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-and, if thou
wouldst

Acquit thyself of those detested names,
Swear thou hast never seen that foreign dog,
Now doom'd to die, that most accursed Osmyn.
Alm. Never, but as with innocence I might,
And free of all bad purposes: so heav'n's
My witness.

King. Vile equivocating wretch!
With innocence! O patience! hear-she owns

it!

Confesses it! By heav'n, I'll have him rack'd,
Torn, mangl'd, flay'd, impal'd—all pains and

tortures

And look that she attempt not on her life.
[Exit King.
Alm. O stay, yet stay; hear me, I am not
mad.

I would to heaven I were-he's gone.
Gon. Have comfort.

Alm. Cursed be that rogue that bids me be
of comfort!

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

That wit of man and dire revenge can think,
Shall he, accumulated, under-bear.
Alm. O, I am lost — there fate begins to Cursed these weak hands, that could not hold

wound.

him here!

King. Hear me; then, if thou canst, reply: For he is gone to doom Alphonso's death. Gon. Your too excessive grief works on

know, traitress,

I'm not to learn that curs'd Alphonso lives:
Nor am I ignorant what Osmyn is-
Alm. Then all is ended, and we both must

die.

Since thou'rt reveal'd, alone thou shalt not die:
And yet alone would I have died, heav'n knows,
Repeated deaths, rather than have reveal'd thee.
King. Hell! hell! do I hear this, and yet
endure!

your fancy, And deludes your sense. Alphonso, if living, Is far from hence, beyond your father's power. Alm. Hence, thou detested ill-tim'd flatterer! Source of my woes! thou and thy race be curs'd!

But doubly thou, who couldst alone have po-
licy

And fraud, to find the fatal secret out,
And know that Osmyn was Alphonso!
Gon. Ha!

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

What, dar'st 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.
Alm. And yet a father! think I am your child.
Turn not your eyes away-look on me kneeling; Is it the doleful bell, tolling for death?
Now curse me if you can, now spurn me off. Or dying groans from my Alphonso's breast?
Did ever father curse his kneeling child? See, see; look yonder, where a grizzled, pale,
Never; for always blessings crown that posture. And ghastly head glares by, all smear'd with
O hear me then, thus crawling on the earth-
blood,
King. Be thou advis'd, and let me go, while
yet
The light impression thou hast made remains.
Alm. No, never will I rise, nor loose this
hold,

Till you are mov'd, 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.

Re-enter LEONORA and Women.
Alm. Drag me, harrow the earth with my
bare bosom,

I'll not let go till you have spar'd my husband.
King. Ha! husband! Which? who?
Alm. He, he is my husband.
King. Who?

Alm. O

[Faints.

Let me go, let me fall, sink deep-I'll dig,
Til dig a grave, and tear up death; I will;
Yes, I will strip off life, and we will change:
I will be death; then, though you kill my
husband,

He shall be mine still, and for ever mine.
King, What husband? whom dost thou

mean?

Gon. She raves!

Gasping as it would speak; and after see!
Behold a damp dead hand has dropp'd a dagger:
I'll catch it-Hark! a voice cries murder! ah!
My father's voice! hollow it sounds, and calls
Me from the tomb-I'll follow it; for there
I shall again behold my dear Alphonso.

[Exeunt Almeria and Leonora, Gon. She's greatly griev'd: nor am I less surpris'd.

Osmyn Alphonso! no; she over-rates
My policy: I ne'er 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?
Hold, let me think-if I should tell the king-
Things come to this extremity; his daughter
Wedded already-what if he should yield?
Knowing no remedy for what is past;
And urg'd by nature pleading for his child,
With which he seems to be already shaken.
And though I know he hates beyond the grave
Anselmo's race; yet if that if concludes me.
To doubt, when I may be assur'd, is folly.
But how prevent the captive queen, who means
To set him free? Ay, now 'tis plain: O, well
Invented tale! He was Alphonso's friend,
This subtle woman will amuse the king,

With rash and greedy haste at once to cram One to my wish. Alonzo, thou art welcome. The morsel down his throat. I caught his arm,

If I delay-'twill do-or better so.

Enter ALONZO.

Alon. The king expects your lordship.
Gon. 'Tis no matter;

I'm not i'th' way at present, good Alonzo.
Alon. If't please your lordship, I'll return
and say

I have not seen you.

Gon. 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.

Gon. Say thou art my friend.
I've seen thy sword do noble execution.
Alon. All that it can your lordship shall
command.

Gon. Thanks; and I take thee at thy word.
Thou'st seen,

Among the foll'wers of the captive queen,
Dumb men, who make their meaning known
by signs.

