The modest zone, with which it first was ty'd,

Each man she meets will be a Carlos to her.

Alonzo. That thought has more of hell than had the former;

Another, and another, and another!

And each shall cast a smile upon my tomb!

I

am convinc'd ; I must not, will not, die.

Zanga. You cannot die; nor can you murder her. What then remains? In nature no third way,

But to forget, and so to love again.

Alonzo.

Zanga. If

Oh !

you forgive, the world will call you Good:

If you forget, the world will call you Wise;

If you receive her to your grace again,

The world will call you very, very kind.

Alonzo. Zanga, I understand thee well. She dies; Tho' my arm tremble at the stroke, she dies.

Zanga. That's truly great.

set up

What think you 'twas

The Greek and Roman name in such a lustre,
But doing right in stern despite to nature,
Shutting their ears to all her little cries,

When great, august, and godlike justice call'd ?
At Aulis, one pour'd out a daughter's life,
And gain'd more glory than by all his wars;
Another slew a sister in just rage;

A third, the theme of all succeeding times,
Gave to the cruel axe a darling son :
Nay more, for justice some devote themselves,
As he at Carthage, an immortal name !
Yet there is one step left above 'em all,
Above their history, above their fable.

A wife, bride, mistress, unenjoy'd-Do That

And tread upon the Greek and Roman glory.

Alonzo. 'Tis done-again new transports fire my brain;

I had forgot it; 'tis my bridal night:

Friend, give me joy; we must be gay together:

See that the festival be duly honour'd.

And when with garlands the full bowl is crown'd,
And music gives her elevating sound,
And golden carpets spread the sacred floor,
And a new day the blazing tapers pour,
Thou, Zanga, then my solemn friends invite,
From the dark realms of everlasting night;
Call vengeance, call the furies, call despair;
And death, our chief invited guest, be there;
He, with pale hand, shall lead the bride, and spread
Eternal curtains round our nuptial-bed.

[Exeunt.

А СТ V.

SCENE I.

Enter ALONZO.

Alonzo. O PITIFUL! O terrible to sight!
Poor mangled shade, all cover'd o'er with wounds,
And so disguis'd with blood! who murder'd thee?
Tell thy sad tale, and thou shalt be reveng'd.
Ha! Carlos ?-Horror! Carlos ?-O, away!
Go to thy grave, or let me sink to mine.

I cannot bear the sight-What sight ?-Where am I ?
There's nothing here-If this was fancy's work,
She draws a picture strongly.-

Zanga.

Enter ZANGA.

Ha! You're pale.

I obey'd your order.

Alonzo. Is Carlos murder'd?

Zanga.

Six ruffians overtook him on the road;

He fought as he was wont, and four he slew;
Then sunk beneath an hundred wounds to death:

His last breath blest Alonzo, and desir'd

His bones might rest near yours.

Alonzo.
O Zanga! Zanga!
But I'll not think; for I must act; and thinking
Would ruin me for action. O the medley

Of right and wrong! the chaos in my brain!
He should, and should not die-You should obey,
And not obey-It is a day of darkness,
Of contradictions, and of many deaths.
Where's Leonora then? Quick answer me ;
I'm deep in horrors; I'll be deeper still.-
I find thy artifice did take effect,

And she forgives my late deportment to her.

Zanga. I told her, from your childhood you was wont, On any great surprise, but chiefly then,

When cause of sorrow bore it

company,

To have your passion shake the seat of reason;
A momentary ill, which soon blew o'er :
Then did I tell her of Don Carlos' death;
(Wisely suppressing by what means he fell)
And laid the blame on that.

At first she doubted;

But such the honest artifice I us'd,

And such her ardent wish it should be true,

That she, at length, was fully satisfy'd.

Alonzo. 'Twas well she was. In our late interview, My passion so far threw me from my guard, (Methinks 'tis strange !) that conscious of her guilt, She saw not, thro' its thin disguise, my heart. Zanga. But what design you, Sir; and how? Alonzo.

I'll tell thee.

Thus I've ordain'd it: In the jess'min bow'r,
The place which she dishonour'd with her guilt,
There will I meet her the appointment's made;
And calmly spread (for I can do it now)

The blackness of her crime before her sight;
And then, with all the cool solemnity

Of public justice, give her to the grave.

[Exit.

Zanga. Why, get thee gone! Horror and night go

with thee!

Sisters of Acheron, go hand in hand;

Go dance around the bow'r, and close them in ;
And tell them, that I sent you to salute them!
Prophane the ground; and for th' ambrosial rose,
And breath of jess'min, let hemlock blacken,
And deadly night-shade poison all the air!
For the sweet nightingale, may ravens croak,
Toads pant, and adders rustle thro' the leaves;
May serpents winding up the trees, let fall
Their hissing necks upon them from above,
And mingle kisses-such as I should give them! [Exit.
SCENE, The Bower.

LEONORA sleeping. Enter ALONZO.

Alonzo. Ye amaranths! ye roses, like the morn!

Sweet myrtles, and ye golden orange-groves!
Why do you smile? Why do you look so fair?
Are you not blasted as I enter in ?

Yes; see how every flow'r lets fall its head!
How shudders every leaf without a wind!
How every green is as the ivy pale!

Did ever midnight ghosts assemble here?
Have these sweet echoes ever learnt to groan?
Joy-giving, love-inspiring, holy bow'r !
Know, in thy fragrant bosom, thou receiv'st
A-murderer: O! I shall stain thy lilies,
And horror will usurp the seat of bliss.
So Lucifer broke into Paradise,

And soon damnation follow'd. [He advances.] Ha! she sleeps-

The day's uncommon heat has overcome her:
Then take, my longing eyes, your last full gaze.
O, what a sight is here! How dreadful fair!
Who would not think that being innocent?

Where shall I strike? who strikes her, strikes himself.
My own life-blood will issue at her wound.

my

distracted heart !-O cruel heav'n!

To give such charms as those, and then call man,
Mere man, to be your executioner.

Was it because it was too hard for you ?

But see, she smiles! I never shall smile more;
It strongly tempts me to a parting kiss.

[Going, he starts back. Ha smile again! She dreams of him she loves : Curse on her charms! I'll stab her thro' them all.

[As he is going to strike, she wakes. Leonora. My lord, your stay was long; and yonder lull

Of falling waters tempted me to rest,
Dispirited with noon's excessive heat.

Alonzo. Ye pow'rs, with what an eye she mends the day! While they were clos'd, I should have giv'n the blow.

O for a last embrace! and then for justice:
Thus heav'n and I shall both be satisfy'd.

[Aside.