Enter Don MANUEL and Don CARLOS.

Man. My lord Don Carlos, what brings your express?

Car. Alonzo's glory, and the Moors' defeat.
The field is strewed with twice ten thousand slain,
Though he suspects his measures were betrayed.
He'll soon arrive. Oh, how I long to embrace
The first of heroes, and the best of friends!
I loved fair Leonora long before

The chance of battle gave me to the Moors,
From whom so late Alonzo set me free:
And while I groaned in bondage, I deputed
This great Alonzo, whom her father honours,
To be my gentle advocate in love,

To stir her heart, and fan its fires for me.
Man. And what success?

Car. Alas, the cruel maid!

Indeed her father, who, though high at court,
And powerful with the king, has wealth at heart,
To heal his devastation from the Moors,
Knowing I am richly freighted from the east,
My fleet now sailing in the sight of Spain,
(Heaven guard it safe through such a dreadful
storm!)

Caresses me, and urges her to wed.
Man. Her aged father, see,

Leads her this way.

Car. She looks like radiant Truth, Brought forward by the hand of hoary Time. You to the port with speed, 'tis possible Some vessel is arrived. Heaven grant it bring Tidings, which Carlos may receive with joy!

Enter Don ALVAREZ and LEONORA.

Alv. Don Carlos, I am labouring in your fa

vour,

With all a parent's soft authority,
And earnest counsel.

Car. Angels second you!
For all my bliss or misery hangs on it.

Aiv. Daughter, the happiness of life depends
On our discretion, and a prudent choice;
Look into those they call unfortunate,
And, closer viewed, you'll find they are unwise:
Some flaw in their own conduct lies beneath,
And 'tis the trick of fools, to save their credit,
Which brought another language into use.
Don Carlos is of ancient, noble blood,
And then his wealth might mend a prince's for-

tune.

For him the sun is labouring in the mines,
A faithful slave, and turning carth to gold;
His keels are freighted with that sacred power,
By which even kings and emperors are made.
Sir, you have my good wishes, and I hope
[CARLOS.
My daughter is not indisposed to hear you. [Exit.

Car. Oh, Leonora ! why art thou in tears? Because I am less wretched than I was? Before your father gave me leave to woo you, Hushed was your bosom, and your eyes serene. Will you for ever help me to new pains, And keep reserves of torment in your hand, To let them loose on every dawn of joy?

Leon. Think you my father too indulgent to me, That he claims no dominion o'er my tears? A daughter sure may be right dutiful, Whose tears alone are free from a restraint. Car. Ah, my torn heart!

Leon. Regard not me, my lord; I shall obey my father.

Car. Disobey him,

Rather than come thus coldly, than come thus
With absent eyes, and alienated mien,
Suffering address, the victim of my love.
Oh, let me be undone the common way,
And have the common comfort to be pitied,
And not be ruined in the mask of bliss,
And so be envied, and be wretched too!
Love calls for love. Not all the pride of beauty,
Those eyes that tell us what the sun is made of,
Those lips, whose touch is to be bought with life,
Those hills of driven snow, which seen are felt;
All these, possessed, are nought but as they are
The proof, the substance of an inward passion,
And the rich plunder of a taken heart.

Leon. Alas, my lord, we are too delicate;
And when we grasp the happiness we wished,
We call on wit to argue it away:

A plainer man would not feel half your pains;
But some have too much wisdom to be happy.
Car. Had I known this before, it had been
well:

I had not then solicited your father
To add to my distress; as you behave,
Your father's kindness stabs me to the heart.
Give me your hand-nay, give it, Leonora ;
You give it not-nay, yet you give it not―
I ravish it.

Leon. I pray, my lord, no more.

Car: Ah, why so sad? You know each sigh does shake me:

Sighs there, are tempests here.

I've heard, bad men would be unblest in Heaven:
What is my guilt, that makes me so with you?
Have I not languished prostrate at thy feet?
Have I not lived whole days upon thy sight?
Have I not seen thee where thou hast not been,
And, mad with the idea, clasped the wind,
And doated upon nothing?

Leon. Court me not,

Good Carlos, by recounting of my faults,
And telling how ungrateful I have been.
Alas, my lord, if talking would prevail,
I could suggest much better arguments
Than those regards you threw away on me;
Your valour, honour, wisdom, praised by all.
But bid physicians talk our veins to temper,
And with an argument new-set a pulse;
Then think, my lord, of reasoning into love.
Car. Must I despair then? Do not shake me
thus:

Of Afric?

