tho' 't were strange But if she had what was 't to her unless She fear'd her stronger Charms might cause the Moor's Affection to revolt King 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 Gons If Osmyn be as Zara has related Alphonso's Friend 't is not impossible But she might wish on his Account to see him King Say'st thou by Heav'n thou hast arous'd a Thought That like a sudden Earth-quake shakes my Frame Confusion than my Daughter 's an Accomplice And plots in Private with this hellish Moor. Gons That were too hard a Thought but see she comes 'T were not amiss to question her a little And try howe'er if I 've divin'd 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 sollicite for him Enter Almeria and Leonora King Your coming has prevented me Almeria I had determin'd 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 What mean those swollen and redfleck'd Eyes that look As they had wept in Blood and worn the Night In waking Anguish why this on the Day Which was design'd to celebrate thy Nuptials But that the Beams of Light are to be stain'd With reeking Gore from Traytors on the Rack Wherefore I have deferr'd the Mariage Rites Nor shall the guilty Horrours of this Day Prophane that Jubilee Alm. All Days to me 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 King 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 Falshood Why art thou mute base and degenerate Maid Gonsa Dear Madam speak or you 'll incense the King Alm. What is to speak or wherefore should I speak What means these Tears but Grief unutterable King Yes Guilt they are the dumb Confessions of Thy guilty Mind 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 the Bosom And bend my flowing Eyes to stream upon Thy Face imploring thee that thou wilt yield Open thy Bowels of Compassion take Into the 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 That was that 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 King Rise I command thee rise and if thou would'st Acquit thy self 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 Heav'ns My Witness King Vile equivocating Wretch With Innocence Death and Perdition she Confesses it By Heav'n I 'll have him rack'd Torn mangl'd flay'd impal'd 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 King Hear me then if thou canst reply know Traitress I 'm not to learn that curs'd Alphonso lives Nor am I Ignorant what Osmyn is Alm. Then all is ended and we both must die Since thour' t reveal'd alone thou shalt not die And yet alone would I have dy'd Heav'n knows Repeated Deaths rather than have revealed thee Yes all my Father's wounding Wrath tho' each Reproach cuts deeper than the keenest Sword And cleaves my Heart I would have born it all Nay all the Pains that are prepar'd for thee To the remorsless Rack I would have given This weak and tender Flesh to have been bruis'd And torn rather than have reveal'd thy being King Hell Hell do I hear this and yet endure What dar'st thou to my Face avow thy Guilt Hence e'er 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 King Be thou advis'd 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 mov'd and grant that he may live King Ha! who may live take heed no more of that For on my Soul he dies tho' thou and I And all should follow to partake his Doom Away off let me go Call her Attendants Enter Leonora and Attendants Alm. Drag me harrow the Earth with my bare Bosom I 'll not let go 'till you have spar'd my Husband King Ha! what say'st thou Husband Husband Damnation What Husband which who Alm. He he is my Husband King Poyson and Daggers who Alm. O Faints Gons 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 cloath their Nakedness with my own Flesh Yes I will strip of Life and we will change I will be Death then tho' you kill my Husband He shall be mine still and for ever mine King What Husband who whom do'st thou mean Gons Alas she raves Alm. O that I did Osmyn he is my Husband King Osmyn Alm. Not Osmyn but Asphonso is my Dear And wedded Husband Heav'n and Air and Seas Ye Winds and Waves I call ye all to witness King Wilder than Winds or Waves thy self do'st 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 Exit King Alm. O stay yet stay hear me I am not mad I would to Heav'n I were he 's gone Gons Have Comfort Alm. Curst be that Tongue that bids me be of Comfort Curst my own Tongue that cou'd not move his Pity Curst these weak Hands that cou'd not hold him here For he is gone to doom Alphonso's Death Gonsa Your too excessive Grief works on your Fancy And deludes your Sense Alphonso if living Is far from hence beyond your Father's Power Alm. Hence thou detested ill-tim'd Flatterer Source of my Woes thou and thy Race be curs'd But doubly thou who could'st alone
