Shall be transparent, naked every thought,

And friends meet friends, and read each other's hearts

Thou❜lt know, one day, that thou wast held most dear. Farewell.

CARLOS.

Alonzo, stay-He cannot speak

[Holds him.

[Aside.

Lest it should grieve me—Shall I be outdone?

And lose in glory, as I lose in love?

I take it much unkindly, my Alonzo,

You think so meanly of me, not to speak,

When, well I know, your heart is near to bursting.
Have you forgot how you have bound me to you?
Your smallest friendship's liberty and life.

ALONZO.

There, there it is, my friend; it cuts me there.
How dreadful is it, to a generous mind,

To ask, when sure it cannot be deny'd!

CARLOS.

How greatly thought! In all he tow'rs above me. [Aside.

Why, what a pang has he run through for this!

By heaven, I envy him his agonies.

Why was not mine the most illustrious lot,

Of starting at one action from below,
And flaming up into consummate greatness?

Ha! Angels strengthen me!-It shall be so

I can't want strength. Great actions, once conceiv'd
Strengthen like wine and animate the soul,

And call themselves to being. [Aside.]-My Alonzo!
Since thy great soul disdains to make request,
Receive with favour that I make to thee.

ALONZO.

What means my Carlos?

CARLOS.

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!
Soon hurt, in happiness itself unsafe,

And often wounded, while she plucks the rose;
So properly the object of affliction,

That heav'n is pleas'd to make distress become her,
And dresses her most amiably in tears.

Take then my heart in dowry with the fair;
Be thou her guardian, and thou must be mine;
Shut out the thousand pressing ills of life

With thy surrounding arms-Do this; and then
Set down the liberty and life thou gav'st me
As little things, as essays of thy goodness,
And rudiments of friendship so divine.

ALONZO.

There is a grandeur in thy goodness to me,
Which with thy foes would render thee ador'd:
But have a care; nor think I can be pleas'd
With any thing that lays in pains for thee:
Thou dost dissemble, and thy heart's in tears.

CARLOS.

My heart's in health, my spirits dance their round,
And at my eye pleasure looks out in smiles.

ALONZO.

And canst thou, canst thou part with Leonora?

CARLOS.

I do not part with her; I give her thee.

O Carlos!

ALONZO.

CARLOS.

Don't distrust me; I'm sincere ;

Nor is it more than simple justice in me:
This morn didst thou resign her for my sake;
I but perform a virtue learnt from thee
Discharge a debt, and pay her to thy wishes.

ALONZO.

Ah! how?But think not words were ever made For such occasions: Silence, tears, embraces,

Are languid eloquence: I'll seek relief

In absence from the pain of so much goodness;

There thank the blest above; thy sole superiors,

Adore, and raise my thoughts of them by thee. [Exit. ZANGA. [Aside.]

Thus far success has crown'd my boldest hope:

My next care is to hasten these new nuptials;

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 I have not felt thy vital beam; but now

It warms my veins, and plays around my heart;
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;