ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub

If I delay-'twill door better so.
One toy wish. Alonzo, thou art welcome.
Enter ALONZO.

Alon, The king expects your lordship. ›
Gon. Tis no matter;

I'm not i'th' way at present, good Alonzo. Alon. If't please your lordship, I'll return and say

I have not seen you.

Gon. Do, my best Alonzo.

Yet stay; I would but go; anon will serveYet I have that requires thy speedy help.

I think thou wouldst not stop to do me service. Alon. I am your creature.

Gon. Say thou art my friend.
I've seen thy sword do noble execution,
Alon. All that it can your lordship shall
command,

Gon. Thanks; and I take thee at thy word.
Thou'st seen,

Among the foll'wers of the captive queen, Dumb men, who make their meaning known by signs.

Alon. I have, my lord.,

Gon. Couldst thou procure, with speed And privacy, the wearing garb of one. Of those, though purchas'd by his death, I'd give Thee such reward as should exceed thy wish. Alon. Conclude it done. Where shall I wait your lordship? Gon. At my apartment. Use thy utmost diligence:

And say I've not been seen-haste, good Alonzo. [Exit Alonzo. So, this can hardly fail. Alphonso slain, The greatest obstacle is then remov'd. Almeria widow'd, yet again may wed; And I yet fix the crown on Garcia's head.

ACT V.

[Exit.

SCENE L-A Room of State. Enter KING, PEREZ, and ALONZO. King. Not 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? Per. Fast bound in double chains, and at full length

He lies supine on earth: with as much case
She might remove the centre of this earth,
As loose the rivets of his bonds.
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 started back

With rash and greedy haste at once to cram The morsel down his throat. I caught his arm, And hardly wrench'd his hand to wring it from him;

Which done, he drew a poniard from bis side, And on the instant plung'd it in his breast. King. Remove the body thence, cre Zara

see it.

Alon. I'll be so bold to borrow his attire; Twill quit me from my promise to Gonsalez. [Aside. Exit. King. How's this? my mortal foe beneath my roof!

[Having read the Letter. O, give me patience, all ye pow'rs! no, rather Give me new rage, implacable revenge, 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?
Ha! stir not, on thy life! for thou wert fix'd
And planted here to see me gorge this bait,
And lash against the hook-By heav'n, you're

all

Rank traitors; thou art with the rest combin'd: Thou knew'st that Osmyn was Alphonso, knew'st

My daughter privately with him conferr'd,
And wert the spy and pander to their meeting.
Per. By all that's holy, I'm amaz'd—
King. Thou ly'st.

Thou art accomplice too with Zara: here,
Where she sets down-Still will I set thee
free-
[Reads.
That somewhere is repeated-I have pow'r
O'er them that are thy guards-Mark that,
thou traitor.

Per. It was your majesty's command I should Obey her order.

King, [Reads]-And still will I set
Thee free, Alphonso- Hell! curs'd, curs'd
Alphonso!

False and perfidious Zara! Strumpet daughter!
Away, be gone, thou feeble boy, fond love,
All nature, softness, pity, and compassion;
This hour I throw ye off, and entertain
Fell hate within my breast, revenge, and gall.
By heav'n, I'll meet and counterwork this
treachery.

Hark thee, villain, traitor-answer me, slave! Per. My service has not merited those titles. King. Dar'st thou reply? Take that-Thy service! thine! [Strikes him. What's thy whole life, thy soul, 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,

Frighted, and fumbling one hand in his bosom, His teeth may grin and mock at her remorse. As to conceal th' importance of his errand.

[Perez going.

[Alonzo follows him, and re--Stay thee-I've further thought-I'll add to
turns with a Paper.

Alon. A bloody proof of obstinate fidelity!
King. What dost thou mean?
Alon. Soon as I seiz'd the man,

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

He snatch'd from out his bosom this-and strove Be darken'd, so as to amuse the sight.

The king? Confusion! all is on the rout!
All's lost! all ruin'd by surprise and treachery!
Where, where is he? Why dost thou mís-
lead me?

I'll be conducted thither-mark me well-
There with his turban, and his robe array'd,
And laid along, as he now lies, supine,
I shall convict her, to her face, of falsehood.
When for Alphonso's she shall take my hand,
And breathe her sighs upon my lips for his;
Sudden I'll start, and dash her with her guilt. And could not pass me unperceiv'd-What,

But see, she comes! I'll shun th' encounter;

thou

[blocks in formation]

Zara. Ha! 'twas the king!
The king that passed hence! frowning he went:
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.

Alon. My lord, he enter'd but a moment since,

hoa!

[blocks in formation]

Gar. Perdition, slavery, and death Are ent'ring now our doors! Where is the king?

