Mm \7ifiWkU' f- ' ALFONSO, . KING OF CASTILE A TRAGEDT, IN FIVE ACTS, Bj M. G. LEW IS. For us and for our Tr^edyj Thus (looping to your clcniencyj We beg ) our candid hearing patiently. HAMI. ET. LONDON: PRINTED FOIIJ. BELL, ]SO. 149, OXFORD-STREET, BVVV"ILKS and 1 AYLOR, CHA>ICERY-LANfc. 1801. Price 2,s. 6(L Cntereti at ^tatioutrgl' l^aU. PREFACE. I HAVE already been aflced fo often, why, contrary to the ufual cuftom, I publifh this Tragedy previous to its performance, that I think it as well to publifli alfo my reafons. In the firft place, when my Drama of ** Adelmorn the Outlaw'^ was played at Drury-Lane, fo many wilful mifreprelentations of it were made between the periods of its being performed, and of its being printed, that I refolved in future to take this method of depriving my cenfurers of the plea of involuntary mtjiaking. I print my Play for the fame purpofe, that advertifements are fometimes inferred in the Gazette — " In order that none may /•r^/'t'/?.'/ ignorance." — To the aflTertion, that my Play is Jlup'td, I have nothing to objeft ; if it be found fo, even let it fo be faid : but if (as was mod faljely afTerted of Adelmorn) any anonymous writer fhould advance that this Tragedy is immoral^ I e^cpecl him to prove his aflertion by quoting the objeiStionablc pafTages. This 1 demand as an adl of jujiice : ais a matter oi favour perhaps I miglit vequeft m^"- cen- furers to fpeak of my Play as it is, and ** Nothing extenuate, Nor aught fet down in malice." A a Bur IV PREFACE. But this is a requefl. which experience forbids my making, knowing perfeQ:ly well that it would not be complied with. — In faying this, I mull: beg to be un- derftood as alluding only to prejudiced individuals, not as meaning to exprefs any diflatisfaftion refpecSling the public in general. On the contrary, the reception of my producSions has been always equaly fometimes far fi/pcriory to the merits of fuch trifles. In t!)e fccond place, 1 publifli my Play previous to its reprefentation,becaufe I have very great doubts, whether even an excellent Tragedy, if written in blank verfe, would fuccecd on the Stage at prefent : of courfe I do not flatter mylelf that mine v»iil ; and, after the coid reception of De Montfort^ l am not vain enough to ex- pert that jiljohjo will meet with a kind one. I there- fore rather -wifli this produ£lion to be confidercd as a dramatic poem, or (if that be too lofty a chara£lcr ii)X it) as a fliort novel in dialogue, divided into acfts, in- ilead of chapters. In writing it, I have fpared no pains. I now give it to the public, not as a good Play, but as the beft that I can produce : Very pofHbly tiohdy could write a ivorje Tragedy ; but it is a melancholy truth, that / cannot write a better, Wlien this Play was fliown to Mr. Harris, I informed him of my pofitive determination to publifh it pre- vious to its performance. He accepted it under that condition, and in a manner the mod flattering : he only objecled (and that, all things confidered, very properly) to the cataflrophe, as being calculated rather to excite 3 horror PRF.FACn. V horror thnii pity, and therefore as unfit for public re- prefentation. In the performance, therefore, the con- clufion will be totally different from that of the pub- llfhed Play ; and (though according to my own opinion it does not tally fo well with Orfiuo's chara£ier) I ac- knowledge, that of the two, the new cataftrophe feems to me the beft calculated fur the Stage. The feveral characters are diflributed very much to my fatisfac- tion. If my Play fails, I am perfuaded it will be either from the malignity of faction, or from its own de- merits, not from any deficiency in the abilities of the Performers. E.efpe£l:ing the plot, I have to c^nfefs that the fitu- ation at the end of the Second A«fl: was fuggefted by thf -■' 11 -known anecdote of Charlemagne and his daugii^er Emma^ It feems more likely