Thy anger could not pierce thus to my heart. Zara. Haste me to know it: what? Osm. And thy excessive love distracts my sense. O, wouldst thou be less killing, soft, or kind, Osm. That at this time I had not been this Grief could not double thus his darts against me thing. Zara. What thing? Osm. This slave. Zara. O, heav'n; my fears interpret Alm. Thou dost me wrong, and grief too robs my heart, If there he shoot not ev'ry other shaft: I am thy wife This thy silence; somewhat of high concern,And woe should be in equal portions dealt. to come, Which, wing'd with liberty, might overtake Occasion past. Zora. Swift as occasion, I Myself will fly; and earlier than the morn Osm. I have not merited this grace; To give than I've already lost. But now, Osm. This woman has a soul [Exit. Of godlike mould, intrepid and commanding, But she has passions which outstrip the wind, My life, my health, my liberty, my all! 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 piecemeal 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, 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? Why 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. Didst not thou 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 Is this dark cell a temple for that god? woes; How run into thy arms withheld by fetters? Is this to call thee mine? O hold, my heart! acled And pinion'd like a thief or murderer? Thou told'st me thou wouldst 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. Oh! 0 Alm. Give me that sigh. Why dost thou heave, and stifle in thy griefs? Thy heart will burst, thy eyes look red and start; Thee mine, were comfort, joy, extremest ecstasy. Alm. No, not that Th' extremest malice of our fate can hinder: Osm. O, thou dost talk, my love, as one resolv'd, Because not knowing danger. But look forward; Think of to-morrow, when thou shalt be torn From these weak, struggling, unextended arms: Think how my heart will heave, and eyes will strain, Give thy soul way, and tell me thy dark thought. wound thy breast With such a dagger as then struck my heart. Than knowing thou hast felt it. Tell it me- And dash my face, and rive my clotted hair. Thou giv'st me pain with too much tenderness. Break on this flinty floor my throbbing breast. And grovel with gash'd hands to scratch a grave, | And will indulge it now. What miseries? Alm. Heart-breaking horror! bosom, Luxurious, revelling amidst thy charms; O my Almeria ! What do the damn'd endure, but to despair, Which shot into my breast now melt and Enter ZARA, PEREZ, and SELIM. his freedom. Dare you dispute the king's command? Behold Per. I obey; yet beg Your majesty one moment to defer Zara. Ha! What say'st thou? [Aside to Zara. [Aside to Perez. Osm. We are lost! undone, discover'd! Speak of compassion, let her hear you speak Of interceding for me with the king; Say something quickly to conceal our loves, If possible[Aside to Almeria. Alm. I cannot speak. [Aside to Osmyn. Osm. Let me Osm. Come, 'tis too much. Osm. How, madam? Zara. Thou liest, for now I know for whom Osm. Then you may know for whom I'd die. Yet I'll be calm-Dark and unknown betrayer! Osm. You may be still deceiv'd; 'tis in my Chain'd as I am, to fly from all my wrongs, Zara. Ha! say'st thou-But I'll prevent it. Who waits there? As you will answer it, look this slave [To the Guard. [Aside to Almeria. Heav'n has no rage like love to hatred turn'd, Zara. Trembling and weeping as he leads Nor hell a fury like a woman scorn'd. her forth! Confusion in his face, and grief in hers! [Aside. ACT IV. [Exeunt. SCENE I-A Room of State. Enter ZARA and SELIM. Zara. Thou hast already rack'd me with thy stay; Osm. This charity to one unknown, and thus [Aloud to Almeria, as she is going. Distress'd, heav'n will repay: all thanks are poor. Therefore require me not to ask thee twice: [Exit Almeria. Reply at once to all. What is concluded? Zara. Damn'd, damn'd dissembler! Yet I Sel. Your accusation highly has incens'd The king, and were alone enough to urge Choke in my rage, and know the utmost depth The fate of Osmyn; but to that, fresh news Of this deceiver [Aside] - You seem much Has since arriv'd, of more revolted troops. 'Tis certain Heli too is fled, and with him (Which breeds amazement and distraction) Who bore high offices of weight and trust, Zara. Ha! haste thee! fly, prevent his fate Find out the king, tell him I have of weight And as to your revenge, not his own int'rest, Zara. What shall I say? Invent, contrive, Have I? Yet 'twere the lowest baseness, now advise To yield him up-No, I will still conceal him, Somewhat to blind the king, and save his life And try the force of yet more obligations. la whom I live. Devise the means to shun it, [Aside. Quick; or, by heav'n, this dagger drinks thy Gon. 'Tis not impossible. Yet it may be That some impostor has usurp'd his name. Sel. My life is yours, nor wish I to pre-Your beauteous captive, Zara, can inform blood. serve 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 the approaching danger? Sel. 