Zara. Shun me when seen! I fear thou What means this blood? and why this face

hast undone me.

ever

Sel. Avert it, heav'n! that you should e
suffer
For my defect; or that the means which I
Devis'd to serve, should ruin your design!
Prescience is heav'n's alone, not giv'n to man.
If I have fail'd in what, as being man
I needs must fail, impute not as a crime
My nature's want, but punish nature in me;
I plead not for a pardon and to live,
But to be punish'd and forgiv'n. Here, strike;
I bare my breast to meet your just revenge.
Zara. I have not leisure now to take so poor
A forfeit as thy life; somewhat of high
And more important fate requires my thought!
Regard me well, and dare not to reply
To what I give in charge; for I'm resolv'd.
Give order that the two remaining mutes
Attend me instantly, with each a bowl
Of such ingredients mix'd, as will with speed
Benumb the living faculties, and give
Most easy and inevitable death.
Yes, Osmyn, yes; be Osmyn or Alphonso,
I give thee freedom, if thou dar'st be free:
Such liberty, as I embrace myself,

Thou shalt partake. Since fates no more af-
ford,

I can but die with thee to keep my word.

[ocr errors]

[Exit. SCENE II.-Opens and shows the Prison. Enter GONSALEZ, disguised like a Mute, with a Dagger.

Gon. Nor sentinel, 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.
[Looks 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

Th attempt; I'll steal and do it unperceiv'd.
What noise? somebody coming? 'st, Alonzo!
Nobody. Sure he'll wait without-I would
Twere done - I'll crawl and sting him to the
heart;

Then cast my skin, and leave it there to an-
swer it.
[Goes in.

Enter GARCIA and ALONZO.

of horror?

[blocks in formation]

passage,

Had enter'd long ere now, and borne down all
Before 'em, to the palace walls. Unless
The king in person animate our men,
Granada's lost; and to confirm this fear,
The traitor Perez, and the captive Moor,"
Are through a postern fled, and join the foe!
Gon. Would all were false as that! for
whom you call

The Moor is dead. That Osmyn was Alphonso;
In whose heart's blood this poniard yet is warm.
Gar. Impossible! for Osmyn was, while

flying,

Pronounc'd aloud by Perez for Alphonso. Gon. 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;

And has declar'd the cause of his revolt
Was to revenge a blow the king had giv'n
him.

Re-enter GARCIA.

Gar. Ruin and horror! O, heart-wounding sight!

Gon. 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!-O, dire mistake! O, fatal blow!
The king-

Gon. Alon. The king!

Gar. Dead, welt'ring, drown'd in blood!
See!
see! attir'd like Ősmyn, where he lies.
[They look in.

O whence, or how, or wherefore was this done?
But what imports the manner of the cause?
Nothing remains to do, or to require,
But that we all should turn our swords against
Ourselves, and expiate, with our own, his blood.
Gen. O wretch! O, curs'd and rash deluded
fool!

Ger. Where? where, Alonzo, where's my On me, on me, turn your avenging swords!
I, who have spilt my royal master's blood,

father? where

[ocr errors]

Should make atonement by a death as horrid,]

Re-enter Mutes.

And fall beneath the hand of my own son. What have you seen? Ha! wherefore stare Gar. Ha! what? atone this murder with a

greater!

across?

you thus [Mutes return, and look affrighted. The horror of that thought has damp'd my rage. With haggard eyes? Why are your arms Gon. O, my son! from the blind dotage Of a father's fondness these ills arose: For thee I've been ambitions, base, and bloody; For thee I've plung'd into this sea of sin; Stemming the tide with only one weak hand, While t'other bore the crown (to wreathe thy brow),

[ocr errors]

Whose weight has sunk me ere I reach'd the

shore.

Your heavy and desponding heads hung down? Why is't you more than speak in these sad signs?

Give me more ample knowledge of this mourn

mg.

[They go to the Scene, which opening, she perceives the Body.

Ha! prostrate! bloody! headless! O—I'm lost! Gar. Fatal ambition! Hark! the foe is en-O Osmyn! O Alphonso! Cruel fate!

ter'd!

Cruel, cruel, O more than killing object' The shrillness of that shout speaks 'em at hand. I came prepar'd to die, and see thee die-[Shout. Nay, came prepar'd myself to give thee death— Alon. My lord, I've thought how to con- But cannot bear to find thee thus, my OsmynO, this accurs'd, this base, this treach'rous king.

you

ceal the body:

Require me not to tell the means, till done,
Lest forbid what then you may approve.
[Goes in. Shout.
Gon. 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.

Re-enter ALONZO.

Gon. 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.

