ings!

That thus could melt to see a stranger's wrongs. Alm. Oh, no, thou knowest not half,
Oh, Leonora! hadst thou known Anselmo, Knowest nothing of my sorrows--if thou didst-
How would thy heart have bled to see his suffer- If I should tell thee, wouldst thou pity me?

Tell me; I know thou wouldst; thou art comThou hadst no cause, but general compassion.

passionate. Leon. Love of my royal mistress gave me

Leon. Witness these tears
cause,

Alm. I thank thee, Leonora-
My love of you begot my grief for him; Indeed I do, for pitying thy sad mistress :

For I had heard, that when the chance of war For ’tis, alas! the poor prerogative
· Had blessed Anselmo's arms with victory, Of greatness to be wretched, and unpitied-
And the rich spoil of all the field, and you, But I did promise I would tell thee-What?
The glory of the whole, were made the prey My miseries! Thou dost already know them :
Of his success; that then, in spite of hate, And when I told thee thou didst nothing know,
Revenge, and that hereditary feud

It was because thou didst not know Alphonso: Between Valentia's and Granada's kings, For to have known my loss, thou must have He did endear himself to your affection,

known By all the worthy and indulgent ways

His worth, his truth, and tenderness of love. His most industrious goodness could invent; Leon. The memory of that brave prince stands Proposing, by a match between Alphonso,

fair His son, the brave Valentian prince, and you,

In all report To end the long dissention, and unite

And I have heard imperfectly his loss ; The jarring crowns.

But, fearful to renew your troubles past, Alm. Alphonso ! O Alphonso !

I never did presume to ask the story. Thou too art quiet--long hast been at peace- Alm. If for my swelling heart I can, I'll tell Both, both ! father and son are now no more.

thee. Then why am I? Oh, when shall I have rest? I was a welcome captive in Valentia, Why do I live to say you are no more? Even on the day when Manuel, my father,' Why are all these things thus? Is it of force? Led on his conquering troops high as the gates Is there necessity I must be miserable? Of king Anselmo's palace; which, in rage, Is it of moment to the peace of heaven,

And heat of war, and dire revenge, he fired. That I should be afflicted thus? If not,

The good king, flying to avoid the flames, Why is it thus contrived? Why are things laid Started amidst his foes, and made captivity By soine unseen hand, so, as of sure consequence, His fatal refuge—Would that I had fallen They must to me bring curses, grief of heart, Amidst those fames—but 'twas not so decreed. The last distress of life, and sure despair?! Alphonso, who foresaw my father's cruelty, Leon. Alas! you search too far, and think too Had borne the queen and me on board a ship, deeply.

Ready to sail; and, when this news was brought, Alm. Why was I carried to Anselmo's court? We put to sea; but being betrayed by some Or there, why was I used so tenderly?

Who knew our flight, we closely were pursued Why not ill-treated, like an enemy?

And almost taken; when a sudden storin For so my father would have used his child. Drove us, and those that followed, on the coast Oh, Alphonso, Alphonso !

Of Afric: There our vessel struck the shore, Devouring seas have washed thee from my sight- And, bulging 'gainst a rock, was dashed in pieces; No time shall raze thee from my memory;. But heaven spared me for yet much more afflicNo, I will live to be thy monument :

tion ! The cruel ocean is no more thy tomb,

Conducting them who followed us to shun But in my heart thou art interred; there, there, The shore, and save me floating on the wares, Thy dear resemblance is for ever fixed; While the good queen and my Alphonso perishMy love, my lord, my husband still, though lost.

ed. Leon. Husband! Oh, Heavens !

Leon. Alas! were you then wedded to AlAlm. Alas! what have I said?

phonso ? My grief has hurryed me beyond all thought. Alm. That day, that fatal day, our hands were I would have kept that secret; though I know joined, Thy love, and faith to me deserve all confidence. For when my lord beheld the ship pursuing, But 'tis the wretch's comfort still to have And saw her rate so far exceeding ours, Some sınall reserve of near and, inward woe, He came to me, and begged me by my love, Some unsuspected hoard of darling grief, I would consent the priest should make us one; Which they unseen may wail, and weep, and That, whether death or victory ensued,

I might be his, beyond the power of fate; And, glutton-like, alone devour,

The queen too did assist his suit- granted; Leon. Indeed,

And in one day was wedded and a widow. I knew not this.

