no more.

And turns this disappointment to account. I know not where I am.
He more shall credit it, because unseen,

Alon. Think, think no more ! (If 'tis unseen) as thou anon may'st tind.

It ne'er can enter in an honest heart. Isa. That would indeed commend my Zanga's I'll tell thee, then-I cannot yet I do, skill.

By wanting force to give it utterance. Zan. This, Isabella, is Don Carlos' picture; Zun. Speak, ease your heart; its throbs will Take it, and so dispose of it, that, found,

burst your bosom! It may raise up a witness of her love;

Alon. I am most happy: mine is victory, Under her pillow, in her cabinet,

Mine the king's favour, mine the nation's shout, Or elsewhere, as shall best promote our end. And great men make their fortunes of my smiles.

Isa. I'll weigh it as its consequence requires, O curse of curses ! in the lap of blessing Then do my utinost to deserve your smile. (Erit. To be most curst ! My Leonora's false !

Zan. Is that Alo:zo prostrate on the ground? Zan. Save me, my lord! -Now he starts up, like flame from sleeping em- Alon. My Leonora's false ! bers,

[Gides him the letter. And wild distraction glares from either eye! Zan. Then Heaven has lost its image here on If thus a slight surinise can work his soul,

earth. How will the fulness of the tempest tear him?

[While Zanga reads the letter, he trem

bles, and shews the utmost concern. Enter Don Alonzo.

Alon. Good-natured man ! he makes my pains Alon. And yet it cannot be- I am deceived

bis own! I injure her! she wears the face of Ileaven. I durst not read it; but I read it now Zan. Ile doubts.

[Aside. In thy concern! Alon. I dare not look on this again.

Zan. Did you not read it then? If the first glance, which gave suspicion only, Alon. Mine eye just touched it, and could bear Had such effect, so smote my heart and brain, The certainty would dash me all in pieces. Zan. Thus perish all that gives Alonzo pain ! It cannot - Ila! it must, it must be true.

[Tears the letter. Starts. Alon. Why didst thou tear it? Zan. Ilold there, and we succeed. He has Zan. Think of it no more. descried me;

'Twas your mistake; and groundless are your And (for he thinks I love him) will unfold

fears. His aching heart, and rest it on my counsel. Alon. And didst thou tremble, then, for my I'll seem to go, to make my stay inore sure.

mistake?

[ Aside. Or give the whole contents, or by the pangs Alon. Hold, Zanga, turn.

That feed upon my beart, thy life's in danger ! Zan. My lord !

Zan. Is this Alonzo's language to his Zanga? Alon. Shut close the doors,

Draw forth your sword, and find the secret here. That not a spirit find an entrance here.

For whose sake is it, think you, I conceal it? Zan. My lord's obeyed.

Wherefore this rage? Because I seek your Alon. I see that thou art frighted.

peace? If thou dost love me, I shall fill thy heart I have no interest in suppressing it, With scorpions' stings.

But what good-natured tenderness for you Zan. If I do love, my lord ?

Obliges me to have. Not mine the heart Alon. Come near me, let me rest upon thy That will be rent in two. Not mine the fame boso;

That will be damned, though all the world (What pillow like the bosom of a friend :)

should know it. For I am sick at heart.

Alon. Then my worst fears are true, and life Zan. Speak, sir, O speak, And take me from the rack !

Zun. What has the rashness of my passion Alon. And is there need

uttered? Of words? Behold a wonder! See my tears ! I knw pot what; but rage is our destruction, Zan. I feel them !00. Heaven grant my senses And all its words are wind-Yet sure, I think, fail me!

I nothing owned. But, grant I did confess, I rather would lose them, than have this real. What is a letter? Letters may be forged. Alon. Go, take a round through all things in For Ileaven's sweet sake, my lord, lift up your thy thought,

is pasi.

