Has thrust between us and our while of love;
But wearing, now, apace with ebbing sand,
Will quickly waste and give again the day.

Zara. You're too secure: the danger is more imminent

Than your high courage suffers you to see;
While Osmyn lives, you are not safe.

King. His doom

Is passed; if you revoke it not, he dies.

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On your life, take heed

That only Zara's mutes, or such who bring

Zara. 'Tis well. By what I heard upon your Her warrant, have admittance to the Moor.

entrance,

I find I can unfold what yet concerns
You more. One, who did call himself Alphonso,
Was cast upon my coast, as 'tis reported,
And oft had private conference with the king;
To what effect I knew not then: but he,
Alphonso, secretly departed, just
About the time our arms embarked for Spain.
What I know more is, that a triple league,
Of strictest friendship, was professed between
Alphonso, Heli, and the traitor Osmyn.
King. Public report is ratified in this.
Zara. And Osmyn's death required, of strong
necessity.

King. Give order strait, that all the prisoners
die.

Zara. Forbear a moment, somewhat more I have,

Worthy your private ear, and this your mini

ster.

King. Let all, except Gonsalez, leave the room. [Exeunt Perez, &c. Zara. I am your captive, and you've used me nobly;

And, in return of that, though otherwise
Your enemy, I have discovered Osmyn,
His private practice, and conspiracy,
Against your state: and, fully to discharge
Myself of what I've undertaken, now
I think it fit to tell you, that your guards
Are tainted; some among them have resolved
To rescue Osmyn at the place of death.

King. Is treason, then, so near us as our guards?
Zara. Most certain; though my knowledge is

not yet

So ripe, to point at the particular men.
King. What is to be done?

Zara. That, too, I will advise.

I have, remaining in my train, some mutes,
A present once from the sultana queen,

In the grand signior's court. These, from their infancy,

Are practised in the trade of death; and shall (As there the custom is) in private strangle Osmyn,

Gons. My lord, the queen advises well. King. What offering, or what recompence remains

In me, that can be worthy so great services?

Zara. They, and no other, not the princess' self.
Per. Your Majesty shall be obeyed.
King. Retire.

[Exit Perez. Gons. That interdiction, so particular, Pronounced with vehemence, against the princess, Should have more meaning than appears barefac

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

King. What dost thou think, Gonsalez?
Are we not much indebted to this fair one?
Gons. 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 employed
As she pretends-I doubt it now-Your guards
Corrupted! How? By whom? Who told her so?
In the evening Osmyn was to die; at midnight
She begged the royal signet, to release him;
In the 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 discovered

Is manifest, from every circumstance.
This tumult, and the lords who fled with Heli,
Are confirmation;—that Alphonso lives,
Agrees expressly too, with her report.

Gons. I grant it, sir; and doubt not, but in rage

Of jealousy, she has discovered what

She now repents. It may be I'm deceived.
But why that needless caution of the princess?
What if she had seen Osmyn? Though it were

strange;

But if she had, what was't to her, unless

She feared her stronger charms might cause the Moor's

Affection to revolt?

King. I thank thee, friend.

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

Gons. 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 roused 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.

Gons. That were too hard a thought-but sce, she comes

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

Enter ALMERIA and LEONORA.

Why art thou mute? Base and degenerate maid! Gons. Dear madam, speak, or you'll incense the king.

Alm. What is it 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 confede

rate

With damned conspirators, to take my life.
Oh, impious parricide! Now canst thou speak?
Alm. O earth, behold, I kneel upon thy bosom,
And bend my flowing eyes to stream upon
Thy face, imploring thee that thou wilt yield;
Open thy bowels of compassion, take
Into the womb the last and most forlorn
Of all thy race. Hear me, thou common parent,
-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, rise-and if thou wouldst

Acquit thyself of these detested names,
Swear thou hast never seen that foreign dog,
Now doomed to die, that most accursed Osmyn.
Alm. Never, but as with innocence I might,
And free of all bad purposes. So Heaven's
My witness.

King. Vile equivocating wretch!

With innocence! Oh, patience! hear-she owns

it!

