Alon. Good-natur'd man! he makes my pains his own. I durst not read it; but I read it now In thy concern. Zan. Did you not read it then? Alon. Mine eye just touch'd it, and could bear no more. Alon. Why didst thou tear it? [Tears the Letter. Zan. Think of it no more. 'Twas your mistake, and groundless are your fears. But what good-natur'd tenderness for you [it. That will be damn'd, though all the world should know I know not what; but rage is our destruction, For heav'n's sweet sake, my lord, lift up your heart. Alon. So, heaven look on me, As I can't find the man I have offended. [shield: Zan. Indeed! [Aside]-Our innocence is not our They take offence, who have not been offended; "Tis certain A letter may be forg'd, and in a point Away, you can find none. Alon. Oh that it were! Resume your spirit; For who could credit that, which credited, Alon. O, Zanga! it is that confounds the most, Zan. No more, my lord, for you condemn yourself. What is absurdity, but to believe Against appearance!-You can't yet, I find, Subdue your passion to your better sense; With some degree of pain. Alon. What indiscretion? Zan. Come, you must bear to hear your faults from me. Had you not sent don Carlos to the court The night before the battle, that foul slave, Who forg'd the senseless scroll which gives you pain, Had wanted footing for his villany. Alon. I sent him not. Zan. Not send him!-Ha!-That strikes me. I thought he came on message to the king. His shunning danger, and the promis'd fight? So long an absence, and impatient love Alon. In my confusion that had quite escap'd me. How then could he decline the next day's battle, Zan. You wrong him; He knew not of your love. Zan. That stings home. [Aside. Alon. Indeed, he knew not of my treacherous love→ Proofs rise on proofs, and still the last the strongest. Love is my torture, love was first my, crime; For she was his, my friend's, and he (O horror!) How dearly I abide thy violation! Zan. Were then their loves far gone? There bore a total sway; and he, as soon Zan. Indeed, my lord; then you must pardon me, If I presume to mitigate the crime. Consider, strong allurements soften guilt; Zan. 'Twas but gaining of one night. Zan. That crime could ne'er return again. Alon. Again! By heaven, thou dost insult thy lord. Temptation! One night gain'd! O stings and death! And am I then undone? Alas, my Zanga! And dost thou own it too? Deny it still, And rescue me one moment from distraction. Alon. False, foolish hope, thou know'st it false; Devil! This morning, after three years coldness, "Twas time to feign, 'twas time to get another, Alon. Never. Zan. Throughout the whole three years? Why, Zanga, shouldst thou strive? "Tis all in vain: For hope to catch at. Ah! I'm plunging down Zan. Hold, sir, I'll break your fall-Wave ev'ry fear, And be a man again-Had he enjoy'd her, Be most assur'd, he had resign'd her to you With less reluctance. Alon. Ha! Resign'd her to me! Resign her!-Who resign'd her?-Double death! Zan. Was't his request? Are you right sure of that? I fear the letter was not all a tale. Alon. A lale! There's proof equivalent to sight. Zan. I should distrust my sight on this occasion. Alon. And so should I; by heav'n I think I should. What, Leonora! the divine, by whom We guess'd at angels! Oh! I'm all confusion. Zan. You now are too much ruffled to think clearly. To swell small things to great; nay, out of nought Alon. Had I ten thousand lives, I'd give them all And yet she seem'd so pure, that I thought heav'n Borrow'd her form for virtue's self to wear, Re-enter ISABELLA. [Exit. Zan. Thus far it works auspiciously. My patient Thrives underneath my hand in misery. He's gone to think; that is, to be distracted. Isa. I overheard your conference, and saw you, To my amazement, tear the letter. Zan. There, There, Isabella, I out-did myself. In its first force, but superadd a new. For who can now the character examine To cause a doubt, much less detect the fraud? The foul contents, if I should swear it now Nay, more, would disbelieve the more I swore. Isa. It is. Zan. That's well-Ah! what is well? O pang to think! O dire necessity! is this my province? Whither, my soul! ah! whither art thou sunk? Whom armies follow'd, and a people lov'd? But great my end; and since there are no other, And greater sure my merit, who, to gain |