to have been fuggefted by the ftory of Sigifmunda and Guifcardo ; — only the fa£l happens to be otherwife. — In the year 1345, during the reign of Alfonfo the Xlth, (fur- named the Wife, and father of Pedro the Cruel ;) the fiege of Algefiras took place, at which the fivll ufe of gunpowder is faid to have been mad-2 ; this is the only hiilorical anecdote which 1 have employed : as to the ;W character of Alfonfo the XI th, I mull: own, that it no HiOre- refcmblcs that of my Alfonfo the Xltb, than it does John the Painter's, or Peter the Wild r)oy\s. — I do not myfelf think that this departure from Hiflory is a matter of any confequence j but they who do, will probably confulcr it as a radical defefELROSA. Ottilia. ESTELLA. Inis. Nuns, and Female Attendants on Amelrofa. Tlie Scene lies in Burgos (the Capital of Old Caftile), and in the adjoining Foreft. The A6lion is fuppofed to pafs in the Year 1345. ERRATA. P 7, laft line but one— read — It muft not ^f^— Hark footfteps ! P, 8, line 23 — read — My life. P; V), lir.e 2— read— /'h hence. P. 13, li:"" 7 — tpad — the or\\y chain. P. 18, line I — read — I'lote:! my people, e^en from me. P. 43, line 16— rea?. — 7h;d not. P. 44, line 22— read — Fo- fo my foul dotes on thee, But to fufpedl thee rcfiicach nerve. P. 55, line 28 — Omit the mtJ of admiration. P. 57, line 18 — for — Otiwxo'ijire melt — iead — Orfino melt. P. 6|, line 19 — for — will (guaranty — read*— will guarantee. P. 74, line 12 — after— Alas? — Omit the note of interrogation. P. 75 — before the hrft fpeech after — Enter Ottilia — infert Ottilia. P. 90, line 21 — af:cr thanks, place a note of admiration. P 92/ line 9 — afrer — kin.lnefs, place a comma. P. 105, line 5 — forre^uium—read— .re(juiem. ALFONSO, KING OF CxlSTILE. SCENE I. [The palace- garden, — Day-break. OTTILIX enters in a night drefs : her hair jJows dijhevelled. OTTILIA. X-^EWSofthe morn, defcend ! Breathe, fummer-gales, My flufhed cheeks woo ye ! Play, fweet wantons, play 'Mid my loofe trclTcs, fan my pantinp; breaft, Quench my blood's burning fever! — Vain, vain prayer ! Not Winte*-, throned 'midfl: Alpine fnow?, whofe will Can with one breath, one touch, congeal whole realms. And blanch whole feas ; not that fiend's felf could eafe This heart, this gulph of flames, this purple kingdom. Where pafhon rules and rapes i — Oh ! my foul ! Ciefario, my C?efario! — {_A pn ::'':, during which, pje f(emi buried in thought — the clock Jlrihs fonr^ Hark ! — Ah me ! Is 't flill fo early ? Will 't be ftill fo long, Ere my love comes ? Oh ! fpeed, ye pitying hours, B Your 2 ALFONSO : A ct . Your flight, till mid-cUy brings Cxfario back ; Then, if ye lift, reft your kind wings for ever ! Enter LUCio. Lucro. - Tis paft the hour ! I fear I fhall be chid. For lo ! the fun already darts his rays . Athwart the garden-paths. OTTILIA. How ftill ! how tranquil ! All refts, except Ottilia ! 1 '11 regain The hateful couch, where dill my bufband Jleeps : Ere long he fleeps for ever ! — Ha ! why fteals Yon boy Amazement ! Do my eyes deceive me ? LUCIO. Hifl ! hift ! Eftella ? KSTELLA. I appearing on the terrace cf fie palace."} Lucio ? LUCIO. Aye, the fame. ESTELLA. Good ! good ! LUCIO. But pray you bid him fpeed. So loud His black Arabian fnorts, and paws the earth, I fear he '11 wake the guard?. ESTELLA, Farewell, I' 11 warn him. [Exeunt feverally^ OTTILIA. [Alone."] 'Twas Lucio, fure !. . .\Vhatbufinefs...Ah, how ready Is Fear to whifper what Love hates to hear ! [Lftella and Csefario appear on the terrace.'] See! Act I. A TRAGEDY. <_ See ! fee ! Again Eftella comes — and with her .... Shame and defpair ! Burft from your fockets, eyes. Since ye dare ihow me this ! — 'Tis he ! 