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 ruin'd all.[Aside to ZARA.

Zara. And after did solicit you on his Behalf.

Man. Never. You have been misinform'd.

SCENE VII.

MANUEL, GONSALEZ, ALMERIA, and LEONORA. Man. Your coming has prevented me, Almeria; I had determined to have sent for you. Let your attendant be dismiss'd; I have

[Exit LEONORA. To talk with you. Come near; why dost thou shake?

Man.

What dost thou think, Gonsalez ; Are we not much indebted to this fair one? Gon. I am a little slow of credit, sir, In the sincerity of women's actions. Methinks this lady's hatred to the Moor Disquiets her too much; which makes it seem As if she'd rather that she did not hate him. I wish her mutes are meant to be employ'd As she pretends-I doubt it now-Your guards Corrupted! how? by whom? who told her so? I'th' evening Osmyn was to die; at midnight She begg'd the royal signet to release him; I'th' morning he must die again; ere noon Her mutes alone must strangle him, or he'll Escape. This put together suits not well.

Man. Yet, that there's truth in what she has Is manifest from every circumstance. [discover'd, This tumult, and the lords who fled with Heli, Are confirmation:-that Alphonso lives, Agrees expressly too with her report.

Gon. I grant it, sir; and doubt not, but in rage Of jealousy, she has discover'd what She now repents. It may be I'm deceived. But why that needless caution of the princess? What if she had seen Osmyn? though 'twere strange. But if she had, what was't to her? unless She fear'd her stronger charms might cause the Affection to revolt. [Moor's

Man. I thank thee, friend. There's reason in thy doubt, and I am warn'd. But think'st thou that my daughter saw this Moor? Gon. If Osmyn be, as Zara has related, Alphonso's friend; 'tis not impossible, But she might wish on his account to see him. Man. Say'st thou ? by Heaven thou hast roused

a thought,

That like a sudden earthquake shakes my frame : Confusion then my daughter's an accomplice, And plots in private with this hellish Moor.

Gon. That were too hard a thought-but see she 'Twere not amiss to question her a little, [comes: And try, howe'er, if I've divined aright.

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

Henceforth are equal; this the day of death,
To-morrow, and the next, and each that follows,
Will undistinguish'd roll, and but prolong
One hated line of more extended woe.

Man. Whence is thy grief? give me to know the cause,

And look thou answer me with truth; for know,
I am not unacquainted with thy falsehood.
Why art thou mute? base and degenerate maid!
Gon. Dear madam, speak, or you'll incense the
king.

Alm. What is't to speak? or wherefore should
I speak?

What mean these tears, but grief unutterable! Man. They are the dumb confessions of thy

mind,

They mean thy guilt; and say thou wert confederate
With damn'd conspirators to take my life.
O impious parricide! now canst thou speak?

Alm. O earth, behold, I kneel upon thy bosom !
And bend my flowing eyes, to stream upon
Thy face, imploring thee that thou wilt yield;
Open thy bowels of compassion, take
Into thy womb the last and most forlorn

Of all thy race. Hear me, thou common parent!
I have no parent else-be thou a mother,
And step between me and the curse of him
Who was who was, but is no more a father,
But brands my innocence with horrid crimes;
And for the tender names of child and daughter,
Now calls me murderer and parricide.

Man. Rise, I command thee rise-and if thou wouldst

Acquit thyself of those detested names,
Swear thou hast never seen that foreign dog,
Now doom'd to die, that most accursed Osmyn.
Alm. Never, but as with innocence I might,
And free of all bad purposes. So Heaven's
My witness.

Man.

Vile equivocating wretch! With innocence! O patience! hear-she owns it! Confesses it! by Heaven I'll have him rack'd! Torn, mangled, flay'd, impaled!-all pains and

tortures

That wit of man and dire revenge can think,
Shall he accumulated under-bear.

