Enter Don ALONZO.

My lord, I give you joy.

Alon. Of what, good Zanga?

Zan. Is not the lovely Leonora yours?
Alon. What will become of Carlos?

Zan. He's your friend ;

And since he can't espouse the fair himself,
Will take some comfort from Alonzo's fortune.
Alon. Alas, thou little know'st the force of
love!

Love reigns a sultan with unrivalled sway;
Puts all relations, friendship's self to death,
If once he's jealous of it. I love Carlos;
Yet well I know what pangs I felt this morning
At his intended nuptials. For myself
I then felt pains, which now for him I feel.
Zan. You will not wed her then?
Alon. Not instantly.

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.
Your friendship (and what nobler passion claims
The heart?) does lead you blindfold to your ruin.
Consider, wherefore did Alvarez break

Don Carlos' match, and wherefore urge Alonzo's? 'Twas the same cause, the love of wealth. To

It hurts not me, my lord, but as I love you:
Warmly as you I'wish Don Carlos well;
But I am likewise Don Alonzo's friend:
There all the difference lies between us two.
In me, my lord, you hear another self;
And, give me leave to add, a better too,
Cleared from those errors, which, though caused
by virtue,

Are such as may hereafter give you pain-
Don Lopez of Castile would not demur thus.
Alon. Perish the name! What, sacrifice the

fair

To age and ugliness, because set in gold?
I'll to Don Carlos, if my heart will let me.
I have not seen him since his sore affliction;
But shunned it, as too terrible to bear.
How shall I bear it now? I'm struck already.
[Exit.
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?
Shake not thy towers where'er I pass along,
Conscious of ruin, and their great destroyer?
Shake to the centre, if Alonzo's dear!
Look down, oh, holy prophet! see me torture
This Christian dog, this infidel, who dares
To smite thy votaries, and spurn thy law;
And yet hopes pleasure from two radiant eyes,
Which look as they were lighted up for thee!
Shall he enjoy thy paradise below?

Blast the bold thought, and curse him with her charms!

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!
None here are happy, but the very fool,
Or very wise; and I wasn't fool enough
To smile in vanities, and hug a shadow;
Nor have I wisdom to elaborate
An artificial happiness from pains:
Even joys are pains, because they cannot last.
[Sighs.

|
Yet much is talked of bliss; it is the art
Of such as have the world in their possession,
To give it a good name, that fools may envy;
For envy to small minds is flattery.
How many lift the head, look gay, and smile
Against their consciences! and this we know,
Yet, knowing, disbelieve, and try again
What we have tried, and struggle with conviction.
Each new experience gives the former credit;
And reverend grey threescore is but a voucher,
That thirty told us true.

Zan. My noble lord,

I mourn your fate: But are no hopes surviving?

Car. No hopes. Alvarez has a heart of steel. 'Tis fixed-'tis past-'tis absolute despair! Zan. You wanted not to have your heart made tender,

By your own pains, to feel a friend's distress.
Car. I understand you well. Alonzo loves;
I pity him.

Zan. I dare be sworn you do.
Yet he has other thoughts..

Car. What canst thou mean?

Zan. Indeed he has; and fears to ask a favour
A stranger from a stranger might request;
What costs you nothing, yet is all to him:
Nay, what indeed will to your glory add,
For nothing more than wishing your friend well.
Car. I pray, be plain; his happiness is mine.
Zan. He loves to death; but so reveres his
friend,

He can't persuade his heart to wed the maid
Without your leave, and that he fears to ask.
In perfect tenderness I urged him to it.
Knowing the deadly sickness of his heart,
Your overflowing goodness to your friend,
Your wisdom, and despair yourself to wed her,
I wrung a promise from him he would try:
And now I come, a mutual friend to both,
Without his privacy, to let you know it,
And to prepare you kindly to receive him.

Cur. Ha! if he weds I am undone indeed;
Not Don Alvarez' self can then relieve me.
Zan. Alas, my lord, you know his heart is steel:
Tis fixed, 'tis past, 'tis absolute despair.
Car. Oh, cruel Heaven! and is it not enough
That I must never, never see him more?
Say, is it not enough that I must die;
But I must be tormented in the grave?-
Ask
my consent!-Must I then give her to him?
Lead to his nuptial sheets the blushing maid?
Oh!-Leonora! never, never, never!
Zan. A storm of plagues upon him! he refuses.
[Aside.

Car. What, wed her?-and to-day?
Zan. To-day, or never.
To-morrow may some wealthier lover bring,
And then Alonzo is thrown out like you:
Then whom shall he condemn for his misfortune?
Carlos is an Alvarez to his love.