'Tishe ! Caefario ! On my foul, Ciefario's felf — ■. He bids farewell ! — He waves a glittering fcarf, A gift of love, no doubt ! — Now to his lips He glues it ! — Blifteredbe thofe lips, Csefario, Which have fo oft fvvorn faith to me ! — She goes . .' . Egyptian plagues go with her ! [Exit Eftella. C.5SARI0. [Looh'fig back at the palaceJ] Yet one look. One grateful bleffing for this night of rapture ; Then, fhrine of my foul's idol ! cafket, holding My heart's moft precious gem, awhile farewell ! But, when my foot next bends thy floors, expe Stream thy dear eyes .'' my hand (hail dry thofe tears -, c 2 Aches 12 ALFONSO : Act L Aches thy poor liead ? My bofom fliall fupport it! And when thou flcep'H, I 'Jl watch thy dreams, and pray - *' Changed be to joy the forrow which affli une of reit ; or, if I flept, my dreams Showec: his pale wafted form, his bcamlefs eye Fixed on the moon, his meagre hands now folded In dull defpuir, now rending his few locks Untimely gray ; and now again in phrenfy 3 Dreadful 15 ALFONSO: Act L Dreadful he flirieked ; tore with his teeth his fiefh ; 'Gainfl; his dank prifon-walls daflicd out liis brains. And died defpairing ! From my couch I flatted •/ Sunk upon my knees ; I kifl'td this crofs,' " Captive/' I cried, " I '11 die, or fet thee free !" ALFONSO. Anddidll thou ? BIcfs thee, didft thou? AMELROSA. Moved by gold, More by my prayers, mod by his own heart's pity, His gaoler yielded to releafe Orfino, And fpread his death's report. — One night, ulien all Was hufhed, I fought his tower, unlocked his chains. And bade him rife and fly I With vacant flare. Bewildered, wondering, doubting v/hat he heard, He followed to the g"te- But when he viewed The fky thick fown with flars, and drank heaven's air. And heard the nightingale, and faw the moon Shed o'er thefe groves a fiiower of filver light, Hope thawed his frozen herrt-j in livelier current Flowed his grief-thickened blood, his pro^-J foul melted, And down his furrowed cheeks kind tears came ftealing^ Sad, fweet, and gentle as the dews, which evening Sheds o'er expiring day. Wt.rds had he none, But with his looks he thanked me. At my feet He fank ; he wrung my hand ; his pale lips prefTed it ; He fjgheu, he rofe, he iled •, lie lives, my father ! ALFONSO. [Kiu'cliag.'] Fountain of blifs ! words are too poor for thanks ; Oh ! deign to read them here i AMELROSA. Act I. A TRAGEDY. ij AMELROSA. Canft thou forgive My long deceit ALFONSO. Forgive thee ? To my heart Thus let me clafp thee, bed of earthly bleffings. Balm of my foul, and faviour of my juftice ! Oh ! bled were kings, when fraud enfnares their fenfe. And paflion arms their hands, if ftill they found One who like thee dared ftand the victim's friend, Wreft from proud lawlefs Power his brandifl^ed javelin. And make him virtuous in his own defpite ! JEflter RICARDO. RICATIDO. My liege, your conquering general, brave Cjefario, Draws near the walls. ALTONSO. I haflen to receive The hero, and his troops: that duty done, I '11 feek my wronged friend's pardon. Say, my child. Where dwells Orlino ? AMELK0S.\, In the neighbouring forcll He lives an hermit : Inis knows the place. ALFONSO. Ere night T '11 feek him theie. And now f.ireweH> Ever beloved, but now more- loved than ever I Oh ! fliU as now watch o'er and timely check My hafty nati.ve ; llill, their guardian-angel^ J> Protcci 18 ALFONSO : Act I. Proteft my people, e'en from me prote£l them : T hen, after-ages, pondering o'er the page Which bears my name, (hall fee, and feen {hall blefs That union moft beloved of man and heaven, A patriot monarch, and a people free ! \ExH ivith Ricardo and Attendants » AMELROSA. My good kind father ! fatal, fatal fecret. How weigh'lt thou down my heart. ! [Remains buried in thought.'} OTTILIA. I'll hnfle and calm Myhufband's confcience with Orfino's fafety. But when our Spanifh beauties throng the ramparts, Anxious to fee, and anxious to be feen, Why (lays Eftella from the walls ? ESTELLA. Both duty And friendftiip chain me where the Princefs flays. OTTILIA. Duty and friendfhip ? trull me, glorious words ;— Yet there's a fweeter— Love ! Boafts the gay band. Which circles brave Ca^fario's laurelled car, No youth, who proudly wears Eftella's colours, And knows no glory like Eflella's fmile ? ESTELLA. Ha ! Sure my fight muft err ? OTTILIA. [JJide.] She fees, and knows it. ESTELLA. Act r. A TRAGEDY. 