Presently Zara comes, veiled, to the prison, and for a moment is mistaken for Almeria. The generosity within her passionate nature, and a perception that Osmyn's imprisonment withholds him from some work that he aspires to do, make her resolve to free him. She returns after a time with the king's signet, which she will use as warrant for setting Osmyn free; but comes, when Almeria is with him. Then her anger rises to its highest; she warns the guards that the public safety requires his strictest imprisonment; that none, no, not the princess, shall be suffered to see or speak with him; and leaves him at the close of the Act with the warning that

Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned,

Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned.

The scene of the Fourth Act is a room of state in the palace. This is the first dialogue :

ZARA and SELIM.

Zara. Thou hast already racked me with thy stay,
Therefore require me not to ask thee twice;
Reply at once to all. What is concluded?

Sel. Your accusation highly has incensed
The king, and were alone enough to urge
The fate of Osmyn; but to that, fresh news
Is since arrived of more revolted troops.
'Tis certain Heli too is fled, and with him
(Which breeds amazement and distraction) some
Who bore high offices of weight and trust,
Both in the state and army. This confirms
The king, in full belief of all you told him
Concerning Osmyn and his correspondence
With them who first began the mutiny.
Wherefore a warrant for his death is signed,
And order given for public execution.

Zara. Ha! haste thee! fly! prevent his fate and mine;

Find out the king, tell him I have of weight

More than his crown to impart ere Osmyn die.

Sel. t needs not, for the king will straight be here,
And as to your revenge, not his own interest,
Pretend to sacrifice the life of Osmyn.

Zara. What shall I say? Invent, contrive, advise,
Somewhat to blind the king, and save his life
In whom I live. Spite of my rage and pride,
I am a woman, and a lover still.

Oh, 'tis more grief but to suppose his death
Than still to meet the rigour of his scorn.
From my despair my anger had its source;
When he is dead I must despair for ever.
For ever! that's despair-it was distrust
Before; distrust will ever be in love,
And anger in distrust, both short-lived pains.
But in despair, and ever-during death,
No term, no bound, but infinite of woe.

O torment, but to think! what then to bear!
Not to be borne.--Devise the means to shur. it,
Quick, or by Heaven this dagger drinks thy blood!
Sel. My life is yours, nor wish I to preserve it,
But to serve you. I have already thought.
Zara. Forgive my rage; I know thy love and truth.
But say, what's to be done? or when, or how,
Shall I prevent, or stop the approaching danger?
Sel. You must still seem more resolute and ixed
On Osmyn's death; too quick a change of mercy

Advise

Might breed suspicion of the cause.
That execution may be done in private.
Zara. On what pretence?

sel.
Your own request's enough.
However, for a colour, tell him, you
Have cause to fear his guards may be corrupted,
And some of them bought off to Osmyn's interest,
Who, at the place of execution, will
Attempt to force his way for an escape.

The state of things will countenance all suspicions.
Then offer to the king to have him strangled

In secret by your mutes, and get an order

That none but mutes may have admittance to him.
I can no more, the king is here. Obtain

This grant--and I'll acquaint you with the rest.

Manuel hears from Gonsalez that papers have been found leading to the belief that Alphonso is alive and arming in Valentia. He adds rumour of his having been saved upon the coast of Africa. Zara, hearing this, at once suspects that Osmyn is Alphonso,

( Heaven! a thousand things occur at once
To my remembrance now, that make it plain.
O certain death for him, as sure despair
For me, if it be known!-if not, what hope
Have IP Yet 'twere the lowest baseness, now
To yield him up.-No, I will still conceal him,
And try the force of yet more obligations.

Gon. [Aside.] That interdiction so particular, Pronounced with vehemence against the princess,

Should have more meaning than appears barefaced:

The king is blinded by his love, and heeds

It not. [To ZARA.] Your majesty sure might have spared That last restraint; you hardly can suspect

The princess is confederate with the Moor.

Zara. I've heard her charity did once extend

So far, to visit him, at his request.
Gon. Ha!

