His last breath blest Alonzo, and desired Alon. Oh, Zanga! Zanga! But I'll not think: for I must act, and thinking On any great surprise, but chiefly then But such the honest artifice I used, And such her ardent wish it should be true, Alon. 'Twas well she was. In our late interview, My passion so far threw me from my guard, Thus I've ordained it. In the jasmine bower, Sisters of Acheron, go hand in hand; How shudders every leaf without a wind! [He advances.] The day's uncommon heat has overcome her. My own life-blood will issue at her wound. [Going, he starts back. Ha! smile again. She dreams of him she loves. Curse on her charms! I'll stab her through them all. [As he is going to strike, she wakes. Leon. My lord, your stay was long, and yonder lull Of falling waters tempted me to rest, Alon. Ye powers, with what an eye she mends the day! While they were closed, I should have given the blow. [Aside. Oh, for a last embrace! and then for justice: Thus, Heaven and I shall both be satisfied. Leon. What says my lord! Alon. Why this Alonzo says; If love were endless, men were gods; 'tis that Does counterbalance travel, danger, pain— 'Tis Heaven's expedient to make mortals bear The light, and cheat them of the peaceful grave. Leon, Alas, my lord! why talk you of the grave? Your friend is dead: in friendship you sustain A mighty loss; repair it with my love. Alon. Thy love, thou piece of witchcraft! I would say, Thou brightest angel! I could gaze for ever. Where hadst thou this, enchantress, tell me where, Which, with a touch, works miracles, boils up My blood to tumults, and turns round my brain? Even now thou swim'st before me. I shall lose thee No, I will make thee sure, and clasp thee all. Who turned this slender waist with so much art, And shut perfection in so small a ring? For ever, and for ever finds new charms? But oh, those eyes! those murderers! Oh whence, Whence didst thou steal their burning orbs? Thou didst: and 'tis religion to adore them. [Drops the dagger, and goes off. Leon. Ha, a dagger! What dost thou say, thou minister of death? What dreadful tale dost tell me?Let me think Enter ZANGA. Zan. Death to my towering hopes! Oh, fall from high! My close, long-laboured scheme at once is blasted. Where can I fix?-That's something still-'twill breed Fell rage and bitterness betwixt their souls, Which may, perchance, grow up to greater evil: If not, 'tis all I can-It shall be so. [Aside. Leon. Oh, Zanga, I am sinking in my fears! Alonzo dropped this dagger as he left me, And left me in a strange disorder too. What can this mean? Angels preserve his life! Zan, Yours, madam, yours. Leon. What, Zanga, dost thou say? Zan. Carry you goodness, then, to such extremes, So blinded to the faults of him you love, And yet a thousand things recur that swear it. Zan. Some villain, who, hell knows; but he is jealous; And 'tis most fit a heart so pure as yours Un kind, Ungenerous, groundless, weak, and insolent! Why, wherefore, and what shadow of occasion? 'Tis fascination, 'tis the wrath of Heaven For the collected crimes of all his race. Oh, how the great man lessens to my thought! How could so mean a vice as jealousy, Unnatural child of ignorance and guilt, Which tears and feeds upon its parent's heart, Live in a throng of such exalted virtues? But Heaven itself did hold my hand; I felt it, Alon. Perdition on thee, Moor, For that one word! Ah, do not rouse, that thought! I have o'erwhelmed it as much as possible: Enter LEONORA. [Exit ZAN. Oh, seen for ever, yet for ever new! Leon. Alas, my lord, Alon. If love is thy concern, Thou hast no cause: none ever loved like me, But wherefore this? Is it to break my heart, Which loses so much blood for every tear? Leon. Is it so tender? Alon. Is it not? Oh, Heaven! Could this man e'er design upon my Alon. Ha, my dagger! It rouses horrid images. Away, Alon. Let's talk of love. Stab me, then think it much to hear my groan! Alon. Heaven strike me deaf! Leon. It well may sting you home. By