Alon. No more, I care not;

Rather than groan beneath this load, I'll die.

Zan. But for what better will you change this load?

Grant you should know it, would not that be worse?
Alon. No, it would cure me of my mortal pangs:
By hatred and contempt I should despise her,
And all my love-bred agonies would vanish.
Zan. Ah! were I sure of that, my lord-

Alon. What then?

Zan. You should not hazard life to gain the se

cret.

Alon. What dost thou mean? Thou know'st I'm
on the rack,

I'll not be play'd with; speak, if thou hast aught,
Or I this instant fly to Leonora.

Zan. That is, to death. My lord, I am not yet Quite so far gone in guilt to suffer it,

Tho' gone too far, Heaven knows-Tis I am guilty-
I have ta'en pains, as you, I know, observ'd,
To hinder you from diving in the secret,

And turn'd aside your thoughts from the detection.
Alon. Thou dost confound me.

Zan. I confound myself,

And frankly own it, tho' to my shame I own it:
Nought but your life in danger could have torn
The secret out, and made me own my crime.
Alon. Speak quickly; Zanga, speak.

Zan. Not yet, dread sir:

First, I must be convinc'd, that, if you find
The fair one guilty, scorn, as you assur'd me,
Shall conquer love and rage, and heal your soul.
Alon. O'twill, by Heaven.

Zan. Alas! I fear it much,

And scarce can hope so far; but I of this
Exact your solemn oath, that you'll abstain
From all self-violence, and save my lord.
Alon. I trebly swear.

Zan. You'll bear it like a man?

Alon. A god.

Zan. Such have you been to me, these tears confess it.

And pour'd forth miracles of kindness on me:
And what amends is now within my power,
But to confess, expose myself to justice,
And as a blessing claim my punishment.
Know then, Don Carlos-

Alon. Oh!

Zan. You cannot bear it.

Alon. Go on, I'll have it, though it blast mankind;

I'll have it all, and instantly, Go on.

Zan, Don Carlos did return at dead of night-

Enter LEONORA.

Leon. My Lord Alonzo, you are absent from us, And quite undo our joy.

Alon. I'll come, my love:

Be not our friends deserted by us both;

I'll follow you this moment.

Leon. My good lord,

I do observe severity of thought

Upon your brow. Aught hear you from the moors? Alon. No, my delight.

Leon. What then employ'd your mind?

Alon. Thou, love, and only thou; so Heaven befriend me,

As other thought can find no entrance here.

Leon. How good in you, my lord, whom nations'

cares

Solicit, and a world in arms obeys,

To drop one thought on me!

[He shows the utmost Impatience.

Alon. Know then, to thy comfort,

Thou hast me all, my throbbing heart is full
With thee alone, I've thought of nothing else;