Alon. I have, my lord.

Gon. Couldst thou procure, with speed And privacy, the wearing garb of one

see it.

Alon. I'll be so bold to borrow his attire; Twill quit me from my promise to Gonsalez. [Aside. Exit. King. How's this? my mortal foe beneath my roof!

[Having read the Letter.
O, give me patience, all ye pow'rs! no, rather
Give me new rage, implacable revenge,
And trebled fury Ha! who's there?
Per. My lord!

King. Hence, slave! how dar'st 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 fix'd
And planted here to see me gorge this bait,
And lash against the hook-By heav'n, you're

all

Rank traitors; thou art with the rest combin'd: Of those, though purchas'd by his death, I'd Thou knew'st that Osmyn was Alphonso,

give

Thee such reward as should exceed thy wish.
Alon. Conclude it done. Where shall I
wait your lordship?
Gon. At my apartment. Use thy utmost
diligence:
And say I've not been seen-haste, good Alonzo.
[Exit Alonzo.
So, this can hardly fail. Alphonso slain,
The greatest obstacle is then remov'd.
Almeria widow'd, yet again may wed;
And I yet fix the crown on Garcia's head.

ACT V.

SCENE I-A Room of State.

Enter KING, PEREZ, and ALONZO.

[Exit.

knew'st

My daughter privately with him conferr'd,
And wert the spy and pander to their meeting.
Per. By all that's holy, I'm amaz'd—
King. Thou ly'st.

Thou art accomplice too with Zara: here,
Where she sets down-Still will I set thee
free-
[Reads.
That somewhere is repeated-I have paw'r
O'er them that are thy guards-Mark that,
thou traitor.

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

King. [Reads]—And still will I set
Thee free, Alphonso-Hell! curs'd, curs'd
Alphonso!

False and perfidious Zara! Strumpet daughter!

King. Not to be found? In an ill hour he's Away, be gone, thou feeble boy, fond love,

absent.

All nature, softness, pity, and compassion; None, say you? none? what, not the fav'rite This hour I throw ye off, and entertain

eunuch?

Nor she herself, nor any of her mutes,
Have yet requir'd admittance?
Per. None, my lord.
King. Is Osmyn so
diapos'd as I commanded?
Per. Fast bound in double chains, and at
full length

He lies supine on earth: with as much ease
She might remove the centre of this earth,
As loose the rivets of his bonds.
King. 'Tis well.

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

Ent'ring he met my eyes, and started back
Frighted, and fumbling one hand in his bosom,
As to conceal th' importance of his errand.

[Alonzo follows him, and re-
turns with a Paper.
Alon. A bloody proof of obstinate fidelity!
King. What dost thou mean?
Alon. Soon as I seiz'd the man,

Fell hate within my breast, revenge, and gall. By heav'n, I'll meet and counterwork this treachery.

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

That thou obey, or horror on thy head:
Drench me thy dagger in Alphonso's heart.
Why dost thou start? Resolve, or —
Per. Sir, I will.

King. 'Tis well-that when she comes to
set him free,

His teeth may grin and mock at her remorse. [Perez going.

-Stay thee-I've further thought-I'll add to this,

And give her eyes yet greater disappointment: When thou hast ended him, bring me his robe; And let the cell where she'll expect to see him He snatch'd from out his bosom this-and strove Be darken'd, so as to amuse the sight.

The king? Confusion! all is on the rout!
All's lost! all ruin'd by surprise and treachery!
Where, where is he? Why dost thou mís-
lead me?

I'll be conducted thither-mark me well-
There with his turban, and his robe array'd,
And laid along, as he now lies, supine,
I shall convict her, to her face, of falsehood.
When for Alphonso's she shall take my hand,
And breathe her sighs upon my lips for his;
Sudden I'll start, and dash her with her guilt. And could not pass me unperceiv'd-What,

Then cast my skin, and leave it there to an-But that we all should turn our swords against [Goes in. Ourselves, and expiate, with our own, his blood. Gon. O wretch! O, curs'd and rash deluded fool!

Gar. Where? where, Alonzo, where's my On me, on me, turn your avenging swords! I, who have spilt my royal master's blood,

Should make atonement by a death as horrid,
And fall beneath the hand of my own son.
Gar. Ha! what? atone this murder with a

greater!

Re-enter Mutes.

What have you seen? Ha! wherefore stare

you thus [Mutes return, and look affrighted.

across?

Why is't you more than speak in these sad
Your heavy and desponding heads hung down?

