Rather than come thus coldly, than come thus Leon. Alas, my lord, we are too delicate: A plainer man would not feel half your pains: I had not then solicited your father Leon. I pray, my lord, no more. Car. Ah, why so sad? You know each sigh does shake me : Sighs there, are tempests here. I have heard, bad men would be unblest in Hea ven: What is my guilt, that makes me so with you? Leon. Court me not, Good Carlos, by recounting of my faults, Car. Must I despair then? Do not shake me thus: My tempest-beaten heart is cold to death; Of matchless love! To fling me at thy feet, [Trumpets. [Embracing him. Car. A victory indeed! your godlike arm Has made one spot the grave of Africa; Such numbers fell! and the survivors fled, As frighted passengers from off the strand, When the tempestuous sea comes roaring on them. Alon. 'Twas Carlos conquered, 'twas his cruel chains Inflamed me to a rage unknown before, Car. I love fair Leonora. How I love her! Enter ZANGA. Zan. Manuel, my lord, returning from the port, On business both of moment and of haste, Humbly begs leave to speak in private with you. Car. In private! Ha! Alonzo, I will return; No business can detain me long from thee. [Exit. Zan. My lord Alonzo, I obeyed your orders. Alon. Will the fair Leonora pass this way? Zan. She will, my lord, and soon. Alon. Come near me, Zanga; For I dare open all my heart to thee. Never was such a day of triumph known! There's not a wounded captive in my train, That slowly followed my proud chariot wheels, With half a life, and beggary, and chains, But is a god to me: I am most wretched. To talk to Leonora's heart, and make I thought him dead; for (by what fate I know not) His letters never reached me. Zan. Thanks to Zanga, Who thence contrived that evil which has happened. [Aside. Alon. Yes, cursed of Heaven! I loved myself, and now, 'Twas but a world, and you are-Leonora. Leon. That passion, which you boast of, is your guilt, A treason to your friend. You think mean of me, What could I do! In duty to my friend, But grant my crime was great; I am greatly cursed; What would you more? Am I not most undone? -Farewell. Alon. Who suffers with me? [Going. Leon. Enjoy your ignorance, and let me go. Alon. Alas! what is there I can fear to know, Since I already know your hate? Your actions Have long since told me that. Leon. They flattered you. Leon. Oh, search in fate no farther! I hate thee Oh, Alonzo, how I hate thee! Oh, what a doubtful torment heaves my heart! How would my soul blaze up in ecstacy! Leon. I weep by chance; nor have my tears a meaning. But Oh! when first I saw Alonzo's tears, [Alon. falls passionately on his knees, and takes her hand. Alon. Heavens! what is this? That excel lence, for which Desire was planted in the heart of man; Virtue's supreme reward on this side Heaven; The cordial of my soul-and this destroys meIndeed, I flattered me that thou didst hate. Leon. Alonzo, pardon me the injury Of loving you. I struggled with my passion, Alon. Unkind, you know I think your love a blessing Beyond all human blessings! 'tis the price Leon. Alas! Alon. What says my love? Speak, Leonora. Leon. Was it for you, my lord, to be so quick Alon. Oh, agony! Must I not only lose her, but be made Myself the instrument? Not only die, But plunge the dagger in my heart myself? This is refining on calamity. Alas, I see him pale! I hear him groan! He foams, he tears his hair, he raves, he bleeds, (I know him by myself) he dies distracted! Leon. How dreadful to be cut from what we love! Alon. Ah, speak no more! Leon. And tied to what we hate! Alon. Oh! Leon. Is it possible? Alon. Death! Leon. Can you? Alon. Oh Yes, take a limb; but let my virtue 'scape. Leon. What! do you tremble lest you should❘ How often have you sworn !-but go, for ever. be mine? For what else can you tremble? Not for that My father places in your power to alter. Alon. What's in my power? Oh, yes; to stab my friend! Leon. To stab your friend were barbarous indeed! Spare him-and murder me. I own, Alonzo, Alon. Torment! [After a pause, Leon. speaks. I sue, and sue in vain: it is most just, Leon. Say, what have you resolved? My father comes; what answer will you give him? Alon. What answer! let me look upon that face, And read it there.-Devote thee to another! Leon. And why undo you? Is it then, my lord, Alon. No, Leonora, I am thine for ever, [Runs and embraces her. In spite of Carlos-Ha! who's that? My friend? [Starts wide from her. VOL. I. [Swoons. Alon. Heart of my heart, and essence of my joy! Where art thou !