But what are kings, reduc'd to common clay?
Or who can wound the dead?-I've from the
body

Sever'd the head, and in an obscure corner
Dispos'd it, muffled in the mute's attire,
Leaving to view of them who enter next,
Alone the undistinguishable trunk;
Which may be still mistaken by the guards
For Osmyn, if in seeking for the king
They chance to find it.

Gon. '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,

To aid my son.
I'll follow with the last
Reserve, to reinforce his arms: at least,
I shall make good and shelter his retreat.
[Exeunt severally.

Enter ZARA, followed by SELIM, and two
Mutes bearing the Bowls.

Zara. Silence and solitude are every where!
Through all the gloomy ways and iron doors
That hither lead, nor human face nor voice
Is seen or heard.

[blocks in formation]

'Tis not that he is dead! for 'twas decreed
We both should die. Nor is't that I survive;
I have a certain remedy for that.
But oh! he died unknowing in
He knew I lov'd, but knew not to what height;
Nor that I meant to fall before his eyes,
A martyr and a victim to my vows;
Insensible of this last proof he's gone:
Then wherefore do I pause? give me the bowl.
[4 Mute kneels and gives one
of the Bowls.

Hover a moment yet, thou gentle spirit,
Soul of my love, and I will wait thy flight.
This to our mutual bliss, when join'd above.
Drinks.

O, friendly draught! already in my heart.
Cold, cold! my veins are icicles and frost.
I'll creep into his bosom, lay me there;
Cover us close-or I shall chill his breast,
And fright him from my arms-See! see! he

slides

Still further from me; look, he hides his face! I cannot feel it-quite beyond my reach. Let 'em set down the bowls, and warn Al-¡O, now he's gone, and all is dark

[blocks in formation]

Must hope to find him.

Leon. Heav'ns! what dismal scene

Of death is this?

Alm. Show me, for I am come in search of death,

But want a guide, for tears have dimm'd my sight.

Leon. Alas, a little further, and behold Zara all pale and dead! two frightful men, Who seem the murderers, kneel weeping by; Feeling remorse too late for what they've done. But O, forbear-lift up your eyes no more, But haste away, fly from this fatal place, Where miseries are multiply'd; return, Return, and look not on, for there's a dagger Rely to stab the sight, and make your eyes Rain blood

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

Give a new birth to thy long-shaded eyes,
Then double on the day reflected light.
Alm. Where am I? Heav'n! what does this
dream intend?

Alph. O mayst thou never dream of less
delight,

Nor ever wake to less substantial joys!
Alm. Giv'n me again from death! O, all
ye pow'rs,
Confirm this miracle! Can I believe
My sight?

This is my lord, my life, my only husband:
I have him now, and we no more will part.
My father too shall have compassion-

Alph. O, my heart's comfort! 'tis not giv'n to this

Frail life, to be entirely bless'd. E'en now,
In this extremest joy my soul can taste,
Yet I am dash'd to think that thou must weep:
Thy father fell, where he design'd my death.
Gonsalez and Alonzo, both of wounds
Expiring, have with their last breath confess'd
The just decrees of heav'n, which on themselves
Has turn'd their own most bloody purposes.
Nay, I must grant, 'tis fit you should be thus-
[She weeps.

Ill-fated Zara! Ha! a cup! alas!
Thy error then is plain; but I were flint
Not to o'erflow in tribute to thy memory.
O Garcia!

Whose virtue has renounc'd thy father's crimes,
Seest thou how just the hand of heav'n has

been?

Let us, who through our innocence survive,
Still in the paths of honour persevere,
And not from past or present ills despair:
For blessings ever wait on virtuous deeds,
And though a late, a sure reward succeeds.
[Exeunt.

HILL.

AARON HILL, eldest son of George Hill, Esq. of Malmsbury Abbey, Wiltshire, was born in London, Febr. 10, 1684. The life of this author presents a most astonishing instance of genius and industry. At the age of 15 we find him alone in a vessel bound for Constantinople, on a visit to Lord Paget, ambassador that court, and a distant relation of his mother's. His Lordship, struck with the ardent desire of knowledge, which had induced this youth to such an undertaking, provided him with a tutor with whom he travelled through Egypt, Palestine and the greater part of the East. He returned with his Lordship from Constantinople by land; and profited of the occasion of their stay at the different courts to see the greatest part of Europe. 1710, Manager of the King's Theatre, Haymarket, be wrote the opera of Rinaldo, the music of which was the first of Handel's compositions after his arrival in England. Although no man could be more qualified for this undertaking, he relinquished the management on account of some

