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
Press upon the Privacies of others Hel. Y' are truly Noble Exit Gar. Perez the King expects from our return To have his Jealousie 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 't was long since plain And every Look of his and hers confess it Gar. If so Unhappiness attends their Love And I cou'd pity ' em I hear some coming The Friends perhaps are met let us avoid ' em Exeunt Enter Almeria and Leonora Alm. It was a fancy'd Noise for all is hush'd Leo. It bore the Accent of a Humane Voice Alm. It was thy Fear or else some transient Wind Whistling thro' Hollows of this vaulted Isle We 'll listen Leo. Hark! Alm. No all is hush'd and still as Death 'T is dreadful How rev'rend is the Face of this tall Pile Whose antient Pillars rear their Marble Heads To bear aloft its arch'd and pond'rous Roof By its own Weight made stedfast and immoveable Looking Tranquility It strikes an Awe And Terror on my aking Sight the Tombs And Monumental Caves of Death look Cold And shoot a Chilness to my trembling Heart Give me thy Hand and speak to me nay speak And let me hear thy Voice My own affrights me with its Echo's Leon. Let us return the Horrour of this Place And Silence will encrease your Melancholy Alm. It may my Fears but cannot add to that No I will on shew me Anselmo's Tomb Lead me o'er Bones and Skulls and mouldring Earth Of Humane Bodies for I 'll mix with them Or wind me in the Shroud of some pale Coarse Yet green in Earth rather than be the Bride Of Garcia's more detested Bed That Thought Exerts my Spirits and my present Fears Are lost in dread of greater Ill. Shew me Lead me for I am bolder grown Lead me Where I may kneel and pay my Vows again To him to Heav'n and my Alphonso's Soul Leo. I go but Heav'n can tell with what Regret Exeunt The Scene opening discovers a Place of Tombs One Monument fronting the View greater than the rest Enter Heli. Heli I wander thro' this Maze of Monuments Yet cannot find him Hark! sure 't is the Voice Of one complaining There it sounds I 'll follow it Exit Re-Enter Almeria and Leonora Leon. Behold the Sacred Vaâ—â—t within whose Womb The poor Remains of good Anselmo rest Yet fresh and unconsum'd by Time or Worms What do I see O Heav'n either my Eyes Are false or still the Marble Door remains Unclos'd the Iron Grates that lead to Death Beneath are still wide stretch'd upon their Hinge And staring on us with unfolded Leaves Sure 't is the Friendly Yawn of Death for me And that dumb Mouth significant in Show Invites me to the Bed where I alone Shall rest shews me the Grave where Nature wearied And long oppress'd with Woes and bending Cares May lay the Burden down and sink in Slumbers Of Eternal Peace Death grim Death will fold Me in his leaden Arms and press me close To his cold clayie Breast my Father then Will cease his Tyranny and Garcia too Will fly my pale Deformity with loathing My Soul enlarg'd from its vile Bonds will mount And range the Starry Orbs and Milky Ways Of that refulgent World where I shall swim In liquid Light and float on Seas of Bliss To my Alphonso's Soul O Joy too great O Exstacy of Thought help me Anselmo Help me Alphonso take me reach thy Hand To thee to thee I call to thee Alphonso O Alphonso 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 Shrilness from the Grave And growing to his dead Father's Shrowd roots up Alphonso Alm. Mercy and Providence O speak to it Speak to it quickly quickly speak to me Comfort me help me hold me hide me hide me Leonora in thy Bosome from the Light And from my Eyes Osm. Amazement and Illusion rivet me To Earth and nail me where I stand ye Powers Câ—ming forward That motionless I may be still deceiv'd Let me not stir nor breath lest I disolve That tender lovely Form of painted Air So like Almeria Ha! it sinks it falls I 'll catch it ' ere it goes and grasp her Shade 'T is Life 't is warm 't is she 't is she her self Nor Dead nor Shade but breathing and alive It is Almeria 't is my Wife Enter Heli. Leon. O Heav'n unfold these Wonders Alas she stirs not yet nor lifts her Eyes He too is fainting help me help me Stranger Who ' ere thou art and lend thy