"And torn, rather than have reveal'd thy being.' King. Hell, hell! Do I hear this, and yet endure ! 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; 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 pray'rs, and blessings, and paternal love." Oh, hear me then, thus crawling on the earthKing. Be thou advis'd, 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 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, tho' thou and I, And all should follow to partake his doom. 320 [Leonora and women return. Alm. Drag me; and harrow the earth with my bare bosom; I will not go 'till you have spar'd my husband. King. Ha! "What say'st thou ?" Husband! "Husband! damnation! "What husband!" Which? Who? Alm. He, he is my husband. King. "Poison and daggers!" Who? “Gons. Help, support her.” [Faints. Alm. Let me go, let me fall, sink deep-I'll dig, I'll dig a grave, and tear up death; "I will; "I'll 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, tho' you kill my husband, 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! 340 Alm. Not Osmyn, but Alphonso, is my dear And wedded husband-Heav'n, 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 madness. "Yet somewhat she must mean of dire import, "Which I'll 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. [Exit King. Alm. Oh, stay, yet stay; hear me, I am not mad. I would to Heav'n I were -He's gone. Gons. Have comfort. Alm. Curs'd be that tongue that bids me be of comfort; Curs'd my own tongue, that could not move his pity; Curs'd 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 pow'r. 360 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 policy And fraud to find the fatal secret out, And know that Osmyn was Alphonso. 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? [Exeunt Almeria and Leonora. Gons. She's greatly griev'd; nor am I less surpriz’d. Osmyn, Alphonso! No; she over-rates My policy; I ne'er suspected it; 380 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, Hold, let me think—if I should tell the king— But how prevent the captive queen, who means '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'm not i' the way at present, good Alonzo. 400 Alon. If 't please your lordship, I'll return, and say I have not seen you. Gons. Do, my best Alonzo, Yet stay, I would-but go; anon will serve I think thou would'st not stop to do me service. Gons. Say thou art my friend. I've 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'st seen, Amongst the followers of the captive queen, Dumb men, who make their meaning known by signs. Alon. I have, my lord. Gons. Could'st thou procure, with speed And privacy, the wearing garb of one Thee such reward, as should exceed thy wish. 420 Alon. Conclude it done. Where shall I wait your lordship? Gons. 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. And I yet fix the crown on Garcia's head. [Exit. |