Leon. Indeed 'twas mournful

mourn,

Alm. 'Twas as I have told thee

Nor violence-I feel myself more light, For which I mourn, and will for ever mourn; And more at large, since I have made this vow. Nor will I change these black and dismal robes, Perhaps I would repeat it there more solemnly. Or ever dry these swoln and watery eyes, . 'Tis that, or some such melancholy thought; Or ever taste content, or peace of heart, Upon my word, no more. While I have life, and thought of my Alphonso.

Leon. I will attend you. Leon. Look down, good heaven, with pity on

Enter AloxZO. her sorrows, And grant that time may bring her some relief. Alon. The lord Gonsalez comes to tell you Alm. Oh, no! time gives increase to my

afllic

highness, tions.

The king is just arrived. The circling hours, that gather all the woes Alm. Conduct him in.

[Erit Alon. Which are diffused through the revolving year, That's his pretence; his errand is, I know, Come heavy laden with the oppressing weight To fill my ears with Garcia's valiant deeds, To me; with me successively, they leave And gild and magnify his son's exploits. The sighs, the tears, the groans, the restless But I ain armed with ice around my heart, cares,

Not to be warmed with words, or idle eloquence. And all the damps of grief, that did retard their

Enter GONSALEŻ. flight: They shake their downy wings, and scatter all Gon. Be ev'ry day of your long life like this. The dire collected dews on my poor head : The sun, bright conquest, and your brighter eyes, Then fly with joy and swiftness froin me. Tlave all conspired to blaze promiscuous light,

[Shouts at a distance. And bless this day with most unequalled lustre. Leon. Hark!

Your royal father, my victorious lord, The distant shouts proclain your father's triumph. Loaden with spoils, and ever-living laurel, () cease, for heaven's sake, åssuace a little Is entering now, in martial pomp, the palace.

This torrent of your griet; for, this I fear, Five hundred mules precede his solenın march, 'Twill urge his wrath, to see you drowned in tears, Which groan beneath the weight of Moorish When joy appears

in
every
other face.

wealth.
Alm. And joy he brings to every other heart, Chariots of war, adorned with glittering gems,
But double, double weight of woe to mine : Succeed; and next, a hundred neighing steeds,
For with him Garcia coines-Garcia, to whoin White as the fleecy rain on Alpine hills,
I must be sacrificed, and all the vows

That bound and föanı, and champ the golden bit, I gave my dear Alphonso basely broken.

As they disdained the victory they grace. No, it shall never be; for I will die

Prisoners of war in shining fetters follow; First, die ten thousand deatlıs--- Look down, look And captains of the noblest blood of Afric down,

Sweat by his chariot wheel, and lick and grind, Alphonso, hear the sacred vow I unike! [ Kneels. With gnashing teeth, the dust his triumphis raise. One moment, cease to gaze on perfect bliss, The swarming populace spread every wall

, And bend thy glorious eves to earth and me. And cling, as if with claws they did enforce And thou, Anselmo, if yet thou art arrived, Their hold; through clifted stones stretching and Through all impediments of purging fire,

staring, To that bright heaven, where my Alphonso rcigns, As if they were all eyes,

and

every limb Behold thou also, and attend my vow.

Wonld feed its faculty of admiration; If ever I do yield, or give consent,

While you alone retire, and shun this sight; By any action, word, or thought, to wed

This sight, which is indeed not seen (though Another lord, may then just heaven shower down

twice Unheard of curses on me, greater far

The multitude should gaze) in absence of your (If such there be in angry heaven's vengeance)

eyes. Than any I have yet endured! And now ( Rising. Alm. My lord, my eyes ungratefully behold My heart bas some relief; having so well The gilded trophies of exterior honours; Discharged this debt, incuinbent on my love. Nor will my ears be charined with sounding Yet, one thing more I wonld engage from thee.

words, Leon. My heart, my life, and will, are only Or pompous phrase, the pageantry of fools.