been this Thing Zar. What Thing Osm. This Slave Zar. O Heav'n my Fears interpret This thy Silence somewhat of high Concern Long fashioning within thy labouring Mind And now just ripe for Birth my Rage has ruin'd Have I done this tell me am I so curs'd Osm. Time may have still one fated Hour to come Which wing'd with Liberty might overtake Occasion past Zar. Swift as Occasion I My self will fly and earlier than the Morn Wake thee to Freedom Now 't is late and yet Some News few Minutes past arriv'd which seem'd To shake the Temper of the King who knows What racking Cares disease a Monarch's Bed Or Love that late at Night still lights his Camp And strikes his Rays thro' dusk and folded Lids Forbidding rest may stretch his Eyes awake And force their Balls abroad at this dead Hour I 'll try Osm. I have not merited this Grace Nor should my secret Purpose take Effect Can I repay as you require such Benefits Zar. Thou canst not owe me more nor have I more To give than I 've already lost But as The present Form of our Engagements rests Thou hast the Wrong 'till I redeem thee hence That done I leave thy Justice to return My Love Adieu Exit Zara. Osm. This Woman has a Soul Of God-like Mould intrepid and commanding And challenges in spight of me my best Esteem to this she 's fair few more can boast Of Personal Charms or with less Vanity Might hope to captivate the Hearts of Kings But she has Passions which out-strip the Wind And tear her Virtues up as Tempest's root The Sea I fear when she shall know the truth Some swift and dire event of her blind Rage Will make all fatal But behold she comes For whom I fear to shield me from my Fears Enter Almeria The Cause and Comfort of my boding Heart My Life my Health my Liberty my All. How shall I welcome thee to this sad Place How speak to thee the Words of Joy and Transport How run into thy Arms with-held by Fetters Or take thee into mine thus manacled And pinion'd like a Thief or Murderer Shall I not hurt and bruise thy tender Body And stain thy Bosom with the Rust of these Rude Irons Must I meet thee thus Almeria Alm. Thus thus we parted thus to meet again Thou told'st me thou would'st think how we might meet To part no more Now we will part no more For these thy Chains or Death shall join us ever Osm. Hard Means to ratifie that Word O Cruelty That ever I should think beholding thee A Torture yet such is the bleeding Anguish Of my Heart to see thy Sufferings O Heav'n That I cou'd almost turn my Eyes away Or wish thee from my Sight Alm. O say not so Tho' 't is because thou lov'st me Do not say On any Terms that thou dost wish me from thee No no 't is better thus that we together Feed on each others Heart devour our Woes With mutual Appetite and mingling in One Cup the common Stream of both our Eyes Drink bitter Draughts with never-slacking Thirst. Thus better than for any Cause to part What dost thou think Look not so tenderly Upon me speak and take me in thy Arms Thou canst not thy poor Arms are bound and strive In vain with the remorseless Chains which gnaw And eat into thy Flesh festring thy Limbs With rancling Rust. Osm. Oh! O Alm. Give me that Sigh Why do'st thou heave and stifle in thy Griefs Thy Heart will burst thy Eyes look red and sâ—art Give thy Soul Way and tell me thy dark Thought Osm. For this World's Rule I wou'd not wound thy Breast With such a Dagger as then stuck my Heart Alm. Why why to know it cannot wound me more Then knowing thou hast felt it Tell it me Thou giv'st me Pam with too much Tenderness Osm. And thy excessive Love distracts my Sense O could'st thou be less killing soâ—t or kind Grief wou'd not double thus his Darts against me Alm. Thou dost me Wrong and Grief too robs my Heart If there he shoot not ev'ry other Shaft Thy second self should feel each other Wound And Woe shou'd be in equal Portions dealt I am thy Wife Osm. O thou hast search'd too deep There there I bleed there pull the cruel Cords That strain my cracking Nerves Engines and Wheels That Piece-meal grind are Beds of Down and Balm To that soul-racking Thought Alm. Then I am curs'd Indeed if that be so if I 'm thy Torment Kill me kill me then dash me with thy Chains Tread on me spurn me am I the bosom Snake That sucks thy warm Life-Blood and gnaws thy Heart O that thy Words had force to break those Bonds As they have Strength to tear this Heart in sunder So should'st thou be at large from all Oppression Am I am I of all thy Woes the worst Osm. My All of Bliss my everlasting Life Soul of my Soul and End of all my Wishes Why dost thou thus unman me with thy Words And melt me down to mingle with thy Weepings What dost thou ask why dost thou talk thus piercingly Thy Sorrows have disturb'd thy Peace of Mind And thou dost speak of Miseries impossible Alm. Did'st thou not say that Racks and Wheels were Balm And Beds of Ease to thinking me thy Wife Osm. No no nor should the subtlest Pains that Hell Or hell-born Malice can invent extort A wish or Thought from me to have thee other But thou wilt know what harrows up my Heart Thou art my Wife nay thou art yet my Bride The Sacred Union of Connubial Love Yet unnaccomplish'd his mysterious Rites Delay'd nor has our Hymenial Torch Yet lighted up his last most grateful Sacrifice But dash'd with Rain from Eyes and swail'd with Sighs Burns dim and glimmers with expiring Light Is this dark Cell a Temple for that God Or this vile Earth an Altar for such Off'rings This Den for Slaves this Dungeon damp'd with Woes Is this our Marriage Bed are these our Joys Is this to call thee mine O hold my Heart To call thee mine yes thus ev'n thus to call Thee mine were Comfort Joy extremest Exstacy But O thou art not mine not ev'n in misery And 't is deny'd to me to be so bless'd As to be wretched with thee Alm. No not that The extremest Malice of our Fate can hinder That still is left us and on that we 'll feed As on the Leavings of Calamity There we will feast and smile on past Distress And hug in scorn of it our mutual Ruine Osm. O thou dost talk my Love as one resolv'd Because not knowing Danger But look forward Think on to Morrow when thou shalt be torn From these weak strugling unextended Arms Think how my Heart will heave and Eyes will strain To grasp and reach what is deny'd my Hands Think how the Blood will start and Tears will gush To follow thee my separating Soul Think how I am when thou shalt wed with Garcia Then