Man. How? she visit Osmyn! What, my daughter?
Sel. Madam, take heed; or you have ruined all.

Zara. And after did solicit you on his

Behalf.

[Aside to ZARA.

Man. Never. You have been misinformed. Zara. Indeed? Then 'twas a whisper spread by some, Who wished it so; a common art in courts.

I will retire, and instantly prepare

Instructions for my ministers of death.

Gonsalez suggests to King Manuel doubts arising from the fitful action ara, and the king has

conjured up a doubt of his own, that if Almeria visited Osmyn in his prison she must be in the plot against him. Almeria is seen coming, and Gonsalez

suggests

If what I fear be true, she 'll be concerned
For Osmyn's death, as she 's Alphonso's friend.
Urge that, to try if she 'll solicit for him.

In the next scene the distress of Almeria, and the misapprehending of her father's words—

I'm not to learn that cursed Alphonso lives;
Nor am I ignorant what Osmyn is,

cause her to become herself unconsciously the betrayer of her husband's secret. The king believes her to be raving; but after he has left her, the truth is in other words more clearly repeated by her, and becomes known to Gonsalez, who for his son's sake, that Garcia may yet wed Almeria, resolves not to tell the king.

If I should tell the king—

Things come to this extremity: his daughter
Wedded already-what if he should yield?
Knowing no remedy for what is past,

And urged by nature pleading for his child,
With which he seems to be already shaken.
And though I know he hates beyond the grave
Anselmo's race; yet if-that If concludes me.
To doubt, when I may be assured, is folly.
But how prevent the captive queen, who means
To set him free? Ay, now 'tis plain; oh, well
Invented tale! He was Alphonso's friend.
This subtle woman will amuse the king
If I delay. Twill do or better so.-
One to my wish.-Alonzo, thou art welcome.

I've seen thy sword do noble execution.

Alon. All that it can, your lordship shall command.
Gon. Thanks; and I take thee at thy word; thou'st seen
Among the followers of the captive queen,

Dumb men, who make their meaning known by signs?
Alon. I have, my lord.
Gon.

Couldst thou procure with speed And privacy, the wearing garb of one

Of those, though purchased by his death, I'd give
Thee such reward as should exceed thy wish.
Alon. Conclude it done.

ship?

Where shall I wait your lord

[4 Mute appears, and seeing the King retires. Ha! stop, and seize that mute; Alonzo, follow him. Entering he met my eyes, and started back, Frighted, and fumbling one hand in his bosom, As to conceal the importance of his errand.

[ALONZO follows him, and returns with a paper. Alon. Oh, bloody proof of obstinate fidelity! Man. What dost thou mean? Alon. Soon as I seized the man, He snatched from out his bosom this, and strove, With rash and greedy haste, at once to cram The morsel down his throat. I catched his arm, And hardly wrenched his hand to wring it from him; Which done, he drew his poniard from his side, And on the instant plunged it in his breast.

Man. Remove the body thence ere Zara see it. Alon. [Aside.] I'll be so bold to borrow his attire; "Twill quit me of my promise to Gonsalez.

Into how poor a thing a king descends,
How like thyself, when passion treads him down?
Ha! stir not, on thy life! for thou wert fixed
And planted here to see me gorge this bait,
And lash against the hook.-By Heaven, you're all
Rank traitors! thou art with the rest combined;
Thou knew'st that Osmyn was Alphonso, knew'st
My daughter privately with him conferred;
And wert the spy and pander to their meeting.
Per. By all that's holy, I'm amazed-
Man.

Thou liest!

Man. [Reading.] And still will I set
Thee free, Alphonso.-Hell! cursed, cursed Alphonso!
False and perfidious Zara! Strumpet daughter!
Away, begone, thou feeble boy, fond love!
All nature, softness, pity and compassion!
This hour I throw ye off, and entertain
Fell hate within my breast, revenge and gall.

By Heaven, I'll meet and counterwork this treachery!
Hark thee, villain, traitor-answer me, slave!