Confesses it! By heaven, I'll have him racked,

King. Your coming has prevented me, Al- Torn, mangled, flayed, impaled-all pains and meria;

I had determined to have sent for you.
Let your attendant be dismissed; I have
[Leonora retires.
To talk with you. Come near; why dost thou
shake?

What mean those swollen and red-flecked eyes,

that look

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tortures

That wit of man, or dire revenge, can think,
Shall he, accumulated, underbear.

Alm. Oh, I am lost.—There fate begins to
wound.

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

I'm not to learn that cursed Alphonso lives;
Nor am I ignorant what Osmyn is-

Alm. Then all is ended, and we both must die.
Since thou'rt revealed, alone thou shalt not die;
And yet alone would I have died, Heaven knows,
Repeated deaths, rather than have revealed thee.
Yes, all my father's wounding wrath, though each
Reproach cuts deeper than the keenest sword,
And cleaves my heart, I would have borne it all,
Nay all the pains that are prepared for thee;
To the remorseless rack I would have given
This weak and tender flesh, to have been bruised
And torn, rather than have revealed thy being.

King. Hell, hell! Do I hear this, and yet en

dure!

What! darest 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.

BRITISH DRAMA.

Alm. And yet a father! Think, I am your
child!

:

[CONGREVE.

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

Cursed these weak hands, that could not hold
him here!

For he is gone, to doom Alphonso's death.
Gons. Your too excessive grief works on your

fancy,

And deludes your sense. Alphonso, if living,
Is far from hence, beyond your father's power.
Alm. Hence, thou detested, ill-timed flatterer;

Turn not your eyes away-look on me knceling;
Now, curse me if you can, now spurn me off.
Did ever father curse his kneeling child?
Never for always blessings crown that posture.
Nature inclines, and half way meets that duty,
Stooping to raise from earth the filial reverence;
For bended knees returning folding arms,
With prayers, and blessings, and paternal love.
Oh, hear me, then, thus crawling on the earth-Source of my woes: thou and thy race be cursed;
King Be thou advised, and let me go, while yet
The light impression thou hast made remains.
Alm. No, never will I rise, nor lose this hold,
'Till you are moved, 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.
[Leonora and women return.
Alm. Drag me; and harrow the earth with my
bare bosom;

I will not go 'till you have spared my husband!
King. Ha! What sayest thou
Husband! damnation!

What husband! which? Who?

Alm. He, he is my husband.

King. Poison and daggers! Who?
Alm. Oh-

Gons. Help! support her.

Husband!

[Faints.

Alm. Let me go, let me fall, sink deep—I will

dig,

I will dig a grave, and tear up death; I will;
I will scrape, till I collect his rotten bones,
And cloath their nakedness with my own flesh;
Yes, I will strip off life, and we will change :
I will be death! then, though you kill my hus-
band,

He shall be mine still, and for ever mine.
King. What husband? whom dost thou mean?
Gons. She raves!

Alm. Oh, that I did. Osmyn, he is my husband.
King. Osmyn!

Alm. Not Osmyn, but Alphonso, is my dear
And wedded husband-Heaven, and air, and seas,
Ye winds and waves, I call ye all to witness.
King. Wilder than winds or waves thyself dost

rave.

Should I hear more, I too should catch thy mad

ness.

Yet somewhat she must mean of dire import,
Which I will not hear, till I am more at peace.
Watch her returning sense, and bring me word;
And look that she attempt not on her life.

Alm. Oh, stay, yet stay; hear me, I am not
[Erit King.
mad.

I would to Heaven I were-He is
Gons. Have comfort.

gone.

Alm. Cursed be that tongue that bids me be of comfort;

But doubly thou, who couldst alone have policy
And know that Osmyn was Alphonso.
And fraud to find the fatal secret out,
Gons. Ha!

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

Was it the doleful bell, tolling for death?
Or dying groans from my Alphonso's breast?
And ghastly head glares by, all smeared with
See, see, look yonder! where a grizzled, pale,
blood,

Gasping as it would speak; and after, see,
Behold, a damp, dead hand has dropped a dag

ger:

I will catch it-Hark! a voice cries murder! ah!
My father's voice! hollow it sounds, and calls
Me from the tomb-I will follow it; for there
I shall again behold my dear Alphonso.