19 ESTELLA. It muft be that ! . . . . Princefs ! OTTILIA. [4f'^^''i So, fo ! now flies the To her fhe-Py lades for aid and comfort. Oh! moft rare fvmpathy ! How the friend (tarts! And, trull me, changes colour ! AMELROSA. Say 'ft thou ? how ? Away, it cannot be ! ESTELLA. Convince thyfelf then. OTTILIA. [A/i'r.]_ Aye, look your fill I look till your cye-ftrlngs break, For 'tis that fcarf ; that very, very fcarf ! So now the queftion comes. ESTELLA. Forgive me, lady, Nor hold me rude, that much I wifli to know. Whence came the fcarf you wear ? OTTILIA. This fcarf ? . . . Alas ! A paltry toy ! a very foidier's prefent. ESTELLA. A foidier's ? OTTILIA. Aye. 'Twasfent me from the camp : But with fuch bitter taunts on her who wrought it .... 1 Breathed ever mortal man fuch thoughts of me, ' ^tOfy heart would break, or his fhould bleed for 't ! D 2 KSTfiLLA. 20 ALFONSO: Act I. E STELLA. Say you ? OTTILIA. Nay mark — " Receive, proud fair," — thus ran tlie letter— '* This fcarf, forced on me by an hand I loath, With many an amorous word and tailelefs kifs ! As I for thee, fo burns for me the wanton •> To me as thine, cold is my heart to her ; Nor canft thou more defpife the gift than I Scorn the fond fool who gave it !" AMELROSA. Oh ! my heart ! INIS. Look to the Princcfs. OTTILIA. iStarttfig."] Ha! ESTELLA. She faints ! AMELRpSA. No, no ! *Tis nothing — mid-day's heat..-the o'cr-pov/ering fun rU in, and reft. OTTILIA- Frincefs, permit AMELROSA. No, lady ! I need no aid of thine — In, in, Eftella, Oh ! cruel, folfe Csfarlo ! [_Exii with Eftella, Inis, and Ladlet. OTTILIA. Act r. A TRAGEDY. ■ 21 OTTILIA. [Jlone.'] Hal Is^fo? And flies my falcon at fo high a late ?— The Princcft ! 'tis the Princefs that he loves ! — And fhall I calmly fee her bear away This dear-bought prize, my fecret crime's reward. My lord, my love, my life, my all ?-»• — She dies ! [Exit. END OF TKE FIRST ACT* 5J ALFONSO : Act II. ACT IL SCENE I. An hall in Csefario^s palace. {Shouts heard without.'] JSnter c^sario \_a General's fitff in his hand] follo'wed b^ HENRIQUEZ, Citizens and Soldiers. C^SARIO. Thanks, worthy friends ! No further l—Plcafcd I hear Thefe fhouts, which thank me for Alforjfo's fafety ! But though my arms have quelled the Moorsj your love Alone can fhield .him from a foe more dangerous. From his proud rebel fon ! — Farewell, alTured I live but for your ufe ! Firjl Citizen^ Long live Csefario ! 9 Second Citizen. Long live the Conqueror of the Moors ! All. Huzza ! [^Exeunt. Manent c^SARio owi HENRiqUEZ. CaSARlO. Kind friends, farewell ! — Aye, Ihout, ye brawlers, ihout! Pour Act II. A TRAGEDY. 2» Pour out unmeaning praifc til! the flcies ring ! 'Twill fchooJ your deep-toned rhroats /: :■ oar to-morrow, — ** Long live Caefario ! Sovereign of For mine own purpofes, kept back this fcroll. Lo! here a full confeflion of your plots — The mine defcribed — -the vault — the hour — the fignal'^ What troops are gained — the lift of fworn confederates— And forcmoft in the lift here ftands Csefario ! CJESARIO. Confufion ! OTTILIA. Nay, 'tis fo \ Now mark me, youth ! Either my hand at midnight as my hufband's Clafps thine, or gives this paper to Alfonfo ! Prepare a friar — at Juan's chapel meet me At midnight, or the King CiESARIO. You rave, Ottilia ! While Guzman lives OTTILIA. Young man, his hours are counted : Three fcarce are his — Laft night I drugged the bowl In which he drank a farewell to the world. Aye, aye, 'tis true ! Thou 'rt mir.e ! With blood I've bought thee ! Nothing now parts us but the grave, — and there. E'en there I '11 claim thee ! If to-night thou com'ft not .... CiBSARIO. I will, Hby eaven ! OTTILIA. Ho