But that my father is returned in safety,
Alm. I thank thee. 'Tis but this: anon, when I bend to heaven with thanks.
all

Gon. Excellent princess !
Are wrapped and busied in the general joy, But 'tis a task unfit for my weak age,
Thou wilt withdraw, and privately with me

With dying words to offer at your praise.
Steal forth, to visit good Ansclmo's tomb. Garcia, my son, your beauty's lowest slave,

Leon. Alas! I fear some fatal resolution. llas better done; in proving with his sword
Alm. No, on iny life, my faith, I mean no ill,
VOL. I.

Ff

yours.

a

care,

mony.

ture.

Yet stay,

sure, sir?

The force and influence of your matchless charms. With her rejoicings. What, to mourn and weep!

Alm. I doubt not of the worth of Garcia's deeds, Then, then to weep, and pray, and grieve ! by Which had been brave, though I had ne'er been heaven, born,

There's not a slave, a shackled slave of mine, Leon. Madam, the king. (Flourish. But should have smiled that hour, through all his Alm. My women. I would meet him.

[Attendants to Almeria enter in mourning. And shook his chains, in transport and rude harSymphony of warlike music. Enter the King,

Gon. What she has done, was in excess of attended by Garcia and several officers. Files

goodness; of prisoners in chains, and guards, who are rang-Betrayed by too much piety, to seem ed in order round the stuge. Almeria meets

As it she had offended. --Sure, no more. the King, and kneels: afterwards GONSALEZ

King. To seem is to commit, at this conjunckneels and kisses the King's hand, while Garcia does the same to the princess.

I would not have a seeming sorrow seen King. Almeria, rise-My best Gonsalez, rise. To-day.—Retire; divest yourself with speed What, tears ! my good old friend

Of that offensive black: on me be all Gon. But tears of joy.

The violation of your vow; for you Believe me, sir, to see you thus, has filled It shall be your excuse, that I command it. Mine eyes with more delight than they can hold. Gar. [Kneeling.) Your pardon, sir, if I preKing. By heaven, thou lovest me, and I'm

sume so far,
pleased thou dost;

As to remind you of your gracious promise.
Take it for thanks, old man, that I rejoice King. Rise, Garcia-I forgot.
To see thee weep on this occasion-Some

Almeria.
Here are, who seem to mourn at our success. Alm. My boding heart !-What is your plea-
Why is it, Almeria, that you meet our eyes,
Upon this solemn day, in these sad weeds? King. Draw near, and give your hand, and,
In opposition to my brightness, you

Garcia, yours : And

yours are all like daughters of affliction. Receive this lord, as one whom I have found Alm. Forgive me, sir, if I in this offend. Worthy to be your husband, and my son. The year,

which I have vowed to pay to heaven, Gar. Thus let me kneel to take not to takeIn mourning and strict life, for my deliverance But to devote, and yield myself for ever From wreck and death, wants yet to be expired. The slave and creature of my royal mistress! King. Your zeal to heaven is great, so is your Gon. O let me prostrate pay my worthless debt:

thanks Yet something, too, is due to me, who gave King. No more; my promise long since passThat life, which heaven preserved. A day be- ed, thy services, stowed

And Garcia's well-tried valour, all oblige me. In filial duty, had atoned and given

This day we triumph; but to-morrow's sun, A dispensation to your vow-No more ! Garcia, shall shine to grace thy nuptials'Twas weak and wilful-and a woman's error. Alm. Oh!

(Faints. Yet, upon thought, it doubly wounds my sight, Gar. She faints! Help to support her. To see that sable worn upon the day,

Gon. She recovers. Succeeding that, in which our deadliest foe, King. A fit of bridal fear. How is't, Almeria? Hated Anselmo, was interred-By heaven, Alm. A sudden chillness seizes on my spirits. It looks as thou didst mourn for him! just so Your leave, sir, to retire. Thy senseless vow appeared to bear its date, King. Garcia, conduct her. Not from that hour wherein thou wert preserved, [Garcia leads Almeria to the door, and returns. But that wherein the cursed Alphonso perished. This idle vow hangs on her woman's fears; Ha! What? thou dost not weep to think of that! I'll have a priest shall preach her from her faithi, Gon. Have patience, royal sir; the princess And make it sin, not to renounce that row weeps

Which I'd have broken. Now, what would
To have offended you. If fate decreed,

Alonzo ?
One pointed hour should be Alphonso's loss,
And her deliverance, is she to blame?

