Enter Don MANUEL and Don CARLOS. Man. My lord Don Carlos, what brings your express? Car. Alonzo's glory, and the Moors' defeat. The chance of battle gave me to the Moors, To stir her heart, and fan its fires for me. ↑ Caresses me, and urges her to wed. 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, Car. Angels second you! Alv. Daughter, the happiness of life depends tune. For him the sun is labouring in the mines, 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 thús coldly, than come thus Leon. Alas, my lord, we are too delicate; A plainer man would not feel half your pains; I had not then solicited your father 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: Leon. Court, me not, Good Carlos, by recounting of my faults, My tempest-beaten heart is cold to death; Of matchless love! To fling me at thy feet, [Trumpets. Leon. The victor comes. My lord, I must withdraw. Car. And must you go? Leon. Why should you wish me stay? Your friend's arrival will bring comfort to you, My presence none; it pains you and myself; For both our sakes, permit me to withdraw. [Exit. Car. Sure, there is no peril but in love. Oh, how My foes would boast to see me look so pale! 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." I 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, 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, Who thence contrived that evil which has hap- In a late action rescued from the Moors, Alon. It did-with more than the expence of mine; For, oh, this day is mentioned for their nuptials. Unhappy fate! My country overcome! Enter LEONORA. Alon. When nature ends with anguish like to this, Sinners shall take their last leave of the sun, Leon. The mighty conqueror Dismayed! I thought you gave the foe your sor rows. Alon. Oh, cruel insult! Are those tears your sport, Which nothing but a love for you could draw! Afric I quelled, in hope by that to purchase Your leave to sigh unscorned; but I complain not; 'Twas but a world, and you are-Leonora. Leon. 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. Alon. You, madam, ought to thank those crimes you blame; 'Tis they permit you to be thus inhuman, Leon. Farewell for ever! Sweet to die! Oh, [Aside. What could I do! In duty to my friend, But grant my crime was great; I am greatly cursed; What would you more? Am I not most undone ? -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! Oh, what a doubtful torment heaves my heart! Leon. I weep by chance, nor have my tears But, oh! when first I saw Alonzo's tears, [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 Beyond all human blessings! 'tis the price 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 Leon. What! do you tremble lest you should For what else can you tremble? Not for that Alon. What's in my power? Oh, yes; to stab 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 such pains To make me guilty. Alon. Torment! [After a pause, LEON. speaks, I sue, and sue in vain: it is most just; 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! Leon. And why undo you? Is it then, my lord, 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; Determined to deny his daughter to him? Man. Alvarez pleads, indeed, Zan. How does Don Carlos bear it? Whose heart feels most a human heart can feel, 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; But I must leave you. Carlos wants support Zan. Ha, it dawns! [Exit. It rises to me, like a new-found world 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 Two nights ago my father's sacred shade me; He smiled a joy then little understood- Re-enter ISABELLA with the tablets; ZANGA writes, then reads as to himself. Thus it stands The father's fixed-Don Carlos cannot wed- Were it not then a master-piece, worth all His friend to grant-then from that very grant, I have turned o'er the catalogue of human woes, The seven-fold death; the jealous are the damned. My lord, I give you joy. Alon. Of what, good Zanga? Zan. Is not the lovely Leonora yours? And since he can't espouse the fair himself, Love reigns a sultan with unrivalled sway; 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. Are such as may hereafter give you pain————— Alon. Perish the name! What, sacrifice the fair To age and ugliness, because set in gold? [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? |