Alon. Yes, much more-Don Carlos' friend. The conquest of the world would cost me dear, Should it beget one thought of distance in thee. 1 rise in virtues to come nearer to thee, I conquer with Don Carlos in my eye, And thus I claim my victory's reward.

[Embracing him.
Car. A victory indeed! your godlike arm
Has made one spot the grave of Africa,
Such numbers fell! and the survivors fled,
As frighted passengers from off the strand,
When the tempestuous sea comes roaring on them.
Alon. 'Twas Carlos conquered, 'twas his cruel
chains

Inflamed me to a rage unknown before,
And threw my former actions far behind.

Car. I love fair Leonora,-how I love her!
Yet still I find (I know not how it is)
Another heart, another soul for thee.
Thy friendship warms, it raises, it transports
Like music; pure the joy, without allay,
Whose very rapture is tranquillity:
But love, like wine, gives a tumultuous bliss,
Heightened, indeed, beyond all mortal pleasures,
But mingles pangs and madness in the bowl.

Enter ZANGA.

Zan. Manuel, my lord, returning from the port,

On business both of moment and of haste, Humbly begs leave to speak in private with you. Car. In private! Ha! Alonzo, I will return: No business can detain me long from thee. [Exit. Zan. My lord Alonzo, I obeyed your orders. Alon. Will the fair Leonora pass this way?

Zan. She will, my lord, and soon.
Alon. Come near me, Zanga;
For I dare open all my heart to thee.
Never was such a day of triumph known!
There's not a wounded captive in my train,
That slowly followed my proud chariot wheels,
With half a life, and beggary, and chains,
But is a god to me: I am most wretched.
In his captivity thou know'st, Don Carlos,
My friend, (and never was a friend more dear)
Deputed me his advocate in love,

To talk to Leonora's heart, and make
A tender party in her thoughts for him.
What did I do? I loved myself. Indeed,
One thing there is might lessen my offence,
(If such offence admits of being lessened)

I thought him dead; for (by what fate I know not)
His letters never reached me.

Zan. Thanks to Zanga,

Alon. Oh, Leonora !

What could I do! In duty to my friend,
I saw you; and to see is to admire.
For Carlos did I plead, and most sincerely;
Witness the thousand agonies it cost me!
You know I did. I sought but your esteem;
If that is guilt, an angel had been guilty.

I often sighed, nay, wept, but could not help it:
And sure it is no crime to be in pain.
But grant my crime was great; I am greatly cur-
sed;

What would you more? Am I not most undone ?
This usage is like stamping on the murdered,
When life is fled; most barbarous and unjust.
Leon. If from your guilt none suffered but
yourself,

It might be so

-Farewell.

Alon. Who suffers with me?

[Going.

Leon. Enjoy your ignorance, and let me go. Alon. Alas! what is there I can fear to know, Since I already know your hate? Your actions Have long since told me that.

Leon. They flattered you..
Alon. How! flattered me!

Leon. Oh, search in fate no farther!
I hate thee-Oh, Alonzo, how I hate thee!
Alon. Indeed! and do you weep for hatred
too?

Oh, what a doubtful torment heaves my heart!
I hope it most, and yet I dread it more.
Should it be so- -should her tears flow from thence,
How would my soul blaze up in ecstacy!
Ah no! how sink into the depth of horrors!
Leon. Why would you force my stay?
Alon. What mean these tears?

Leon. I weep by chance, nor have my tears a meaning;

But, oh! when first I saw Alonzo's tears,
I knew their meaning well!

[ALON. falls passionately on his knees, and

takes her hand.

Alon. Heavens! what is this? That excellence,

for which

Desire was planted in the heart of man; Virtue's supreme reward on this side Heaven; The cordial of my soul-and this destroys meIndeed, I flattered me that thou didst hate.

Leon. Alonzo, pardon me the injury
Of loving you. I struggled with my passion,
And struggled long: let that be some excuse.
Alon. Unkind, you know I think your love a
blessing

Beyond all human blessings! 'tis the price
Of sighs and groans, and a whole year of dying.
But, oh! the curse of curses!-

friend!

Leon. Alas!

Oh, my

Alon. What says my love? Speak, Leonora. Leon. Was it for you, my lord, to be so quick

In finding out objections to our love?