ALFONSO; Acrlh Ottilia. Nay, fail at your own peril Your life is in my power ! my breath can blaft you i Choofe, then, Csefario, 'twixt thy banc and blifs— Love or a grave ! a kingdom or a fcafFold ! My arms or death's ! — By yonder Sun I fwear, Ere morning dawns, thou (halt be mine or nothing ! C-ffSARIO. Is t fo ? — ^Thy blood then on thy head — This paper ./... —This female fiend... the fcarf too !... I muft ftraight Appeafe the Princefs fome well-varnifhed tale ....Some glib excufe — Oh ! hateful talk ! Oh, Truth ! How my foul longs once more to join thy train. Tear off the mafic, and (how me as I am ! The wretch for life immured j the Chriftian flavc Of Pagan lords ; or he whofe bloody fweat Speeds the fleet ga-lcy o'er the fparkling waves. Bears eafy toil, light chains, and pleafant bondage. Weighed with thy fervice, Falfehood ! Still to fmilc On thofe we loath ; to teach the lips a leflbh Smooth, fweet, and falfe ; to watch the tell-tale eye, Fafhion each feature, fift each honeft word That fwells upon the tongue, and fear to find A traitor in one's felf? — By Heaven, I know No toil, no curfe, no llaverv, like diflcmbling ! [Exit. SCENE Act II. A TRAGEDY. Si SCENE XL A ivild forrjl, nvith rocks y ivater-falls, i^c. On one fide an hermitage and a riijiic tomb, with various pieces of armour fcattered near it, *' Victoria" is engraved on it ; a river is in the back ground. ORSINO Jiands on a rock which over hangs the river. ORSINO. Yes, thou art lovely, World ! That blue-robed fky ; Thefe giant rocks, their forms grotefque and awful Reflected on the calm ftream's lucid mirror ; Thefe reverend oaks, through which (their ruftling leaves Dancing and twinkling in the fun-beams) light Now gleams, now difappears, while yon fierce torrent. Tumbling from crag to crag withmeafured dafli, Makes to the ear ftrange mufic : World ! oh. World I Who fees thee fuch mud needs confefs thee fair ! Who knows thee not mufl needs fuppofe thee good ! [W^ith a fudden btirji of indignation.'] But I have tried thee, World ! know all thefe beauties Mere fhows andfnares i know thee a gilded ferpent, A flowery bank, whofe fweets fmile o'er a pit-fall ; A fplendid prifon, precious tomb, fair palace Whofe golden domes allure poor wanderers in, And, when they 've entered,crufh them ! Such I know the^ And, knowing, loath thy charms ! Rife, rife, ye ftorms ! Mingle, ye elements ! Flafh, lightnings, flafh ! Unmalk this witch ! blaft her pernicious beauty! Andfhow me Nature as (lie is, a monfler ! —I '11 look no more ! Oh ! my torn heart ! Victoria ! My fon ! Oh God ! My fon ! Lofl ! loft ! Both Io(t ! • ^Leaning egainfl the tomb.] 4 * Enter 82 ALFONSO : Act IJ. Enter ALFONSO, iNis, and Attendants. INIS. This is the hermit's cave ; and fee, my liege, Orfino's felf. ALFONSO. [Starting bacl,'\ No, no, that Hving fpeftre Is not my gallant friend ! I feek in vain The full cheek's healthful glow, the eye of fire. The martial mien, proud gait, and limbs Herculean! Oh ! is that death-like form indeed Orfmo ? ORSINO. Never to fee them more ! Never, no never ! Wife, child, joy, hope, all gone ! ALFONSO. That voice ! Oh! Heaven, Too vv^ell I knovir that voice ! — ^How grief has changed him ! I'll fpeak, yet dread .... Retire [Inis, ^c ivithdraw.] Look up, Orfino. ORSINO. Difcovered I IStixing a lance which rejis againji the cavern ^ andputtitig him/elfin a pojlure of defence"]. Wretch, thy life .... [/daggering back] Strengthen me, heaven ! 'Tis he ! the King himfelf ! ALFONSO, lowering to take hisha.id."] Thy friend ! ORSINO. [Recovering himfelf and drawing hack his hand.] Friend ! friend !— — I 've none ! — ^Coldly.} ALFONSO.. Act II. A TRAGEDY. 33 ALFONSO. Orfmo ' CRSINO. Never had but one, And he .... ! Sir, though a king, you 'dfhrink to hear How that friend ufed mc! ALFONSO. Hear me fpcak, in pity ! ORSINO. What need of words ? I 'm found, I 'm in your power. And you may torture mc e'en ho'v you lift. Where are your chains .'