Flint O Force of constant Woe 'T is not in Harmony to calm my Griefs Anselmo sleeps and is at Peace last Night The silent Tomb receiv'd the good Old King He and his Sorrows now are safely lodg'd Within its cold but hospitable Bosom Why am not I at Peace Weeps Leon. For Heaven's sake dear Madam moderate Your Griefs there is no Cause Alm. Peace No Cause yes there is Eternal Cause And Misery Eternal will succeed Thou canst not tell thou hast indeed no Cause Leo. Believe me Madam I lament Anselmo And always did compassionate his Fortune Have often wept to see how cruelly Your Father kept in Chains his Fellow King And oft at Night when all have been retir'd Have stoll'n from Bed and to his Prison crept Where while his Gaoler slept I thro' the Grate Have softly whisper'd and enquir'd his Health Sent in my Sighs and Pray'r's for his Deliv'rance For Sighs and Pray'rs were all that I could offer Alm. Indeed thou hast a soft and gentle Nature That thus couldst melt to see a Stranger 's Wrongs O Leonora hadst thou known Anselmo How would thy Heart have bled to see his Suff'rings Thou hadst no Cause but general Compassion Leo. My Love of you my Royal Mistress gave me Cause My Love of you begot my Grief for him For I had heard that when the Chance of War Had bless'd Anselmo's Arms with Victory And the rich Spoil of all the Field and you The Glory of the whole were made the Prey Of his Success that then in spite of Hate Revenge and that Hereditary Feud Entail'd between Valentia's and Granada's Kings He did endear himself to your Affection By all the worthy and indulgent ways His most industrious Goodness could invent Proposing by a Match between Alphonso His Son the brave Valentia Prince and you To end the long Dissention and unite The Jarring Crowns Alm. O Alphonso Alphonso thou art too At Peace Father and Son are now no more Then why am I O when shall I have Rest Why do I live to say you are no more Why are all these things thus Is there necessity I must be miserable Is it of Moment to the Peace of Heav'n That I should be afflicted thus if not Why is it thus contriv'd Why are things laid By some unseen Hand so as of consequence They must to me bring Curses Grief of Heart The last Distress of Life and sure Despair Leo. Alas you search too far and think too deeply Alm. Why was I carried to Anselmo's Court Or when there why was I us'd so tenderly Why did he not use me like an Enemy For so my Father would have us'd his Child O Alphonso Alphonso Devouring Seas have wash'd thee from my sight But there 's no time shall rase thee from my Memory No I will live to be thy Monument The cruel Ocean would deprive thee of a Tomb But in my Heart thou art interr'd there there Thy dear Resemblance is for ever fixt My Love my Lord my Husband still though lost Leo. Husband O Heav'ns Alm. What have I said My Grief has hurry'd me beyond all Thought I would have kept that Secret though I know Thy Love and Faith to me deserve all Confidence But 't is the Wretches Comfort still to have Some small reserve of near and inward Woe Some unsuspected hoard of darling Grief Which they unseen may wail and weep and mourn And Glutton-like alone devour Leo. Indeed I knew not this Alm. O no thou know'st not half thou know'st nothing If thou didst If I should tell thee wouldst thou pity me Tell me I know thou wouldst thou art compassionate Leo. Witness these Tears Alm. I thank thee indeed I do I thank thee that thou 'lt pity thy sad Mistress For 't is the poor Prerogative of Greatness To be wretched and unpitied But I did promise I would tell thee What My Griefs Thou dost already know 'em And when I said thou didst know nothing It was because thou didst not know Alphonso For to have known my Loss thou must have known His Worth his Truth and Tenderness of Love Leo. The Memory of that brave Prince stands fair In all Report And I have heard imperfectly his Loss But fearful to renew your Troubles past I never did presume to ask the Story Alm. If for my â—welling Heart I can I 'll tell thee I was a welcome Captive in Valentia Ev'n on the Day when Manuel my Father Led on his conqu'ring Troops high as the Gates Of King Anselmo's Pallace which in Rage And Heat of War and dire Revenge he fir'd Whilst the good King to shun approaching Flames Started amidst his Foes and made Captivity his Refuge Would I had perish'd in those Flames But 't was not so decreed Alphonso who foresaw my Father's Cruelty Had born the Queen and me on board a Ship Ready to fail and when this News was brought We put to Sea but being betray'd by some Who knew our Flight we closely were pursu'd And almost taken when a sudden Storm Drove us and those that follow'd on the Coast Of Africk There our Vessel struck the Shore And bulging 'gainst a Rock was dash'd in pieces But Heav'n spared me for yet more Affliction Conducting them who follow'd us to shun The Shoal and save me floating on the Waves While the good Queen and my Alphonso perish'd Leo. Alas were you then wedded to Alphonso Alm. That Day that fatal Day our Hands were joyn'd For when my Lord beheld the Ship pursuing And saw her Rate so far exceeding ours He came to me and beg'd me by my Love I would consent the Priest might make us one That whether Death or Victory ensu'd I might be his beyond the Power of future Fate The Queen too did assist his Suit I granted And in one Day was wedded and a Widow Leo. Indeed 't was mournful Alm. 'T was that For which I mourn and will for ever mourn Nor will I change these black and dismal Robes Or ever dry these swoll'n and watry Eyes Or ever taste content or peace of Heart While I have Life or Memory of my Alphonso Leo. Look down good Heav'n with Pity on her Sorrows And grant that Time may bring her some Relief Alm. O no! Time gives Encrease to my Afflictions The circling Hours that gather all the Woes Which are diffus'd thro' the revolving Year Come heavy-laden with the oppressing Weight To me with me successively they leave The Sighs the Tears the Groans the restless Cares And all the Damps of Grief that did retard their Flight They shake their downy Wings and scatter all The dire collected Dews on my poor Head Then fly with Joy and Swiftness from me Leo. Heark The distant Shouts proclaim your Fathers Triumph Shouts at a Distance O cease for Heaven's Sake asswage a little This Torrent of your Grief for much I fear It will incense him thus to see you drown'd In Tears when Joy appears in every other Face Alm. And Joy he brings to every other
