Yes, take a limb; but let my virtue 'scape.
Alas, my soul, this moment I die for thee!

[Breaks away. Leon. And are you perjured then for virtue's sake?

How often have you sworn !—but

go, for ever. [Swoons. Alon, Heart of my heart, and essence of my joy!

Where art thou! -Oh, I'm thine, and thine for ever!

The groans of friendship shall be heard no more.
For whatsoever crime I can commit,
I've felt the pains already.

Leon. Hold, Alonzo,

And hear a maid whom doubly thou hast conquered.

I love thy virtue as I love thy person,
And I adore thee for the pains it gave me :
But as I felt the pains, I'll reap the fruit;
I'll shine out in my turn, and shew the world
Thy great example was not lost upon me.

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

Determined to deny his daughter to him?

That treasure was on shore; must that too join The common wreck !

Man. 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.

Zan. Not if his friend consented; and since

now

He cannot himself espouse her

Man. Yet, to ask it

Has something shocking to a generous mind;
At least, Alonzo's spirit startles at it.
Wide is the distance between our despair,
And giving up a mistress to another.
But I must leave you. Carlos wants support
In his severe affliction.

Zan. Ha, it dawns !

[Exit.

It rises to me, like a new-found world
To mariners long time distressed at sea,
Sore from a storm, and all their viands spent ;
Or like the sun just rising out of chaos,
Some dregs of ancient night not quite purged off;
But I shall finish it.Hoa, Isabella!

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.
Zun. 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 hereafter,

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

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,

Yet much is talked of bliss; it is the art
Of such as have the world in their possession,
To give it a good name, that fools may envy ;-
For envy to small minds is flattery.
How many lift the head, look gay, and smile
Against their consciences! and this we know,
Yet, knowing, disbelieve, and try again

What we have tried, and struggle with conviction.
Each new experience gives the former credit;
And reverend grey threescore is but a voucher,
That thirty told us true.

Zan. My noble lord,

I mourn your fate: But are no hopes surviving? Car. No hopes. Alvarez has a heart of steel. 'Tis fixed-'tis past-'tis absolute despair! Zan. You wanted not to have your heart made tender,

By your own pains, to feel a friend's distress. Car. I understand you well. Alonzo loves; I pity him.

Zan. I dare be sworn you do. Yet he has other thoughts.

Car. What canst thou mean?

Zan. Indeed he has ; and fears to ask a favour
A stranger from a stranger might request;
What costs you nothing, yet is all to him:
Nay, what indeed will to your glory add,
For nothing more than wishing your friend well.
Car. I pray, be plain; his happiness is mine.
Zan. He loves to death; but so reveres his
friend,

He can't persuade his heart to wed the maid
Without your leave, and that he fears to ask.
In perfect tenderness I urged him to it.
Knowing the deadly sickness of his heart,
Your overflowing goodness to your friend,
Your wisdom, and despair yourself to wed her,
I wrung a promise from him he would try :
And now I come, a mutual friend to both,
Without his privacy, to let you know it,
And to prepare you kindly to receive him.

Car, Ha! if he weds I am undone indeed;

Not Don Alvarez' self can then relieve me. Zan. Alas, my lord, you know his heart is steel! 'Tis fixed, 'tis past, 'tis absolute despair.

Car. Oh, cruel Heaven! and is it not enough That I must never, never see her more? Say, is it not enough that I must die; But I must be tormented in the grave?— Ask my consent!-Must I then give her to him? Lead to his nuptial sheets the blushing maid? Oh! Leonora -never, never, never!

Zan. A storm of plagues upon him! he refuses. [Aside.

Car. What, wed her?—and to-day?
Zan. To-day, or never.
To-morrow may some wealthier lover bring,
And then Alonzo is thrown out like you:
Then whom shall he condemn for his misfortune?
Carlos is an Alvarez to his love.

Car. Oh, torment! whither shall I turn?
Zan. To peace,

Car. Which is the way?

Zan. His happiness is yours

I dare not disbelieve you.

Car. Kill my friend!

Or worse-Alas! and can there be a worse?
A worse there is; nor can my nature bear it.
Zan. You have convinced me 'tis a dreadful
task.

