Enter DON ALONZO and ZANGA.

Alon. Oh, what a pain to think! when ev'ry thought, Perplexing thought, in intricacies runs,

And reason knits th' inextricable toil,

In which herself is taken!

No more I'll bear this battle of the mind,

This inward anarchy; but find my wife,

And, to her trembling heart presenting death,
Force all the secret from her.

Zan. O, forbear!

You totter on the very brink of ruin.

Alon. What dost thou mean?

Zan. That will discover all,

And kill my hopes. What can I think or do? [Aside.
Alon. What, dost thou murmur?

Zan. Force the secret from her!
What's perjury to such a crime as this?

Will she confess it then? O, groundless hope!
But rest assur'd, she'll make this accusation,

Or false or true, your ruin with the king;
Such is her father's pow'r.

Alon. No more, I care not;

Rather than groan beneath this load, I'll die.

Zan. But for what better will you change this load? Grant you should know it, would not that be worse? Alon. No, it would cure me of my mortal pangs: By hatred and contempt I should despise her, And all my love-bred agonies would vanish. Zan. Ah! were I sure of that, my lord

Alon. What then?

Zan. You should not hazard life to gain the secret. Alon. What dost thou mean? Thou know'st I'm on

the rack.

I'll not be play'd with; speak, if thou hast aught,
Or I this instant fly to Leonora.

Zan. That is, to death. My lord, I am not yet
Quite so far gone in guilt to suffer it,

Though gone too far, heav'n knows-Tis I am guiltyI have took pains, as you, I know, observ'd,

To hinder you from diving in the secret,

And turn'd aside your thoughts from the detection.
Alon. Thou dost confound me.

Zan. I confound myself,

And frankly own it, though to my shame I own it;
Nought but your life in danger could have torn
The secret out, and made me own my crime.
Alon. Speak quickly, Zanga, speak.

Zan. Not yet, dread sir:

First, I must be assur'd, that if you find
The fair one guilty, scorn, as you assur'd me,
Shall conquer love and rage, and heal your soul.
Alon. Oh! 'twill, by heav'n.

Zan. Alas! I fear it much,

And scarce can hope so far; but I of this
Exact your solemn oath, that you'll abstain

From all self-violence, and save my lord.

Alon. I trebly swear.

Zan. You'll bear it like a man?
Alon. A god.

Zan. Such have you been to me, these tears confess it, And pour'd forth miracles of kindness on me: And what amends is now within my pow'r, But to confess, expose myself to justice, And as a blessing claim my punishment? Know then, don Carlos

Alon. Oh!

Zan. You cannot bear it.

Alon. Go on, I'll have it, though it blast mankind; I'll have it all, and instantly. Go on.

Zan. Don Carlos did return at dead of night—
That night, by chance (ill chance for me) did I
Command the watch that guards the palace gate.
He told me he had letters for the king,
Dispatch'd from you.

Alon. The villain lied!
Zan. My lord,

I pray, forbear-Transported at his sight,
After so long a bondage, and your friend,
(Who could suspect him of an artifice?)
No further I inquir'd, but let him pass,
False to my trust, at least imprudent in it.
Our watch reliev'd, I went into the garden,
As is my custom, when the night's serene,
And took a moonlight walk: when soon I heard
A rustling in an arbour that was near me.
I saw two lovers in each other's arms,
Embracing and embrac'd. Anon the man
Arose, and falling back some paces from her,
Gaz'd ardently awhile, then rush'd at once,
And throwing all himself into her bosom,
There softly sigh'd, Oh, night of ecstasy!
When shall we meet again?-Don Carlos then
Led Leonora forth.

Alon. Oh, oh, my heart! [He sinks into a Chair. Zan. Groan on, and with the sound refresh my soul? "Tis through his heart, his knees smite one another. "Tis through his brain, his eye-balls roll in anguish. [Aside.

My lord, my lord, why do you rack my soul?

Alon. Oh, she was all!

My fame, iny friendship, and my love of arms,
All stoop to her, my blood was her possession.
Deep in the secret foldings of my heart
She liv'd with life, and far the dearer she.
To think on't is the torment of the damn'd,
And not to think on't is impossible.

Zan. You said you'd bear it like a man.
Alon. I do.

Am I not almost distracted?

Zan. Pray, be calm.

Alon. As hurricanes :-be thou assur'd of that.

Zan. Is this the wise Alonzo?

Alon. Villain, no!

He died in the arbour-he was murder'd there!

Zan. Alas! he weeps.

Alon. Go, dig her grave!

Zan. My lord!

Alon. But that her blood's too hot, I would carouse it Around my bridal board!

Zun. And I would pledge thee.

[Aside.

Alon. But I may talk too fast. Pray let me think,

And reason mildly.-Wedded and undone

Before one night descends.-Oh, hasty evil!
What friend to comfort me in my extreme!
Where's Carlos? Why is Carlos absent from me?
Does he know what has happen'd?

Zan. My lord!

Alon. Oh, villain, villain, most accurst!

If thou didst know it, why didst let me wed?
Zan. Hear me, my lord, your anger will abate.
I knew it not:-1 saw them in the garden;
But saw no more than you might well expect
To see in lovers destin'd for each other.
By heav'n I thought their meeting innocent.
Who could suspect fair Leonora's virtue,
"Till after-proofs conspir'd to blacken it?

Sad proofs, which came too late, which broke not out, (Eternal curses on Alvarez' haste!)

"Till holy rites had made the wanton yours;

And then, I own, 1 labour'd to conceal it,
In duty and compassion to your peace.

Alon. Live now, be damn'd hereafter-for I want thee

Let me think

The jess'mine bower-'tis secret and remote:
Go wait me there, and take thy dagger with thee.

[Exit Zanga.
How the sweet sound still sings within my ear!
When shall we meet again?—To-night, in hell. [Going.
Enter LEONORA.

Ha! I'm surprised! I stagger at her charms!
Oh, angel-devil!-Shall I stab her now?
No-It shall be as I at first determin'd.
To kill her now were half my vengeance lost.
Then must I now dissemble-if I can.

Leon. My lord, excuse me; see, a second time
I come in embassy from all your friends,
Whose joys are languid, uninspir'd by you.
Alon. This moment, Leonora, 1 was coming
To thee, and all-but sure, or I mistake,
Or thou canst well inspire my friends with joy.
Leon. What says my lord?

Alon. Thou art exceeding fair.

Leon. Beauty alone is but of little worth;
But when the soul and body of a piece,
Both shine alike, then they obtain a price,
And are a fit reward for gallant actions,

Heaven's pay on earth for such great souls as yours ;-
If fair and innocent, I am your due.

Alon. Innocent!

Leon. How, my lord! I interrupt you.

[Aside.

Alon. No, my best life! I must not part with theeThis hand is mine-Oh, what a hand is here!

So soft, souls sink into it, and are lost!

Leon. In tears, my lord?

Alon. What less can speak my joy?

Why, I could gaze upon thy looks for ever,
And drink in all my being from thine eyes;