Per. My service has not merited those titles.
Man. Darest thou reply? take that-thy service? thine?
[Strikes him.

What's thy whole life, thy soul, thy all, to my
One moment's ease? Hear my command; and look
That thou obey, or horror on thy head.
Drench me thy dagger in Alphonso's heart:
Why dost thou start? Resolve, or-

Per.
Sir, I will.
Man. 'Tis well-that when she comes to set him free,
His teeth may grin and mock at her remorse.

[PEREZ going.

Stay thee-I've farther thought-I'll add to this,
And give her eyes yet greater disappointment:
When thou hast ended him, bring me his robe;
And let the cell where she 'll expect to see him
Be darkened so as to amuse the sight.
I'll be conducted thither-mark me well-
There with his turbant and his robe arrayed,
And laid along as he now lies supine,

I shall convict her to her face of falsehood.
When for Alphonso's she shall take my hand,
And breathe her sighs upon my lips for his,
Sudden I'll start, and dash her with her guilt.
But see she comes; I'll shun the encounter; thou,
Follow me, and give heed to my direction.

Zara then sees the king pass her with averted eye. The mute is not returned. She fears that Selim's plotting is seen through.

O fate of fools! officious in contriving; In executing puzzled, lame and lost.

Selim pledges his life for his fidelity. She resolves then for herself, and says to Selim

Regard me well; and dare not to reply
To what I give in charge; for I'm resolved.
Give order that the two remaining mutes
Attend me instantly, with each a bowl
Of such ingredients mixed, as will with speed
Benumb the living faculties and give
Most easy and inevitable death.
Yes, Osmyn, yes; be Osmyn or Alphonso,
I'll give thee freedom, if thou darest be free:

Such liberty as I embrace myself

Thou shalt partake. Since fates no more afford,

I can but die with thee to keep my word.

The scene then changes to the prison; and this is the close of the play :

GONSALEZ alone, disguised like a Mute, with a dagger. Nor sentinel, nor guard the doors unbarred!

And all as still as at the noon of night!

Sure death already has been busy here.

La atonement by a deatn as horrid,

Aeneath the hand of my own son.

Ha! what? atone this murder with a greater?

rror of that thought has damped my rage.
arth already groans to bear this deed;
ress her not, nor think to stain her face

a more unnatural blood. Murder my father! cter with this to rip up my own bowels,

Si bathe it to the hilt, in far less damnable
-murder.
Gion.

Oh, my son; from the blind dotage
Of a father's fondness these ills arose:

For thee I've been ambitious, base, and bloody:
For thee I've plunged into this sea of sin;
Stemming the tide with only one weak hand,

While t' other bore the crown (to wreath thy brow),
Whose weight has sunk me ere I reached the shore.
Gar. Fatal ambition! Hark! the foe has entered.

GARCIA goes in.

rea is fled;

given him.

Yt-wounding sight!

has ruin ha, what horror? eechless be my tongue!

tatal blow!

Nal weltering, drowned in blood. Ny, where he lies! [They look in. wherefore was this done?

hether, or the cause?

ay or to require,

oko su fain our swords against wtà our own his blood. psised, and rash, deluded fool! avenging sword!

1 - 1x al master's 1'.

Of this surprising and most fatal error.

What's to be done? the king's death known, will strike

The few remaining soldiers with despair,

And make 'em yield to mercy of the conqueror.

Alon. My lord, I've thought how to conceal the body: Require me not to tell the means till done, Lest you forbid what then you may approve.

[Goes in. Shout

And ever and anon the sight was dashed
With frightful faces, and the meagre looks
Of grim and ghastly executioners.
Yet more this stillness terrifies my soul,
Than did that scene of complicated horrors.
It may be that the cause of this my errand
And purpose, being changed from life to death,
Has also wrought this chilling change of temper.
Or does my heart bode more? what can it more
Than death?

Let 'em set down the bowls, and warn Alphonso
That I am here-so. You return and find

[Mutes go in.

The king; tell him, what he required I've done, And wait his coming to approve the deed.