Hand to raise These Bodies Hel. By Heav'n 't is he and with ha Almeria Almeria O Miracle of Happiness O Joy unhop'd for does Almeria live Osm. Where is she Let me behold and touch her and be sure 'T is she shew me her Face and let me feel Her Lips with mine 'T is she I 'm not deceiv'd I 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 Look on Alphonso Alm. I 've sworn I 'll not wed Garcia why d' ye force me Is this a Father Osm. Thy Father is not here nor Garcia I am Neither nor what I seem but thy Alphonso Wilt thou not know me Hast thou then forgot me Hast thou thy Eyes yet can'st not see Alphonso Am I so alter'd or art thou so chang'd That seeing my Disguise thou seest not me Alm. It is it is Alphonso 't is his Face His Voice I know him now I know him all O take me to thy Arms and bear me hence Back to the Bottom of the boundless Deep To Seas beneath where thou so long hast dwelt O how hast thou return'd How hast thou charm'd The Wildness of the Waves and Rocks to this That thus relenting they have giv'n thee back To Earth to Light and Life to Love and me Osm. O I 'll not ask nor answer how or why We both have backward trod the paths of Fate To meet again in Life to know I have thee Is knowing more than any Circumstance Or Means by which I have thee To fold thee thus to press thy balmy Lips And gaze upon thy Eyes is so much Joy I have not Leisure to reflect or know Or trifle time in thinking Alm. Let me look on thee yet a little more Osm. What would'st thou thou dost put me from thee Alm. Yes Osm. Why what dost thou mean why dost thou gaze so Alm. I know not 't is to see thy Face I think It is too much too much to bear and live To see him thus again is such profusion Of delight I cannot bear it I shall Be mad I cannot be transported thus Osm. Thou Excellence thou Joy thou Heav'n of Love Alm. Where hast thou been and how art thou alive How is all this All-powerful Heav'n what are we O
again Zara. Thou hast a Heart though 't is a savage one Give it me as it is I ask no more For all I 've done and all I have endur'd For saving thee when I beheld thee first Driv'n by the Tide upon my Country's Coast Pale and expiring drench'd in briny Waves Thou and thy Friend till my Compassion found thee Compassion scarce will it own that Name so soon So quickly was it Love for thou wert Godlike Ev'n then Kneeling on Earth I loos'd my Hair And with it dry'd thy wat'ry Cheeks chafing Thy Temples till reviving Blood arose And like the Morn vermilion'd o'er thy Face O Heav'n how did my Heart rejoice and ake When I beheld the Day-break of thy Eyes And felt the Balm of thy respiring Lips Osm. O call not to my Mind what you have done It sets a Debt of that Account before me Which shews me Bankrupt even in my Hopes Zara. The faithful Selim and my Women know The Dangers which I ' tempted to conceal you You know how I abus'd the credulous King What Arts I us'd to make you pass on him When he receiv'd you as the Prince of Fez And as my Kinsman honour'd and advanc'd you O why do I relate what I have done What did I not Was 't not for you this War Commenc'd not knowing who you were nor why You hated Manuel I urg'd my Husband On to this Invasion where he was lost Where all is lost and I am made a Slave Look on me now from Empire fall'n to Slavery Think on my Suff'ring first then look on me Think on the Cause of all then view thy self Reflect on Osmyn and then look on Zara The fall'n the lost the Captive Zara. What then is Osmyn Osm. A fatal Wretch a huge stupendous Ruine That tumbling on its Prop crush'd all beneath And bore contiguous Pallaces to Earth Zara. Yet thus thus fall'n thus levell'd with the vilest If I have gain'd thy Love 't is Glorious Ruine Ruine 't is still to reign and to be more A Queen for what are Riches Empire Power But larger Means to gratifie the Will The Steps on which we tread to rise and reach Our Wish and that obtain'd down with the Scaffolding Of Sceptres Crowns and Thrones they 've serv'd their End And are like Lumber to be left and scorn'd Osm. Why was I made the Instrument to throw In Bonds the Frame of this exalted Mind Zara. We may be free the Conquerour is mine In Chains unseen