had err'd he hastily recall'd Th' imperfect Look and sternly turn'd away Zara. Shun me when seen I fear thou hast undone me Thy shallow Artifice begets Suspicion And like a Cobweb-Veil but thinly shades The Face of thy Design alone disguising What should have ne'er been seen imperfect Mischief Thou like the Adder venomous and deaf Hast stung the Traveller and after hear'st Not his pursuing Voice ev'n where thou think'st To hide the rustling Leaves and bended Grafs Confess and point the Path which thou hast crept O Fate of Fools officious in Contriving In executing puzzled lame and lost Sel. Avert it Heav'n that you should ever suffer For my Defect or that the Means which I Devis'd to serve should ruine your Design Prescience is Heav'ns alone not giv'n to Man If I have fail'd in what as being a Man I needs must fail impute not as a Crime My Nature's want but punish Nature in me I plead not for a Pardon and to live But to be punish'd and forgiven Here strike I bare my Breast to meet your just Revenge 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 my self 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 resolv'd Instruct the two remaining Mutes that they Attend me instantly with each a Bowl Of those Ingredients mix'd as will with speed Benumn the living Faculties and give Most easie and inevitable Death Yes Osmyn yes be Osmyn or Alphonso I 'll give thee Freedom if thou dar'st be free Such Liberty as I embrace my self Thou shalt partake Since Fates no more afford I can but die with thee to keep my Word Exeunt Scene changes to the Prison Enter Gonsalez disguis'd like a Mute with a Dagger Gons Nor Centinel nor Guard the Doors unbarr'd And all as still as at the Noon of Night Sure Death already has been busie here There lies my way that Door is too unlock'd Looks in Ha! sure he sleeps all 's dark within save what A Lamp that feebly lifts a sickly Flame By fits reveals his Face seems turn'd to favour Th' Attempt I 'll steal and do it unperceiv'd What Noise some body coming ' st Alonzo No body sure he 'll wait without I would 'T were done I 'll crawl and sting him to the Heart Then cast my Skin and leave it there to answer it Goes in Enter Garcia and Alonzo Gar. Where where Alonzo where 's my Father where The King Confusion all is on the Rout All 's lost all ruin'd by Surprize and Treachery Where where is he Why dost thou thus mislead me Alonz. My Lord he enter'd but a moment since And could not pass me unperceiv'd What hoa My Lord my Lord what hoa My Lord Gonsalez Enter Gonsalez bloody Gons Perdition choak your Clamours whence this Rudeness Garcia Gar. Perdition Slavery and Death Are entring now our Doors Where is the King What means this Blood and why this Face of Horrour Gons No matter give me first to know the Cause Of these your rash and ill-tim'd Exclamations Gar. The Eastern Gate is to the Foe betray'd Who but for heaps of Slain that choak the Passage Had enter'd long ' ere now and born down all Before 'em to the Pallace Walls Unless The King in Person animate our Men Granada's lost and to confirm this Fear The Traytor Perez and the Captive Moor Are through a Postern fled and join the Foe Gons Would all were false as that for whom you call The Moor is dead That Osmyn was Alphonso In whose Hearts Blood this Ponyard yet is warm Gar. Impossible for Osmyn flying was Proclaim'd aloud by Perez for Alphonso Gons Enter that Chamber and convince your Eyes How much Report has wrong'd your easie Faith Garcia goes in Alonz. My Lord for certain truth Perez is fled And has declar'd the Cause of his Revolt Was to Revenge a Blow the King had giv'n him Gar. returning Ruine and Horrour O heart-wounding sight Gons What says my Son what Ruine ha what Horrour Gar. Blasted my Eyes and speechless be my Tongue Rather than or to see or to relate This Deed O dire Mistake O fatal Blow The King Gons Alonz. The King Gar. Dead welt'ring drown'd in Blood See see attir'd like Osmyn where he lies They go in O whence or how or wherefore was this done But what imports the Manner or the Cause Nothing remains to do or to require But that we all should turn our Swords against Our selves and expiate with our own his Blood Gons O Wretch O curs'd and rash deluded Fool 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 Murther with a greater The Horrour 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 Gons 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 plung'd into this Sea of Sin Stemming the Tide with one weak Hand and bearing With the other the Crown to wreath thy Brow Whose weight has sunk me ' ere I reach'd the Shore Gar. Fatal Ambition Hark! the Foe is enter'd Shout The shrilness of that Shout speaks 'em at hand We have no time to search into the Cause Of this surprizing and most fatal Errour 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 Conquerour Alonz. 