This conduct ripen'd all for me, and ruin. That letter, which I trusted to thy hand; The most profound acknowledgment of heart To aid the nobler workings of my brain. ISABELLA. I quickly dropt it in the bride's apartment, ZANGA. With a lucky hand; For soon Alonzo found it. I observ'd 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 ; 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, 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, rise up a witness of her love, It may 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?———— If thus a slight surmise can work his soul, Enter ALONZO. ALONZO. And yet it cannot be-I am deceiv'd He doubts. ZANGA. [Aside.] ALONZO, I dare not look on this again: The certainty would dash me all to pieces. ZANGA. [Aside.] [Starts. Hold there, and we succeed. He has descry'd me, His aching heart, and rest it on my counsel. 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. ALONZO. And is there need Of words? Behold a wonder! See my tears! ZANGA. I feel them too: Heav'n grant my senses fail me! ALONZO. Go, take a round through all things in thy thought, Which could extort my tears; find that, and tell ZANGA. Sorrow can think but ill-I am bewilder'd; ALONZO. Think, think no more; It ne'er can enter in an honest heart. I'll tell thee then-I cannot-Yet I do, By wanting force to give it utterance. ZANGA. Speak: ease your heart; its throbs will break som. ALONZO. I am most happy; mine is victory, Mine the king's favour, mine the nation's shout, O curse of curses! in the lap of blessing ZANGA. Then heav'n has lost its image here on earth. [While Zanga reads the letter, he trembles, and shews the utmost concern. ALONZO. Good-natur'd man! He makes my pains his own. In thy concern. ZANGA. Did you not read it then? ALONZO. Mine eye just touch'd it, and could bear no more. Thus perish all that gives Alonzo pain. Why didst thou tear it? ALONZO. ZANGA. Think of it no more: 'Twas your mistake, and groundless are your fears. ALONZO. And didst thou tremble then for my mistake? Or give the whole contents; or by the pangs That feed upon my heart, thy life's in danger. ZANGA. Is this Alonzo's language to his Zanga? Draw forth your sword, and find the secret here: |