Edward Young

“ My lord, my lord, why will you rack my soul? Alon. Oh, she was all! My fame, my friendship, and my love of arms, All stoop'd to her; my blood was her possession. Deep in the secret foldings of my heart She liv'd with life, and far the dearer she: To think on't is the torment of the damn'd, And not to think on't is impossible. Zan. You said you'd bear it like a man. Alon. I do. Am I not most distracted? Zan. Pray, be calm. Alon. As hurricanes:—be thou assur'd of that. Zan. Is this the wise Alonzo? ”

“ Alonzo, pardon me the injury Of loving you. I struggled with my passion, And struggled long: let that be some excuse. Alon. Unkind! you know I think your love a blessing Beyond all human blessings! 'tis the price Of sighs and groans, and a whole year of dying. But, oh, the curse of curses!—Oh, my friend!— Leon. Alas! Alon. What says my love? speak, Leonora. Leon. Was it for you, my lord, to be so quick In finding out objections to our love? ”

“ Oh, Carlos! Car. Pray, forbear. Alon. Art thou undone, and shall Alonzo smile? Alonzo, who, perhaps, in some degree Contributed to cause thy dreadful fate? I was deputed guardian of thy love; But, oh! I lov'd myself! Pour down, afflictions! On this devoted head; make me your mark; And be the world by my example taught, How sacred it should hold the name of friend. Car. You charge yourself unjustly: well I know The only cause of my severe affliction. Alvarez, curs'd Alvarez!—So much anguish Felt for so small a failure, is one merit Which faultless virtue wants. ”

“ What says my lord? Did Leonora then Never before disclose her passion for you? Alon. Never. Zan. Throughout the whole three years? Alon. O never! never! Why, Zanga, shouldst thou strive? 'Tis all in vain: Though thy soul labours, it can find no reed For hope to catch at. Ah! I'm plunging down Ten thousand thousand fathoms in despair. Zan. Hold, sir, I'll break your fall—wave ev'ry fear, And be a man again—Had he enjoy'd her, Be most assur'd, he had resign'd her to you With less reluctance. ”

“ The blood will follow where the knife is driven, The flesh will quiver where the pincers tear, And sighs and cries by nature grow on pain. But these are foreign to the soul: not mine The groans that issue, or the tears that fall; They disobey me; on the rack I scorn thee, As when my falchion clove thy helm in battle. Alv. Peace, villain! Zan. While I live, old man, I'll speak. And, well I know, thou dar'st not kill me yet; For that would rob thy blood-hounds of their prey. Alon. Who call'd Alonzo? Alv. No one call'd, my son. Alon. Again!—'Tis Carlos' voice, and I obey. ”

“ I have turn'd o'er the catalogue of human woes, Which sting the heart of man, and find none equal. It is the hydra of calamities, The sev'nfold death; the jealous are the damn'd. Oh, jealousy, each other passion's calm To thee, thou conflagration of the soul! Thou king of torments, thou grand counterpoise For all the transports beauty can inspire! Isa. Alonzo comes this way. ”

“ Is this Alonzo? Where's the haughty mien? Is that the hand which smote me? Heavens, how pale! And art thou dead? So is my enmity. I war not with the dust. The great, the proud, The conqueror of Afric was my foe. A lion preys not upon carcases. This was thy only method to subdue me. Terror and doubt fall on me: all thy good Now blazes, all thy guilt is in the grave. Never had man such funeral applause: If I lament thee, sure thy worth was great. Oh, vengeance, I have follow'd thee too far, And to receive me, hell blows all her fires. ”

“ Alonzo loves; I pity him. Zan. I dare be sworn you do. Yet he has other thoughts. Car. What canst thou mean? Zan. Indeed he has; and fears to ask a favour A stranger from a stranger might request; What costs you nothing, yet is all to him: Nay, what indeed will to your glory add, For nothing more than wishing your friend well. Car. I pray be plain; his happiness is mine. Zan. He loves to death; but so reveres his friend, He can't persuade his heart to wed the maid Without your leave, and that he fears to ask. ”

“ My Alonzo! Since thy great soul disdains to make request, Receive with favour that I make to thee. Alon. What means my Carlos? Car. Pray observe me well. Fate and Alvarez tore her from my heart, And, plucking up my love, they had well nigh Pluck'd up life too, for they were twin'd together. Of that no more—What now does reason bid? I cannot wed—Farewell, my happiness! But, O my soul, with care provide for hers! In life, how weak, how helpless, is a woman! ”