Car. Oh, torment! whither shall I turn?
Zan. To peace.

Car. Which is the way?

Zan. His happiness is yours

I dare not disbelieve you.

Car. Kill my friend!

Or worse Alas! and can there be a worse? A worse there is; nor can my nature bear it. Zan. You have convinced me 'tis a dreadful

task.

I find Alonzo's quitting her this morning For Carlos' sake, in tenderness to you, Betrayed me to believe it less severe Than I perceive it is.

Car. Thou dost upbraid me.

Zan. No, my good lord; but since comply,

you cant

'Tis my misfortune that I mentioned it; For had I not, Alonzo would indeed Have died, as now, but not by your decree. Car. By my decree! Do I decree his death? I do- -Shall I then lead her to his arms? Oh, which side shall I take? Be stabbed, orstab?

'Tis equal death! a choice of agonies?-
Ah, no! all other agonies are ease

To one- -Oh, Leonora! never, never!
Go, Zanga, go, defer the dreadful trial,
Though but a day; something, perchance, may
happen

To soften all to friendship and to love.
Go, stop my friend, let me not see him now;
But save us from an interview of death.

Zan. My lord, I am bound in duty to obey

And gives a nearer prospect of the grave.
But put it most severely-should I live-
Live long-alas, there is no length in time!
Not in thy time, Oh man!-What's fourscore
years?

Nay, what, indeed, the age of time itself,
Since cut from out eternity's wide round?
Away, then!—To a mind resolved and wise,
There is an impotence in misery,

Which makes me smile, when all its shafts are in me.

Yet Leonora she can make time long,
Its nature alter, as she altered mine.
While in the lustre of her charms I lay,
Whole summer suns rolled unperceived away;
I years for days, and days for moments told,
And was surprised to hear that I grew old.
Now fate does rigidly its dues regain,
And every moment is an age of pain.

As he is going out, enter ZANGA and Don ALON
ZO. ZANGA stops Don CARLOS.

Zan. Is this Don Carlos? this the boasted

friend?

How can you turn your back upon his sadness? Look on him, and then leave him if you can. Whose sorrows thus depress him? Not his own: This moment he could wed without your leave.

Car. I cannot yield; nor can I bear his griefs. Alonzo! [Going to him, and taking his hand, Alon. Oh, Carlos!

Car. Pray, forbear.

smile?

Alonzo, who, perhaps, in some degree
Contributed to cause thy dreadful fate?
I was deputed guardian of thy love;

But, Oh, I loved myself! Pour down afflictions
On this devoted head, make me your mark;
And be the world by my example taught,
How sacred it should hold the name of friend!
Car. You charge yourself unjustly; well I
know

The only cause of my severe affliction.
Alvarez, cursed Alvarez! So much anguish,
Felt for so small a failure, is one merit

Which faultless virtue wants. The crime was mine,

Who placed thee there, where only thou couldst fail;

Though well I knew that dreadful post of honour I gave thee to maintain. Ah! who could bear Those eyes unhurt? The wounds myself have felt, (Which wounds alone should cause me to condemn thee)

They plead in thy excuse; for I too strove
To shun those fires, and found 'twas not in man.
Alon. You cast in shades the failure of a
friend,

And soften all; but think not to deceive me;
I know my guilt, and I implore your pardon,
As the sole glimpse I can obtain of peace.

Car. Pardon for him, who but this morning threw

Fair Leonora from his heart, all bathed
In ceaseless tears, and blushing for her love!
Who, like a rose-leaf wet with morning dew,
Would have stuck close, and clung for ever
there!

But 'twas in thee, through fondness for thy friend,
To shut thy bosom against ecstacies;

For which, while this pulse beats, it beats to thee;

While this blood flows, it flows for my Alonzo, And every wish is levelled at thy joy.

Zan. [To Alonzo.] My lord, my lord, this is your time to speak.

Alon. [To Zan.] Because he's kind? It therefore is the worst ;

For 'tis his kindness which I fear to hurt.
Shall the same moment see him sink in woes,
And me providing for a flood of joys,
Rich in the plunder of his happiness?
No, I'may die; but I can never speak.

Car. Now, now it comes! they are concert-
ing it!

The first word strikes me dead-Oh, Leonora ! And shall another taste her fragrant breath? Who knows what after-time may bring to pass? Fathers may change, and I may wed her still.

[Aside. Alon. [To Zan.] Do I not see him quite possessed with anguish,

No, love! one pang at parting, and farewell.
I have no other love but Carlos now.