Think you so strong my love, or weak my virtue,

It was unsafe to leave that part to me? Alon. Is not the day, then, fixed for your espousals?

Leon. Indeed, my father once had thoughts that way;

But, marking how the marriage pained my heart, Long he stood doubtful; but at last resolved, Your counsel, which determines him in all, Should finish the debate.

Alon. O, agony !

Must I not only lose her, but be made
Myself the instrument? Not only die,
But plunge the dagger in my heart myself?
This is refining on calamity.

Leon. What! do you tremble lest you should be mine?

For what else can you tremble? Not for that
My father places in your power to alter.

Alon. What's in my power? Oh, yes; to stab my friend!

Leon. To stab your friend were barbarous indeed;

Spare him-and murder me. I own, Alonzo, You well may wonder at such words as these; I start at them myself; they fright my nature. Great is my fault; but blame me not alone: Give him a little blame who took suca pains To make me guilty.

Alon. Torment [After a pause, LEON. speaks.
Leon. O my shame!

I sue, and sue in vain: it is most just;
When women sue, they sue to be denied.
You hate me, you despise me! you do well;
For what I've done I hate and scorn myself.
Oh, night, fall on me! I shall blush to death.
Alon. First perish all!

Leon. Say, what have you resolved? My father comes; what answer will you give him?

Alon. What answer! let me look upon that

face,

And read it there.-Devote thee to another!
Not to be borne! a second look undoes me.

Leon. And why undo you? Is it then, my lord,
So terrible to yield to your own wishes,
Because they happen to concur with mine?
Cruel! to take such pains to win a heart,
Which you was conscious you must break with
parting.

Alon. No, Leonora, I am thine for ever, [Runs and embraces her. In spite of Carlos-Ha! who's that? My friend! [Starts wide from her. Alas, I see him pale! I hear him groan! He foams, he tears his hair, he raves, he bleeds, (I know him by myself) he dies distracted! Leon. How dreadful to be cut from what we

love!

Alon. Ah, speak no more!

Leon. And tied to what we hate!

Alon. Oh!

Leon. Is it possible?

Alon. Death!

Leon. Can you?

Alon. Oh

Be it enough that I have once been guilty;
In sight of such a pattern, to persist,
Ill suits a person honoured with your love.
My other titles to that bliss are weak;
I must deserve it by refusing it.
Thus then I tear me from thy hopes for ever.
Shall I contribute to Alonzo's crimes?
No, though the life-blood gushes from my heart.
You shall not be ashamed of Leonora ;
Or that late time may put our names together.
Nay, never shrink; take back the bright example
You lately lent; Oh, take it while you may,
While I can give it you, and be immortal! [Exit.
Alon. She's gone, and I shall see that face no

SCENE I.-Continues.

Enter Don MANUEL and Zanga.

Zan. If this be true, I cannot blame your pain For wretched Carlos; 'tis but human in you. But when arrived your dismal news?

Man. This hour.

Zan. What, not a vessel saved?
Man. All, all the storm

Devoured; and now o'er his late envied fortune
The dolphins bound, and watry mountains roar,
Triumphant in his ruin,

Zan. Is Alvarez

Determined to deny his daughter to him?
That treasure was on shore; must that too join
The common wreck !

Mun. Alvarez pleads, indeed,
That Leonora's heart is disinclined,
And pleads that only; so it was this morning,
When he concurred: the tempest broke the match,
And sunk his favour, when it sunk the gold.
The love of gold is double in his heart,
The vice of age, and of Alvarez too.

Zan. How does Don Carlos bear it?
Man. Like a man,

Whose heart feels most a human heart can feel,
And reasons best a human heart can reason.
Zan. But is he then in absolute despair?
Man. Never to see his Leonora more.
And, quite to quench all future hope, Alvarez
Urges Alonzo to espouse his daughter
This very day; for he has learnt their loves.

Zan. Ha! was not that received with ecstacy By Don Alonzo?

Man. Yes, at first; but soon

A damp came o'er him, it would kill his friend,

Slow, therefore, to suspect it in another?

Isa. You best can judge; but so the world thinks of him.

Zan. Why, that was well-go, fetch my tablets
hither.
[Exit ISA.

Two nights ago my father's sacred shade
Thrice stalked around my bed, and smiled upon

me;

He smiled a joy then little understood-
It must be so and if so, it is vengeance
Worth waking of the dead for.