* Thefe are the felf-fame arms Which bore them ten long years, nor doubt their weigh- ing Heavy as ever ! Thefe fame eyes, v.-hich bathed So oft with bitterell tears your dungeon-grate. Have ftreams not yet exhaulled ! and thefe lips Can ftill with fhrieks make the Black Tower re-echo. Which heard my voice fo long in frantic angui(h Rave of my wife and child, and curfe Alfonfo I Lead on, Sir ! I 'm your prifoner ! ALFONSO. Not for worlds Would I but harm one hair of thine ! — Nay, hear me? And learn, moft wronged Orfmo, thy clear innocence Is now well known to all. ORSINO. Aye? Nay, I care not Who thinks me innocent I I knov/ myfelf fo — Was this your bufmefs, Sir ? 'Tis done ! Farewell. F ALFONSO. 34 ALFONSO : Act IL ALFONSO. Oil ! part not from me thus ! I fain would fay . .... ORSINO. What ? ALFONSO. I have wronged thee ! . . . . ORSlxo. \_Sterfily.'2 True! ALFONSO. Deeply, mofl: deeply ! But wounding thine, hurt my own heart no lefs, "Where none has filled thy place : 'tis thine, ftill thine— And if my Court ORSINO. What fhould I there ? No, no. Sir ! Sorrow has crazed my wits ; loag cramped by fetters Aly arm fmks powerlefs ; and my wafted limbs, Palfied by dungeon-damps, would bend and totter Beneath yon armour's weight, once borne fo lightly ! — Then what {hould I at Court ? I cannot head Your troops, nor guide your councils : Leave me, leave me, You cannot ufe me further ! ALFONSO. Oh ! I muft. And to a moft dear fervice — My heart bleeds. And needs a friend ! Be but that friend once more ! Be to me what thou wert, (and that was, all things !) Forgive iny faults, forget thy injuries ORSINO, Acr II. A TRAGEDY. 35 OR SI NO. [PaJJ^ofiateiy.'] Never ! AlFONSO. That to Alfonfo ? That to hirrij vvhofe frieniirnip ...» ORSINO. Peace, peace ! You felt no friendfhip ! felt no flame, Steady and Ihong 1 — Yours was a vain light vapour, A boyifh fancy, a caprice, an habit, A bond you wearied of, and gladly feized A lame pretext to break. Did not my heart From earlieft youth lie naked to your eyes ? Knew you not every corner, nerve, turn, twift on 't ? And could you flill fufpect . . . ? No, no ! You wifhe4 To find me falfe, or mufl: have knov/n me true. ALFONSO. You wrong me, on my life ! So fine, fo fkilful The fnare was fpread .... I knew not ORSINO. Knew not ? Knew not ? Thou knew'ft T was Orfino ! Knowing that. Thou Ihould'ft have known, I never could be guilty . ALFONSO. Proofs feemed fo ftrong .... ORSINO. And had I none to prove My innocence ? Thefe deep-hewn fears, received While fighting in your caufe, were thefe no proofs ? Your life twice faved by me ! your very breath My gift ! your crown oft refcued by my valour! Were thefe no proofs r My every word, thought, a£lion, F 2 My 36 ALFONSO : Act 11. My fpotlefs life, my rank, my pride, my honour, And, more than all, the love I ever bore thee. Were thele no proofs ? — Oh ! tR^y had been convi£lion In a friend's eyes, though tiiey -<^d iir.-., I'm none !" — No, no : I heard myiclt called traitor — faw you calmly Hcr.r me fo called, nor Itrike tne ^^peaker dead ! The'i why defend myfelf ? What hope was left me? Truth lo^ its valucj firce y.ju thought tr," falfel Speech had been vain, rin< c your heart fpoke not forme. ALi'OKSO. And it rt/V/fpenk . . . Splie of the law's decifion. My love prcferved your life ORSlNO. Oh! bounteous favour! Oh! vafl m'lnificence! which, giving life, Robbed me of every gem which made life precious! "Where is my wife ? Difcracled at my lofs. Sunk to her cold grave with a broken heart ! Where is my ion? Or dead through want, or wandering A fricndlefs outcaft! Where that health, that vigour, Thofc iron nerves, once mine?-— King, afk your dungeons ! ALFONSO. Act II. A TRAGEDY. 