He came to me, and begg'd me by my love, Alm. 'Twas as I have told thee— For which I mourn, and will for ever mourn; her sorrows, Nor violence-I feel myself more light, Leon. I will attend you. Enter ALONZO. Alon. The lord Gonsalez comes to tell your highness The king is just arriv'd. Alm. Conduct him in. That's his pretence; his errand is, I know, Enter GONSALEZ. Gon. Be every day of your long life like this. The sun, bright conquest, and your brighter eyes, Have all conspir'd to blaze promiscuous light, And bless this day with most unequall'd lustre. Your royal father, my victorious lord, Loaden with spoils, and ever-living laurel, Is entering now, in martial pomp, the palace. Five hundred mules precede his solemn march, Which groan beneath the weight of Moorish wealth. Chariots of war, adorn'd with glittering gems, Succeed; and next, a hundred neighing steeds, White as the fleecy rain on Alpine hills, "Twill urge his wrath, to see you drown'd in That bound and foam, and champ the golden bit, tears, When joy appears in every other face. Alm. And joy he brings to every other heart, But double, double weight of wo to mine: For with him Garcia comes-Garcia, to whom I must be sacrific'd, and all the vows I gave my dear Alphonso basely broken. No, it shall never be; for I will die First, die ten thousand deaths-Look down, look down, Alphonso, hear the sacred vow I make; [Kneels. Behold thou also, and attend my vow. Another lord; may then just Heaven shower down Unheard of curses on me, greater far (If such there be in angry Heaven's vengeance) That any I have yet endur'd-And now [Rising. My heart has some relief; having so well As they disdain'd the victory they grace. Sweat by his chariot wheel, and lick and grind, As if they were all eyes, and every limb twice The multitude should gaze) in absence of your eyes. Alm. My lord, my eyes ungratefully behold The gilded trophies of exterior honours. Nor will my ears be charmed with sounding words, Or pompous phrase, the pageantry of souls. But that my father is return'd in safety, I bend to Heaven with thanks. Gon. Excellent princess!-But 'tis a task unfit for my weak age With dying words to offer at your praise. Garcia, my son, your beauty's lowest slave, Has better done, in proving with his sword The force and influence of your matchless charms. Alm. I doubt not of the worth of Garcia's deeds, of Prisoners in chains, and Guards, who are ranged in order round the Stage. ALMERIA meets the KING, and kneels: afterwards GoNSALEZ kneels, and kisses the KING's hand, while GARCIA does the same to the PRINCESS. | To-day. Retire; divest yourself with speed King. Almeria, rise-My best Gonsalez, rise. As to remind you of your gracious promise. Gon. But tears of joy. Believe me, Sir, to see you thus, has fill'd Mine eyes with more delight than they can hold. King. By Heaven, thou lov'st me, and I'm pleas'd thou dost ; Take it for thanks, old man, that I rejoice Yet something too is due to me, who gave In filial duty, had aton'd and given Gon. Have patience, royal Sir; the princess weeps To have offended you. If fate decreed, King. I tell thee she's to blame, not to have feasted When my first foe was laid in earth, such enmity, Such detestation bears my blood to his; And all this high and ample roof to ring Then, then to weep, and pray, and grieve! by Heaven! There's not a slave, a shackl'd slave of mine, But should have smil'd that hour, through all his care, And shook his chains in transport and rude harmony. Gon. What she has done, was in excess of goodness; Betray'd by too much piety, to seem As if she had offended. Sure, no more. ture. I wo'not have a seeming sorrow seen King. Rise, Garcia.-I forgot. Yet stay, Al meria. Alm. My boding heart!-What is your pleasure, Sir? King. Draw near, and give your hand, and Receive this lord, as one whom I have found Gar. Thus let me kneel to take-O, not to take But to devote, and yield myself for ever King. No more; my promise long since pass'd, thy services, And Garcia's well-tried valour, all oblige me. Gar. She faints! help to support her. [Faints. King. A fit of bridal fear. How is't, Almeria? Alm. A sudden chillness seizes on my spirits. Your leave, Sir, to retire. King. Garcia, conduct her. [GARCIA leads ALMERIA to the door, and returns. This idle vow hangs on her woman's fears. Enter ALONZO. Alon. Your beauteous captive, Zara, is arriv d, And with a train as if she still were wife To Albucacim, and the Moor had conquer'd King. It is our will she should be so attended. Bear hence these prisoners. Garcia, which is be, Of whose mute valour you relate such wonders? [Prisoners led of. Gar. Osmyn, who led the Moorish horse; but he, Great Sir, at her request, attends on Zara. King. He is your prisoner; as you please dispose him. Gar. I would oblige him, but he shuns my kindness; And with a haughty mien and stern civility, King. Such sullenness, and in a man so brave, Must have some other cause than his captivity. Did Zara, then, request he might attend her? Gar. My lord, she did. King. That, join'd with his behaviour, Begets a doubt. I'd have 'em watch'd; perhaps Her chains hang heavier on him than his own. Enter ALONZO, ZARA, and OSMYN bound, cnducted by PEREZ and a guard, attended by The monarch enter not triumphant, but I might be pleased, when I behold this train Gon. That friend might be herself; seem not to heed His arrogant reply: she looks concern'd. Yet lives, and is a prisoner. His name? King. Garcia, that search shall be your care: For, lingering there, in long suspense she stands, But rules with settl'd sway in Zara's eyes. [Exit. ACT II. King. Those bonds! 