Re-enter ISABELLA with the tablets; ZANGA writes, then reads as to himself.

Thus it stands

The father's fixed-Don Carlos cannot wed-
Alonzo may-
-but that will hurt his friend-
Nor can he ask his leave-or, if he did,
He might not gain it—It is hard to give
Our own consent to ills, though we must bear
them.

Were it not then a master-piece, worth all
The wisdom I can boast, first to persuade
Alonzo to request it of his friend,

His friend to grant-then from that very grant,
The strongest proof of friendship man can give,
(And other motives) to work out a cause
Of jealousy, to rack Alonzo's peace ?-

I have turned o'er the catalogue of human woes,
Which sting the heart of man, and find none equal.
It is the Hydra of calamities,

The seven-fold death; the jealous are the damned.
Oh, jealousy, each other passion's calm
To thee, thou conflagration of the soul!
Thou king of torments, thou grand counterpoise
For all the transports beauty can inspire!
Isa. Alonzo comes this way.
Zan. Most opportunely.
Withdraw -Ye subtle dæmons, which reside
[Exit ISA.
In courts, and do your work with bows and smiles,
That little enginery, more mischievous
Than fleets and armies, and the cannon's murder,
Teach me to look a lie; give me your maze
Of gloomy thought and intricate design,
To catch the man I hate, and then devour!-
Enter Don ALONZO,

My lord, I give you joy.

Alon. Of what, good Zanga?

Zan. Is not the lovely Leonora yours?
Alon. What will become of Carlos?
Zan. He's your friend;

And since he can't espouse the fair himself,
Will take some comfort from Alonzo's fortune.
Alon. Alas, thou little know'st the force of
love!

Love reigns a sultan with unrivalled sway;
Puts all relations, friendship's self to death,
If once he's jealous of it. I love Carlos;
Yet well I know what pangs I felt this morning
At his intended nuptials. For myself
I then felt pains, which now for him I feel.
Zan. You will not wed her then?
Alon, Not instantly,

Insult his broken heart the very moment!
Zan. I understand you: but you'll wed here-

after,

When your friend's gone, and his first pain assuaged.

Alon. Am I to blame in that?
Zan. My lord, I love

Your very errors; they are born from virtue.
Your friendship (and what nobler passion claims
The heart?) does lead you blindfold to your ruin.
Consider, wherefore did Alvarez break

Don Carlos' match, and wherefore urge Alonzo's? 'Twas the same cause, the love of wealth. To

morrow

May see Alonzo in Don Carlos' fortune;
A higher bidder is a better friend,

And there are princes sigh for Leonora.
When your friend's gone you'll wed; why, then,
the cause,

Which gives you Leonora now, will cease. Carlos has lost her; should you lose her too, Why, then you heap new torments on your friend, By that respect which laboured to relieve him.'Tis well-he is disturbed; it makes him pause. [Aside.

Alon. Think'st thou, my Zanga, should I ask Don Carlos,

His goodness would consent that I should wed her?

Zan. I know it would.

Alon. But then the cruelty

To ask it, and for me to ask it of him!

Zan. Methinks you are severe upon your friend. Who was it gave him liberty and life?

Alon. That is the very reason which forbids it. Were I a stranger, I could freely speak: In me it so resembles a demand, Exacting of a debt, it shocks my nature.

Zan. My lord, you know the sad alternative.
Is Leonora worth one pang, or not?
It hurts not me, my lord, but as I love you:
Warmly as you I wish Don Carlos well,
But I am likewise Don Alonzo's friend:
There all the difference lies between us two.
In me, my lord, you hear another self;
And, give me leave to add, a better too,
Cleared from those errors, which, though caused
by virtue,

Are such as may hereafter give you pain-
Don Lopez of Castile would not demur thus.
Alon, Perish the name! What, sacrifice the
fair

To age and ugliness, because set in gold?
I'll to Don Carlos, if my heart will let me.
I have not seen him since his sore affliction;
But shunned it, as too terrible to bear.
How shall I bear it now? I'm struck already.
[Exit.

Zan. Half of my work is done. I must secure Don Carlos, ere Alonzo speak with him.

[He gives a message to a Servant, then returns. Proud hated Spain, oft drenched in Moorish blood!

Dost thou not feel a deadly foe within thee?
Shake not thy towers where'er I pass along,