Alm. Oh, I am lost!-there fate begins to wound. Man. Hear me, then; if thou canst, reply: know, traitress,

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

Alm. Then all is ended, and we both must die.
Since thou'rt reveal'd, alone thou shalt not die.
And yet alone would I have died, Heaven knows,
Repeated deaths, rather than have reveal'd thee.
Yes, all my father's wounding wrath, though each
Reproach cuts deeper than the keenest sword,
And cleaves my heart; I would have borne it all,
Nay, all the pains that are prepared for thee:
To the remorseless rack I would have given
This weak and tender flesh, to have been bruised
And torn, rather than have reveal'd thy being.

Man. Hell, hell! do I hear this, and yet endure! What, darest thou to my face avow thy guilt? Hence, ere I curse!-fly my just rage with speed; Lest I forget us both, and spurn thee from me.

Alm. And yet a father! think I am your child. Turn not your eyes away-look on me kneeling; Now curse me if you can, now spurn me off. Did ever father curse his kneeling child?

:

Never for always blessings crown that posture.
Nature inclines, and half-way meets that duty,
Stooping to raise from earth the filial reverence;
For bended knees returning folding arms,
With prayers, and blessings, and paternal love.
O hear me then, thus crawling on the earth-
Man. Be thou advised, and let me go, while yet
The light impression thou hast made remains.

Alm. No, never will I rise, nor loose this hold, Till you are moved, and grant that he may live. Man. Ha! who may live? take heed, no more of that;

For on my soul he dies, though thou and I,
And all should follow to partake his doom.
Away, off, let me go.-Call her attendants.

[LEONORA goes out and returns with Attendants. Alm. Drag me! harrow the earth with my bare bosom!

I'll not let go till you have spared my husband. Man. Ha! what say'st thou? husband! husband! damnation!

What husband? which? who!

Alm.
He, he is my husband.
Man. Poison and daggers! who?

Alm.

Gon.

Oh! [Faints. Help, support her.

Alm. Let me go, let me fall, sink deep-I'll dig, I'll dig a grave, and tear up death; I will; I'll scrape till I collect his rotten bones, And clothe their nakedness with my own flesh : Yes, I will strip off life, and we will change:

I will be death; then though you kill my husband, He shall be mine, still and for ever mine.

Man. What husband? who? whom dost thou mean?

Gon. She raves!

Alm. O that I did. Ostnyn, he is my husband. Man. Osmyn?

Alm. Not Osmyn, but Alphonso is my dear And wedded husband.-Heaven, and air, and seas, Ye winds and waves, I call ye all to witness!

Man. Wilder than winds or waves thyself dost

rave.

Should I hear more, I too should catch thy madness. Yet somewhat she must mean of dire import, Which I'll not hear, till I am more at peace. Watch her returning sense, and bring me word; And look that she attempt not on her life.

Alm. Why dost thou start? what dost thou see or hear?

Was it the doleful bell, tolling for death?
Or dying groans from my Alphonso's breast?
See, see, look yonder! where a grizzled, pale,
And ghastly head glares by, all smear'd with
blood,

Gasping as it would speak; and after, see!
Behold a damp, dead hand has dropp'd a dagger;
I'll catch it-Hark! a voice cries murder! ah!
My father's voice! hollow it sounds, and calls
Me from the tomb-I'll follow it; for there
I shall again behold my dear Alphonso.

SCENE IX.

GONSALEZ.

She's greatly grieved; nor am I less surprised.
Osmyn Alphonso! no; she over-rates
My policy: I ne'er suspected it :

Nor now had known it, but from her mistake.
Her husband too! ha! where is Garcia then?
And where the crown that should descend on
him,

To grace the line of my posterity?

Hold, let me think-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; O 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.

None, my lord. Man. Is Osmyn so disposed as I commanded? Per. Fast bound in double chains, and at full

length,

He lies supine on earth; with as much ease She might remove the centre of this earth, As loose the rivets of his bonds.