37 ALFONSO^ Oh ! fpare me ! ORSINO. Give nie thefe again, wife, fon. Health, ftrength, and ten moft precious years of man- hood, And I '11 perhaps forgive thee : till then, never! ALFONSO. What could I do ? Thy fon had been to me Dear as my own, had not Victoria's pride, Scorning all aid ..... ORSINO. *Tvi'as right ! ALFONSO. She fled, concealed Herfelf and child Had it on me depended I cannot fpeak . . . My heart .... Oh! yet have mercy. Think I had other duties than a friend's Alas ! I wai a king ! ORSINO. And are one ftlll Have ftiil your weahh, and pomp, and pride and power, And herd of crlngeing courtiers — Hill have cl.ildren . . . . I had but one, and him I loft through thee. /, I have nothing! Yon rude cave my palace, Thefe rocks my court, the wolf my fit companion — Loft all life's llelinigs, wife, fon, health! Oh! nothing Is left me, fave the right to bate that man Who made mc what I am ! — And would'ft thou rob me E'en of this laft poor pleafure ? Go, Sir I gr*, 3 Regain 38 ^ ALFONSO: Act II. Regain your court ! refume your pomp and fplendour ! Drink deep of luxury's cup ! be gay, be flattered. Pampered and proud, and, if thou canft, be happy. I '11 to my cave, and curfe thee! ALFONSO. Stay, Orfino! If ever friendftiip warmed, or pity melted Thy heart, I charge thee ORSINO. Pity? In thy dungeons. Sir, I forgot the meaning of that word. For ten long years no gentle accents foothedme — • No tears with mine were mixed — no boforn fighed That anguifli tortured mine ! — King, King, thou know'it not, Hpw folitude makes the foul ftern and favage ! ALFONSO. Yet were thy foul than adamantine rocks More hard, thefe deep-drawn fighs ORSINO. My wife's lafl groan Rings in my ear, and drowns them. ALFONSO. And thefe tears Might touch thy heart ORSINO. My heart is dead, King ! dead f *Tis yonder buried in Vidloria's grave ! ALFONSO, Act IL A TRAGEDY. 39 ALFONSO, Could prayei's, unfeigned i-emorfe, ceafelefs affe£lioii. And influence as my own unbounded OR SI NO. Hold! I '11 try thee, and make two demands ! — But firft. Swear by all hopes of happinefs hereafter, And Heaven's belt gift on earth, thine angel-daughtcr, Whate'er I afk fhall be fulfilled. ALFONSO. I fwear ! And Heaven fo treat my prayers, as I (hall thine f ORSINO. ^Tis well: now mark, and keep thine oath. IMyfirft Requeft is — Leave me inilantly ! My fecond, Ne'er let me fee thee more ! — Thou haft heard ! Begone ! [Exit into the cave, ALFONSO. 'TIs well, proud man ! — Alas ! my heart 's too humbled To chide e'"i him who fpurns it ' INIS. Nay, my liege, Defpair not — -Sure the Princefs ALFONSO. Right ! T 'II feek her ; To her he owes his freedom, ana lier prayers Shall win mc back this dear obdarate heart. Oh ! did he know how fvvect 'tis to forgive, And railethe wounded foul, which, cruQi'd and humbled, Sinks in the duil, and owns that it has erred j To 40 ALFONSO: Act II. To quench all wrath, and cancel all offences, Sure he would need no motive but felf-love ! [Exeuttt. SCENE HI. j^ garden. AMELROSA, [Alofie.'] And are ye all then vanifhed, fylphs of blifs? All fled in air, and not one trace, one (hadow Left of my bright day-vifions ? Is, not rather All this fome fearful dream ? — Casfario falfe ! I know 'tis fo, yet fcarce can think 'tis fo ! Gods ! when laft night, after long abfence meeting, What looks! what joy! and was then all deceit ? Did he but mock me, when with tears of rapture He bathed my hand ; knelt ; fighed ; as had his voice By pleafure been o'erwhelmed, awhile was (ilent ; But foon came worde, fweet as thofe moft fweet kifles. Which grateful Venus gave the fwain whofc care Brought back her truant doves! — So fweet, fo fweet . . ►• Diftruft, herfelf, muft have believed thofe words \ Oh ! and was all but feigned ? Enter cmsARio and estella. ESTELLA. Wait here awhile ; I '11 try to foothe her. CSSARIO, My beft friend! EST ELL A« Act II. A TRAGEDY. 41 EST ELLA. Withdraw !— [Caefarlo retires. Still bathed in tears ? AMELROSA. [Thronvlng heffelf on her bofom."