“ Shifting the prize in unresolving hands ; “ Unus'd to wait, I broke through her delay, “ Fix'd her by force, and snatch'd the doubtful day. “ Now late I find that war is but her sport; « In love the goddess keeps her awful court;" Fickle in fields, unsteadily she fies, But rules with settled sway in Zara's eyes. [Exit.

ACT II. SCENE 1.

Representing the Aisle of a Temple. “ GARCIA, Heli,

Perez.

" Garcia. “ This way we're told, Osmyn was seen to walk; 6. Choosing this lonely mansion of the dead, “ To mourn, brave Heli, thy mistaken fate. “ Heli. Let Heav'n with thunder to the centre strike

me, “ If to arise in very deed from death, “ And to revisit, with my long-clos'd eyes, “ This living light, could to my soul or sense “ Afford a thought, or shew a glimpse of joy, “ In least proportion to the vast delight “ I feel, to hear of Osmyn's name; to hear “ That Osmyn lives, and I again shall see him. " Garcia. I've heard, with admiration, of your

. friendship. “ Per. Yonder, my lord, behold the noble Moor.

“ Hel. Where? Where ? « Gar. I saw him not, nor any like him “ Per. I saw him when I spoke, thwarting my view, " And striding with distemper'd haste; his eyes " Seem'd flame, and Aash'd upon me with a glance ; " Then forward shot their fires which he pursu'd, “ As to some object frightful, yet not fear'd. 20 66 Gar. Let's haste to follow him, and know the

cause. “ Hel. My lord, let me intreat you to forbear: " Leave me alone, to find and cure the cause. “ I know his melancholy, and such starts “ Are usual to his temper. It might raise him “ To act some violence upon himself, “ So to be caught in an unguarded hour, " And when his soul gives all her passion way, “ Secure and loose in friendly solitude. " I know his noble heart would burst with shame, “ To be surpris'd by strangers in its frailty

" Gar. Go, generous Heli, and relieve your friend. 6. Far be it from me officiously to pry “ Or press upon the privacies of others. [Exit Heli. " Perez, the king expects from our return “ To have his jealousy confirm'd, or clear'd, “ Of that appearing love which Zara bears “ To Osmyn; but some other opportunity “ Must make that plain.

“ Per. To me 'twas long since plain, “ And ev'ry look from him and her confirms it.

“ Gar. If so, unhappiness attends their love,

" And I could pity'em. I hear some coming. " The friends, perhaps, are met; let us avoid 'em.

[Exeunt. Enter Almeria and LEONORA. Alm. It was a fancy'd noise, for all is hush'd. Leon. It bore the accent of a human voice.

Alm. It was thy fear, or else some transient wind Whistling through hollows of this vaulted aisle. We'll listen

Leon. Hark!
Alm. No, all is hush'd, and still as death—'tis dread-

ful!
How reverend is the face of this tall pile,
Whose ancient pillars rear their marble heads,
To bear aloft its arch'd and pond'rous roof,
By its own weight made sted fast and immoveable, .
Looking tranquility. It strikes an awe
And terror on my aking sight; the tombs
And monumental caves of death look cold,
And shoot a chillness to my trembling heart.
Give me thy hand, and let me hear thy voice; - 60
Nay, quickly speak to me, and let me hear
Thy voice-my own affrights me with its echoes.

Leon. Let us return; the horror of this place And silence will encrease your melancholy.

Alm. It may my fears, but cannot add to that.' No, I will on; shew me Anselmo's tomb, Lead me o'er bones and sculls, and mould'ring earth, Of human bodies; for I'll mix with them,

Or wind me in the shroud of some pale corse
Yet green in earth, rather than be the bride
Of Garcia's more detested bed : that thought
Exerts my spirits; and my present fears
Are lost in dread of greater ill. Then shew me,
Lead me, for I am bolder grown : lead on
Where I may kneel, and pay my vows again
To him, to Heav'n, and my Alphonso's soul.
“ Leon. I go; but Heav'n can tell with what regret.

[Exeunt.
Enter Heli.
I wander thro' this maze of monuments,
Yet cannot find him-Hark! sure tis the voice
Of one complaining—There it sounds—I'll follow it.

[Exit.

SCENE 11.

Opening, discovers a Place of Tombs: one Monument front.

ing the view greater than the rest.

Enter ALMERIA and LEONORA. Leon. Behold the sacred vault, within whose womb The poor remains of good Anselmo rest, Yet fresh and unconsum’d by time or worms. What do I see? Oh, Heav'n! either my eyes Are false, or still the marble door remains Unclos’d; the iron gates, that lead to death

Beneath, are still wide stretch'd upon their hinge,
And staring on us with unfolded leaves.

Alm. Sure 'tis the friendly yawn of death for me;
And that dumb mouth, significant in show,
Invites me to the bed, where I alone
Shall rest; shews me the grave, where nature, weary
And long oppress'd with woes and bending cares,
May lay the burden down, and sink in slumbers
Of peace eternal. “ Death, grim death, will fold
“ Me in his leaden arms, and press me close
" To his cold clayey breast:" my father then
Will cease his tyranny; and Garcia too
Will fly my pale deformity with loathing.
My soul, enlarg’d from its vile bonds, will mount,
And range the starry orbs, and milky ways, 101
“Of that refulgent world, where I shall swim
" In liquid light, and float on seas of bliss
To my Alphonso's soul. Oh, joy too great !
Oh, ecstasy of thought! Help me, Anselmo;
Help me, Alphonso; take me, reach thy hand;
To thee, to thee I call, to thee, Alphonso:
Oh, Alphonso !

Osmyn ascending from the tomb. Osm. Who calls that wretched thing that was Al

phonso ? Alm. Angels, and all the host of Heav'n, support

me? Osm. Whence is that voice, whose shrillness from

the grave,