And then my master-works begin to play.

Why that was greatly done, without one sigh [To Carlos. To carry such a glory to its period.

CARLOS.

Too soon thou praisest me. He's gone; and now

I must unsluice my over-burden'd heart,
And let it flow: I would not grieve my friend
With tears, nor interrupt my great design;
Great, sure, as ever human breast durst think of.
But now my sorrows, long with pain supprest,
Burst their confinement with impetuous sway,
O'erswell all bounds, and bear e'en life away:
So, till the day was won, the Greek renown'd,
With anguish wore the arrow in his wound;
Then drew the shaft from out his tortur'd side,
Let gush the torrent of his blood, and dy'd. [Exeunt.

ACT III.

SCENE I.

Enter ZANGA and ISABELLA.

ZANGA.

JOY, thou welcome stranger! twice three years

heart;

I have not felt thy vital beam; but now
It warms my veins, and plays around my
A fiery instinct lifts me from the ground,
And I could mount-The spirits numberless
Of my dear countrymen, which yesterday
Left their poor bleeding bodies on the field,
Are all assembled here, and o'er inform me
O bridegroom! great indeed thy present bliss ;
Yet ev❜n by me unenvy'd; for be sure

It is thy last, thy last smile, that which now
Sits on thy cheek; enjoy it whilst thou may'st;
Anguish, and groans, and death, bespeak to-morrow.
My Isabella!

!

ISABELLA.

What commands my Moor?

ZANGA.

My fair ally my lovely minister!

'Twas well Alvarez, by my arts impell'd,

(To plunge Don Carlos in the last despair, And so prevent all future molestation)

Finish'd the nuptials soon as he resolv'd them;

This conduct ripen'd all for me, and ruin.
Scarce had the priest the holy rite perform'd,
When I, by sacred inspiration, forg'd

That letter, which I trusted to thy hand;
That letter, which, in glowing terms, conveys,
From happy Carlos to fair Leonora,

The most profound acknowledgment of heart
For wond'rous transports, which he never knew.
This is a good subservient artifice,

To aid the nobler workings of my brain.

ISABELLA.

I quickly dropt it in the bride's apartment,
As you commanded.

ZANGA.

With a lucky hand;

For soon Alonzo found it. I observ'd him
From out my secret stand: He took it up;
But scarce was it unfolded to his sight,
When he, as if an arrow pierc'd his eye,
Started, and, trembling, dropt it on the ground.
Pale and aghast awhile my victim stood,
Disguis'd a sigh or two, and puff'd them from him;
Then rubb'd his brow, and took it up again :
At first he look'd as if he meant to read it;

But, check'd by rising fears, he crush'd it thus ;
And thrust it, like an adder, in his bosom.

ISABELLA.

But if he read it not, it cannot sting him;

At least not mortally.

ZANGA.

At first I thought it so;

But farther thought informs me otherwise,
And turns this disappointment to account.
He more shall credit it, because unseen,
(If 'tis unseen as thou anon may'st find.

ISABELLA.

That would indeed commend my Zanga's skill.

ZANGA.

This, Isabella, is Don Carlos' picture;
Take it, and so dispose of it, that, found,
It may rise up a witness of her love,
Under her pillow, in her cabinet,

Or elsewhere, as shall best promote our end.

ISABELLA.

I'll weigh it as its consequence requires ;

Then do my utmost to deserve your smile. [Exit Isab.

ZANGA.

Is that Alonzo prostrate on the ground?

Now he starts up like flame from sleeping embers,
And wild distraction glares from either eye.

If thus a slight surmise can work his soul,
How will the fulness of the tempest tear him!

Enter ALONZO.

ALONZO.

And yet it cannot be-I am deceiv'd

I injure her: She wears the face of heav'n.

He doubts.

ZANGA. [Aside.]

ALONZO,

I dare not look on this again:
If the first glance, which gave suspicion only,
Had such effect, so smote my heart and brain,

The certainty would dash me all to pieces.
It cannot-Ha! it must, it must be true.

ZANGA. [Aside.]

[Starts.

Hold there, and we succeed. He has descry'd me,

And (for he thinks I love him) will unfold

His aching heart, and rest it on my counsel.
I'll seem to go, to make my stay more sure.

I see that thou art frighted:

If thou dost love me, I shall fill thy heart

With scorpions stings,

ZANGA.

If I do love, my lord!

ALONZO.

Come near me; let me rest upon thy bosom; (What pillow like the bosom of a friend?)

For I am sick at heart.

ZANGA.

Speak, Sir, O speak,

And take me from the rack.