I hold him by the Heart And can unwind or strain him as I please Give me thy Love I 'll give thee Liberty Osm. In vain you offer and in vain require What neither can bestow Set free your self And leave a Slave the Wretch that would be so Zara. Thou canst not mean so poorly as thou talk'st Osm. Alas you know me not Zara. Not who thou art But what this last Ingratitude declares This groveling Baseness Thou say'st true I know Thee not for what thou art yet wants a Name But something so unworthy and so vile That to have lov'd thee makes me yet more lost Than all the Malice of my other Fate Traytour Monster cold and perfidious Slave A Slave not daring to be free nor dares To love above him for 't is dangerous 'T is that I know for thou dost look with Eyes Sparkling Desire and trembling to possess I know my Charms have reach'd thy very Soul And thrill'd thee through with darted Fires but thou Dost fear so much thou dar'st not wish The King There there 's the dreadful Sound the King 's thy Rival Selim. Madam the King is here Zara. As I could wish by Heav'n I 'll be reveng'd Enter the King Perez and Attendants King Why does the Fairest of her Kind withdraw Her shining from the Day to gild this Scene Of Death and Night Ha! what Disorder's this Somewhat I heard of King and Rival mention'd What 's he that dares be Rival to the King Or lift his Eyes to like where I adore Zara. There he your Prisoner and that was my Slave King How better than my Hopes does she accuse him Aside Zara. Am I become so low by my Captivity And do your Arms so lessen what they conquer That Zara must be made the Sport of Slaves And shall the Wretch whom yester Sun beheld Waiting my Nod the Creature of my Lord And me presume to day to plead audacious Love And build bold Hopes on my dejected Fate King Better for him to tempt the Rage of Heav'n And wrench the Bolt'red-hissing from the Hand Of him that thunders than but think that Insolence 'T is daring for a God Hence to the Wheel With that Ixion who aspires to hold Divinity embrac'd to Whips and Prisons Drag him with speed and rid me of his Face Guards carry off Osmyn Zara. Compassion led me to bemoan his State Whose former Faith had merited much more And through my Hopes in you I promis'd Freedom From his Chains thence sprung his Insolence And what was Charity he constru'd Love King Enough his Punishment be what you please But let me lead you from this Place of Sorrow To one where young Delights attend and Joys Yet new unborn and blooming in the Bud That wait to be full-blown at your Approach And spread like Roses to the Morning Sun Where ev'ry Hour shall roll in circling Joys And Love shall wing the tedious-wasting Day Life without Love is Load and Time stands still What we refuse to him to Death we give And then then only when we love we live Ex. Omnes The End of the Second Act. ACT III. SCENE I. A Prison Enter Osmyn alone with a Paper Osm. BUT now and I was clos'd within the Tomb That holds my Father's Ashes and but now Where he was Pris'ner I am too imprison'd Sure 't is the Hand of Heav'n that leads me thus And for some Purpose points out these Remembrances In a dark Corner of my Cell I found This Paper what it is this Light will show Reading If my Alphonso Ha! If my Alphonso live restore him Heav'n Give me more Weight crush my declining Years With Bolts with Chains Imprisonment and Want But bless my Son visit not him for me It is his Hand this was his Pray'r yet more Reading Let ev'ry Hair which Sorrow by the Roots Tears from my hoary and devoted Head Be doubled in thy Mercies to my Son Not for my self but him hear me all-gracious 'T is wanting what should follow Heav'n Heav'n shou'd follow But 't is torn off why should that Word alone Be torn from his Petition 'T was to Heav'n But Heav'n was deaf Heav'n heard him not but thus Thus as the Name of Heav'n from this is torn So did it tear the Ears of Mercy from His Voice shutting the Gates of Pray'r against him If Piety be thus debarr'd Access On high and of good Men the very best Is singled out to bleed and bear the Scourge What is Reward or what is Punishment But who
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