Shall rest; shews me the grave, where nature, weary And long oppresed with woes and bending cares, OSMYN ascending from the tomb. Osm. Who calls that wretched thing that was Alm. Angels, and all the host of heaven, sup- Osm. Whence is that voice, whose shrillness, And growing to his father's shroud, roots up Alm. Mercy! Providence! Oh, speak, Osm. Amazement and illusion! Rivet and nail me where I stand, ye powers, [Coming forward. That, motionless, I may be still deceived. Let me not stir, nor breathe, lest I dissolve That tender, lovely form of painted air, So like Almeria. Ha! it sinks, it falls; I'll catch it ere it goes, and grasp her shade! 'Tis life! 'tis warm! 'tis she, 'tis she herself! Nor dead, nor shade, but breathing and alive! It is Almeria, it is my wife! Alm. I have sworn I'll not wed Garcia: why do ye force me? Is this a father? Osm. Look on thy Alphonso. Thy father is not here, my love, nor Garcia: me? Hast thou thy eyes, yet canst not see Alphonso? Alm. It is, it is Alphonso! 'tis his face, The wildness of the waves and rocks to this; That, thus relenting, they have given thee back To earth, to light and life, to love and me? Osm. Oh, I'll not ask, nor answer, how or why We both have backward trod the paths of fate, To meet again in life; to know I have thee, Is knowing more than any circumstance, Or means, by which I have thee— To fold thee thus, to press thy balmy lips, And gaze upon thy eyes, is so much joy, I have not leisure to reflect, or know, Or trifle time in thinking. Alm. Stay a while It is too much! too much to bear and live! Alm. Where hast thou been? and how art thou alive? How is all this? All-powerful Heaven, what are we? Oh, my strained heart-let me again behold thee, For I weep to see thee-Art thou not paler? Much, much; how thou art changed! Osm. Not in my love. Alm. No, no! thy griefs, I know, have done this to thee. Thou hast wept much, Alphonso; and, I fear, Too much, too tenderly, lamented me. Osm. Wrong not my love, to say too tenderly, No more, my life; talk not of tears or grief; Affliction is no more, now thou art found. Why dost thou weep, and hold thee from my arms, My arms which ache to hold thee fast, and grow To thee with twining? Come, come to my heart! Alm. I will, for I should never look enough. They would have married me; but I had sworn To Heaven and thee, and sooner would have died Osm. Perfection of all faithfulness and love! Alm. Indeed I would-Nay, I would tell thee | all, If I could speak; how I have mourned and prayed: For I have prayed to thee, as to a saint; come To my distress, to my despair, which Heaven Osm. Grant me but life, good leaven, but length of days, To pay some part, some little of this debt, y? Of yet unmeasured time; when I have made Alm. True; but how cam'st thou there? Wert thou alone? Osm. I was, and lying on my father's lead, And thought I heard thy spirit call Alphonso; What is he, who, like thyself, is started here Osm. Where? Ha! What do I see, Antonio! of seas And war: for in the fight I saw him fall. Heli. But fell unhurt, a prisoner as yourself, | And as yourself made free; hither I came, Impatiently to seek you, where I knew Your grief would lead you to lament Anselmo. Osm. There are no wonders; or else all is wonder. Heli. I saw you on the ground, and raised you up, When with astonishment I saw Almeria. Osm. I saw her too, and therefore saw not thee. Alm. Nor I; nor could I, for my eyes were yours. Osm. What means the bounty of all-gracious That persevering still, with open hand, When scanty number shall be spent in telling. Leon. Or I am deceived, or I beheld the glimpse Of two in shining habits cross the aisle; | Who by their pointing, seem to mark this place. Alm. Sure I have dreamt, if we must part so Osm. She's the reverse of thee; she's my unhappiness. Harbour no thought that may disturb thy peace; But gently take thyself away, lest she Should come, and sce the straining of my eyes Retire, my love, I'll think how we may meet Alm. Sure we shall meet again Osm. We shall; we part not but to meet again. Gladness and warmth of ever-kindling love Dwell with thee, and revive thy heart in absence. [Exeunt Alm. Leon, and Heli. Yet I behold her-yet-and now no more. Turn your lights inward, eyes, and view my thoughts, So shall you still behold her—'twill not be. Essaying farther to futurity; But that in vain. I have Almeria here Enter ZARA and SELIM. Zara. See where he stands, folded and fixed to Stiff ning in thought, a statue among statues. Osm. Ha, 'tis Zara ! Even then. Kneeling on earth, I loosed my hair, Osm. Oh, call not to my inind what you have It sets a debt of that account before me, Zara. The faithful Selim, and my women, know Zara. Yes, traitor; Zara, lost, abandoned Zara, | You hated Manuel, I urged my husband The slave, the wretch that she redeemed from death, Disdains to listen now, or look on Zara. Osm. Far be the guilt of such reproaches from And only for his sorrows chose this solitude? Zara. Inhuman! Why, why dost thou rack me And, with perverseness, from the purpose an- What is it to me, this house of misery? To this invasion; where he late was lost, Osm. A fatal wretch-A huge, stupendous ruin, Zara. Yet thus, thus fallen, levelled with the If I have gained thy love, 'tis glorious ruin ; Of sceptres, crowns, and thrones; they've served And are, like lumber, to be left and scorned. Osin. Why was I made the instrument, to throw Zara. We may be free; the conqueror is mine; Osm. In vain you offer, and in vain require, Osm. Alas! You know me not. Zura. Not who thou art: But what this last ingratitude declares, 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 my slave. 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, SCENE I-A Prison. OSMYN with a Paper. 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 [Guards seize Osmyn, and exeunt. Zara. 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, ACT III. [Exeunt. 'Tis wanting what should follow-Heaven should follow, But 'tis torn off-Why should that word alone Thus as the name of Heaven from this is torn, If piety be thus debarred access On high, and of good men the very best turns, Fooling the follower, betwixt shade and shining. What noise! Who's there? My friend? How camest thou hither? Enter HELI. Heli. The time's too precious to be spent in The captain, influenced by Almeria's power, Osm. How does Almeria? But I know she is As I am. Tell me, may I hope to see her? Heli. You may. Anon, at midnight, when the king Is gone to rest, and Garcia is retired, Presuming on a bridegroom's right, she'll come. I fear. She'll come; but whither, and to whom? Oh, Heaven! 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 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, Osm. Oh, my Antonio! I am all on fire; Where is Alphonso? Ha! where? where indeed? alty; 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 inhamanity. 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 impiety, The care of Heaven. More anxious grief. taught me ; Not so my father bore This should have better |