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 Set. Your own request's enough. And some of them bought off to Osmyn's interest, Who, at the place of execution, will Then offer to the king to have him strangled I can no more, the king is here. Obtain This grant-and I'll acquaint you with the [Exit. rest. Enter KING, GONSALEZ, and PEREZ. King. Bear to the dungeon those rebellious slaves: But for their leaders, Sancho and Ramirez, Let 'em be led away to present death. Perez, see it perform'd. Gon. Might I presume, Their execution better were deferr'd, If such a one, so 'scaping, was receiv'd King. Pardon, fair excellence, this long neg lect; An unforeseen, unwelcome hour of business, Has thrust between us and our while of love; But wearing now apace 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: Is pass'd: if you revoke it not, he dies. I find I can unfold what yet concerns King. Public report is ratified in this. King. Give order straight that all the pris'ners die, Zara. Forbear a moment, somewhat more I have Worthy your private ear, and this your minister. . King. Let all, except Gonsalez, leave the room. [Exeunt Perez, etc. Zara. I am your captive, and you've us'd me nobly; Til Osmyn die. Mean time we may learn more And in return of that, though otherwise Of this conspiracy. King. Then be it so. Stay, soldier; they shall suffer with the Moor. Are none return'd of those that follow'd Heli? Gon. None, sir. Some papers have been since discover'd In Roderigo's house, who fled with him, Which seem to intimate, as if Alphonso Were still alive, and arming in Valencia: Which wears indeed this colour of a truth, They who have fled have that way bent their course. Of the same nature divers notes have been O certain death for him, as sure despair Your enemy, I think it fit to tell you, that your guards Zara. Most certain; though my knowledge is not yet So ripe, to point at the particular men. I have remaining in my train some mutes, Are practis'd in the trade of death; and shall (As there the custom is) in private strangle Osmyn. Gon. My lord, the queen advises well. King. What off'ring, or what recompense 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, What if she had seen Osmyn? though 'twere On King. Who waits there? your Enter PEREZ. life take heed, That only Zara's mutes, or such who bring Per. Your majesty shall be obey'd. The king is blinded by his love, and heeds The last restraint; you hardly can suspect Gon. Ila! King. How? She visit Osmyn! What, my Affection to revolt. King. I thank thee, friend; There's reason in thy doubt, and I am warn'd. Gon. If Osmyn be, as Zara has related, That like a sudden earthquake shakes my frame. Twere not amiss to question her a little, meria; Enter ALMERIA and LEONORA. King. Your coming has prevented me, AlI had determin'd to have sent for you. Sel. Madam, take heed; or you have ruin'd Let your attendant be dismiss'd; I have [Aside to Zara. daughter? all. [Leonora retires. Zara. And after did solicit you on his To talk with you. Come near; why dost thou Behalf Her words and actions are obscure and double, King. What dost thou think, Gonsalez; Is manifest from every circumstance. shake? What mean those swoln and red-fleck'd eyes, As they had wept in blood, and worn the night Alm. All days to me Henceforth are equal: this the day of death, King. Whence is thy grief? Give me to And look thou answer me with truth; for know Alm. What is't to speak? or wherefore They mean thy guilt; and say thou wert con- With damn'd conspirators to take my life. Gon. I grant it, sir; and doubt not, but in Thy face, imploring thee that thou wilt yield; rage Of jealousy, she has discover'd what She now repenis. It may be I'm deceiv'd: Open thy bowels of compassion, take But why that needless caution of the princess?--I have no parent else-be thou a mother, And step between me and the curse of him, Acquit thyself of those detested names, King. Vile equivocating wretch! 'it! Confesses it! By heav'n, I'll have him rack'd, tortures That wit of man and dire revenge can. think, Alm. Cursed be that rogue that bids me be of comfort! Cursed my own tongue, that could not move his pity! Alm. O, I am lost there fate begins to Cursed these weak hands, that could not hold wound. King. Hear me; then, if thou canst, reply: I'm not to learn that curs'd Alphonso lives: Since thou'rt reveal'd, alone thou shalt not die: him here! And deludes your sense. Alphonso, if living, But doubly thou, who couldst alone have po- And fraud, to find the fatal secret out, Alm. Why dost thou start? what dost thou What, dar'st thou to my face avow thy guilt? 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. For on my soul he dies, though thou and I, Re-enter LEONORA and Women. fl not let go till you have spar'd my husband. Alm. O [Faints. Gasping as it would speak; and after see! [Exeunt Almeria and Leonora. Gon. She's greatly griev'd: nor am I less surpris'd. Osmyn Alphonso! no; she over-rates Nor now had known it, but from her mistake. To grace the line of my posterity? Hold, let me think-if I should tell the kingThings come to this extremity; his daughter Wedded already-what if he should yield? Knowing no remedy for what is past; And urg'd by nature pleading for his child, With which he seems to be already shaken. And though I know he hates beyond the grave Anselmo's race; yet if that if concludes me. To doubt, when I may be assur'd, is folly. He shall be mine still, and for ever mine. But how prevent the captive queen, who means King. What husband? whom dost thou To set him free? Ay, now 'tis plain: O, well Let me go, let me fall, sink deep-I'll dig, mean? Gon. She raves! Invented tale! He was Alphonso's friend. |