A&t V. SCENE I. A room of State. Enter KING, PEREZ, and ALONZO. King. Nor to be found! In an ill hour he's absent. None, say you? none! What, not the fav'rite eunuch? Nor she herself, nor any of her mutes, Have yet requir'd admittance ? Per. None, my lord. King. Is Osmyn so dispos'd as I commanded ? She might remove the centre of this earth, King. 'Tis well. [A mute appears, and seeing the king, retires. Ha! stop, and seize that mute; Alonzo, follow him. Ent'ring he met my eyes, and starting back, Frighted, and fumbling, one hand in his bosom, As to conceal th' importance of his errand. [Alonzo follows him and returns with a paper. Alon. A bloody proof of obstinate fidelity! King. What dost thou mean? Alon. Soon as I seiz'd the man, He snatch'd from out his bosom this-and strove 20 And hardly wrench'd his hand to wring it from him; King. Remove the body thence, ere Zara see it. 'Twill quit me of my promise to Gonzales. [Aside. Ex. "Per. Whate'er it is, the king's complexion turns.” King. How's this? My mortal foe beneath my roof! [Having read the letter. Oh, give me patience, all ye powers! No, rather And trebled fury-Ha! who's there? Per. My lord. King. Hence, slave! how dar'st thou bide to watch and pry Into how poor a thing a king descends, How like thyself, when passion treads him down? And wert the spy and pander to their meeting. King. Thou ly'st. Thou art accomplice too with Zara; here Where she sets down-Still will I set thee free-[Reading. That somewhere is repeated-I have power O'er them that are thy guards-Mark that, thou traitor. Per. It was your majesty's command I should Obey her order. King. [Reading.]And still will I set Thee free, Alphonso-Hell i curs'd, curs'd Alphonso 60 Per. My service has not merited those titles. vice! thine! "[Strikes him. What's thy whole life, thy sou!, thy all, to my One moment's ease? Hear my command; and look That thou obey, or horror on thy head: Drench me thy dagger in Alphonso's heart. Why dost thou start? Resolve, or—————— Per. Sir, I will. King. 'Tis well-that when she comes to set him free, His teeth may grin, and mock at her remorse. [Perez going. -Stay thee-I've farther thought-I'll add to this, And give her eyes yet greater disappointment : When thou hast ended him, bring me his robe; And let the cell where she'll expect to see him Be darken'd, so as to amuse the sight. I'll be conducted thither-mark me well There with his turban, and his robe array'd, Enter ZARA and SELIM. 80 [Exeunt. Zar. "The mute not yet return'd!" ha! 'twas the king, The king that parted hence! frowning he went; "His eyes like meteors roll'd, then darted down “Their red and angry beams; as if his sight “Would, like the raging dog-star, scorch the earth, "And kindle ruin in its course:". Dost think He saw me? Sel. Yes: but then, as if he thought His eyes had err'd, he hastily recall'd Th' imperfect look, and sternly turn'd away. Zar. Shun me when seen! I fear thou hast undone me. "Thy shallow artifice begets suspicion, "And like a cobweb veil, but thinly shades "The face of thy design! alone disguising "What should have ne'er been seen; imperfect "mischief! "Thou, like the adder, venomous and deaf, 100 "Hast stung the traveller, and after hear'st "Not his pursuing voice; e'en when thou think'st "In executing, puzzled, lame, and lost.” But to be punish'd and forgiven. Here, strike; "Think fit, I'll leave thee my command to die." To what I give in charge; for I'm resolv’d. Of such ingredients mix'd, as will with speed Yes, Osmyn, yes; be Osmyn or Alphonso, 120. |