ZARA and Mutes.

Zara. What have you seen? Ha! wherefore stare you
thus
[The Mutes return and look affrighted.

With haggard eyes? why are your arms a-cross?
Your heavy and desponding heads hung down?
Why is 't, you more than speak in these sad signs?
Give me more ample knowledge of this mourning.

[They go to the scene, which opening, she per-
ceives the body.
Ha! prostrate! bloody! headless! Oh-I'm lost!
O Osmyn! O Alphonso! Cruel fate!
Cruel, cruel, oh, more than killing object!
I came prepared to die, and see thee die-
Nay, came prepared myself to give thee death-
But cannot bear to find thee thus, my Osmyn-
Oh, this accursed, this base, this treacherous king!

Sel. You thought it better then-but I'm rewarded:

The mute you sent by some mischance was seen,
And forced to yield your letter with his life:
I found the dead and bloody body stripped-
My tongue falters, and my voice fails-I sink-
Drink not the poison-for Alphonso is-

Zara. As thou art now-and I shall quickly be.
"Tis not that he is dead; for 'twas decreed
We both should die. Nor is 't that I survive;
I have a certain remedy for that.

But oh, he died unknowing in my heart!

He knew I loved, but knew not to what height:

Nor that I meant to fall before his eyes,

A martyr and a victim to my vows:
Insensible of this last proof, he's gone.
Yet fate alone can rob his mortal part

Of sense; his soul still sees, and knows each purpose,
And fixed event of my persisting faith.
Then, wherefore do I pause? give me the bowl.

[Dies.

Leon.

Heavens what dismal scene

Of death is this? The eunuch Selim slain!

Alm. Show me, for I am come in search of death; But want a guide; for tears have dimmed my sight. Leon. Alas, a little farther, and behold Zara all pale and dead; two frightful men, Who seem the murderers, kneel weeping by, Feeling remorse too late for what they've done. But oh, forbear-lift up your eyes no more; But haste away, fly from this fatal place Where miseries are multiplied; return, Return! and look not on: for there's a dagger Ready to stab the sight, and make your eyes Rain blood

Alm.

Oh, I foreknow, foresee that object.
Is it at last then so? is he then dead?
What, dead at last! quite, quite, for ever dead!
There, there I see him! there he lies, the blood
Yet bubbling from his wounds-Oh, more than savage
Had they or hearts or eyes, that did this deed?
Could eyes endure to guide such cruel hands?
Are not my eyes guilty alike with theirs,
That thus can gaze, and yet not turn to stone?

I do not weep! The springs of tears are dried
And of a sudden I am calm, as if

All things were well: and yet my husband's murdered!
Yes, yes, I know to mourn; I'll sluice this heart,
The source of woe, and let the torrent loose.
Those men have left to weep: they look on me!
I hope they murder all on whom they look.
Behold me well; your bloody hands have erred,
And wrongfully have slain those innocents;

I am the sacrifice designed to bleed;

And come prepared to yield my throat-they shake
Their heads, in sign of grief and innocence,

[The Mutes point at the bowl on the ground. And point—what mean they? Ha! a cup. Oh, well I understand what medicine has been here.

Oh, noble thirst! yet greedy to drink all-
Oh, for another draught of death.-What mean they?
[The Mutes point at the other cup.
Ha! point again? 'tis there, and full, I hope.
Thanks to the liberal hand that filled thee thus;
I'll drink my glad acknowledgment-
Leon.

For mercy's sake! upon my knee I beg

Oh, hold,

Alm. With thee the kneeling World should beg in vain.
Seest thou not there? behold who prostrate lies,
And pleads against thee? who shall then prevail?

Yet I will take a cold and parting leave
From his pale lips; I'll kiss him, ere I drink,
Lest the rank juice should blister on my mouth
And stain the colour of my last adieu.
Horror! a headless trunk! nor lips nor face,

[Coming nearer the body, starts and lets fall the cup. But spouting veins, and mangled flesh! Oh, oh!