misunderstanding; and turnéd his thoughts entirely on a project of making sweet oil from beech-nuts. He obtained a patent, and had his fortune been sufficient for the undertaking he would undoubtedly have rendered this attempt of great advantage to the nation; but borrowing a sum of 25,000 pounds, he was obliged to submit to the formation of a company, who were to act in concert with him. These people, with the most sanguine hopes of success and ignorant of the inventor's plans, or perhaps fearing to loose their money, upon a trifling delay of their hopes, immediately come menced representations; these caused disputes, and the whole affair was overthrown just at the time when profits were already rising from it, and, if pursued with vigour, would, in all probability have continued increasing and permanent. Another valuable project, that of applying the timber grown in the north of Scotland to the use of the navy, for which it had been long erroneously imagined to be unfit, he set on foot in 1727: here again we have a terrible acpunt of the obstacles he met with; when the trees were chained together into a raft, the Highlanders could not be prevailed upon to go down the river on them, till he first went himself: and he was obliged to find out a method of doing away with the rocks (by lighting fires on them at low water), which choked up the passage in different parts of the river. The commencement of a lead mine in the same country employing all the men and horses, which had heretofore been at his service, put an end to this undertaking; however he was presented with the freedom of Inverness and Aberdeen, as a compliment for his great exertions. All this time his pen did not continue idle: he produced The progress of Wit, a caveat for the use of an eminent Writer; in which he retorts very severely upon Pope, who had introduced him into The Dunciad, as one of the competitors for the prize offered by the goddess of Dulness. After the death of his wife 1751, he continued in London and in intercourse with the public till about 1758, when he withdrew to Plaistow in Essex, where his indefatigable genius projected many profitable improvements. One he lived to complete, but without benefit to himself, which was the art of making potash, equal to that brought from Russia, Here he wrote and published several poctical pieces; and adapted Voltaire's tragedy of Merope to the English Stage, which was the last work he lived to complete. He died the very day before it was to he represented for his benefit, Feb. 8. 1749, in the very minute of the earthquake. The Biographia Dramatica says him to have been a person of the most amiable disposition, extensive knowledge, and elegant conversation. We find him bestowing the profits of many of his works for the relief of distressed authors and artists; though he would never accept of a benefit for himself, till his distresses at the close of his life obliged him to solicit the acting of Merope for their relief, No labour deterred him from the prosecution of any design which appeared to him to be praiseworthy and feasible, nor was it in the power of the greatest misfortunes to overcome or even shake his fortitude of mind. Although accused of being rather too turgid, and in some places obscure; yet the nervous power, and sterling sense we find in his writings ought to make us overlook our having been obliged to take some little pains in digging through the tock in which it is conHained; while his rigid correctness will always make him stand in an exalted rank of merit.

ZARA.

ZARA was first produced 1735; and though it is founded on the principles of religious party, which are generally apt to throw an air of enthusiasm and bigotry into those dramatic works which are built on them, this piece has always been esteemed a very superior one. The Biographia Dramatica says, "It is borrowed originally from the Zaire of Voltaire; an author who, while he resided in England, imbibed so much of the spirit of British liberty, that his writings seem almost always calculated for the meridian of London. Mr. Hill, however, has made this as well as his other translations so much his own, that it is hard to determine which of the two may most properly be called the author of this play." It is remarkable for a very extraordinary event; it is related, that a gentleman of the name of Bond, collecting party of his friends, got up the play of Zara, at the music room in Villiers Street, York Buildings, and chose the part of Lusignan for himself. His acting was considered as a prodigy; and he yielded himself up to the force and impetuosity of his imagination, that upon the discovery of his daughter, he fainted away. The house rung with applause; but, finding that he continued a long time in that situation, the audience began to be uneasy and apprehensive. With some difficulty, the representatives of Chatillon and Nerestan placed him in his chair; he then faintly spoke, extended his arms to receive his children, raised his eyes to heaven, and then closed them for ever.

ვი

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

My fate's bound in by Sion's sacred wall:
Clos'd from my infancy within this palace,
Custom has learnt, from time, the power to
please.

I claim no share in the remoter world,
The sultan's property, his will my law;
To live his subject is my only hope.
Unknowing all but him, his
power, his fame;
All else, an empty dream--

Sel. Have you forgot
Absent Nerestan then? whose gen'rous friend-
ship

So nobly vow'd redemption from
your chains!
How oft have you admir'd his dauntless soul?
Osman, his conqu'ror, by his courage charm'd,
Trusted his faith, and on his word releas'd him:
Though not return'd in time-we yet expect him.
Nor had his noble journey other motive,
Than to procure our ransom.-And is this,
This dear, warm hope, become an idle dream?
Zara. Since after two long years he not
returns,

'Tis plain his promise stretch'd beyond his

[blocks in formation]
« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »