Felt for so small a failure, is one merit

Which faultless virtue wants. The crime was mine,
Who plac'd thee there, where only thou could'st 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.

Alonzo. You cast in shades the failures of a friend,
And soften all; but think not you deceive me :
I know my guilt; and I implore your pardon,
As the sole glimpse I can obtain of peace.

Carlos. Pardon for him who, but this morning, threw Fair Leonora from his heart, all bath'd

In ceaseless tears, and blushing with her love?
Who, like a rose-leaf, wet with morning dew,
Would have stuck close, and clung forever there?
But 'twas in thee, through fondness to thy friend,
To shut thy bosom against ecstacies;

For which, whilst this pulse beats, it beats to thee;
While this blood flows, it flows for my Alonzo ;
And every wish is levell'd at thy joy.

Zanga. [To Alonzo.] My lord, my lord, this is your time to speak.

Alonzo. [To Zanga.] 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.

Carlos. [aside.] Now, now it comes! they are con certing it';

The first word strikes me dead-O 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..

Alonzo. [To Zanga.] Do I not see him quite possess'd 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 farewel :
I have no other love but Carlos now.

Carlos. Alas, my friend! why, with such eager grasps,

Dost press my hand, and weep upon my cheek?

Alonzo. If, after death, our forms (as some believe) Shall be transparent, naked ev'ry thought,

And friends meet friends, and read each other's hearts, Thou'lt know, one day, that thou wast held most dear. Farewel.

Carlos. 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 ?

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.

[aside.

Alonzo. There, there it is, my friend; it cuts me there.

How dreadful is it, to a generous mind,

To ask, when sure it cannot be deny'd!

Carlos. How greatly thought! In all he tow'rs above

me.

Then you confess you would ask something of me.

Alonzo. No, on my soul.

Zanga. [To Alonzo.]

Carlos.

[aside.

Then lose her.

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 can't want strength. Great actions, once conceiv'd, 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.

Alonzo. What means my Carlos?

Carlos.

Pray observe me well:

Fate and Alvarez tore her from my heart;

And, plucking up my love, they had well nigh
Pluck'd up life too; for they were twin'd together:
Of that no more-What now does reason bid?
I cannot wed-Farewel my happiness;
But, O my soul! with care provide for her's:
In life, how weak! how helpless is a woman!
Soon hurt, in happiness itself unsafe,

And often wounded, while she plucks the rose;
So properly the object of affliction,

That heav'n is pleas'd 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 gav'st me
As little things, as essays of thy goodness,
And rudiments of friendship so divine.

Alonzo. There is grandeur in thy goodness to me,
Which with thy foes would render thee ador'd:
But have a care; nor think I can be pleas'd
With any thing that lays in pains for thee:
Thou dost dissemble, and thy heart's in tears.

Carlos. My heart's in health, my spirits dance their round,

And at my eye pleasure looks out in smiles.

Alonzo. And canst thou, canst thou part with Leonora ? Carlos. I do not part with her; I give her thee. Alonzo. O Carlos!

Carlos. Don't distrust 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.
Alonzo. 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.

Zanga [aside.] Thus far success has crown'd my boldest hope:

My next care is to hasten these new nuptials;

And then my master-works begin to play.

Why that was greatly done, without one sigh [To Carlos. To carry such a glory to its period.

Carles. Too soon thou praisest me. He's gone; and

now

I must unsluice my over burden'd 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'erswell all bounds, and bear e'en life away:
So, till the day was won, the Greek renown'd,
With anguish wore the arrow in his wound;
Then drew the shaft from out his tortur'd side,
Let gush the torrent of his blood, and dy'd. [Exeunt.

АСТ III.

SCENE I.

Enter ZANGA and ISABELLA.

Zanga. 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 ev❜n by me unenvy'd; for be sure

It is thy last; thy last smile, that which now
Sits on thy cheek; enjoy it whilst thou may'st ;
Anguish, and groans, and death, bespeak to-morrow.
My Isabella!

Isabella. What commands my Moor?
Zanga. My fair ally! my lovely minister!
'Twas well Alvarez, by my arts impell'd,
(To plunge Don Carlos in the last despair,
And so prevent all future molestation)
Finish'd the nuptials soon as he resolv'd them ;
This conduct ripen'd all for me, and ruin.
Scarce had the priest the holy rite perform❜d,
When I, by sacred inspiration, forg'd
That letter, which I trusted to thy hand;
That letter, which, in glowing terms, conveys,
From happy Carlos to fair Leonora,

The most profound acknowledgment of heart
For wond'rous transports, which he never knew.
This is a good subservient artifice,

To aid the nobler workings of my brain.

Isabella. I quickly dropt it in the bride's apartment, As you commanded.