Receive this Lord as one whom I have found Worthy to be your Husband and my Son Gar. Thus let me kneel to take O not to take But to devote and yield my self for ever The Slave and Creature of my Royal Mistress Gons O let me prostrate pay my worthless Thanks For this high Honour King No more my Promise long since pass'd thy Loyalty And Garcia's well-try'd Valour all oblige me This Day we triumph but to morrow's Sun Shall shine on Garcia's Nuptials Alm. Oh! Faints Gar. Alas she faints help to support her Gons She recovers King A Bridal Qualm soon off How is 't Almeria Alm. A sudden Chilness 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 I 'll have a Priest shall preach her from her Faith And make it Sin not to renounce that Vow Which I 'd have broken Trumpets Enter Alonzo Offic. The 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 he Of whose mute Valour you relate such Wonders Prisoners led off Gar. Osmyn who led the Moorish Horse he does Great Sir at her Request attend 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 Dumbly declines all Offers if he speak 'T is scarce above a word as he were born Alone to do and did disdain to talk At least to talk where he must not command 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 Flourish and Enter Zara and Osmyn bound conducted by Perez and a Guard and attended by Selim and several Mutes and Eunuchs in a Train King What Welcome and what Honours beauteous Zara A King and Conquerour can give are yours A Conquerour indeed where you are won Who with such Lustre strike admiring Eyes That had our Pomp been with your Presence grac'd Th' expecting Crowd had been deceiv'd and seen Their Monarch enter not Triumphant but In Triumph led your Beauty's Slave Zara. If I on any Terms could condescend To like Captivity or think those Honours Which Conquerours in Courtesie bestow Of equal Value with unborrow'd Rule And Native Right to Arbitrary Sway I might be pleas'd when I behold this Train With usual Homage wait But when I feel These Bonds I look with loathing on my self And scorn vile Slavery tho' doubly hid Beneath Mock-Praises and dissembled State King Those Bonds 't was my Command you should be free How durst you Perez disobey me Perez Great Sir Your Order was she should not wait your Triumph But at some distance follow thus attended King 'T is false 't was more I bad she should be free If not in Words I bad it by my Eyes Her Eyes did more than bid free her and hers With speed yet stay my Hands alone can make Fit restitution here Thus I release you And by releasing you enslave my self Zara. Favours conferr'd tho' when unsought deserve Acknowledgment from Noble Minds Such Thanks As one hating to be oblig'd Yet hating more Ingratitude can pay I offer King Born to excel and to command As by transcendent Beauty to attract All Eyes so by Preheminence of Soul To rule all Hearts Garcia what 's he who with contracted Brow Beholding Osmyn as they unbind him And sullen Port glooms downward with his Eyes At once regardless of his Chains or Liberty Gar. That Sir is Osmyn King He answers well the Character you gave him Whence comes it valiant Osmyn that a Man So great in Arms as thou art said to be So ill can brook Captivity The common Chance of War Osm. Because Captivity has robb'd me of a just Revenge King I understand not that Osm. I would not have you Zara. 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 't is as I suspected To Gons Gons That Friend may be her self show no Resentment Of his Arrogance yet she looks concern'd King I 'll have Enquiry made his Friend may be A Prisoner His Name Zar. Heli. King Garcia be it your Care to make that search It shall be mine to pay Devotion here At this fair Shrine to lay my Laurels down And raise Love's Altar on the Spoils of War Conquest and Triumph now are mine no more Nor will I Victory in Camps adore For ling'ring there in long suspence she stands Shifting the Prize in unresolving Hands Unus'd to wait I broke through her Delay Fix'd her by Force and snatch'd the doubtful Day But late I find that War is but her Sport In Love the Goddess keeps her awful Court Fickle in Fields unsteadily she flyes But rules with settled Sway in Zara's Eyes Ex. Omnes The End of the First Act. ACT II. SCENE I. Representing the I le of a Temple Enter Garcia Heli and Perez Gar. THis Way we 're told Osmyn was seen to walk Choosing this lonely Mansion of the Dead To mourn brave Heli thy mistaken Fate Hel. Let Heav'n with Thunder to the Centre strike me If to arise in very deed from Death And to revisit with my long-clos'd Eyes This living Light could to my Soul or Sense Afford a Thought or Glimpse of Joy In least Proportion to the vast Delight I feel to hear of Osmyn's Name to hear That Osmyn lives and I again shall see him Gar. Unparalell'd Fidelity I 've heard with Admiration of your Friendship And could with equal Joy and Envy view The transports of your meeting Perez Yonder my Lord behold the Noble Moor. Hel. Where where Gar. I see him not Per. I saw him when I spoke thwarting my View And striding with distemper'd Haste his Eyes Seem'd Flame and flash'd upon me with a Glance Then forward shot their Fires which he pursu'd As to some Object frightful yet not fear'd Gar. Let 's haste to follow him and know the Cause Hel. My Lord let me entreat 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 Passions 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 Gen'rous Heli and relieve your Friend Far be it from me officiously to pry Or
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