They take offence, who have not been offended; The eternal law of things declares it true,
They seek our ruin, too, who speak us fair, Which calls for judgment on distinguished guilt,
And death is often ambushed in their smiles. And loves to make our crime our punishment.
We know not whom we have to fear. 'Tis cer- Love is my torture, love was first my crime;
tain

For she was his, my friend's, and he (0 horror!) A letter may be forged, and in a point

Confided all in me. O, sacred faith!
Of such a dreadful consequence as this, How dearly I abide thy violation !
One would rely on nought that might be false- Zan. Were, then, their loves far gone?
Think, have you any other cause to doubt her? Alon. The father's will
Away, you can find none. Resume your spirit; There bore a total sway; and he, as soon
All's well again.

As news arrived that Carlos' feet was seen
Alon. O that it were !

From off our coast, fired with the love of gold, Zan. It is;

Determined, that the very sun which saw For who would credit that, which, credited, Carlos' return, should see his daughter wed. Makes hell superfluous by superior pains,

Zan. Indeed, my lord, then you must pardon Without such proofs as cannot be withstood ?

me, Has she not ever been to virtue trained ? If I presume to mitigate the crime. Is not her fame as spotless as the sun,

Consider, strong allurements soften guilt; Her sex's envy, and the boast of Spain? Long was his absence, ardent was his love,

Alon. O Zanga! it is that confounds me most, At midnight his return, the next day destined That full in opposition to appearance

For his espousals—'twas a strong temptation. Zan. No more, my lord, for you condemn Alon. Temptation ! yourself.

Zan. 'Twas but gaining of one night. What is absurdity, but to believe

Alon. One night! Against appearance You can't yet, I find, Zan. That crime could ne'er return again. Subdue your passion to your better sense;- Alon. Again! By Heaven thou dost insult thy And, truth to tell, it does not much displease me. lord. 'Tis fit your indiscretions should be checked Temptation ! One night gained ! O stings and With some degree of pain.

death! Alon. What indiscretions?

And am I then undone! Alas, my Zanga! Zan. Come, you must bear to hear your faults And dost thou own it too? Deny it still, from me.

And rescue me one moment from distraction. Had you not sent Don Carlos to the court

Zan. My lord, I hope the best.
The night before the battle, that foul slave, Alon. False, foolish hope,
Who forged the senseless scroll which gives you And insolent to me! Thou know'st it false;
pain,

It is as glaring as the noon-tide sun.
Had wanted footing for his villany.

Devil! This morning, after three years coldness, Alon. I sent him not.

To rush at once into a passion for me! Zan. Not send him! Ha! That strikes me. 'Twas time to feign, 'twas time to get another, I thought he came on message to the king. When her first fool was sated with her beauties Is there another cause could justify

Zan. What says my lord? Did Leonora then His shunning danger, and the promised fight? Nerer disclose lier passion for you? But I perhaps may think too rigidly;

Alon. Never. So long an absence, and impatient love

Zan. Throughout the whole three years? Alon. In my confusion that had quite escaped Alon. O never! never!

Why, Zanga, sbouldst thou strive? 'Tis all in By Heaven, my wounded soul does bleed afresh; vain : 'I'is clear as day—for Carlos is so brave, Though thy soul labours, it can find no reed He lives not but on fame, he hunts for danger, For hope to catch at. A!! I am plunging down And is enamoured of the face of death.

Ten thousand fathoms in despair. How then could he decline the next day's battle, Zun. Hold, sir, I'll break your fall-wave every But for the transports—Oh, it must be so

fear, Inhuman, by the loss of his own honour, And be a man again—IIad he enjoyed her, To buy the ruin of his friend !

Be most assured, he had resigned her to you Zan. You wrong him;

With less reluctance. He knew not of your love.

Alon. Ha! Resiyn ber to me! Alon. Ha !

Resign her!--Who resigned her?-Double death! Zan. That stings home.

[ Aside. How could I doubt so long? My heart is bruke. Alon. Indeed, he knew not of my treacherous First love her to distraction ! then resign hier! love

Zan. But was it not with utmost agony? Proofs rise on proofs, and still the last the strony- Alon. Grant that, he still resigned ber; that's

me.

Would he pluck out his eye to give it me? Thrives underneath my hand in misery.
Tear out his heart?-She was his heart no more He's gone to think; that is, to be distracted.
Nor was it with reluctance he resigned her! Isa. I overheard your conference, and saw you,
By Heaven, he asked, he courted me to wed. To my amazement, tear the letter.
I thought it strange; 'tis now no longer so. Zan. There,
Zan. Was it his request ? Are you right sure There, Isabella, I out-did myself.
of that?