'Twas my command you SCENE I-Representing the aisle of a Temple. should be free. At once regardless of his chains, or liberty? King. He answers well the character you gave him. Whence comes it, valiant Osmyn, that a man The common chance of war? Osm. Because captivity Has robb'd me of a dear and just revenge. Osm. I would not have you. Zur. That gallant Moor in battle lost a friend, Whom more than life he lov'd; and the regret Of not revenging on his foes that loss, Has caus'd this melancholy and despair. King. She does excuse him; 'tis as I suspected. [To GONS. VOL. I...4 X 60* GARCIA, HELI, PEREZ. Gar. This way we're told, Osmyn was seen to Choosing this lonely mansion of the dead, Heli. Let Heaven with thunder to the centre strike me, If to arise in very deed from death, I feel, to hear of Osmyn's name; to hear ship. Heli. My lord, let me intreat you to forbear: Leave me alone, to find and cure the cause. I know his melancholy, and such starts Are usual to his temper. It might raise him To act some violence upon himself, So to be caught in an unguarded hour, And when his soul gives all her passion way, Secure and loose in friendly solitude. I know his noble heart would burst with shame, To be surpriz'd by strangers in its frailty. Gar. Go, generous Heli, and relieve your friend. Far be it from me officiously to pry Or press upon the privacies of others. [Exit HEL. Perez, the king expects from our return To have his jealousy confirm'd or clear'd, Of that appearing love which Zara bears To Osmyn; but some other opportunity Must make that plain. Per. To me 'twas long since plain, And every look from him and her confirms it. Enter ALMERIA and LEONORA. Aim. It was a fancied noise, for all is hush'd. Leon It bore the accent of a human voice. Alm. It was thy fear, or else some transient wind Whistling through hollows of this vaulted aisle. We'll listen Leon. Hark! Alm. No, all is hush'd, and still as death-'tis How reverend is the face of this tall pile, Of human bodies; for I'll mix with them, Enter HELI. [Exeunt. The poor remains of good Anselmo rest, me; And long oppress'd with woes and bending cares, OSMYN ascending from the tomb. Osm. Who calls that wretched thing that was Alphonso? Alm. Angels, and all the host of Heaven support me! Osm. Whence is that voice, whose shrillness, from the grave, And growing to his father's shroud, roots up Alphonso! Speak to it quickly, quickly; speak to me me, Osm. Amazement and illusion! me, Rivet and nail me where I stand, ye powers, Enter HELI. Leon. Alas! she stirs not yet, nor lifts her eyes; He too is fainting- -Help me, help me, stranger. Whoe'er thou art, and lend thy hand to raise These bodies. Oh, miracle of happiness! Oh, joy Heli. Ha! 'tis he! and with Almeria! Let me behold, and touch her, and be sure "Tis she; show me her face, and let me feel Her lips with mine-'Tis she, I'm not deceiv'd 1 taste her breath, I warm'd her, and am warm'd. Look up, Almeria, bless me with thy eyes; Look on thy love, thy lover, and thy husband. Alm. I've sworn I'll not wed Garcia: why d'ye force me. Is this a father? Osm. Look on thy Alphonso. Hast thou thy eyes, yet canst not see Alphonso? Alm. It is, it is Alphonso; 'tis his face, Oh, take me to thy arms, and bear me hence, The wildness of the waves and rocks to this? To fold thee thus, to press thy balmy lips, Alm. Stay a while Let me look on thee yet a little more. Some recompence of love and matchless truth. Alm. 'Tis more than recompence to see thy face. If Heaven is greater joy, it is no happiness, Alm. True; but how cam'st thou there? Wert thou alone? Osm. I was, and lying on my father's lead, When broken echoes of a distant voice Disturb'd the sacred silence of the vault, Osm. What wouldst thou? thou dost put me In murmurs round my head. I rose and listen'd, from thee. Alm. Yes. Osm. And why? What dost thou mean? Why dost thou gaze so? Alm. I know not; 'tis to see thy face, I thinkIt is too much; too much to bear and live! To see thee thus again is such profusion Of joy, of blissI cannot bear I must Be mad I cannot be transported thus. Osm. Thou excellence, thou joy, thou heaven of love! Alm. Where hast thou been? and how art thou alive? How is all this? All-powerful Heaven, what are we? Oh, my strain'd heart-let me again behold thee, For I weep to see thee-Art thou not paler? Much, much; how thou art chang'd! Osm. Not in my love. Alm. No, no, thy griefs, I know, have done this Thou hast wept much, Alphonso; and, I fear, Osm. Wrong not my love, to say too tenderly. Osm. Perfection of all faithfulness and love! If I could speak; how I have mourn'd and pray'd! Osm. Grant me but life, good Heaven, but To pay some part, some little of this debt, Of yet unmeasur'd time; when I have made And thought I heard thy spirit call Alphonso; What's he, who like thyself, is started here Osm. Where? Ha! What do I see, Antonio! of seas And war: for in the fight I saw him fall. Heli. But fell unhurt, a pris'ner as yourself, And as yourself made free; hither I came, Impatiently to seek you, where I knew Your grief would lead you to lament Anselmo. Osm. There are no wonders, or else all is won der. Heli. I saw you on the ground, and rais'd you up, When with astonishment I saw Almeria. Osm. I saw her too, and therefore saw not thee. That persevering still, with open hand, Leon. Or I'm deceiv'd, or I beheld the glimpse |