[Exeunt Almeria and Leonora. Gons. She is greatly grieved; nor am I less surprized.

Osmyn Alphonso! No; she over-rates
My policy; I never 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?
Things come to this extremity: his daughter
Hold, let me think-if I should tell the king-
Knowing no remedy for what is past,
Wedded already-what if he should yield?

And, urged by nature pleading for his child,
With which he seems to be already shaken.
And though I know he hates, beyond the grave,
To doubt, when I may be assured, is folly.
Anselmo's race; yet if-that If concludes me.
To set him free? Ay, now 'tis plain. O well
But how prevent the captive queen, who means
Invented tale! He was Alphonso's friend.
This subtle woman will amuse the king.
If I delay-'twill do-or better so.
One to my wish.

Alonzo thou art welcome.

Enter ALONZO.

Alon. The king expects your lordship.
Gons. "Tis no matter.

I am not in the way at present, good_Alonzo.
Alm. If it please your lordship, I will retura,
and say
I have not seen you.

Gons. Do, my best Alonzo.

Yet stay, I would-but go; anon will serve→
Yet I have that requires thy speedy help.

I think thou wouldst not stop to do me service.
Alon. I am your creature.

Gons. Say thou art my friend.

I have seen thy sword do noble execution. Alon. All that it can, your lordship shall command.

Gons. Thanks; and I take thee at thy word. Thou hast seen,

Amongst the followers of the captive queen,

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Dumb men, who make their meaning known by Almeria widowed, yet again may wed;

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And I yet fix the crown on Garcia's head.

[Exit.

with speed

ACT V,

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King. It is well.

[4 mute appears, and, seeing the king, retires. Ha! stop and seize that mute; Alonzo, follow him.

Entering, he met my eyes, and, starting back,
Frighted, and fumbling one hand in his bosom,
As to conceal the importance of his errand.
[Alonzo follows him, and returns with a paper.
Alon. A bloody proof of obstinate fidelity!
King. What dost thou mean?

Alon. Soon as I seized the man,

He snatched from out his bosom this-and strove,
With rash and greedy haste, at once, to cram
The morsel down his throat. I caught his arm,
And hardly wrenched his hand to bring it from

hini;

Which done, he drew a poinard from his side, And, on the instant, plunged it in his breast. King. Remove the body thence, ere Zara see it. Alon. I will be so bold to borrow his attire; Twill quit me of my promise to Gonsalez.

[Aside. Exit. Per. Whate'er it is, the king's complexion

turns.

King. How is this? My mortal foe beneath my roof! [Having read the letter. VOL. I.

Oh, give me patience, all ye powers! No, rather
Give me new rage, implacable revenge,
And trebled fury-Ha! who's there?
Per. My lord.

King. Hence, slave! how darest thou bide to watch, and pry

Into how poor a thing a king descends?
How like thyself, when passion treads him down!
Ha! stir not, on thy life; for thou wert fixed,
And planted here, to see me gorge this bait,
And lash against the hook-by Heaven, you are

all

Rank traitors! thou art with the rest combined:
Thou knewest that Osmyn was Alphonso; knewest
My daughter privately with him conferred;
And wert the spy and pandar to their meeting.
Per. By all that's holy, I am amazed-
King. Thou liest.

Thou art accomplice too with Zara; here Where she sets down- Still I will set thee free.' [Reading.

That somewhere is repeated- I have power O'er them that are thy guards'-Mark that, thou traitor.

Per. It was your majesty's command I should Obey her order.

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King. [Reading.] And still will I set

| Thee free, Alphonso-Hell! cursed, cursed, Alphonso!

False and perfidious Zara! Strumpet daughter!
Away, begone, thou feeble boy, fond Love!
All nature, softness, pity, and compassion,
This hour I throw ye off, and entertain
Fell hate within my breast, revenge and gall.
By Heaven, I will meet, and counterwork this
treachery.

Hark thee, villain, traitor-answer me, slave!
Per. My service has not merited those titles.
King, Darest thou reply? Take that-thy ser-
vice! thine!
[Strikes him
What is thy whole life, thy soul, thy all, to my
One moment's case? Hear my command: and look.

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