For tearing it, I not secure it only
I fear the letter was not all a tale.

In its first force; but superadd a new. Alon. A tale! There's proof equivalent to For who can now the character examine, sight.

To cause a doubt, much less detect the fraud ? Zan. I should distrust my sight on this occa- And after tearing it, as loth to shew sion.

The foul contents, if I should swear it now Alon. And so should I ; by Heaven, I think I A forgery, my lord would disbelieve me; should.

Nay, more, would disbelieve the more I swore. What! Leonora, the divine, by whom

But is the picture happily disposed of? We guessed at angels! Oh! I'm all confusion. Isa, It is. Zan. You now are too much ruitled to think Lan. That's well-Ah! what is well? O pang clearly.

to think! Since bliss and horror, life and death hang on it, O dire necessity! is this my province ? Go to your chamber, there maturely weigh Whither, my soul! ah! whither art thou sunk Each circumstance; consider, above all, Beneath thy sphere? Ere while, far, far above That it is jealousy's peculiar nature

Such little arts, dissembling, falsehoods, frauds, To swell small things to great; nay, out of nought | The trash of villany itself, which falls To conjure much, and then to lose its reason To cowards, and poor wretches wanting bread. Amid the hideous phantoms it has formed. Does this become a soldier? This become Alon. Had I ten thousand lives, I'd give them whom armies followed, and a people loved ? all

My martial glory withers at the thought. To be deceived. I fear 'tis doomsday with me. But great my end; and since there are no other, And yet she seemed so pure, that I thought Hea- | These means are just; they shine with borrowed

light, Borrowed her form for virtue's self to wear,

Illustrious from the purpose they pursue. To gain her lovers with the sons of men.

And

greater sure my merit, who, to gain O Leonora ! Leonora !

[Erit. A point sublime, can such a task sustain ;

To wade through ways obscene, my honour bend,
Enter IsaBELLA.
And shock my nature, to attain my

end. Zan. Thus far it works auspiciously. My pa- Late time shall wonder; that my joys will raise; tient

For wonder is involuntary praise, [Excunt.

ven

ACT IV.

SCENE I.
Enter Don Alonzo and ZANGA.
Alon. Oh, what a pain to think! when every

thought,
Perplexing thought, in intricacies runs,
And reason knits the inextricable toil,
In which herself is taken ! I am lost,
Poor insect that I am; I am involved,
And buried in the web myself have wrought !
One argument is balanced by another,
And reason reason meets in doubtful fight,
And proofs are countermined by equal proofs.
No more I'll bear this battle of the mind,
This inward anarchy; but find my wife,
And to her trembling heart presenting death,
Force all the secret from her.

Zan. O, forbear!
You totter on the very brink of ruin.

Alon. What dost thou mean?
Zan. That will discover all,
VOL. I.

And kill my hopes. What can I think or do?

(Aside. Alon. What dost thou murmur?

Zan, Force the secret from her!
What's perjury to such a crime as this?
Will she confess it then? O, groundless hope !
But rest assured, she'll make this accusation,
Or false or true, your ruin with the king;
Such is her father's

power.
Alon. No more, I care not;
Rather than groan beneath this load, I'll die.
Zan. But for what better will you change this

load?
Grant you should know it, would not that be

worse?
Alon. No; it would cure me of

my

mortal
pangs :
By hatred and contempt I should despise her,
And all my love-bred agonies would vanish.

Zan. Ah! were I sure of that, my lord-
Alon. What then?

3 F

secret.

Zan. You should not hazard life to gain the Leon. How good in you, my lord, whom na

tions' cares Alon. What dost thou mean? Thou know'st Solicit, and a world in arms obeys, I'm on the rack.

To drop one thought on me! I'll not be played with; speak, if thou hast aught,

[Ěe shews the utmost impatience. Or I this instant fly to Leonora.