The horror of that thought has damp'd my rage. With haggard eyes? Why are your arms
Gon. O, my son! from the blind dotage
Of a father's fondness these ills arose :
For thee I've been ambitious, base, and bloody;
For thee I've plung'd into this sea of sin;
Stemming the tide with only one weak hand,
While t'other bore the crown (to wreathe thy
brow),

signs?

Give me more ample knowledge of this mourn

ing.

[They go to the Scene, which open – ing, she perceives the Body.

Whose weight has sunk me ere I reach'd the
shore.
Gar. Fatal ambition! Hark! the foe is en-O Osmyn! O Alphonso! Cruel fate!
Ha! prostrate! bloody! headless! O-I'm lost!

ter'd!

The shrillness of that shout speaks 'em at hand. I came prepar'd to die, and see thee dieCruel, cruel, O more than killing object! Alon. My lord, I've thought how to con- But cannot bear to find thee thus, my Osmyn— [Shout. Nay, came prepar'd myself to give thee death— O, this accurs'd, this base, this treach'rous king.

ceal the body:

Require me not to tell the means, till done,
Lest you forbid what then you may approve.
Goes in. Shout.

Gon. They shout again! Whate'er he means
to do,
'Twere fit the soldiers were amus'd with hopes;
And in the mean time fed with expectation
To see the king in person at their head.
Gar. Were it a truth, I fear 'tis now too

late:

But I'll omit no care nor haste; and try
Or to repel their force, or bravely die. [Exit.

Re-enter ALONZO.

Gon. What hast thou done, Alonzo?
Alon. Such a deed

As but an hour ago I'd not have done,
Though for the crown of universal empire.
But what are kings, reduc'd to common clay?
Or who can wound the dead?-I've from the
body

Sever'd the head, and in an obscure corner
Dispos'd it, muffled in the mute's attire,
Leaving to view of them who enter next,
Alone the undistinguishable trunk;
Which may be still mistaken by the guards
For Osmyn, if in seeking for the king
They chance to find it.

Gon. 'Twas an act of horror,
And of a piece with this day's dire misdeeds.
But 'tis no time to ponder or repent.
Haste thee, Alonzo, haste thee hence with
speed,

To aid my son. I'll follow with the last
Reserve, to reinforce his arms: at least,
I shall make good and shelter his retreat.
[Exeunt severally.
Enter ZARA, followed by SELIM, and two
Mutes bearing the Bowls.

be.

'Tis not that he is dead! for 'twas decreed
We both should die. Nor is't that I survive;
I have a certain remedy for that.
But oh! he died unknowing in my heart.
He knew I lov'd, but knew not to what height;
Nor that I meant to fall before his eyes,
A martyr and a victim to my vows;
Insensible of this last proof he's gone:
Then wherefore do I pause? give me the bowl.
[A Mute kneels and gives one
of the Bowls.
Hover a moment yet, thou gentle spirit,
Soul of my love, and I will wait thy flight.
This to our mutual bliss, when join'd above.
[Drinks.

O, friendly draught! already in my heart.
I'll creep into his bosom, lay me there;
Cold, cold! my veins are icicles and frost.
Cover us close-or I shall chill his breast,
And fright him from my arms-See! see! he

slides

Zara. Silence and solitude are every where! Through all the gloomy ways and iron doors That hither lead, nor human face nor voice Still further from me; look, he hides his face! Is seen or heard. I cannot feel it-quite beyond my reach. Let 'em set down the bowls, and warn Al-10, now he's gone, and all is dark —

phonso

That I am here-so. [Mutes go in] You re-
turn and find

The king; tell him what he requir'd I've done,
And wait his coming to approve the deed.

Enter ALMERIA and LEONORA.

Alm. O, let me seek him in this horrid cell; [Exit Selim. For in the tomb, or prison, I alone

HILL.

AARON HILL, eldest son of George Hill, Esq. of Malmsbury Abbey, Wiltshire, was born in London, Febr. 10, 1684. The life of this author presents a most astonishing instance of genius and industry. At the age of 15 we find him alone in a vessel bound for Constantinople, on a visit to Lord Paget, ambassador at that court, and a distant relation of his mother's. His Lordship, struck with the ardent desire of knowledge, which had induced this youth to sach an undertaking, provided him with a tutor with whom he travelled through Egypt, Palestine and the greater part of the East. He returned with his Lordship from Constantinople by land; and profited of the occasion of their stay at the different courts to see the greatest part of Europe. 1710, Manager of the King's Theatre, Haymarket, he wrote the opera of Rinaldo, the music of which was the first of Handel's compositions after his arrival in England. Although no man could be more qualified for this undertaking, he relinquished the management on account of some