But what good-natur'd tenderness for you
Obliges me to have. Not mine the heart
That will be rent in two; not mine the fame

That will be damn'd, though all the world should

know it.

ALONZO.

Then my worst fears are true, and life is past.

ZANGA

What has the rashness of my passion utter'd?
I know not what ; but rage is our distraction,
And all its words are wind-Yet sure, I think,
I nothing own'd-But grant I did confess,
What is a letter? Letters may be forg'd.

For heav'n's sweet sake, my lord, lift up your heart:
Some foe to your repose-

ALONZO.

So heav'n look on me,

As I can't find the man I have offended.

ZANGA.

Indeed! [Aside.]-Our innocence is not our shield:
They take offence, who have not been offended;
They seek our ruin too, who speaks us fair;

And death is often ambush'd in our smiles.
We know not whom we have to fear. 'Tis certain,

A letter may be forg'd; and in a point

Of such a dreadful consequence as this,

One would rely on nought that might be false—
Think; have you any other cause to doubt her?
Away; you can find none : Resume your spirit,
All's well again.

ALONZO.

O that it were!

ZANGA.

It is;

For who would credit that, which, credited,
Makes hell superfluous by superior pains,
Without such proofs as cannot be withstood?
Has she not ever been to virtue train'd?
Is not her fame as spotless as the sun,
Her sex's envy, and the boast of Spain?

ALONZO.

O Zanga! It is that confounds me most,
That full in opposition to appearance-

ZANGA.

No more, my lord; for you condemn yourself.
What is absurdity, but to believe

Against appearance ?-You can't yet, I find,
Subdue your passion to your better sense;
And, truth to tell, it does not much displease me:
'Tis fit our indiscretions should be check'd,

With some degrees of pain.

ALONZO.

What indiscretion?

ZANGA.

Come, you must bear to hear your faults from me.

Had you not sent Don Carlos to the court

The night before the battle, that foul slave,

Who forg'd the senseless scroll which gives you pain, Had wanted footing for his villainy.

ALONZO.

I sent him not.

ZANGA.

Not send him!-Ha!-That strikes me.

I thought he came on message to the king:
Is there another cause could justify

His shunning danger, and the promis'd fight?
But I perhaps may think too rigidly;
So long an absence, and impatient love

ALONZO.

In my confusion, that had quite escap'd me:
By heav'n my wounded soul does bleed afresh;
'Tis clear as day for Carlos is so brave,
He lives not but on fame, he hunts for danger,
And is enamour'd of the face of death;
How then could he decline the next day's battle,
But for the transports? O, it must be so-

Inhuman, by the loss of his own honour,

To buy the ruin of his friend!

Indeed he knew not of my treacherous love-
Proofs rise on proofs, and still the last the strongest,
Th' eternal law of things declares it true,

Which calls for judgments on distinguish'd guilt,
And loves to make our crime our punishment
Love is my torture; Love was my first crime :

For she was his, my friend's, and he (Ó horror !)
Confided all in me. O sacred faith!

How dearly I abide thy violation!

ZANGA.

Were then their loves far gone?

ALONZO.

The father's will

There bore a total sway: and he, as soon
As news arriv'd that Carlos' fleet was seen
From off our coast, fir'd with the love of gold,
Determin'd that the very sun which saw
Carlos' return, should see his daughter wed.

ZANGA.

Indeed, my lord! Then you must pardon me,
If I presume to mitigate the crime:
Consider, strong illurements soften guilt;
Long was his absence, ardent was his love,
At midnight his return, the next day destin'd
For his espousals.- 'Twas a strong temptation.

Again! By heav'n, thou dost insult thy lord. Temptation! One night gain'd! O stings and death! And am I then undone? Alàs, my Zanga!

And dost thou own it too? Deny it still,

And rescue me one moment from distraction.

ZANGA.

My lord, I hope the best.

ALONZO.

False, foolish hope,

And insolent to me! Thou know'st it false;
It is as glaring as the noon-tide sun.
Devil! this morning, after three years coldness,
To rush at once into a passion for me!

'Twas time to feign; 'twas time to get another,
When her first fool was sated with her beauties,

ZANGA.

What says my lord? Did Leonora then

Never before disclose her passion for you?

Never.

ALONZO.

ZANGA.

Throughout the whole three years?

ALONZO.

O never! never!

Why Zanga, should'st thou strive? 'Tis all in vain ;
Though thy soul labours, it can find no reed
For hope to catch at. Ah! I'm plunging down
Ten thousand thousand fathoms in despair.

ZANGA.

Hold, Sir; I'll break your fall-Wave ev'ry fear,
And be a man again-Had he enjoy'd her,
Be most assur'd, he had resign'd her to you
With less reluctance.