Alon. Dost thou then prize it? Zan. That is, to death. My lord, I am not yet Leon. Do you then ask it? Quite so far gone in guilt to suffer it,

Alon. Know then, to thy comfort, Though gone too far, Heaven knows-Tis I am Thou hast me all, my throbbing heart is full guilty

With thee alone; I have thought of nothing else; I have took pains, as you, I know, observed, Nor shall, 1 from my soul believe, till death. To hinder you from diving in the secret, My life, our friends expect thee. And turned aside your thoughts from the detec- Leon. I obey.

[Erit. tion.

Alon. Is that the face of cursed hypocrisy? Alon. Thou dost confound me!

If she is guilty, stars are made of darkness, Zan. I confound myself,

And beauty shall no more belong to Heaven And frankly own it, though to my shame I own Don Carlos did return at dead of nightit;

Proceed, good Zanga; so thy tale began. Nought but your life in danger could have torn Zan. Don Carlos did return at dead of night; The secret out, and made me own my criine. That night, by chance (ill chance for me) did I Alon. Speak quickly; Zanga, speak.

Command the watch that guards the palace gate. Zan. Not yet, dread sir :

He told me he had letters for the king,
First, I must be assured, that if you find Dispatched from you.
The fair one guilty, scorn, as you assured me, Alon. The villain lied !
Shall conquer love and rage, and heal your soul. Zan. My lord,
Alon. Oh! 'twill, by Heaven!

I pray,

forbear - Transported at his sight, Zan. Alas! I fear it much,

After so long a bondage, and your friend, And scarce can hope so far; but I of this (Who could suspect him of an artifice ?) Exact your solemn oath, that you'll abstain No farther I enquired, but let him pass, From all self-violence, and save my lord. False to my trust, at least imprudent in it. Alon, I tre bly swear.

Our watch relieved, I went into the garden, Zan. You'll bear it like a man?

As is my custom, when the night's serene, Alon. A god.

And took a moon-light walk : when soon I heard Zan. Such have you been to me; these tears A rustling in an arbour that was near me. confess it,

I saw two lovers in each other's arms, And poured forth miracles of kindness on me : Embracing and embraced. Anon the man And what amends is now within my power, Arose, and, falling back some paces from her, But to confess, expose myself to justice, Gazed ardently awhile, then rushed at once, And, as a blessing, claim my punishment? And throwing all himself into her bosom, Know, then, Don Carlos

There softly sighed — Oh, night of ecstacy ! Alon. Oh!

When shall we meet again ?'—Don Carlos, then, Zan. You cannot bear it.

Led Leonora forth.
Alon. Go on, I'll have it, though it blast man- Alon. Oh, Oh my heart !

[He sinks into a chair. I'll have it all, and instantly. Go on.

Zan. Groan on, and with the sound refresh Zan. Don Carlos did return at dead of night

'Tis through his heart; bis knees smite one another: Enter Leonora,

'Tis through his brain; bis eye-balls roll in anLeon. My lord Alonzo, you are absent from us,

guish.

(Aside. And quite undo our joy.

My lord, my lord, why do ye rack my soul ? Alon. I'll come, my love :

Speak to me, let me know that you still live. Be not our friends deserted by us both; Do not you know me, sir? Pray, look upon me; I'll follow you this moment.

You think too deeply-I am your own Zanga, Leon. My good lord,

So loved, so cherished, and so faithful to you. I do observe severity of thought

Why start you in such fury? Nay, my lord, Upon your brow. Aught hear you from the For Heaven's sake sheath your sword! What Moors?

can this mean? Alon. No, my delight.

Fool that I was, to trust you with the secret, Leon. What then employed your mind! And you unkind to break your word with me. Alon. Thou, love, and only thou; so Heaven Oh, passion for a woman on the ground ! befriend me,

Where is your boasted courage? Where your As other thought can find no entrance here.

scorn,

kind;

my soul!

me!

And prudent rage, that was to cure your grief, Alas my head turns round, and my limbs fail
And chase your love-bred agonies away?
Rise, sir, for honour's sake. Why should the Zan. My lord!
Moors,

Alon. Oh, villain, villain, most accurst !
Why should the vanquished triumph?