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 Gons They shout again Whate'er he means to do 'T were fit the Soldiers were amuz'd mean time With Hopes and sed with Expectation of The King 's immediate Presence at their Head Gar. Were it a Truth I fear 't is now too late But I 'll omit no Care nor Haste and try Or to repell their Force or bravely die Exit Gons What hast thou done Alonzo Alonz. Such a Deed As but an hour ago I 'd not have done Tho' for the Crown of Universal Empire But what are Kings reduc'd to common Clay Or who can wound the Dead I 've from the Body Sever'd the Head and in a Corner of The Room dispos'd it muffled in the Mute's Attire leaving alone to View the bloody And undistinguishable Trunk Which may be still mistaken by the Guards For Osmyn if in seeking for the King They chance to find it Gons 'T was an
Heart But double double Weight of Woe to mine For with him Garcia comes Garcia to whom I must be sacrific'd and all the Faith And Vows I gave my Dear Alphonso basely Violated No it shall never be for I will die first Die ten thousand Deaths Look down look down Kneels Alphonso hear the Sacred Vow I make Leave for a Moment to behold Eternal Bliss And bend thy Glorious Eyes to Earth and me And thou Anselmo if yet thou art arriv'd Thro' all Impediments of purging Fire To that bright Heav'n where my Alphonso reigns Behold thou also and attend my Vow If ever I do yield or give consent By any Action Word or Thought to wed Another Lord may then just Heav'n show'r down Unheard of Curses on me greater far If such there be in angry Heav'ns Vengeance Than any I have yet endur'd and now Rising Methinks my Heart has some Relief Having Discharg'd this Debt incumbent on my Love Yet one Thing more I would engage from thee Leo. My Heart my Life and Will are only yours Alm. I thank thee 'T is but this anon when all Are busied in the General Joy that thou Wilt privately with me Steal forth and visit good Anselmo's Tomb. Leon. Alas I fear some fatal Resolution Alm. No on my Life my Faith I mean no Violence I feell I 'm more at large Since I have made this Vow Perhaps I would repeat it there more solemnly 'T is that or some such Melancholy Thought Upon my Word no more Leon. I will attend you Enter Alonzo Alon. The Lord Gonsalez comes to tell your Highness Of the Kings approach Alm. Conduct him in Exit Alon. That 's his Pretence I know his Errand is To fill my Ears with Garcia's valiant Deeds And with his Artful Tongue to gild and magnifie His Sons Eâ—â—â—oits But I am arm'd with Ice around my Heart Not to be warm'd with Words nor idle Eloquence Enter Gonsalez Bowing very Humbly Gons 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 unequal Lustre Your Royal Father my Victorious Lord Loaden with Spoils and ever-living Lawrel Is entring now in Martial Pomp the Pallace 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 That bound and foam and champ the Golden Bit As they disdain'd the Victory they grace Prisoners of War in shining Fetters follow And Captains of the Noblest Blood of Affrick Sweat by his Chariot Wheel and lick and grind With gnashing Teeth the Dust his Tryumphs raise The swarming Populace spread every Wall And cling as if with Claws they did enforce Their Hold thro' clifted Stones stretching and stâ—ring As they were all of Eyes and every Limb Would feed his Faculty of Admiration While you alone retire and shun this Sight This Sight which is indeed not seen tho' 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 charm'd with sounding Words Or pompous Phrase the Pageantry of Souls But that my Father is return'd in Safety I bend to Heav'n with Thanks and Humble Praiâ—â—â— Gons Excellent Princess But 't is a Task unfit for my weak Age With dying Words to offer at your Praise Garcia my Son your Beauties lowest Slave Has better done In proving with his Sword upon your Foes The Force and Influence of your matchless Charms Alm. I doubt not of the Worth of Garcia's Deeds Which had been brave tho' I had ne'er been born Leon. Madam the King Florish. Alm. My Women I would meet him Attendants to Almeria enter in Mourning Symphony of Warlike Musick Enter the King attended by Garcia and several Officers Files 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 King Almeria rise My best Gonsalez rise What Tears my good old Friend Gons But Tears of Joy To see you thus has fill'd My Eyes with more Delight than they can hold King By Heav'n thou lov'st me and I 'm pleas'd thou do'st Take it for Thanks Old Man That I rejoice To see thee weep on this Occasion But some Here are who seem to mourn at our Success How is it Almeria that you meet our Eyes Upon this solemn Day in these sad Weeds You and yours are all in opposition To my Brightness like Daughters of Affliction Alm. Forgive me Sir if I offend The Year which I have vow'd to pay to Heav'n In Mourning and strict Life for my Deliverance From Death and Wreck of the tempestuous Sea Wants yet to be expired King Your Zeal to Heav'n is great so is your Debt Yet something too is due to me who gave That Life which Heav'n preserv'd A Day bestow'd In Filial Duty had aton'd and giv'n A Dispensation to your Vow No more 'T was weak and wilful and a Woman's Errour Yet