Enter ALONZO.
King. I tell thee she's to blame, not to have Alon. Your beauteous captive, Zara, is arrived,
feasted

And with a train as if she still were wife When my first foe was laid in earth, such enmity, To Albucacim, and the Moor had conquered. Such detestation bears my blood to his ;

King. It is our will she should be so attended, My daughter should have revelled at his death, Bear hence these prisoners. Garcia, which is he, She should have made these palace walls to shakc, Of whose mute valour you relate such wonders? And all this high and ample roof to ring

[Prisoners led off

1

pose him.

eyes,

Osmyn.

Gar.Osmyn, who led the Moorish horse; but he, And, by releasing you, enslave myself. Great sir, at her request, attends on Zara. Zura. Such favours, so conferred, though when King. He is your prisoner; as you please dis- unsought,

Deserve acknowledgment from noble minds.. Gar. I would oblige him, but he shuns my Such thanks, as one hating to be obligedkindness;

Yet hating more ingratitude, can pay,
And with a haughty mien, and stern civility, I offer.
Dumbly declines all offers. If he speak,

King. Born to excel, and to command ! 'Tis scarce above a word; as he were born As by transcendent beauty to attract Alone to do, and did disdain to talk;

All eyes; so, by pre-eminence of soul, At least to talk where he must not command. To rule all hearts !

King. Such sullenness, and in a nan so brave, Garcia, what's he, who, with contracted brow, Must have some other cause than his captivity.

[Beholding Osmyn, as they unbind him. Did Zara, then, request he might attend her? And sullen port, glooms downwards with his Gar. My lord, she did.

At once regardless of his chains, or liberty? King. That, joined with his behaviour,

Gar. That, sir, is he of whom I spoke; that's Begets a doubt. I'd have them watched; perhaps

King. He answers well the character you gave Her chains hang heavier on bim than his own.

him.

Whence comes it, valiant Osmyn, that a man Enter Alonzo, Zara, and Osmyn bound, con- So great in arms, as thou art said to be, ducted by Perez und a guard, and attended so hardly can endure captivity, by Selts and several mutes and eunuchs in a The common chance of war? train.

Osm. Because captivity King: What welcome, and what honours, Has robbed me of a dear and just revenge. beauteous Zara,

King. I understand not that. A king and conqueror can give, are yours.

Osm. I would not have you. A conqueror indeed, where you are won;

Zara. That gallant Moor in battle lost a friend, Who with such lustre strike admiring eyes, Whom more than life he loved; and the regret, That bad our pomp been with your presence Of not revenging on his foes that loss, graced,

Has caused this melancholy and despair. The expecting crowd had been deceived; and seen King. She does excuse him; 'tis as I suspected. The monarch enter, not triumphant, but,

[To Gon. In pleasing triumph led, your beauty's slave. Gon. That friend might be herself; seem not Zara, If I on any terms could condescend

to heed To like captivity, or think those honours, His arrogant reply: she looks concerned. Which conquerors in courtesy bestow,

King. I'll have enquiry made · perhaps his Of equal value with unborrowed rule

friend And native right to arbitrary sway,

Yet lives, and is a prisoner. Ilis name?
I might be pleased, when I beheld this train Zara. Ileli.
With usual homage wait: but when I feel

King. Garcia, that search shall be your care :
These bonds, I look with loathing on myself, It shall be mine to pay devotion here;
And scorn vile slavery, though doubly hid At this fair shrine to lay my laurels down,
Beneath mock praises, and dissembled state. And raise love's altar on the spoils of war.
King. Those bonds! 'Twas my command you Conquest and triumph, now, are mine no more;
should be free.

Nor will I victory in camps adore : Ilow durst you, Perez, disobey?

For, lingering there, in long suspence she stands, Per. Great sir,

Shifting the prize in unresolving hands; Your order was she should not wait your triumph, Unused to wait, I broke through her delay, But at some distance follow, thus attended. Fixed her by force, and snatched the doubtful hing. 'Tis false ; 'twas more; I bid she should day. be free;

Now late I find that war is but her sport;
If not in words, I bid it by my eyes.

In love the goddess keeps her awful court;
Hler eyes did more than bid—Free her and her's, Fickle in fields, unsteadily she tries,
With speed--yet stay—my hands alone can make But rules with settled sway in Zara's eyes.
Fit restitution here. Thus I release you,

[Ereunt.

a

ACT II.

strike me,

а

a

cause,

SCENE I.-— Representing the Aisle of a Temple. Whistling through hollows of this vaulted aisle.