If thou didst know it, why didst let me wed?
Alon. Would to Heaven

Zan. Hear me, my lord, your anger will abate.
That I were lower still! Oh, she was all! I knew it not :- I saw them in the garden;
My fame, my friendship, and my love of arms, But saw no more than you might well expect
Al stoop to her; my blood was her possession. To see in lovers destined for each other.
Deep in the secret foldings of my heart

By leaven I thought their mecting innocent.
She lived with life, and far the dearer she. Who could suspect fair Leonora's virtue,
But-and no more-set nature on a blaze, Till after-proofs conspired to blacken it?
Give her a fit of jealousy-away

Sad proofs, which came too late, which broke not
To think on't-is the torment of the damned,

out, And not to think on't is impossible.

(Eternal curses on Alvarez' haste !) How fair the cheek that first alarmed

my. .

soul! Till holy rites had made the wanton yours ;
How bright the eye that set it on a flame! And then, I own, I laboured to conceal it,
How soft the breast on which I laid my peace In duty and compassion to your peace.
For years to slumber, unawaked by care!

Alon. Live now, be damned hereafter-for I
How fierce the transport ! how sublime the bliss ! want thee
How deep, how black, the horror and despair ! Oh, night of ecstacy "Ha! was't not so?

Zan. You said you would bear it like a man. I will enjoy this murder.--Let me think-
Alon. I do.

The jasınine bower-'tis secret and remote : Am I not most distracted ?

Go wait me there, and take thy darger with thee. Zan. Pray, be calm,

[Erit Zanga. Alon. As hurricanes: be thou assured of that. How the sweet sound still sings within my car! Zan. Is this the wise Alonzo ?

When shall we meet again ?-To-night, in hell! Alon. Villain, no! He died in the arbour-he was murdered there!

As he is going, enter LEONORA. I am his dæmon though—— My wife !-my Ha! I'm surprised! I stagger at her charms ! wife!

Oh, angel-devil!- -Shall ( stab her now?
Zan. Alas! he weeps.

No--It shall be as I at first determined.
Alon. Go, dig her grave !

To kill her now, were half my vengeance lost.
Zan. My lord !

Then must I now dissemble---if I can. Alon. But that her blood's too hot, I would Leon. My lord, excuse me; see, a second time carouse it

I come in embassy from all your friends, Around my bridal board !

Whose joys are languid, uninspired by you. Zan. And I would pledge thee. Aside. Alon. This moment, Leonora, I was coming Alon. But I may talk too fast. Pray, let me To thee, and all but sure, or I mistake, think,

Or thou canst well inspire my friends with joy.
And reason mildly. Wedded and undonc Leon. Why sighs my lord?
Before one night descends! Oh, hasty evil! Alon. I sighed not, Leonora.
What friend to comfort me in my extreme ! Leon. I thought you did; your sighs are mine,
Where's Carlos? Why is Carlos absent from me ?
Does he know what has happened ?

And I shall feel them all.
Zun. My good lord !

Alon. Dost Aatter me?
Alon. O, depth of horror! He !-My bosom Leon. If my regards for you are flattery,
friend!

Full far indeed I stretched the compliment
Zan. Alas, compose yourself, my lord. In this day's solemn rite.
Alon. To death!

Alon. What rite?
Gaze on her with both eyes so ardently!

Leon. You sport me. Give them the vultures, tear him all in pieces ! Alon. Indeed I do; my heart is full of mirth. Zan. Most excellent !

[Aside. Leon. And so is mine-I look on cheerfulAlon. Hark! you can keep a secret.

ness,
In yonder arbour, bonnd with jasmine As on the health of virtue.
Who's that? What villain's that? Unhand her- Alon. Virtue ! -Damn-
Murder !

Leon. What says my lord?
Tear them asunder—Murder—How they grind Alon. Thou art exceeding fair.
My heart betwixt them !-Oh, let go my heart ! Leon. Beauty alone is but of little worth;
Yet let it go-Embracing and embraced ! But when the soul and body of a piece,
Ob, pestilence !-Who let him in ?-A traitor. Both shine alike, then they obtain a price,

(Goes to stab Zanga, he preocats him. And are a fit reward for gallant actions,

my lord,