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And then Alonzo is thrown out like you;

Then whom shall he condemn for his misfortune? Carlos is an Alvarez to his love.

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Kill my friend!

Or worse! Alas! and can there be a worse?
A worse there is! nor can my nature bear it.

ZANGA.

You have convinc'd me 'tis a dreadful task.
I find, Alonzo's quitting her this morning,
For Carlos' sake, in tenderness to you,
Betray'd me to believe it less severe

Than I perceive it is.

CARLOS.

Thou dost upbraid me.

ZANGA.

No, my good lord; but since you can't comply,

'Tis my misfortune that I mention'd it;

For had I not, Alonzo would indeed

Have dy'd, as now; but not by your decree.

CARLOS.

By my decree! Do I decree his death?

I do

-Shall I then lead her to his arms?

O! which side shall I take? 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,

Tho' 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.

ZANGA.

My lord, I'm bound in duty to obey you.
If I not bring him, may Alonzo prosper!

CARLOS.

[Aside.

[Exit Zanga.

What is this world?-Thy school, O misery!

Our only lesson is to learn to suffer;

And he who knows not that, was born for nothing.
Tho' deep my pangs, and heavy at my heart,
My comfort is, each moment takes away

A grain at least from the dead load that's on me,
And gives a nearer prospect of the grave.

But

put it most severely-should I live

Live long-Alas! there is no length in time;
Not in thy time, O man! What's fourscore years?

Nay, what indeed the age of time itself,

Since cut from out eternity's wide round?

Away then. To a mind resolv'd and wise,

There is an impotence in misery,

Which makes me smile, when all its shafts are in me. Yet Leonora-She can make time long;

Its nature alter, as she alter'd mine:

While in the lustre of her charms I lay,
Whole summer suns roll'd unperceiv'd away;
I years for days, and days for moments told,
And was surpriz'd to hear that I grew
Now fate does rigidly its dues regain,.
And ev'ry moment is an age of pain.

old;

As he is going out, Enter ZANGA, and ALONZO, ZANGA stops CARLOS.

ZANGA.

Is this Don Carlos? This the boasted friend?

How can you turn your back upon his sadness?
Look on him; and then leave him, if you can.
Whose sorrows thus depress him? Not his own:
This moment he could wed without your leave.

CARLOS.

I cannot yield, nor can I bear his griefs.

Alonzo!

O Carlos!

[Going to him, and taking his hand.

ALONZO.

CARLOS.

Pray, forbear.

ALONZO.

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, O! 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!

CARLOS.

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. The crime was mine,
Who placed thee there, where only thou could'st fail ;
Though well I knew that dreadful post of honour
I gave thee to maintain.

thee to maintain. Ah! who could bear

Those eyes unhurt? The wounds myself have felt, Which wounds alone should cause me to condemn thee;

They plead in thy excuse; for I too strove

To shun those fires, and found 'twas not in man.

ALONZO.

You cast in shades the failures of a friend,

And soften all; but think not you deceive me:
I know my guilt; and I implore your pardon,
As the sole glimpse I can obtain of

CARLOS.

peace.

Pardon for him who, but this morning, threw
Fair Leonora from his heart, all bath'd
in ceaseless tears, and blushing with her love?
Who, like a rose leaf, wet with morning dew,
Would have stuck close, and clung for ever there?
But 'twas in thee, through fondness to thy friend,
To shut thy bosom against ecstasies;

For which, whilst this pulse beats, it beats to thee; While this blood flows, it flows for my Alonzo;

And every wish is levell'd at thy joy.

ZANGA. [To Alonzo.]

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time to speak.

ALONZO. [To Zanga.]

Because he's kind? It therefore is the worst;
For 'tis his kindness which I fear to hurt:
Shall the same moment see him sink in woes,
And me providing for a flood of joys,
Rich in the plunder of his happiness?
No; I may die; but I can never speak.
CARLOS. [Aside.]

Now, now it comes! they are concerting it;
The first word strikes me dead-O Leonora !
And shall another taste her fragrant breath?
Who knows what after-time may bring to pass?
Fathers may change, and I may wed her still.

ALONZO. [To Zanga.]
Do I not see him quite possess'd with anguish,
Which, like a dæmon, writhes him to and fro;
And shall I pour in new? No, fond desire;
No, love! One pang at parting, and farewell:
I have no other love but Carlos now.

CARLOS.

Alas, my friend! why, with such eager grasps, Dost press my hand, and weep upon my cheek?

ALONZO.

If, after death, our forms (as some believe)

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