-Oh, I'm thine, and thine for ever! The groans of friendship shall be heard no more. Leon. Hold, Alonzo, And hear a maid whom doubly thou hast conquered. I love thy virtue as I love thy person, [Exit. SCENE I-Continues. Enter Don MANUEL and ZANGA. ACT II. Zan. If this be true, I cannot blame your pain For wretched Carlos; 'tis but human in you. But when arrived your dismal news? Man. This hour. Zan. What, not a vessel saved? Man. All, all the storm Devoured; and now o'er his late envied fortune The dolphins bound, and watery mountains roar, Triumphant in his ruin. Zan. Is Alvarez Determined to deny his daughter to him? That treasure was on shore; must that too join The common wreck? Man. Alvarez pleads, indeed, That Leonora's heart is disinclined, And pleads that only; so it was this morning, When he concurred: the tempest broke the match, And sunk his favour, when it sunk the gold. Zan. How does Don Carlos bear it? Whose heart feels most a human heart can feel, Zan. But is he then in absolute despair? Zan. Ha! was not that received with ecstacy By Don Alonzo? Man. Yes, at first; but soon A damp came o'er him, it would kill his friend. Zan. Not if his friend consented and since now He cannot himself espouse her Man. Yet, to ask it :: Has something shocking to a generous mind; In his severe affliction. Zan. Ha, it dawns! Carlos wants support [Exit. It rises to me, like a new-found world Enter ISABELLA. I thought of dying; better things come forward; Vengeance is still alive; from her dark covert, With all her snakes erect upon her crest, She stalks in view, and fires me with her charms. Zan. That was the very night Isa. At midnight. Zan. So Say, did he see that night his Leonora ? Zan. No matter-tell me, woman, Is not Alonzo rather brave than cautious, Isa. You best can judge; but so the world thinks of him. Zan. Why, that was well-go, fetch my tablets Two nights ago my father's sacred shade me; He smiled a joy then little understood It must be so—and if so, it is vengeance Re-enter ISABELLA with the tablets; ZANGA writes, then reads as to himself. Thus it stands The father's fixed-Don Carlos cannot wed- Were it not then a master-piece, worth all His friend to grant-then from that very grant, I have turned o'er the catalogue of human woes, Which sting the heart of man, and find none equal. It is the Hydra of calamities, The seven-fold death; the jealous are the damned. To thee, thou conflagration of the soul! Withdraw-Ye subtle dæmons, which reside smiles, That little enginery, more mischievous Than fleets and armies, and the cannon's murder, | Is Leonora worth one pang or not? Teach me to look a lie; give me your maze Enter Don ALONZO. My lord, I give you joy. Alon. Of what, good Zanga? Zan. Is not the lovely Leonora yours? And since he can't espouse the fair himself, Love reigns a sultan with unrivalled sway; Insult his broken heart the very moment! Zan. I understand you: but you'll wed hereafter, When your friend's gone, and his first pain assuaged. Alon. Am I to blame in that? Zan. My lord, I love Your very errors; they are born from virtue. Don Carlos' match, and wherefore urge Alonzo's? morrow May see Alonzo in Don Carlos' fortune; you Which gives you Leonora now, will cease. [Aside. Alon. Think'st thou, my Zanga, should I ask His goodness would consent that I should wed Zan. I know it would. Alon. But then the cruelty To ask it, and for me to ask it of him! It hurts not me, my lord, but as I love you: Are such as may hereafter give you pain- fair To age and ugliness, because set in gold? [Erit. Zan. Half of my work is done. I must secure Don Carlos, ere Alonzo speak with him. [He gives a message to a servant, then returns. Proud hated Spain, oft drenched in Moorish blood! Dost thou not feel a deadly foe within thee? Blast the bold thought, and curse him with her But see, the melancholy lover comes. Enter Don CARLOS. Car. Hope, thou hast told me lies from day to day, For more than twenty years; vile promiser! An artificial happiness from pains: Yet much is talked of bliss; it is the art Zan. Methinks you are severe upon your friend. Yet, knowing, disbelieve, and try again Alon. That is the very reason which forbids it. Zun. My lord, you know the sad alternative. What we have tried, and struggle with conviction. Zan. My noble lord, I mourn your fate; But are no hopes surviving? |