upon thought it doubly wounds my sight To see that Sable worn upon the Day Succeeding that in which our deadliest Foe Hated Anselmo was interr'd By Heav'n It looks as thou didst mourn for him Just as Thy senseless Vow appear'd to bear its Date Not from that Hour wherein thou wert preserv'd But that wherein the curs'd Alphonso perish'd Ha! what thou dost not weep to think of that Gons Have patience Royal Sir the Princess weeps To have offended you If Fate decreed One 'pointed Hour should be Alphonso's Loss And her Deliverance Is she to blame 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 My Daughter should have revell'd at his Death She should have made these Pallace Walls to shake And all this high and ample Roof to ring With her Rejoicings What to mourn and weep Then then to weep and pray and grieve By Heav'n There 's not a Slave a shackled Slave of mine But should have smil'd that Hour through all his Care And shook his Chains in Transport and rude Harmony Gons What she has done was in excess of Goodness Betray'd by too much Piety to seem As if she had offended King To seem is to commit at this Conjuncture I wonnot have the seeming of a Sorrow seen To day Retire divest your self with speed Of that offensive black on me be all The Violation of your Vow You stand excused that I command it Gar. kneeling Your Pardon Sir if I presume so far As to remind you of your gracious Ptomise King Rise Garcia I forgot Yet stay Almeria Alm. O my boding Heart What is your Pleasure Sir King Draw near and give your hand and Garcia yours
will I smear these Walls with Blood dash my Disfigur'd Face and rive my clotted Hair Break on the flinty Ground my throbbing Breast And grovel with gash'd Hands to scratch a Grave Stripping my Nails to tear this Pavement up And bury me alive where I will bite the Ground 'Till gorg'd with suffocating Earth Alm. O dismal Cruelty heart-breaking Horrour Osm. Then Garcia shall lie panting on thy Bosom Luxurious revelling amidst thy Charms And thou perforce must yield and aid his Transport Hell Hell have I not Cause to rage and rave What are all Racks and Wheels and Whips to this Are they not soothing Softness sinking Ease And wasting Air to this O my Almeria What do the Damn'd endure but to despair But knowing Heav'n to know it lost for ever Alm. O I am struck thy Words are Bolts of Ice Which shot into my Breast now melt and chill me I chatter shake and faint with thrilling Fears No hold me not O let us not support But sink each other lower yet down down Where levell'd low no more we 'll lift our Eyes But prone and dumb rot the firm Face of Earth With Rivers of incessant scalding Rain Enter Zara Perez and Selim. Zara. Somewhat of weight to me requires his Freedom Dare you dispute the King's Command Behold The Royal Signet Perez I obey yet beg Your Majesty one Moment to defer Your entring till the Princess is return'd From visiting the Noble Prisoner Exit Perez Zara. Ha! What saist thou Osm. We are lost undone discover'd Retire my Life with speed Alas we 're seen Speak of Compassion let her hear you speak Of interceding for me with the King Say somewhat quickly to conceal our Loves If possible Alm. I cannot speak Osm. Let me Conduct you forth as not perceiving her But till she 's gone then bless me thus again Zara. Trembling and weeping as he leads her forth Confusion in his Face and Grief in hers 'T is plain I 've been abus'd Death and Destruction How shall I search into this Mystery The bluest Blast of Pestilential Air Strike damp deaden her Charms and kill his Eyes Perdition catch 'em both and Ruine part ' em Osm. This Charity to one unknown and in Distress Heav'n will repay all Thanks are poor Exit Almeria Zara. Damn'd damn'd Dissembler Yet I will be calm Choak in my Rage and know the utmost depth Of this Deceiver you seem much surpriz'd Osm. At your return so soon and unexpected Zara. And so unwish'd unwanted too it seems Confusion yet I will contain my self You 're grown a Favourite since last we parted Perhaps I 'm sawcy and Intruding Osm. Madam Zara. I did not know the Princess Favourite Your Pardon Sir mistake me not you think I 'm angry you 're deceiv'd I came to set You free But shall return much better pleas'd To find you have an Interest superiour Osm. You do not come to mock my Miseries Zara. I do Osm. I could at this time spare your Mirth Zara. I know thou could'st but I 'm not often pleas'd And will indulge it now What Miseries Who would not be thus happily confin'd To be the Care of weeping Majesty To have contending Queens at dead of Night Forsake their down to wake with wat'ry Eyes And watch like Tapers o'er your Hours of Rest. O Curse I cannot hold Osm. Come 't is much Zara. Villain Osm. How Madam Zara. Thou shalt die Osm. I thank you Zara. Thou ly'st for now I know for whom thou 'dst live Osm. Then you may know for whom I 'd die Zara. Hell Hell Yet I 'll be calm Dark and unknown Betrayer But now the Dawn begins and the slow Hand Of Fate is stretch'd to draw the Veil and leave Thee bare the naked Mark of Publick View Osm. You may be still deceiv'd 't is in my Power Zara. Ha! Who waits there Enter Perez As you 'll answer it take heed This Slave commit no Violence upon Himself I 've been deceiv'd The publick Safety Requires he should be more confin'd and none No not