ZANGA.

So

Say, did he see, that night, his Leonora?

No, my good lord.

ISABELLA.

ZANGA.

No matter-Tell me, woman,

Is not Alonzo rather brave than cautious;
Honest than subtle; above fraud himself;
Slow therefore to suspect it in another?

ISABELLA.

You can best judge; but so the world thinks of him.

ZANGA

Why that is well- -Go fetch my tablets hither.

[Exit Isabella.

Two nights ago, my father's sacred shade

Thrice stalk'd around my bed, and smil'd upon me; He smil❜d, a joy then little understood→→→→→

It must be so-and if so, it is vengeance

Worth waking of the dead for.

[Re-enter Isabella with the tablets. Zanga writes, then reads as to himself.

Thus it stands

The father's fixt-Don Carlos cannot wed

Alonzo may-but that will hurt his friend

Nor can he ask his leave

He might not gain it—

If he did,

It is hard to give

Our own consent to ills, tho' 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 turn'd o'er the catalogue of 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 damn'd
O jealousy, each other passion's calm

To thee, thou conflagration of the soul!

Thou king of torments! thou grand counterpoize
For all the transports beauty can inspire!

ISABELLA.

Alonzo comes this way.

ZANGA.

Most opportunely.

Withdraw.-Ye subtle Dæmons, which reside

[Exit Isa.

In courts, and do your work with bows and smiles,
That little engin❜ry, more mischievous !okes.
Than fleets and armies, and the cannon's murder,
Teach me to look a lye; give me your maze
Of gloomy thought, and intricate design,
To catch the man I hate, and then devour.

My lord, I give you joy.

ALONZO.

..

[Enter Alonzo.

Of what, good Zanga?

ZANGA.

Is not the lovely Leonora yours?

ALONZO.

What will become of Carlos?

ZANGA.

He's your friend;

And since he can't espouse the fair himself,
Will take some comfort from Alonzo's fortune.

ALONZO..

Alas! thou little know'st the force of love;
Love reigns a sultan with unrivall'd 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.

ZANGA.

You will not wed her then?

ALONZO.

Not instantly:

Insult his broken heart the very moment!

ZANGA.

I understand you; But you'll wed hereafter,
When your friend's gone, and his first pain assuag'd?

ALONZO.

Am I to blame for that?

ZANGA.

My lord I love

Your very errors; they are born from virtue:

Your friendship (and what nobler passion claims
The heart?) does lead your blindness 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-morrow May see Alonzo in Don Carlos' fortune;

A higher bidder is a better friend;

And there are princes sigh for Leonora.

When your friend's gone, you'll wed; why then the

cause,

Which gives you Leonora now, will cease.

Carlos has lost her; should you lose her too,
Why then you heap new torments on your friend,
By that respect which labour'd to relieve him.-
'Tis well; he is disturb'd; it makes him pause. [Aside.

ALONZO.

Think'st thou, my Zanga, should I ask Don Carlos, His goodness will consent that I should wed her?

ZANGA.

I know it would.

ALONZO.

But then the cruelty

To ask it; and for me to ask it of him!

ZANGA.

Methinks, you are severe upon your friend:
Who was it gave him liberty and life?

ALONZO.

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.

ZANGA.

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,

Clear'd from those errors, which, tho' caus'd by virtue,

Are such as may hereafter give you pain.

Don Lopez of Castile would not demur thus.

ALONZO.

Perish the name! What! sacrifice the fair
Το age and illness, 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 shunn'd it, as too terrible to bear:

How shall I bear it now? I'm struck already.

ZANGA.

Half my work is done. I must secure

Don Carlos, ere Alonzo speaks with him.

[Exit Al.

[He gives a message to a servant, then returns.

Proud, hated Spain ! oft drench'd in Moorish blood;

Dost thou not feel a deadly foe within thee?

Shake not thy tow'rs where'er I

pass along,

Conscious of ruin, and their great destroyer?