my best hopes, more welcome than thy own. Alon. Alas, thou quite mistak'st my cause of That thou shouldst dare to dash it in my face? pain! Yet, yet dismiss me; I am all in flames. Leon. Who has most cause, you or myself? What act Of my whole life encouraged you to this? From our own hearts; and is yours then so frail, But, by the pangs I suffer, to thy woe: For, since thou hast replunged me in my torture, I will be satisfied. man, Weak and assured at once! thus 'tis for ever. Leon. This to my face! Oh, Heaven! Leon. Thou art not in earnest ? Alon. Serious as death. Leon. Then Heaven have mercy on thee! Till now, I struggled not to think it true; I shunned conviction, and would not believe it. And dost thou force me? This shall not be borne; Thou shalt repent this insult. Alon. Madam, stay. [Going. Your passion's wise: 'tis a disguise for guilt: 'Tis my turn now to fix you here awhile; You and your thousand arts shall not escape me. Nature is sick of thee, abandoned woman! Leon. Repent. Alon. Is that for me? Leon. Fall, ask my pardon. Alon, Astonishment! Leon. Dars't thou persist to think I am dishonest? Alon. I know thee so. Leon. This blow, then, to thy heart [She stabs herself, he endeavours to prevent her, Alon. Hoa, Zanga! Isabella! hoa! she bleeds! Descend, ye blessed angels, to assist her! Leon. This is the only way that I would wound thee, Though most unjust. Now think me guilty still. Enter ISABELLA, Alon. Bear her to instant help! The world to save her! Leon. Unhappy man! well may'st thou gaze and tremble: But fix thy terror and amazement right; When thou hast censured, thou wouldst save her life; Oh, inconsistent! Should I live in shame, While aught but truth could be my inducement SCENE III, Enter ZANGA. Zan. How stands the great account 'twixt me and vengeance? Though much is paid, yet still it owes me much, Ha! that were well-but that were fatal too- Come, death, come, hell, then! 'tis resolved, 'tis done. Enter ISABELLA. Isa. Ah, Zanga, see me tremble! Has not yet Thy cruel heart its fill? Poor LeonoraZun. Welters in blood, and gasps for her last breath. What then? We all must die. Isa. Alonzo raves, And, in the tempest of his grief, has thrice Attempted on his life. At length disarmed, He calls his friends that save him his worst foes, And importunes the skies for swift perdition. Thus in his storm of sorrow. After a pause, He started up, and called aloud for Zanga, For Zanga raved; and see, he seeks you here, To learn the truth which most he dreads to know. Zan. Begone.-Now, now, my soul, consummate all ! [Exit ISAB. Let Afric and her hundred thrones rejoice: Alon. Inhuman slave! Zan. Fallen Christian, thou mistakʼst my cha racter. Look on me. Who am I? I know, thou sayst, Less to expose me to the ambitious foe.- Complain of grief-complain thou art a man.Priam from Fortune's lofty summit fell; Great Alexander 'midst his conquests mourned; Heroes and demi-gods have known their sor rows; Cæsars have wept; and I have had my blow: Whose native country thou hast laid in blood; If cold white mortals censure this great deed, As he is going to stab himself, ALONZO rushes upon him to prevent him. In the mean time, enter Don ALVAREZ, attended. They disarm and seize ZANGA. ALONZO puts the dagger in his bosom. But these are foreign to the soul: not mine Zun. While I live, old man, I'll speak: Alon. Who called Alonzo? Alon. Again!- 'Tis Carlos' voice, and I obey. Oh, how I laugh at all that this can do! Were given before; I am already dead; [Stabs himself. Afric, thou art revenged.-Oh, Leonora! [Dies. Zan. Good ruffians, give me leave; my blood is yours, The wheel's prepared, and you shall have it all. [He goes to ALONZO's body. Is this Alonzo? Where's the haughty mein? Is that the hand which smote me? Heavens, how pale! And art thou dead? So is my enmity. I war not with the dust. The great, the proud, Alv. Dreadful effects of jealousy! a rage [Exeunt omnes. EPILOGUE. OUR author sent me, in an humble strain, |