the Princess â—elf permitted to Confer with him I 'll quit you to the King Vile and ingrate too late thou shalt repent The base Injustice thou hast done my Love Yes thou shalt know spite of thy past Distress And all those Ills which thou so long hast mourn'd Heav'n has no Rage like Love to Hatred turn'd Nor Hell a Fury like a Woman scorn'd Exeunt Omnes The End of the Third Act. ACT IV. SCENE I. A Room of State Enter Zara and Selim. Zara. THou hadst already rack'd me with thy stay Therefore require me not to ask thee twice Reply at once to all What is concluded Selim. Your Accusation highly has incens'd The King and were alone enough to urge The Fate of Osmyn but to that fresh News Is since arrived of more revolted Troops 'T is 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's corresponding with The Heads of those who first began the Mutiny Wherefore a Warrant for his Death is sign'd And Order given for publick 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 t' impart ' ere Osmyn die Selim. It needs not for the King will strait be here And as to your Revenge not his own Int'rest 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 O 't is 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-liv'd 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 born devise the means to shun it Quick or by Heav'n this Dagger drinks thy Blood Selim. 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 th' approaching Danger Selim. You must still seem most resolute and fix'd On Osmyn's Death too quick a Change of Mercy Might breed Suspicion of the Cause Advise That Execution may be done in private Zara. On what Pretence Selim. 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 Int'rest 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 strangl'd 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 Enter King Gonsalez Garcia Perez King Bear to the Dungeon those Rebellious Slaves Th' ignoble Currs that yelp to fill the Cry And spend their Mouths in barking Tyranny But for their Leaders Sancho and Ramirez Let 'em be led away to present Death Perez see it perform'd Gons Might I presume Their Execution better were deferr'd Till Osmyn die Mean time we may learn more Of this Conspiracy King Then be it so Stay Soldier they shall suffer with the Moor. Are none return'd of those who follow'd Heli Gons None Sir Some Papers have been since discover'd In Roderigo's House who fled with him Which seem to intimate as if Alphonso Still alive were arming in Valentia Which wears indeed this Colour of a Truth They who are fled have that way bent their course Of the same Nature divers Notes have been Dispers'd t'amuze the People whereupon Some ready of Belief have rais'd this Rumour That being sav'd upon the Coast of Africk He there disclos'd himself to Albucacim And by a secret Compact made with him Open'd the Way to this Invasion While he himself returning to Valentia In private undertook to raise this Tumult Zara. Ha! hear'st thou that Is Osmyn then Alphonso O Heav'n a thousand things occur 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 I Yet 't were the lowest Baseness now To yield him up No I will still conceal him And try the Force of yet more Obligations Gons 'T is not impossible Yet it may be That some Impostor has usurp'd his Name Your beauteous Captive Zara can inform If such a one so ' scaping was receiv'd At any time in Albucacim's Court King Pardon fair Excellence this long Neglect An unforeseen unwelcome Hour of Business Has thrust between us and our while of Love But wearing now a-pace with ebbing Sand Will quickly waste and give again the Day Zara. You 're too secure The Danger is more imminent Than your high Courage suffers you to see While Osmyn lives you are not safe King His Doom Is pass'd if you revoke it not he dies Zara. 'T is well By what I heard upon your Entrance I find I can unfold what yet concerns You more One that did call himself Alphonso Was cast upon my Coast as is reported And oft had private Conference with the King To what Effect I knew not then But that Alphonso privately departed just About the time our Arms embark'd for Spain What I know more is That a tripple League Of strictest Friendship was profess'd between Alphonso Heli and the Traytour Osmyn King Publick Report is ratify'd in this Zara. And Osmyn's Death requir'd of strong necessity King Give Order strait that all the Pris'ners die We will our self behold the Execution Zara. Forbear a Moment somewhat more I have Worthy your private Ear and this your Minister King Let all else void the Room Garcia give Order For doubling all our Guards Command that our Militia are in Arms We will anon Ride forth and view the Order of our Troops Exeunt Garcia Perez and Attendants Zara. I am your Captive and you 've us'd me Nobly And in return of that though otherwise Your Enemy I have discover'd Osmyn His private Practice and Conspiracy Against your State and fully to discharge My self of what I 've undertaken now I think it fit to tell you that your Guards Are tainted some among 'em have resolv'd To rescue Osmyn at the Place of Death King Is Treason then so near us as our Guards Zara. Most certain though my Knowledge is not yet So ripe to point at the particular Men. King What 's to be done Zara. That too I will advise I have