“ Our life is but a chain of many deaths; Can then death's self be fear'd? our life much rather. Life is the desert, life the solitude. Death joins us to the great majority: 'Tis to be borne to Platos and to Cæsars; 'Tis to be great for ever; 'Tis pleasure, 'tis ambition, then to die. Zan. I think, my lord, you talk'd of death. Alon. I did. Zan. I give you joy, then Leonora's dead. Alon. No, Zanga; to shed a woman's blood Would stain my sword, and make my wars inglorious ”

“ Another, slew a sister in just rage; A third, the theme of all succeeding times, Gave to the cruel axe a darling son: Nay more, for justice some devote themselves, As he at Carthage, an immortal name! Yet there is one step left above them all, Above their history, above their fable: A wife, bride, mistress, unenjoy'd—do that, And tread upon the Greek and Roman glory. Alon. 'Tis done!—Again new transports fire my brain: I had forgot it, 'tis my bridal night. Friend, give me joy, we must be gay together; See that the festival be duly honour'd. ”

“ Now she, with violence, Upbraids him; he, not doubting she is guilty, Rages no less; and if on either side The waves run high, there still lives hope of ruin. Re-enter Alonzo. My lord— Alon. Oh, Zanga, hold thy peace! I am no coward; But heav'n itself did hold my hand; I felt it, By the well-being of my soul, I did. I'll think of vengeance at another season. Zan. My lord, her guilt— Alon. Perdition on thee, Moor, For that one word! Ah, do not rouse that thought! I have o'erwhelm'd it much as possible: I tell thee, Moor, I love her to distraction. If 'tis my shame, why, be it so—I love her ”

“ But when he finds Alonzo is no more, How will he rush, like lightning, to her arms! There sigh, there languish, there pour out his soul; But not in grief—sad obsequies to thee!— But thou wilt be at peace, nor see, nor hear, The burning kiss, the sigh of ecstasy, Their throbbing hearts that jostle one another: Thank heaven, these torments will be all my own. Alon. I'll ease thee of that pain. Let Carlos die; O'ertake him on the road, and see it done. 'Tis my command. ”

“ Re-enter Zanga. Zan. How stands the great account 'twixt me and vengeance? Though much is paid, yet still it owes me much, And I will not abate a single groan— Ha! that were well—but that were fatal too— Why, be it so—Revenge so truly great, Would come too cheap, if bought with less than life. Re-enter Isabella. Isa. Ah, Zanga, see me tremble! has not yet Thy cruel heart its fill?—Poor Leonora— Zan. Welters in blood, and gasps for her last breath. What then? we all must die. Isa. Alonzo raves, And, in the tempest of his grief, has thrice Attempted on his life. ”

“ Enter Leonora. Alon. When nature ends with anguish like to this, Sinners shall take their last leave of the sun, And bid his light adieu. Leon. The mighty conqueror Dismay'd! I thought you gave the foe your sorrows. Alon. Oh, cruel insult! are those tears your sport, Which nothing but a love for you could draw? Afric I quell'd, in hope by that to purchase Your leave to sigh unscorn'd; but I complain not; 'Twas but a world, and you are—Leonora. Leon. That passion which you boast of is your guilt, A treason to your friend. ”

“ Daughter, the happiness of life depends On our discretion, and a prudent choice. Look into those they call unfortunate, And, closer view'd, you'll find they are unwise: Some flaw in their own conduct lies beneath. Don Carlos is of ancient, noble blood, And then his wealth might mend a prince's fortune. For him the sun is lab'ring in the mines, A faithful slave, and turning earth to gold: His keels are freighted with that sacred pow'r, By which e'en kings and emperors are made. Sir, you have my good wishes, and I hope My daughter is not indispos'd to hear you. ”

“ Be stabb'd, or—stab? 'Tis equal death! a choice of agonies!—— Ah, no!—all other agonies are ease To one—O Leonora!—never, never! Go, Zanga, go, defer the dreadful trial, Though but a day; something, perchance, may happen To soften all to friendship and to love. Go, stop my friend, let me not see him now; But save us from an interview of death. Zan. My lord, I'm bound in duty to obey you—— If I not bring him, may Alonzo prosper! ”

“ Is that my hope, then?—Sure, the sacred dust Of her that bore me trembles in its urn. Is it in man the sore distress to bear, When hope itself is blacken'd to despair? When all the bliss I pant for, is to gain In hell, a refuge from severer pain? ”

