The most profound acknowledgments of heart, Isa. I quickly dropt it in the bride's apartment, As you commanded. Zan. With a lucky hand, For soon Alonzo found it; I observed him Then rubbed his brow, and took it up again. Isa. But if he read it not, it cannot sting him, At least not mortally. Zen. At first I thought so; But farther though.t informs me otherwise, Isa. That would indeed commend my Zanga's skill. Zn. This, Isabella, is Don Carlos' picture; Take it, and so dispose of it, that, found, It may raise up a witness of her love, Under her pillow, in her cabinet, Or elsewhere, as shall best promote our end. Isa. I'll weigh it as its consequence requires, Then do my utmost to deserve your smile. [Exit. Zan. Is that Alonzo prostrate on the ground? -Now he starts up, like flame from sleeping em bers, Alon. I dare not look on this again. If the first glance, which gave suspicion only, Had such effect, so smote my heart and brain, The certainty would dash me all in pieces. It cannot-Ha! it must, it must be true. [Starts. Zan. Hold there, and we succeed. He has descried me; And (for he thinks I love him) will unfold Alon. Hold, Zanga, turn. Zan. My lord! Alon. Shut close the doors, That not a spirit find an entrance here. Zan. My lord's obeyed. Alon. Isce that thou art frighted. [Aside. If thou dost love me, I shall fill thy heart With scorpions' stings. Zan. If I do love, my lord? Alon. Come near me, let me rest upon thy bosom; (What pillow like the bosom of a friend?) For I am sick at heart. Zan. Speak, sir, O speak, And take me from the rack! Alon. And is there need Of words? Behold a wonder! See my tears! Zan. I feel them too. Heaven grant my senses fail me! I rather would lose them, than have this real. Alon. Go, take a round through all things in thy thought, And find that one-for there is only one I know not where I am. Alon. Think, think no more! It ne'er can enter in an honest heart. Zan. Speak, ease your heart; its throbs will burst your bosom! Alon. I am most happy: mine is victory, Mine the king's favour, mine the nation's shout, And great men make their fortunes of my smiles. O curse of curses! in the lap of blessing To be most curst !-My Leonora's false ! Zan. Save me, my lord! Alon. My Leonora's false! [Gives him the letter. Zan. Then Heaven has lost its image here on earth. [While ZANGA reads the letter, he trembles, and shews the utmost concern. Alon. Good-natured man! he makes my pains his own! I durst not read it; but I read it now Zan. Did you not read it then? Alon. Mine eye just touched it, and could bear no more. Zan. Thus perish all that gives Alonzo pain! [Tears the letter. Alon. Why didst thou tear it? Zan. Think of it no more. 'Twas your mistake; and groundless are your fears. Alon. And didst thou tremble, then, for my mistake? Or give the whole contents, or by the pangs That feed upon my heart, thy life's in danger! Zan. Is this Alonzo's language to his Zanga? Draw forth your sword, and find the secret here. For whose sake is it, think you, I conceal it? Wherefore this rage? Because I seek your peace? I have no interest in suppressing it, That will be rent in two; not mine the fame That will be damned, though all the world should❘ know it. Alon. Then my worst fears are true, and life in past. Zan. What has the rashness of my passion uttered? I know not what; but rage is our destruction, Some foe to your repose Alon. So Heaven look on me, As I can't find the man I have offended. They take offence, who have not been offended; A letter may be forged, and in a point One would rely on nought that might be false. Alon. O that it were! Zan. It is ; For who would credit that, which, credited, Alon. O Zanga! it is that confounds me most, That full in opposition to appearance Zan. No more, my lord, for you condemn yourself. What is absurdity, but to believe Against appearance! You can't yet, I find, Subdue your passion to your better sense ;And, truth to tell, it does not much displease me. 'Tis fit your indiscretions should be checked With some degree of pain. Alon. What indiscretions? Zan. Come, you must bear to hear your faults. from me. Had you not sent Don Carlos to the court Had wanted footing for his villany. Zan. Not send him! Ha! That strikes me. Alon. In my confusion that had quite escaped me. By Heaven, my wounded soul does bleed afresh; 'Tis clear as day-for Carlos is so brave, Proofs rise on proofs, and still the last the strongest. The eternal law of things declares it true, Zan. Were, then, their loves far gone? There bore a total sway; and he, as soon Zan. Indeed, my lord, then you must pardon me, Zan. 'Twas but gaining of one night. Zan. That crime could ne'er return again. lord. Temptation! One night gained! O stings and death! And am I then undone! Alas, my Zanga! And insolent to me! Thou know'st it false; Zan. What says my lord? Did Leonora then Never disclose her passion for you? [Exit. And be a man again-Had he enjoyed her, Alon. Ha! Resign her to me!