Thou shalt partake. Since fates no more afford; I can but die with thee, to keep my word. [Exeunt. SCENE II. Opening, shews the Prison. Enter GONSALEZ disguised like a Mute, with a Dagger. Gons. Nor centinel, nor guard! the doors unbarr'd! And all as still, as at the noon of night! Sure death already has been busy here. There lies my way; that door too is unlock'd. [Looking in. Ha! sure he sleeps-all's dark within, save what A lamp, that feebly lifts a sickly flame, By fits reveals-his face seems turn'd, to favour 140 What noise! somebody coming? i'st Alonzo? I would 'Twere done-I'll crawl, and sting him to the heart, Then cast my skin, and leave it there to answer it. [Goes in. Enter GARCIA and ALONZO. Gar. Where, where, Alonzo, where's my father? where The king? Confusion! all is on the rout! All's lost, all ruin'd by surprize and treachery. Where, where is he! Why dost thou mislead me? Alon. My lord, he enter'd but a moment since, And could not pass me unperceiv'd-What hoa! Enter GONSALEZ bloody. Gons. Perdition choak your clamours-whence this rudeness? Garcia ! Gar. Perdition, slavery, and death, Are entering now our doors. Where is the king? What means this blood; and why this face of horror? Gons. No matter-give me first to know the cause Of these your rash, and ill-tim'd exclamations. Gar. The eastern gate is to the foe betray'd, The traitor Perez, and the captive Moor, call The Moor, is dead. That Osmyn was Alphonso; In whose heart's blood this poignard yet is warm. Gar. Impossible; for Osmyn was, while flying, Pronounc'd aloud by Perez for Alphonso. Gons. Enter that chamber, and convince your eyes, How much report has wrong'd your easy faith. [Garcia goes in. Alon. My lord, for certain truth, Perez is fled; H And has declar'd, the cause of his revolt Was to revenge a blow the king had given him. Gar. [Returning.] Ruin and horror! Oh, heartwounding sight! Gons. What says my son? What ruin? Ha! what horror? Gar. Blasted my eyes, and speechless be my tongue, Rather than or to see, or to relate This deed-Oh, dire mistake! Oh, fatal blow! Gons. Alon. The king! Gar. Dead, welt'ring, drown'd in blood. See, see, attir'd like Osmyn, where he lies. [They look in. Oh, whence, or how, or wherefore was this done? But what imports the manner or the cause? But that we all should turn our swords against Gar. Ha! what! atone this murder with a greater! The horror of that thought has damp'd my rage. "The earth already groans to bear this deed; "Oppress her not, nor think to stain her face "With more unnatural blood. Murder my father! "Better with this to rip up my own bowels, "And bathe it to the hilt, in far less damnable "Self-murder." Gons. Oh, my son! from the blind dotage Of a father's fondness these ills arose. For thee I've been ambitious, base, and bloody: [Shout. The shrillness of that shout speaks them at hand. "We have no time to search into the cause "Of this surprising and most fatal error. "What's to be done? the king's death known, would strike "The few remaining soldiers with despair, "And make them yield to mercy of the conqueror." Alon. My lord, I've thought how to conceal the body. Require me not to tell the means, till done, Lest you forbid what you may then approve. [Goes in. Shout. Gons. They shout again! Whate'er he means to do, 'Twere fit the soldiers were amus'd with hopes; And in the mean time fed with expectation To see the king in person at their head. Gar. Were it a truth, I fear 'tis now too late. But I'll omit no care, nor haste! and try, Or to repel their force, or bravely die. [Exit Garcia. Re-enter ALONZO. Gons. What hast thou done, Alonzo ? Alon. Such a deed, As but an hour ago I'd not have done, Though for the crown of universal empire. Or who can wound the dead?—I've from the body Gons. 'Twas an act of horror; And of a piece with this day's dire misdeeds. But 'tis no time to ponder or repent. Haste thee, Alonzo, haste thee hence with speed, [Exeunt severally. Enter ZARA, followed by SELIM, and two Mutes bearing the bowls. Zar. Silence and solitude are every where. Is seen or heard. |