remaining in my Train some Mutes A Present once from the Sultana Queen In the Grand Signior's Court These from their Infancy Are practis'd in the Trade of Death and shall As there the Custom is in private strangle Osmyn Gons My Lord the Queen advises well King What Off'ring or what Recompence remains In me that can be worthy so great Services To cast beneath your Feet the Crown you 've sav'd Though on the Head that wears it were too little Zara. Of that hereafter but mean time 't is fit You order none may have Admittance to The Pris'ner but such Messengers as I Shall send King Who waits there Enter Perez On your Life take heed That only Zara's Mutes or such who bring Her Warrant have Admittance to the Moor. Zara. They and no other not the Princess self Perez Your Majesty shall be obey'd King Retire Ex. Perez Gons That Interdiction so particular Pronounc'd with Vehemence against the Princess Should have more Meaning than appears bare-fac'd The King is blinded by his Love and heeds It not 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 Gonsa Ha! King How she visit Osmin What my Daughter Sel. Madam take heed or you have ruin'd all Zara. And after did solicite you on his behalf King Never You have been mis-inform'd Zara. Indeed Then 't was a Whisper spread by some Who wish'd it so a common Art in Courts I will retire and instantly prepare Instruction for my Ministers of Death Exeunt Zara and Selim. Gons There 's somewhat yet of Mystery in this Her Words and Actions are obscure and double Sometimes concur and sometime disagree I like it not King What dost thou think Gonsalez Are we not much indebted to this fair one Gons I am a little slow of Credit Sir In the Sincerity of Womens 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 Mid-night She beg'd the Royal Signet to release him I' th' Morning he must die again e're Noon Her Mutes alone must strangle him or he 'll Escape This put together suits not well King Yet that there 's Truth in what she has discover'd Is manifest from every Circumstance This Tumult and the Lords who fled with Heli Are Confirmation That Alphonso lives Agrees expresly too with her Report Gons I grant it Sir and doubt not but in Rage Of Jealousie she has discover'd what She now repents It may be I 'm deceiv'd But why that needless Caution of the Princess What if she had seen Osmyn
Act of Horrour And of a-piece with this Day 's dire Misdeeds But 't is not yet the time to ponder or Repent Haste thee Alonzo hence with speed To aid my Son I 'll follow with the last Reserve to re-inforce his Arms at least I shall make good and shelter his Retreat Exeunt Enter Zara follow'd by Selim and Two Mutes bearing the Bowls Zara. Silence and Solitude are ev'ry where Thro' all the Gloomy Ways and Iron Doors That hither lead nor Humane Face nor Voice Is seen or heard A dreadful Din was wont To grate the Sense when entred 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 gashly Executioners Yet more this Stilness terrifies my Soul Than did that Scene of complicated Horrors It may be that the Cause and Purpose of My Errand being chang'd 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 requir'd Iv'e done And wait his coming to approve the Deed. Exit Selim What have you seen Ha! wherefore stare you thus The Mutes return and look affrighted With haggar'd 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 opens and shews the Body Ha! prostrate bloody headless O start Eyes Split Heart burst ev'ry Vein at this dire Object At once dissolve and flow meet Blood with Blood Dash your encountering Streams with mutual Violence 'Till Surges roll and foaming Billows rise And curl their Crimson Heads to kiss the Clouds Rain rain ye Stars spout from your burning Orbs Precipitated Fires and pour in sheets The blazing Torrent on the Tyrant's Head Scorch and consume the curst perfidious King Enter Selim. Selim. I 've sought in vain the King is no where to Be found Zara. Get thee to Hell and seek him there Stabs him His hellish Rage had wanted Means to act But for thy fatal and pernicious Counsel Sel. You thought it better then but I 'm rewarded The Mute you sent by some Mischance was seen And forc'd to yield your Letter with his Life I found the dead and bloody Body strip'd My Tongue faulters and my Voice fails Drink not the Poyson for Alphonso is Dies Zara. As thou art now And I shall quickly be 'T is not that he is dead for 't was decreed We both should die Nor is 't that I survive I have a Remedy for that But Oh He dy'd unknowing in my Heart He knew I lov'd 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 fix'd event of my persisting Faith Then wherefore do I pause give me the Bowl A Mute kneels and gives one of the Bowls Hover a Moment yet thou gentle Spirit Soul of my Love and I will wait thy flight This to our mutual Bliss when joyn'd above Drinks O friendly Draught already in my Heart Cold cold my Veins are Icicles and Frost I 'll creep into his Bosom lay me there Cover us close or I shall chill his Breast And fright him from my Arms See see he slides Still further from me look he hides his Face I cannot feel it quite beyond my teach O now he 's gone and all is dark Dies The Mutes kneel and mourn over her Enter Almeria and Leonora Alm. O let me seek him in this horrid Cell For in the Tomb