This conduct ripen'd all for me, and ruin.
Scarce had the priest the holy rite perform'd,
When I, by sacred inspiration, forg'd

That letter, which I trusted to thy hand;
That letter, which, in glowing terms, conveys,
From happy Carlos to fair Leonora,

The most profound acknowledgment of heart
For wond'rous transports, which he never knew.
This is a good subservient artifice,

To aid the nobler workings of my brain.

ISABELLA.

I quickly dropt it in the bride's apartment,
As you commanded.

ZANGA.

With a lucky hand;

For soon Alonzo found it. I observ'd him
From out my secret stand: He took it up;
But scarce was it unfolded to his sight,
When he, as if an arrow pierc'd his eye,
Started, and, trembling, dropt it on the ground.
Pale and aghast awhile my victim stood,
Disguis'd a sigh or two, and puff'd them from 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 ;
And thrust it, like an adder, in his bosom.

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,
And turns this disappointment to account.

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?————
Now he starts up like flame from sleeping embers,
And wild distraction glares from either eye.

If thus a slight surmise can work his soul,
How will the fulness of the tempest tear him!

Enter ALONZO.

ALONZO.

And yet it cannot be-I am deceiv'd
I injure her: She wears the face of heav'n.

He doubts.

ZANGA. [Aside.]

ALONZO,

I dare not look on this again:
If the first glance, which gave suspicion only,
Had such effect, so smote my heart and brain,

The certainty would dash me all to pieces.
It cannot-Ha! it must, it must be true.

ZANGA. [Aside.]

[Starts.

Hold there, and we succeed. He has descry'd me,
And (for he thinks I love him) will unfold

His aching heart, and rest it on my counsel.
I'll seem to go, to make my stay more sure.

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!
I rather would lose them, than have this real.

ALONZO.

Go, take a round through all things in thy thought,
And find that one; for there is only one

Which could extort my tears; find that, and tell
Thyself my mis'ry, and spare me the pain.

ZANGA.

Sorrow can think but ill-I am bewilder'd;
I know not where I am.

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,
And great men make their fortunes of my smiles.

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.
I durst not read it; but I read it now

In thy concern.

ZANGA.

Did you not read it then?

ALONZO.

Mine eye just touch'd it, and could bear no more.
ZANGA. [Tears the letter.]

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:
For whose sake is it, think you, I conceal it?
Wherefore this rage? Because I seek your peace?
I have no interest in suppressing it,