I find Alonzo's quitting her this morning
For Carlos' sake, in tenderness to you,
Betrayed me to believe it less severe
Than I perceive it is.

Car. Thou dost upbraid me.

Zan. No, my good lord; but since you can't comply,

'Tis my misfortune that I mentioned it;
For had I not, Alonzo would indeed
Have died, as now, but not by your decree.

Car. By my decree! Do I decree his death?
I do-Shall I then lead her to his arms?
Oh, which side shall I take? Be stabbed, or-
stab?

'Tis equal death! a choice of agonies.
Ah, no! all other agonies are ease
To one-Oh, Leonora! never, never!
Go, Zanga, go, defer the dreadful trial,
Though but a day; something, perchance, may
happen

To soften all to friendship and to love.
Go, stop my friend, let me not see him now;
But save us from an interview of death.
Zan. My lord, I am bound in duty to obey

Yet Leonora she can make time long,
Its nature alter, as she altered mine.
While in the lustre of her charms I lay,
Whole summer suns rolled unperceived away;
I years for days, and days for moments told,
And was surprised to hear that I grew old.
Now fate does rigidly its dues regain,
And every moment is an age of pain.
As he is going out, enter ZANGA and Don ALON-

20. ZANGA stops Don CARLOS.

Zan. Is this Don Carlos? this the boasted friend?

How can you turn your back upon his sadness? Look on him, and then leave him if you can. Whose sorrows thus depress him? Not his own: This moment he could wed without your leave. Car. I cannot yield; nor can I bear his griefs.

Alonzo! [Going to him, and taking his hand. Alon. Oh, Carlos !

Car. Pray, forbear.

Alon. Art thou undone, and shall Alonzo smile?

Alonzo, who, perhaps, in some degree
Contributed to cause thy dreadful fate?
I was deputed guardian of thy love;

But, Oh, I loved myself! Pour down afflictions
On this devoted head, make me your mark;
And be the world by my example taught,
How sacred it should hold the name of friend!
Car. You charge yourself unjustly; well I
know

The only cause of my severe affliction,
Alvarez, cursed Alvarez! So much anguish,
Felt for so small a failure, is one merit
Which faultless virtue wants. The crime was
mine,

Who placed thee there, where only thou couldst fail;

Though well I knew that dreadful post of honour I gave thee to maintain. Ah! who could bear Those eyes unhurt? The wounds myself have felt (Which wounds alone should cause me to condemn thee)

They plead in thy excuse; for I too strove
To shun those fires, and found 'twas not in man.
Alon. You cast in shades the failure of a

In ceaseless tears, and blushing for her love! Who, like a rose-leaf wet with morning dew, Would have stuck close, and clung for ever there!

But 'twas in thee, through fondness for thy friend, To shut thy bosom against ecstacies;

For which, while this pulse beats, it beats to thee;

While this blood flows, it flows for my Alonzo, And every wish is levelled at thy joy.

Zan. [To ALONZO.] My lord, my lord, this is your time to speak.

Alon. [To ZAN.] Because he's kind? It therefore is the worst;

For tis his kindness which I fear to hurt.
Shall the same moment see him sink in woes,
And me providing for a flood of joys,
Rich in the plunder of his happiness?
No, I may die; but I can never speak.

Car. Now, now it comes! they are concerting it!

The first word strikes me dead-Oh, Leonora! And shall another taste her fragrant breath? Who knows what after-time may bring to pass? Fathers may change, and I may wed her still.

[Aside

Alon. [To ZAN.] Do I not see him quite pos

sessed with anguish,

Which, like a dæmon, writhes him to and fro; And shall I pour in new? No, fond desire! No, love! one pang at parting, and farewell; I have no other love but Carlos now.

Car. Alas! my friend, why with such eager

Car. Alonzo, stay-he cannot speak

[Holds him Lest it should grieve me-Shall I be outdone? And lose in glory, as I lose in love? [Aside. I take it much unkindly, my Alonzo, You think so meanly of me, not to speak, When well I know your heart is near to bursting. Have you forgot how you have bound me to you? Your smallest friendship's liberty and life.

Alon. There, there it is, my friend! it cuts me there.