- Would he pluck out his eye to give it me? of that? I fear the letter was not all a tale. Alon. A tale! There's proof equivalent to sight. Zan. I should distrust my sight on this occa sion. Alon. And so should I: by Heaven I think I should. What! Leonora, the divine, by whom Since bliss and horror, life and death hang on it, To swell small things to great; nay, out of nought Alon. Had I ten thousand lives, I'd give them all To be deceived. I fear 'tis doomsday with me. And yet she seemed so pure, that I thought Hea ven Borrowed her form for virtue's self to wear, To gain her lovers with the sons of men. O Leonora! Leonora ! Enter ISABELLA. There, Isabella, I out-did myself; Zan. That's well-Ah! what is well! O pang O dire necessity! is this my province ? Illustrious from the purpose they pursue. Rather than groan beneath this load, I'll die. Zan. But for what better will you change this load? Grant you should know it, would not that be worse? Alon. No; it would cure me of my mortal pangs: By hatred and contempt I should despise her, Zan. You should not hazard life to gain the secret. Alon. What dost thou mean? Thou know'st I'm on the rack. I'll not be played with; speak, if thou hast aught, Or I this instant fly to Leonora. Zan. That is, to death. My lord, I am not yet I have took pains, as you, I know, observed, Alon. Thou dost confound me! And frankly own it, though to my shame I own it; Nought but your life in danger could have torn First, I must be assured, that if you find Zun. You'll bear it like a man ? Zan. Such have you been to me; these tears confess it, And poured forth miracles of kindness on me: Alon. Oh! Zan. You cannot bear it. Alon. Go on, I'll have it, though it blast mankind; F'll have it all, and instantly. Go on. Zan. Don Carlos did return at dead of night— Enter LEONORA. Leon. My lord Alonzo, you are absent from us, And quite undo our joy. Alon. I'll come, my love; Be not our friends deserted by us both; Alon. No, my delight. Leon. What then employed your mind? Alon. Thou love, and only thou; so Heavert befriend me, As other thought can find no entrance here. Solicit, and a world in arms obeys, [He shews the utmost impatience. Alon. Dost thou then prize it? Leon. Do you then ask it? Alon. Know then, to thy comfort, Thou hast me all, my throbbing heart is full With thee alone; I have thought of nothing else; Nor shall, I from my soul believe, till death. My life, our friends expect thee. Leon. I obey. [Exit. Alon. Is that the face of cursed hypocrisy ? If she is guilty, stars are made of darkness, And beauty shall no more belong to Heaven!Don Carlos did return at dead of nightProceed, good Zanga; so thy tale began. Zun. Don Carlos did return at dead of night; That night by chance (ill chance for me) did I Command the watch that guards the palace gate. He told me he had letters for the king, Dispatched from you. Alon. The villain lied! Zan. My lord, I pray, forbear.Transported at his sight, Alon. Oh, oh my heart! [He sinks into a chair. Zan. Groan on, and with the sound refresh my soul! 'Tis through his heart; his knees smite one another: 'Tis through his brain; his eye-balls roll in anguish. [Aside. My lord, my lord, why do ye rack my soul? Speak to me, let me know that you still live. Do not you know me, sir? Pray, look upon me: You think too deeply-I am your own Zanga, So loved, so cherished, and so faithful to you. Why start you in such fury? Nay, my lord, For Heaven's sake sheath your sword! What can this mean? Fool that I was, to trust you with the secret, And you unkind to break your word with me. Oh, passion for a woman -On the ground! Where is your boasted courage? Where your scorn, And prudent rage, that was to cure your grief, Why should the vanquished triumph? Alon. Would to Heaven That I were lower still! Oh, she was all!- To think on't-is the torment of the damned, Am I not most distracted? Zan. Pray, be calm. Alon. As hurricanes: be thou assured of that. Zan. Is this the wise Alonzo? Tear them asunder-Murder-How they grind My heart betwixt them!-Oh, let go my heart! Yet let it go- -Embracing and embraced! Oh, pestilence!-Who let him in?—A traitor. [Goes to stab ZANGA, he prevents him. Alas, my head turns round, and my limbs fail me! Zan. My lord! Alon. Oh, villain, villain, most accurst! If thou didst know it, why didst let me wed?" Zun. Hear me, my lord, your anger will abate. I knew it not :-I saw them in the garden; But saw no more than you might well expect To see in lovers destined for each other. By Heaven I thought their meeting innocent. Who could suspect fair Leonora's virtue, Till after-proofs conspired to blacken it? Sad proofs, which came too late, which broke not out, (Eternal curses on Alvarez' haste!) Till holy rites had made the wanton yours; Alon. Live now, be damned hereafter-for I Oh, night of ecstacy!-Ha! was't not so? How the sweet sound still sings within my ear! As he is going, enter LEONORA. Ha! I'm surprised! I stagger at her charms! To kill her now, were half my vengeance lost. Leon. My lord, excuse me; see, a second time I come in embassy from all your friends, Whose joys are languid uninspired by you. Alon. This moment, Leonora, I was coming To thee, and all-but sure, or I mistake, Or thou canst well inspire my friends with joy. Leon. Why sighs my lord? Alon. I sighed not, Leonora. Leon. I thought you did; your sighs are mine, my lord, And I shall feel them all. Alon. Dost flatter me! Leon. If my regards for you are flattery, Full far indeed I stretched the compliment In this day's solemn rite. Alon. What rite? Leon. You sport me. Alon. Indeed I do, my heart is full of mirth. Leon. And so is mine-I look on chearful ness, As on the health of virtue. Alon. Virtue!-Damn Leon. What says my lord! Alon. Thou art exceeding fair. Leon. Beauty alone is but of little worth; But when the soul and body of a piece, |