Howe'er, at present I conceive warm hopes
Of what may wound him sore, in his ambition;
Life of his life, and dearer than his soul.
By nightly march he purpos'd to surprise
The Moorish camp; but I have taken care
They shall be ready to receive his favour.
Failing in this, a cast of utmost moment,
Would darken all the conquests he has won.
Isabella. Just as I enter'd an express arriv'd.
Zanga.
Isabella. His friend Don Carlos.
Zanga.
Be propitious,
O Mahomet, on this important hour,
And give at length my famish'd soul revenge!
What is revenge, but courage to call in
Our honour's debts, and wisdom to convert
Others' self-love into our own protection?
But see the morning ray breaks in upon us ;
I'll seek Don Carlos, and inquire my fate.
Enter MANUEL and Don CARLOS. Manuel. My lord Don Carlos, what brings your express?
Carlos. Alonzo's glory, and the Moors defeat.
The field is strew'd with twice ten thousand slain,
Though he suspects his measures were betray'd.
He'll soon arrive. O how I long t'embrace
The first of heroes, and the best of friends!-
I lov'd fair Leonora long before
The chance of battle gave me to the Moors,
From whom so late Alonzo set me free;
And while I groan'd 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.
Manuel. And what success ?
Indeed, her father, who, though high at court,
And powerful with the king, has wealth at heart,
To heal his devastations from the Moors,
Knowing I'm richly freighted from the East,
My fleet now sailing in the sight of Spain,
(Heav'n guard it safe through such a dreadful storm!) Caresses me, and urges her to wed.
Manuel. Her aged father, see! leads her this way.
Carlos. She looks like radiant youth
Brought forward by the hand of hoary time-
You to the port with speed; 'tis possible
Some vessel is arriv'd; Heav'n grant it bring
Tidings, which Carlos may receive with joy!
Enter ALVAREZ and LEONORA.
Alvarez. Don Carlos, I am labouring in your favour With all a parent's soft authority,
Angels second you !
For all my bliss or misery hangs on it.
Alvarez. Daughter, the happiness of life depends On our discretion, and a prudent choice;
Look into those they call unfortunate,
And closer view'd 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 fortune :
For him the sun is labouring in the mines,
A faithful slave, and turning earth to gold :
His keels are freighted with that sacred pow'r,
By which ev'n kings and emperors are made.
Sir, you have my good wishes: and I hope [To Carlos.
My daughter is not indispos'd to hear you.
[Exit Alv. Carlos. O Leonora ! why art thou in tears?
Because I am less wretched than I was ?
Before your father gave me leave to woo you,
Hush'd was your bosom, and your eye serene.
Will you forever help me to new pains,
And keep reserves of torment in your hand,
To let them loose on every dawn of joy?
Leonora. 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-
Carlos. Ah my torn heart!
Rather than come thus coldly; than come thus
With absent eyes, and alienated mien,
Suff'ring address, the victim of my love.
O let me be undone the common way,
And have the common comfort to be pity'd,
And not be ruin'd in the mask of bliss,
And so be envy'd, 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 possest are nought, but as they are
The proof, the substance of an inward passion,
And the rich plunder of a taken heart.
Leonora. Alas! my lord, we are too delicate;
And when we grasp the happiness we wish'd,
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.
Carlos. 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.-
I pray, my lord, no more.
Carlos. 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 heav'n :
What is my guilt, that makes me so with you?
Have I not languish'd prostrate at thy feet?
Have I not liv'd whole days upon thy sight?
Have I not seen thee where thou hast not been,
And mad with the idea, clasp'd the wind,
And doated upon nothing?
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, prais'd 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.
Carlos. Must I then despair? Do not shake me thus ; My tempest-beaten heart is cold to death :
Ah! turn, and let me warm me in thy beauties.
Heav'ns! what a proof I gave, but two nights past,
Of matchless love! To fling me at thy feet,
I slighted friendship, and I flew from fame;
Nor heard the summons of the next day's battle :
But darting headlong to thy arms, I left
The promis'd fight; I left Alonzo too,
To stand the war, and quell a world alone.
Leonora. The victor comes. My lord, I must with
Carlos. And must you go ?
Leonora. Why should you wish my 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.
Carlos. Sure there's no peril, but in love. O how My foes would boast to see me look so pale!
Carlos !-I am whole again :
Claspt in thy arms, it makes my heart entire.
Carlos. Whom dare I thus embrace? The conqueror of Africk?
Alonzo. 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 virtue to come nearer thee:
I conquer with Don Carlos in my eye;
And thus I claim my victory's reward. [Embracing him.
Carlos. 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.
Alonzo. 'Twas Carlos conquer'd; 'twas his cruel chains
Inflam'd me to a rage unknown before,
And threw my former actions far behind.
Carlos. 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 tranquility:
But love, like wine, gives a tumultuous bliss,
Heighten❜d indeed beyond all mortal pleasures;
But mingles pangs and madness in the bowl.
Zanga. Manuel, my lord, returning from the port,
On business, both of moment and of haste,
Humbly begs leave to speak in private with you.
Carlos. In private !-Ha-Alonzo, I'll return;
No business can detain me long from thee.
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