Man.

'Tis well. [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. O bloody proof of obstinate fidelity! Man. What dost thou mean?

Alon. Soon as I seized the man, He snatch'd from out his bosom this-and strove With rash and greedy haste, at once to cram The morsel down his throat. I catch'd his

SCENE II. MANUEL and PEREZ.

Per. Whate'er it is, the king's complexion turns. [Aside.

Man. How's this? my mortal foe beneath my roof? [Having read the letter. O give me patience, all ye powers! no, rather Give me new rage, implacable revenge, And trebled fury.-Ha! who's there?

Per.

My lord!

Man. Hence, slave! how darest thou 'bide, to watch and pry

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 fix'd
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 conferr'd;
And wert the spy and pander to their meeting.
Per. By all that's holy, I'm amazed—
Man.
Thou liest !
Thou art accomplice too with Zara: here
Where she sets down-Still will I set thee free-
[Reading.

That somewhere is repeated-I have power
O'er them that are thy guards.-Mark that, thou

traitor !

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 darken'd so as to amuse the sight.
I'll be conducted thither-mark me well-
There with his turbant, and his robe array'd,
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. I have not leisure now to take so poor
A forfeit as thy life: somewhat of high
And more important fate requires my thought.
When I've concluded on myself, if I
Think fit, I'll leave thee my command to die.
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 mix'd, 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 king in person animate our men,
Granada's lost: and to confirm this fear,
The traitor Perez, and the captive Moor,
Are through a postern fled, and join the foe.
Gon. Would all were false as that; for whom
you call

The Moor, is dead. That Osmyn was Alphonso;
In whose heart's blood this poniard yet is warm.
Gar. Impossible, for Osmyn was, while flying,
Pronounced aloud by Perez for Alphonso.
Gon. Enter that chamber, and convince your
eyes,

How much report has wrong'd your easy faith.
[GARCIA goes in.

Alon. My lord, for certain truth, Perez is fled; And has declared the cause of his revolt, Was to revenge a blow the king had given him.

On me, on me, turn your avenging sword!
I, who have spilt my royal master's blood,
Should make atonement by a death as horrid ;
And fall beneath the hand of my own son.

Gar. Ha! what? atone this murder with a greater?

The horror of that thought has damp'd my rage.
The earth already groans to bear this deed;
Oppress her not, nor think to stain her face
With more unnatural blood. Murder my father!
Better with this to rip up my own bowels,
And bathe it to the hilt, in far less damnable
Self-murder.

Gon.

O 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 reach'd the shore.
Gar. Fatal ambition! Hark! the foe is en-
ter'd.
[Shout.

The shrillness of that shout speaks 'em at hand.
We have no time to search into the cause
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:

Though for the crown of universal empire.
As but an hour ago I'd not have done,
But what are kings reduced to common clay?
Or who can wound the dead? I've from the body
Sever'd the head, and in an obscure corner
Disposed it, muffled in the mute's attire,
Leaving to view of them that enter next,
Alone the undistinguish'd trunk:

Which may be still mistaken by the guards
For Osmyn, if in seeking for the king
They chance to find it.

Gon.
"Twas an act of horror:
And of a piece with this day's dire misdeeds.
But 'tis no time to ponder or repent.
Haste thee, Alonzo, haste thee hence with speed,
To aid my son. I'll follow with the last
Reserve to re-enforce his arms: at least,

I shall make good, and shelter bis retreat.

SCENE VIII.

ZARA, followed by SELIM, and two Mutes bearing the bowls.

Zara. Silence and solitude are everywhere! Through all the gloomy ways and iron doors That hither lead, nor human face nor voice Is seen or heard. A dreadful din was wont To grate the sense, when enter'd here; from

groans

And howls of slaves condemn'd, from clink of chains,

And crash of rusty bars and creeking hinges :
And ever and anon the sight was dash'd
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