In tears, my lord? LEONORA ALONZO. What less can speak my joy? I gaze, and I forget my own existence; 'Tis all a vision; my head swims in heav'n. Why, I could gaze upon thy looks for ever, LEONORA. How, my lord! What mean you? Acquaint me with the secret of your heart, My lord, you fright me. your nuptial hour? I am ill-us'd, my lord; I must not bear it. [Taking his hand And I will have it. Am I not your wife? my own? Unkind Alonzo, though I might demand it, ALONZO. Ha! ha! ha! [He breaks from her, and she sinks upon the floor.] LEONORA. Are these the joys which fondly I conceiv'd? What did I part with, when I gave my heart? And puts her trust in miracles for safety. Where shall I sigh? Where pour out my complaint? ALONZO. Go to thy chamber; I soon will follow: That which now disturbs thee, Men are but men; we did not make ourselves: And in eternal darkness close these eyes Against those scenes which I am doom'd to suffer! What dost thou mean? ALONZO. ZANGA. And is it then unknown? O grief of heart, to think that you should ask it! Who brought you thither by their lawless loves: ALONZO. Distraction!-But Don Carlos, well thou know'st, ZANGA. I'll work him to the murder of his friend.-- [Aside Yes, till the fever of his blood returns, While her last kiss still glows upon his cheek. But when he finds Alonzo is no more, How will he rush, like lightning, to her arms! There sigh, there languish, there pour out his soul; But thou wilt be at peace, nor see, nor hear, Their throbbing hearts that jostle one another: ALONZO. I'll ease thee of that pain: Let Carlos die; 'Tis my command. [Gives his signet. ZANGA. I dare not disobey. ALONZO. My Zanga, now I have thy leave to die. ZANGA. Ah, Sir, think, think again. Are all men buried ALONZO. That thought has more of hell than had the former; And each shall cast a smile upon my tomb! I am convinc'd; I must not, will not, die. ZANGA. You cannot die; nor can you murder her. If you forgive, the world will call you Good; If you forget, the world will call you Wise; In her guilt shines, and nature holds my hand. How then? Why thus-No more; it is determin'd. Enter ZANGA. ZANGA. [Aside.] I fear his heart has fail'd him. She must die. ALONZO. This vast and solid earth, that blazing sun, Can then death's self be fear'd? Our life much rather: Death joins us to the great majority: 'Tis to be born to Plato's and to Cæsar; 'Tis to be great for ever; 'Tis pleasure, 'tis ambition, then, to die. ZANGA. I think, my lord, you talk'd of death. ALONZO. ZANGA. I did. I give you joy; then Leonora's dead. ALONZO. No, Zanga, no; the greatest guilt is mine: 'Tis mine, who might have mark'd his midnight visit ; Who might have mark'd his tameness to resign her; |