How dreadful is it to a generous mind
To ask, when sure he cannot be denied!

Car. How greatly thought! In all he towers above me. Aside.

Then you confess you would ask something of

me?

Alon. No, on my soul.

Zan. [To ALON.] Then lose her.

Car. Glorious spirit!

Why what a pang has he run through for this! By Heaven, I envy him his agonies.

Why was not mine the most illustrious lot,
Of starting at one action from below,
And flaming up into consummate greatness?
Ha! angels strengthen me! It shall be so-
I cannot want strength. Great actions once con,
ceived,

Strengthen like wine, and animate the soul,
And call themselves to being. [Aside.] My
Alonzo!

Since thy great soul disdains to make request,
Receive with favour that I make to thee..
Alon. What means my Carlos?
Car, Pray observe me well.
Fate and Alvarez tore her from my heart,
And plucking up my love, they had well nigh
Plucked up life too, for they were twined to-
gether.

Of that no more-What now does reason bid?
I cannot wed-Farewell my happiness!
But, oh my soul, with care provide for hers!
In life, how weak, how helpless is woman!
Soon hurt; in happiness itself unsafe,
And often wounded while she plucks the rose ;
So properly the object of affliction,

That Heaven is pleased to make distress become her,

And dresses her most amiably in tears.
Take then my heart in dowry with the fair!
Be thou her guardian, and thou must be mine;
Shut out the thousand pressing ills of life
With thy surrounding arms-Do this, and then
Set down the liberty and life thou gavest me,
As little things, as essays of thy goodness,
And rudiments of friendship so divine.

Alon. There is a grandeur in thy goodness to
me,

Which with thy foes would render thee adored.
But have a care, nor think I can be pleased
With any thing that lays in pains for thee.
Thou dost dissemble, and thy heart's in tears.
Car. My heart's in health, my spirits dance
their round,

And at my eyes pleasure looks out in smiles. Alon. And canst thou, canst thou part with Leonora ?

Car. I do not part with her, I give her thee. Alon. O Carlos!

Car. Don't disturb me, I'm sincere,
Nor is it more than simple justice in me.
This morn didst thou resign her for my sake;
I but perform a virtue learnt from thee,
Discharge a debt, and pay her to thy wishes.
Alon. Ah, how?-But think not words were
ever made

For such occasions. Silence, tears, embraces,
Are languid eloquence; I'll seek relief
In absence from the pain of so much goodness;
There thank the blest above, thy sole superiors,
Adore, and raise my thoughts of them by thee.

[Exit.

Zan. Thus far success has crowned my boldest

[To CAR.

To carry such a glory to its period.
Car. Too soon thou praisest me. He's gone,
and now

I must unsluice my overburthened heart,
And let it flow. I would not grieve my friend
With tears, nor interrupt my great design;
Great sure as ever human breast durst think of.
But now my sorrows, long with pain supprest,
Burst their confinement with impetuous sway,
O'er-swell all bounds, and bear even life away.
So, till the day was won, the Greek renowned
With anguish bore the arrow in his wound,
Then drew the shaft from out his tortured side,
Let gush the torrent of his blood, and died.
[Exeunt

SCENE I.

Enter ZANGA.

Zan. O joy, thou welcome stranger! twice

three years

I have not felt thy vital beam; but now
It warms my veins, and plays around my heart:
A fiery instinct lifts me from the ground,
And I could mount! The spirits numberless
Of my dear countrymen, which yesterday
Left their poor bleeding bodies on the field,
Are all assembled here, and o'er-inform me.-
O, bridegroom! great indeed thy present bliss;
Yet even by me unenvied; for be sure
It is thy last, last smile, that which now
Sits on thy cheek; enjoy it while thou mayest;

Enter ISABELLA.

Isa. What commands my Moor?

Zan. My fair ally! my lovely minister! 'Twas well Alvarez, by my arts impelled, (To plunge Don Carlos in the last despair, And to prevent all future molestation) Finished the nuptials soon as he resolved them; This conduct ripened all for me and ruin. Scarce had the priest the holy rite performed, When I, by sacred inspiration, forged That letter, which I trusted to thy hand; That letter, which, in glowing terms, conveys, From happy Carlos to fair Leonora,