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"And torn, rather than have reveal'd thy being." King. Hell, hell! Do I hear this, and yet endure! What, dar'st thou to my face avow thy guilt? Hence, ere I curse-fly my just rage with speed; Lest I forget us both, and spurn thee from me. Alm. And yet a father! Think, I am your child! Turn not your eyes away-look on me kneeling; Now curse me if you can, now spurn me off. Did ever father curse his kneeling child? Never; for always blessings crown that posture. "Nature inclines, and half way meets that duty, "Stooping to raise from earth the filial reverence; "For bended knees returning folding arms, "With pray'rs, and blessings, and paternal love." Oh, hear me then, thus crawling on the earth

King. Be thou advis'd, and let me go, while yet The light impression thou hast made remains.

Alm. No, never will I rise, nor lose this hold. 'Till you are mov'd, and grant that he may live. King. Ha! Who may live? Take heed! No more of that;

For on my soul he dies, tho' thou and I,
And all should follow to partake his doom.
Away, off, let me go-Call her attendants.

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[Leonora and women return. Alm. Drag me; and harrow the earth with

bosom;

my bare

I will not go 'till you have spar'd my husband. King. Ha! "What say'st thou ?" Husband!

"Husband! damnation!

"What husband!" Which? Who?

Alm. He, he is my husband.

King. "Poison and daggers!" Who?
Alm. Oh-

"Gons. Help, support her."

[Faints.

Alm. Let me go, let me fall, sink deep—I'll dig, I'll dig a grave, and tear up death; "I will; "I'll scrape, 'till I collect his rotten bones, "And cloath their nakedness with my own flesh;" Yes, I will strip off life, and we will change : I will be death? then, tho' you kill my husband, He shall be mine still, and for ever mine.

King. What husband? Whom dost thou mean? Gons. She raves!

Alm. "Oh, that I did." Osmyn, he is my husband.

King. Osmyn!

Alm. Not Osmyn, but Alphonso, is my dear

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And wedded husband- -Heav'n, and air, and seas, Ye winds and waves, I call ye all to witness.

King. Wilder than winds or waves thyself dost

rave.

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Should I hear more, I too should catch thy madness. "Yet somewhat she must mean of dire import, "Which I'll not hear, 'till I am more at peace.' Watch her returning sense, and bring me word; And look that she attempt not on her life.

[Exit King. Alm. Oh, stay, yet stay; hear me, I am not mad.

I would to Heav'n I were

-He's gone.

Gons. Have comfort.

Alm. Curs'd be that tongue that bids me be of

comfort;

Curs'd my own tongue, that could not move his pity; Curs'd these weak hands, that could not hold him here?

For he is gone to doom Alphonso's death.

Gons. Your too excessive grief works on your

fancy,

And deludes your sense. Alphonso, if living,
Is far from hence, beyond your father's pow'r.

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Alm. Hence, thou detested, ill-tim'd flatterer; Source of my woes: thou and thy race be curs'd; But doubly thou, who couldst alone have policy And fraud to find the fatal secret out,

And know that Osmyn was Alphonso.

Gons. Ha!

Alm. Why dost thou start? What dost thou see or hear?

Was it the doleful bell, tolling for death?

Or dying groans from my Alphonso's breast?
See, see, look yonder! where a grizzled, pale,

And ghastly head glares by, all smear'd with blood,
Gasping as it would speak; and after, see,

Behold, a damp, dead hand has dropp'd a dagger:
I'll catch it-Hark! a voice cries murder! ah!
My father's voice! hollow it sounds, and calls
Me from the tomb-I'll follow it; for there
I shall again behold my dear Alphonso.

[Exeunt Almeria and Leonora.

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Gons. She's greatly griev'd; nor am I less surpriz'd. Osmyn, Alphonso! No; she over-rates

My policy; I ne'er suspected it;

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Nor now had known it, but from her mistake.

Her husband too! Ha! Where is Garcia then?

And where the crown that should descend on him,
To grace the line of my posterity ?

Hold, let me think—if I should tell the king-
Things come to this extremity: his daughter
Wedded already—what if he should yield?
Knowing no remedy for what is past,
And urg'd by nature pleading for his child,
With which he seems to be already shaken.
And tho' I know he hates beyond the grave
Anselmo's race; yet if—that If concludes me.
To doubt, when I may be assur'd, is folly.

But how prevent the captive queen, who means
To set him free? Ay, now 'tis plain. O well
Invented tale! He was Alphonso's friend.
This subtle woman will amuse the king.

If I delay

-'twill door better so. One to my wish. Alonzo thou art welcome.

Enter ALONZO.

Alon. The king expects your lordship.

Gons. 'Tis no matter.

I'm not i' the way at present, good Alonzo.

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Alon. If 't please your lordship, I'll return, and say

I have not seen you.

Gons. Do, my best Alonzo,

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

I think thou would'st not stop to do me service.
Alon. I am your creature.

Gons. Say thou art my friend.

I've seen thy sword do noble execution.

Alon. All that it can your lordship shall command.
Gons. Thanks; and I take thee at thy word. Thou'st

seen,

Amongst the followers of the captive queen,

Dumb men, who make their meaning known by signs.
Alon. I have, my lord.

Gons. Could'st thou procure, with speed

And privacy, the wearing garb of one

Of those, tho' purchas'd by his death, I'd give

Thee such reward, as should exceed thy wish.

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Alon. Conclude it done. Where shall I wait

lordship?

your

Gons. 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.

[Exit.

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