or Prison I alone Must hope to find him Leon. Heav'ns what dismal Scene Of Death is this The Eunuch Selim slain Alm. Shew me for I am come in search of Death But want a Guide for Tears have dim'd 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 O forbear lift up your Eyes no more But haste away fly from this Fatal Place Where Miseries are multipy'd return And look not on for there 's a Dagger that Will stab the Sight and make your Eyes rain Blood Alm. O I fore-see that Object in my Mind 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 bubling from his Wounds O 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 dry'd And of a suddain I am calm as if All things were well and yet my Husband 's murder'd Yes yes I know to mourn I 'll sluce this Heart The Source of Woe and let the Torrent loose Those Men have lest to weep and look on me I hope they murder all on whom they look Behold me well your bloody Hands have err'd And wrongfully have put to Death those Innocents I am the Sacrifice design'd to bleed And come prepar'd to yield my Throat they shake Their Heads in Sign of Grief and Innocence They point at the Bowl on the Ground And point what mean they Ha! a Cup. O well I understand what Medicine has been here O noble Thirst and yet too greedy to Drink all O for another Draught of Death They point at the other Cup. Ha! point again 't is there and full I hope O thanks the liberal Hand that fill'd thee thus I 'll drink my glad Acknowledgment Leon. O hold For Mercy 's sake upon my Knees forbear Alm. With Thee the kneeling World should beg in vain Seest thou not there 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 e'er I drink Lest the rank Juice should blister on my Mouth And stain the Colour of my last Adieu Horrour a headless Trunk nor Lips nor Face Coming nearer the Body starts and lets fall the Cup. But spouting Veins and mangled Flesh O O. Enter Alphonso Heli Perez with Garcia Prisoner Guards and Attendants Alph. Away stand off where is she let me fly Save her from Death and snatch her to my Heart Alm. Oh Alph. Forbear my Arms alone shall hold her up Warm her to Life and wake her into Gladness O let me talk to thy reviving Sense The Words of Joy and Peace warm thy cold Beauties With the new-flushing Ardour of my Cheek Into thy Lips pour the soft trickling Balm Of cordial Sighs and re-inspire thy Bosom With the Breath of Love Shine awake Almeria Give a new Birth to thy long-shaded Eyes Then double on the Day reflected Light Alm. Where am I Heav'n what does this Dream intend Alph. O may'st thou never dream of less Delight Nor ever wake to less substantial Joys Alm. Giv'n me again from Death O all ye Powers Confirm this Miracle can I believe My Sight against my Sight and shall I trust That Sense which in one Instant shews him dead And living yes I will I 've been abus'd With Apparitions and affrighting Fantoms This is my Lord mâ— Life my only Husband I have him now anâ— we no more will part My Father too shall â—ave Compassion Alph. O my Heart's Comfort 't is not given to this Frail Life to be entirely bless'd Even now In this extreamest Joy my Soul can taste Yet am I dash'd to think that thou must weep Thy Father fell where he design'd my Death Gonsalez and Alonzo both of Wounds Expiring have with their last Breath confess'd The just Decrees of Heav'n in turning on Themselves their own most bloody Purposes Nay I must grant 't is fit you shou'd be thus She weeps Let 'em remove the Body from her Sight Ill-fated Zara Ha! a Cup alas Thy Errour then is plain but I were Flint Not to o'er-flow in Tribute to thy Memory She shall be Royally interr'd O Garcia Whose Virtue has renounc'd thy Father's Crimes Seest thou how just the Hand of Heav'n has been Let us that thro' our Innocence survive Still in the Paths of Honour persevere And not from past or present Ills Despair For Blessings ever wait on vertuous Deeds And tho' a late a sure Reward succeeds Exeunt Omnes EPILOGUE Spoken by M rs Bracegirdle THE Tragedy thus done I am you know No more a Princess but in statu quo And now as unconcern'd this Mourning wear As if indeed a Widow or an Heir I 've leisure now to mark your sev'ral Faces And know each Critick by his sowre Grimaces To poison Plays I see some where they sit Scatter'd like Rats-bane up an down the Pit While others watch like Parish-Searchers hir'd To tell of what Disease the Play expir'd O with what Ioy they run to spread the News Of a damn'd Poet and departed Muse But if he 'scape with what Regret they 're seiz'd And how they 're disappointed if they 're pleas'd Criticks to Plays for the same end resort That Surgeons wait on Tryals in a Court For Innocence condemn'd they 've no Respect Provided they 've a Body to dissect As Sussex Men that dwell upon the Shoar Look out when Storms arise and Billows roar Devoutly praying with up-lifted Hands That some well-laden Ship may strike the Sands To wâ—ose Rich Cargo they may make Pretence And â—â—tten on the Spoils of Providence So Criticks throng to see a New Play split And thrive and prosper on the Wrecks of Wit Small Hope our Poet from these Prospects draws And therefore to the Fair commends his Cause Your tender Hearts to Mercy are inclin'd With whom he hopes this Play will Favour find Which was an Off'ring to the Sex design'd FINIS