Zanga. My lord Alonzo, I obey'd your orders.
Alonzo. Will the fair Leonora pass this way?
Zanga. She will, my lord; and soon.

Alonzo.

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 follow'd 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 lov'd myself. Indeed,
One thing there is might lessen my offence
(If such offence admits of being lessen'd ;)
I thought him dead; for (by what fate I know not)
His letters never reach'd me.

Zanga. [Aside.]

Thanks to Zanga,

Who thence contriv'd that evil which has happen'd. Alonzo. Yes, curs'd of heav'n! I lov'd myself; and

now,

In a late action rescu'd from the Moors,

I have brought home my rival in my friend.

Zanga. We hear, my lord, that in that action too, Your interposing arm preserv'd his life.

Alonzo. It did-with more than the expence of mine; For, O! this day is mention'd for their nuptials.

But see, she comes-I'll take my leave, and die.

Zanga. [Aside.] Hadst thou a thousand lives, thy death would please me.

Unhappy fate! my country overcome;

My six years hope of vengeance quite expir'd !-
Would nature were-I will not fall alone;

But others' groans shall tell the world my death.

Enter LEONORA.

Alonzo. When nature ends with anguish like to this, Sinners shall take their last leave of the sun,

And bid the light adieu.

Leonora.

The mighty conqueror

Dismay'd! I thought you gave your foes your sorrows.
Alonzo. O cruel insult! are those tears your sport,
Which nothing but a love for you could draw?
Africk I quell'd, in hope by that to purchase
Your leave to sigh unscorn'd; but I complain not;
'Twas but a world; and you are-Leonora.

Leonora. That passion, which you boast of is your guilt;
A treason to your friend. You think mean of me,
To plead your crimes as motives of my love.

Alonzo. You, Madam, ought to thank those crimes you blame;

'Tis they permit you to be thus inhuman,
Without the censure both of earth and heav'n—
I fondly thought a last look might be kind.
Farewel forever.-This severe behaviour
Has, to my comfort, made it sweet to die.

Leonora. [Aside.] Farewel forever !-Sweet to die!-
O heav'n!

Alonzo, stay; you must not thus escape me;
But hear your guilt at large.

Alonzo.
O 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 that it cost me :
You know I did; I sought but your esteem;
If that is guilt, an angel had been guilty:

I often sigh'd; nay wept ; but could not help it ;
And sure it is no crime to be in pain!

But grant my crime was great, I'm greatly curs'd.
What would you more? Am I not most undone ?
This usage is like stamping on the murder'd,
When life is fled; most barbarous and unjust.

Leonora. [Going.] If from your guilt none suffer'd but yourself,

It might be so

Farewel.

Who suffers with me?

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

Leonora.

Alonzo. How? Flatter'd me!
Leonora.

They flatter'd you.

O search in fate no further!

I hate thee, O Alonzo! How I hate thee!

Alonzo. Indeed! and do you weep for hatred too?

O 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!
Leonora. Why would you force my stay?

Alonzo.

What mean these tears?

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

But, O! when I first saw Alonzo's tears,

I knew their meaning well.

[Alonzo falls passionately on his knees, and takes her hand. Alonzo. Heavens, what is this? That excellence for which

Desire was planted in the heart of man ;
Virtue's supreme reward on this side heav'n;
The cordial of my soul! and this destroys me-
Indeed I flatter'd me that thou didst hate.
Leonora. Alonzo, pardon me the injury
Of loving you: I struggled with my passion,
And struggled long; let that be some excuse.
Alonzo. Unkind! You know I think your love a bles-
sing

Beyond all human blessings; 'tis the price

Of sighs and groans, and a whole year of dying:

But O the curse of curses! O my friend!

Leonora. Alas!

Alonzo.

What says my love?-Speak, Leonora.
Leonora. 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?

Alonzo. Is not the day then fix'd for your espousals? Leonora. Indeed, my father once had thought that way;

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

Alonzo.

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.

Leonora. 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.

Alonzo. What's in my power?-O yes, to stab my friend!

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

Alonzo.

Leonora.

Torment!

[After a pause Leonora speaks. O my shame!

I sue, and sue in vain; it is most just:

When women sue, they sue to be deny'd.
You hate me, you despise me.: You do well:

For what I've done, I hate and scorn myself.
O night fall on me! I shall blush to death.
Alonzo. First perish all.

Leonora.

Say; what have you resolv'd? My father comes; what answer will you give him?

Alonzo. 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.

Leonora. 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. Alonzo. [Runs and embraces her.] No, Leonora ; I am thine for ever,

In spite of Carlos.-Ha! Who's that? My friend !

Alas! I see him pale; I hear his

[Starts wide from her.

groans:

He foams, he tears his hair, he raves, he bleeds;

(I know him by myself) he dies distracted.

Leonora. How dreadful to be cut from what we love! Alonzo. Ah! speak no more.

Leonora.

And ty'd to what we hate!

Yes, take a limb; but let my virtue 'scape.

Oh

Alas! my soul, this moment I die for thee. [Breaks away.
Leonora. And are you perjur'd then for virtue's sake?
How often have you sworn ! But go for ever.-[Swoons.
Alonzo. Heart of my heart, and essence of my joy!
Where art thou ?-O, I'm thine, and thine for ever!
The groans of friendship shall be heard no more;
For whatsoever crimes I can commit,

I've felt the pains already.

Leonora.

Hold, Alonzo;