Zar. Yet thus, thus fall’n, thus levell'd with the vilest, If I have gain’d thy love, 'tis glorious ruin ; Ruin! ’tis still to reign, and to be more A queen; for what are riches, empire, power, But larger means to gratify the will? The steps on which we tread, to rise and reach Our wish ; and that obtain’d, down with the scaf

folding Of sceptres, crowns, and thrones; they've serv'd their

end, And are, like lumber, to be left and scorn'd.

Osm. Why was I made the instrument to throw In bonds the frame of this exalted mind?

Zara. We may be free; the conqueror is mine; In chains unseen I hold him by the heart, And can unwind or strain him as I please. Give me thy love, I'll give thee liberty.

Osm. In vain you offer, and in vain require
What neither can bestow. Set free yourself,
And leave a slave the wretch that would be so. 400

Zar. Thou canst not mean so poorly as thou talk'st.
Osm. Alas! you know me not.

Zar. Not who thou art :
But what this last ingratitude declares,
This groveling baseness-Thou say'st true, I know
Thee not; for what thou art yet wants a name;
But something so unworthy and so vile,
That to have loy'd thee makes me yet more lost,
Than all the malice of my other fate.
Traitor, monster, cold, and perfidious slave;

A slave not daring to be free; nor dares To love above him; for 'tis dangerous. “ 'Tis that, I know; for thou dost look, with eyes " Sparkling desire, and trembling to possess. " I know my charms have reach'd thy very soul, “ And thrill'd thee through with darted fires; but

" thou “ Dost fear so much, thou dar'st not wish.” The

king! There, there's the dreadful sound, the king's thy rival! Sel. Madam, the king is here, and entering now. Zar. As I could wish; by Heav'n I'll be reveng'd.

Enter the King, Perez, and. Attendants. King. Why does the fairest of her kind withdraw Her shining from the day, to gild this scene Of death and night ? Ha! what disorder's this? Somewhat I heard of king and rival mention'd. What's he that dares be rival to the king, Or lift his eyes to like where I adore ? Zar. There, he, your prisoner, and that was my

stave. King. How ? better than my hopes! Does she accuse him?

[ Aside. Zar. Am I become so low by my captivity, And do your arms so lessen what they conquer, That Zara must be made the sport of slaves ? And shall the wretch, whom yester sun beheld Waiting my nod, the creature of my pow'r, Presume to-day to plead audacious love,

And build bold hopes on my dejected fate ?

King. Better for him to tempt the rage of Heav'n, And wrench the bolt red-hissing from the hand Of him that thunders, than but to think that inso

lence. “ 'Tis daring for a god.” Hence to the wheel 440 With that Ixion, who aspires to hold Divinity embrac'd ; to whips and prisons Drag him with speed, and rid me of his face.

[Guards seize Osmyn, and exeunt. Zar. Compassion led me to bemoan his state, Whose former faith had merited much more : And, through my hopes in you, I undertook He should be set at large ! thence sprung his inso

lence, And what was charity, he constru'd love.

King. Enough; his punishment be what you please. But let me lead you from this place of sorrow, To one where young delights attend, “ and joys, “ Yet new, unborn, and blooming in the bud, “ Which wait to be full-blown at your approach, “ And spread, like roses, to the morning sun :" Where ev'ry hour shall roll in circling joys, And love shall wing the tedious-wasting day. Life, without love, is load ; and time stands still : What we refuse to him, to death we give ; And then, then only, when we love, we live.

[Exeunt.

ACT III. SCENE I.

A Prison. (smen with a Paper.

But now, and I was clos'd within the tomb
That holds my father's ashes; and but now,
Where he was pris'ner, I am too imprison'd.
Sure 'tis the hand of Heav'n that leads me thus,
And for some purpose points out these remembrances.
In a dark corner of my cell I found
This paper ; what it is this light will shew,
• If my Alphonso'- Ha!

[Reading. • If my Alphonso live, restore him, Heav'n; • Give me more weight, crush my declining years

With bolts, with chains, imprisonment and want; • But bless my son, visit not him for me. It is his hand; this was his pray'r— yet more : • Let ev'ry hair, which sorrow by the roots (Reading. « Tears from my hoary and devoted head, • Be doubled in thy mercies to my son : • Not for myself, but him, hear me, all-gracious'Tis wanting what should follow-Heav'n should

follow, But 'tis torn off-Why shou'd that word alone Be torn from this petition ? 'Twas to Heav'n, 20 But Heav'n was deaf, Heav'n heard him not ; but

thus, Thus as the name of Heav’n from this is torn, So did it tear the ears of mercy from

His voice, shutting the gates of pray'r against him.
If piety be thus debarr'd access
On high, and of good men the very best
Is singled out to bleed, and bear the scourge,
What is reward? Or what is punishment ?
But who shall dare to tax eternal justice !
Yet I may think I may, I must; for thought
Precedes the will to think, and error lives
Ere reason can be born. “ Reason, the power
“ To guess at right and wrong, the twinkling lamp
« Of wand'ring life, that winks and wakes by turns,
« Fooling the follower, betwixt shade and shining."
What noise! Who's there? My friend? How cam'st

thou hither?

Enter Heli. Heli. The time's too precious to be spent in telling, The captain influenc'd by Almeria's power, Gave order to the guards for my admittance.

Osm. How does Almeria ? But I know she is 40 As I am. Tell me, may I hope to see her? Heli. You may. Anon, at midnight, when the

king Is gone to rest, and Garcia is retir'd, “ (Who takes the privilege to visit late, “ Presuming on a bridegroom's right)" she'll come.

Osm. She'll come; ’tis what I wish, yet what I fear. She'll come; but whither, and to whom? Oh,

Heav'n!
To a vile prison, and a captiv'd wretch;