“ In the mean time, enter Don Alvarez, attended. They disarm and
seize Zanga, Alonzo puts the dagger in his bosom. Alon. No, monster, thou shalt not escape by death. Oh, father! Alv. Oh, Alonzo!—Isabella, Touch'd with remorse to see her mistress' pangs, Told all the dreadful tale. Alon. What groan was that? Zan. As I have been a vulture to thy heart, So will I be a raven to thine ear, As true as ever snuff'd the scent of blood, As ever flapp'd its heavy wing against The window of the sick, and croak'd despair. Thy wife is dead. ”

“ Hope, thou hast told me lies from day to day, For more than twenty years; vile promiser! None here are happy, but the very fool, Or very wise: I am not fool enough To smile in vanities, and hug a shadow; Nor have I wisdom to elaborate An artificial happiness from pains: Ev'n joys are pains, because they cannot last. ”

“ How many lift the head, look gay and smile, Against their consciences? And this we know, Yet, knowing, disbelieve, and try again What we have try'd, and struggle with conviction. Each new experience gives the former credit; And rev'rend grey threescore is but a voucher, That thirty told us true. Zan. My noble lord, I mourn your fate: but are no hopes surviving? Car. No hopes. Alvarez has a heart of steel. 'Tis fix'd—'tis past—'tis absolute despair! Zan. You wanted not to have your heart made tender, By your own pains, to feel a friend's distress. ”

“ For heav'n's sweet sake, my lord, lift up your heart. Some foe to your repose— Alon. So, heaven look on me, As I can't find the man I have offended. Zan. Indeed! [aside] —Our innocence is not our shield. They take offence, who have not been offended; They seek our ruin too, who speak us fair, And death is often ambush'd in their smiles. 'Tis certain A letter may be forg'd, and in a point Of such a dreadful consequence as this, One would rely on nought that might be false— Think, have you any other cause to doubt her? ”

“ Alas, my lord, 'Tis not your reason, but her beauty, finds Those arguments, and throws you on your sword. You cannot close an eye that is so bright, You cannot strike a breast that is so soft, That has ten thousand ecstasies in store— For Carlos?—No, my lord, I mean for you. Alon. Oh, through my heart and marrow! pr'ythee, spare me, Nor more upbraid the weakness of thy lord: I own, I try'd, I quarrell'd with my heart, And push'd it on, and bid it give her death; But, oh, her eyes struck first and murder'd me. Zan. I know not what to answer to my lord. Men are but men ”

“ My lord, I love Your very errors; they are born from virtue. Your friendship (and what nobler passion claims The heart?) does lead you blindfold to your ruin. Consider, wherefore did Alvarez break Don Carlos' match, and wherefore urge Alonzo's? 'Twas the same cause, the love of wealth. To-morrow May see Alonzo in don Carlos' fortune; A higher bidder is a better friend, And there are princes sigh for Leonora. When your friend's gone, you'll wed; why, then the cause Which gives you Leonora now, will cease. Carlos has lost her ”

“ If you forgive, the world will call you good; If you forget, the world will call you wise; If you receive her to your grace again, The world will call you—very, very kind. Alon. Zanga, I understand thee well. She dies ”

“ Man. My lord don Carlos, what brings your express? Car. Alonzo's glory, and the Moor's defeat. The field is strew'd with twice ten thousand slain, Though he suspects his measures were betray'd, He'll soon arrive. Oh, how I long t' embrace The first of heroes, and the best of friends! I lov'd fair Leonora long before The chance of battle gave me to the Moors, From whom so late Alonzo set me free; And while I groan'd in bondage, I deputed This great Alonzo, whom her father honours, To be my gentle advocate in love, To stir her heart, and fan its fires for me. Man. ”

“ The maid that loves, Goes out to sea upon a shatter'd plank, And puts her trust in miracles for safety. Where shall I sigh?—where pour out my complaint? He that should hear, should succour, should redress, He is the source of all. ”

“ What is revenge, but courage to call in Our honour's debts, and wisdom to convert Others' self-love into our own protection? ”

“ Who would not think that being innocent? Where shall I strike? who strikes her, strikes himself. My own life-blood will issue at her wound. But see, she smiles! I never shall smile more; It strongly tempts me to a parting kiss. ”

“ Is not her fame as spotless as the sun, Her sex's envy, and the boast of Spain? Alon. O, Zanga! it is that confounds me most, That, full in opposition to appearance— Zan. No more, my lord, for you condemn yourself. What is absurdity, but to believe Against appearance!—You can't yet, I find, Subdue your passion to your better sense;— And, truth to tell, it does not much displease me. 'Tis fit our indiscretions should be check'd With some degree of pain. ”