Car. Alas! my friend, why with such eager

Car. Alonzo, stay-he cannot speak

[Holds him. Lest it should grieve me-Shall I be outdone? And lose in glory, as I lose in love? [Aside. I take it much unkindly, my Alonzo, You think so meanly of me, not to speak, When well I know your heart is near to bursting.

Have you forgot how you have bound me to you? Your smallest friendship's liberty and life.

Alon. There, there it is, my friend! it cuts me there.

How dreadful is it to a generous mind

To ask, when sure he cannot be denied! Car. How greatly thought! In all he towers above me. [Aside. Then you confess you would ask something of me?

Alon. No, on my soul.

Zan. [To Alon.] Then lose her.
Car. Glorious spirit!

Why what a pang has he run through for this!
By Heaven, I envy him his agonies.
Why was not mine the most illustrious lot,
Of starting at one action from below,
And flaming up into consummate greatness?
Ha! angels strengthen me !-It shall be so-
I cannot want strength. Great actions, once con-
ceived,

Strengthen like wine, and animate the soul,
And call themselves to being. [Aside.] My

Alonzo!

Since thy great soul disdains to make request,
Receive with favour that I make to thee.
Alon. What means my Carlos?
Car. Pray observe me well.

Fate and Alvarez tore her from my heart,
And, plucking up my love, they had well nigh
Plucked up life too, for they were twined to-

gether.

Of that no more-What now does reason bid?
I cannot wed-Farewell my happiness!
But, O my soul, with care provide for hers!
In life, how weak, how helpless is woman!
Soon hurt; in happiness itself unsafe,
And often wounded while she plucks the rose;
So properly the object of affliction,

her,

And dresses her most amiably in tears.
Take then my heart in dowry with the fair!
Be thou her guardian, and thou must be mine;
Shut out the thousand pressing ills of life
With thy surrounding arms-Do this, and then
Set down the liberty and life thou gavest me,
As little things, as essays of thy goodness,
And rudiments of friendship so divine.

Alon. There is a grandeur in thy goodness to

me,

Which with thy foes would render thee adored.
But have a care, nor think I can be pleased
With any thing that lays in pains for thee.
Thou dost dissemble, and thy heart's in tears.
.Car. My heart's in health, my spirits dance
their round,

And at my eyes pleasure looks out in smiles.
Alon. And canst thou, canst thou part with
Leonora?

Car. I do not part with her, I give her thee. Alon. O Carlos!

Car. Don't disturb me, I'm sincere, Nor is it more than simple justice in me. This morn didst thou resign her for my sake; I but perform a virtue learnt from thee; Discharge a debt, and pay her to thy wishes. Alon. Ah, how?-But think not words were ever made

Are languid eloquence; I'll seek relief
In absence from the pain of so much goodness,
There thank the blest above, thy sole superiors,
Adore, and raise my thoughts of them by thee.

[Exit.

SCENE I.

Enter ZANGA.

Scarce had the priest the holy rite performed,
When I, by sacred inspiration, forged
That letter, which I trusted to thy hand;

three years

I have not felt thy vital beam; but now

It warms my veins, and plays around my heart:
A fiery instinct lifts me from the ground,
And I could mount! The spirits numberless
Of my dear countrymen, which yesterday
Left their poor bleeding bodies on the field,
Are all assembled here, and o'er-inform me.-
O, bridegroom! great indeed thy present bliss;
Yet even by me unenvied; for be sure
It is thy last, last smile, that which now
Sits on thy cheek; enjoy it while thou mayest;
Anguish, and groans, and death bespeak to mor-

From happy Carlos to fair Leonora,
The most profound acknowledgments of heart,
For wondrous transports which he never knew.
This is a good subservient artifice,

To aid the nobler workings of my brain.

Isa. I quickly dropt it in the bride's apartment, As you commanded.

Zan. With a lucky hand;

For soon Alonzo found it; I observed him
From out my secret stand. He took it up;
But scarce was it unfolded to his sight,
When he, as if an arrow pierced his eye,
Started, and, trembling, dropt it on the ground.
Pale and aghast awhile my victim stood,
Disguised a sigh or two, and puffed them from
him;

Then rubbed his brow, and took it up again.
At first he looked as if he meant to read it;
But, checked by rising fears, he crushed it thus,
And thrust it, like an adder, in his bosom.

Isa. But if he read it not, it cannot sting him, At least not mortally.

Zan. At first I thought so;

But farther thought informs me otherwise,