We'll listen-
GARCIA, HELI, PEREZ.

Leon, Hark! Gar. This way, we're told, Osmyn was seen Alm. No, all is hushed, and still as death—'tis to walk;

dreadful ! Chusing this lonely mansion of the dead, How reverend is the face of this tall pile, To mourn, brave Heli, thy mistaken fate. Whose ancient pillars rear their marble heads, Heli. Let Heaven with thunder to the centre To bear aloft its arched and ponderous roof,

By its own weight made stedfast and immoveable, If to arise in very deed from death,

Looking tranquillity. It strikes an awe And to revisit, with my long-closed eyes, And terror on my aching sight; the tombs This living light, could to my soul or sense And monumental caves of death look cold, Afford a thought, or shew a glimpse of joy, And shoot a chillness to my trembling heart. In least proportion to the vast delight

Give me thy hand, and let me hear thy voice ; I feel, to hear of Osmyn's name; to hear Nay, quickly speak to me, and let me hear That Osmyn lives, and I again shall see him. Thy voice--my own affrights me with its echoes. Gar. I've heard, with admiration, of your Leon. Let us return; the horror of this place, friendship.

And silence, will encrease your melancholy. Per. Yonder, my lord, behold the noble Moor. Alm. It may my fears, but cannot add to that. Hel. Where? Where?

No, I will on; shew me Anselmo's tomb, Gar. I saw him not, nor any like him- Lead me o'er bones and skulls, and mouldering

Per. I saw him when I spoke, thwarting my view, earth, And striding with distempered haste; his eyes Of human bodies; for I'll mix with them, Seemed flame, and fashed upon me with a glance; Or wind me in the shroud of some pale corpse, Then forward shot their fires which he pursued, Yet green in earth, rather than be the bride As to some object frightful, yet not feared. Of Garcia's more detested bed : that thought Gar. Let's haste to follow him, and know the Exerts my spirits, and my present fears

Are lost in dread of greater ill. Then shew me, Hel. My lord, let me intreat you to forbear: Lead me, for I am bolder grown : lead me Leave me alone, to find and cure the cause. Where I may kncel, and pay my vows again, I know his melancholy, and such starts

To him, to Ileaven, and my Alphonso's soul. Are usual to his temper. It might raise him Leon. I go; but Heaven can tell with what reTo act some violence upon himself,

gret.

(Eseunt. So to be caught in an unguarded hour, And when his soul gives all her passion way,

Enter HELI, Secure and loose in friendly solitude.

Heli. I wander through this maze of monuI know his noble heart would burst with shame,

ments, To be surprised by strangers in its frailty. Yet cannot find him, Hark! sure 'tis the voice

Gar. Go, generous Heli, and relieve your friend. Of one complaining- There it sounds!—I'll folFar be it from me officiously to pry

[Erit. Or press upon the privacies of others.

[Erit Heli, SCENE II.- Opening, discovers a place of Tombs: Perez, the king expects, from our return,

one Monument, fronting the view, grealer thur To have his jealousy confirmed, or cleared,

the rest. Of that appearing love which Zara bears ļo Osmyn; but some other opportunity

Enter Aumenia and LEONORA. Must make that plain.

Leon. Behold the sacred vault, within whose Per. To me 'twas long since plain),

womb And every look from hini and her confirms it, The poor remains of good Anselmo rest,

Gar. If so, unhappiness attends their love, Yet fresh and unconsumed by time or worms. And I could pity them. Thear some coming. What do I see? Oh, Heaven! either my eyes The friends, perhaps, are met; let us avoid them. Are false, or still the marble door remains

[Exeunt. Unclosed; the iron gates, that lead to death

Beneath, are still wide stretched upon their hinge, Enter ALMERIA und LEONORA.

And staring on us with unfolded leaves ! Alm. It was a fancied noise, for all is hushed. Alm. Sure 'tis the friendly yawn of death for Leon. It bore the accent of a human voice.

me; Alm. It was thy fear, or else some transient And that dumb mouth, significant in show, wind

Invites ine to the bed, where I alone

low it.

a