ALONZO.

O agony !

Must I not only lose her, but be made
Myself the instrument? Not only die,
But plunge the dagger in my heart myself?
This is refining on calamity.

LEONORA.

What! do you tremble lest you should be mine?
For what else can you tremble? Not for that
My father places in your power to alter.

ALONZO.

What's in my power?-O yes, to stab my friend!

LEONORA.

To stab your friend were barbarous indeed!
Spare him and murder me-I own, Alonzo,
You may well wonder at such words as these;
I start at them myself; they fright my nature:
Great is my fault; but blame not me alone:
Give him a little blame, who took such pains
To make me guilty.

ALONZO.
Torment!

[After a pause, Leonora speaks.

LEONORA.

O my shame!

I sue, and sue in vain; it is most just:
When women sue, they sue to be deny'd.
You hate me, you despise me: You do well:
For what I've done, I hate and scorn myself.
O night fall on me! I shall blush to death.

First perish all.

ALONZO.

LEONORA

Say: what have you resolv'd

My father comes; what answer will you give him?

ALONZO.

What answer? Let me look upon that face,
And read it there-Devote thee to another!
Not to be borne! A second look undoes me.

LEONORA.

And why undo you? Is it then, my lord,
So terrible to yield to your own wishes,
Because they happen to concur with mine?
Cruel! to take such pains to win a heart,
Which you was conscious you must break with parting.
ALONZO. [Runs and embraces her.]

No, Leonora; I am thine for ever,

In spite of Carlos.-Ha! Who's that? My friend !

[Starts wide from her.

Alas! I see him pale; I hear his groans:

He foams, he tears his hair, he raves, he bleeds; (I know him by myself) he dies distracted.

LEONORA.

How dreadful to be cut from what we love!

Ah! speak no more.

ALONZO.

LEONORA.

And ty'd to what we hate

Yes, take a limb; but let my virtue 'scape.
Alas! my soul, this moment I die for thee.

LEONORA.

[Breaks away.

And are you perjur'd then for virtue's sake?
How often have you sworn! But go for ever.-

ALONZO.

Heart of my heart, and essence of my joy!

[Swoons.

Where art thou?—O, I'm thine, and thine for ever!
The groans of friendship shall be heard no more;
For whatsoever crimes I can commit,

I've felt the pains already.

LEONORA.

Hold, Alonzo;

And hear a maid, whom doubly thou hast conquer'd:

I love thy virtue, as I love thy person;

And I adore thee for the pain it gave me :
But as I felt the pain, I'll reap the fruit;
I'll shine out in my turn, and shew the world
Thy great example was not lost upon me.

Be it enough, that I have once beeg
In sight of such a pattern, to persist
Ill suits a person honour't w
My other titles to that his ant weas
I must deserve it by refusing it
Thus then I tear the fron

Shall I contribute t

No, though the life-c

You shall not be asha

Or, that late time may pr
Nay, never shrink; take
You lately lent: O take

While I can give it you, and ne

ALONZE.

She's gone, and I shall see that:
But pine in absence, and til. ac
When with cold dew my fam
And my eyes darken, from
Hame will tremble

And Love, with Fate,

Yes, take a limb; but let my virtue 'scape.
Alas! my soul, this moment I die for thee.

LEONORA.

[Breaks away.

And are you perjur'd then for virtue's sake?
How often have you sworn! But

ALONZO.

Heart of my heart, and essence of

go

for ever.

[Swoons.

my joy!

Where art thou ?—O, I'm thine, and thine for ever!

The

groans of friendship shall be heard no more; For whatsoever crimes I can commit,

I've felt the pains already.

LEONORA.

Hold, Alonzo;

And hear a maid, whom doubly thou hast conquer'd:

I love thy virtue, as I love thy person;

And I adore thee for the pain it gave me :
But as I felt the pain, I'll reap the fruit;
I'll shine out in my turn, and shew the world
Thy great example was not lost upon me.