} Oh ! my foul 's fick, Eftella. My heart is broken, broken ! ESTELLA. . Nay, be calm ! I bring you comfort. AMELROSA. How ? ESTELLA, Csefario fues For one fhort moment's audience AMELROSA. I '11 not fee him ! ESTELLA. Dear princefs AMELROSA. Never ! Saw I not Ottilia Decked with my gift? Did I not hear Shame I (hame ! Go, go, EUella, feek him ! Say, and firmly. We meet no more ! fay, that the veil is rent ! Say, that I know him waverings, vain, ungrateful, Flattering and falfe ! and having faid this, add, Falfe as he is, he 's my foul's tyrant IlJI ! c^SARio. [Throiuing him/elf at her feet.l Accents of heaven ! — My life! my love ! AMELROSA. Csefario ? Farewell for ever ! G C^SARlO 4^ ALFONSO: Act II. C^SARIO. Nay, you muH: not leave me. Hear me but fpeak AMELROSA. Releafe me ! CiESARIO. But one word AMELROSA. ^ I'll not be held ! — Your pardon ! I forgot, Sir ! I thought myfelf {till miftrefs of my aftions ! Still Princefs of CaRile ! — Now I remember I 'm that dcfpifed, unhappy thing, your wife ! Sir, I obey ! — Your pleafure ! CiESARIO. Ch ! how lovely Thofe eyes can make e'en fcorn ! Yet calm their light- nings — Once more let love I AMELROSA. I«Jever — the hours are paft When I believed thee all my fond heart wifhed j Thought thee the bed, the kindefr, truefl thought thee Oh ! Heaven ! No Eaflcrn tale pourtrays the palace Of fay, or wizard (where in bright confufion Blaze gold and gems), fo glorious-fair, as feemed, Trickt in the rainbow-colours of my fancy, Csefario's form this morn ! — Too late I know thee ; The fpeil is broke, and where an Houri fmiled, Now fcowls a fiend. Oh ! thus benighted Pilgrims Admire the glow-worm's light, while gloom prevails; 4 But Act It. A TRAGEDY. 4^ But find that feeming lamp of fiery luftre A poor dark worthlefs worm, when viewed In funfliine. Away, and feek Ottilia. C^SARIO. Oh ! my princefs, Deep as thy anger wounds my heart, more deeply 1 grieve to think, how thine will bleed at finding This anger undeferved ! AMELROSA. Oh ! that it were fo ! But no ! I faw my fcarf that very fcarf .... My own hands wrought it. — Many a midnight lamp, While thou wert at the wars, in toil I wafted. And made it my fole joy to toil for thee ! There was no thread I had not bleft ! no flower had not kift a thoufand times, and murmured With every kifs a prayer for thy return ! And yet thou gav'ft this facred work to buy A wanton's favours CjESARIO. X Say, to buy her filence ! AMELROSA. Her filence ? ' ' > CJiSARlO. As this morn I left the palace. She marked my flight AMELROSA. Juft heavens ! CjISARIO. Though unrequited, Herlovehas long been mine. — She raved; (lie threatened ; G 2 She -14 ALFONSO: Act II. She would have vengeance ; fhe would roufe the guards ; Alarm the king AMELROSA. [Shuddering.'] My father 1 C-ESARIO. But her filence Bought by that fcarf . .... AMELROSA. Caefario, could I trufi: thee! Were this tale true, could I but think CiESARIO. I'll fwear AMELROSA. No I at the altar thou haft fworn already Mine were thy hand and heart, and mine for ever : If thou canft break this oath, none elfe will bind thee— - Yet did I wrong thee ? Art thou true ? I fain Would think thee fo But this fond heart, my hufband. Is fuch a weak fad thing, and where ic loves. Loves fo devoutly ! Spare me, dear Cxfario, Such fears in future •, let no word no thought, Cloud thy pure faith, for fo my foul dotes on thee, But lo fufpccl thee, racks each nerve, and almoft Drives my brain mad ! — Oh! could'ft thou know, Csefario^ How painful 'tis for one who loves like me, To ceafe to love ! Ceafe, faid I? — No, my heart Ceafed to eftecm, but never ceafed to love thee. [Fa/ling on his nech'\ CiESARIO. Act II. A TRAGEDY. 45 CfiSARlO. My foul! my Amelrofa! — Now all planets Rain plagues upon my perjured head, if e'er I break the vow, which here 1 breat'ie ! — This heart, Filled but with thee, and formed but to adore thee. Is thine, my love ! thine now, and thine for ever ! t AMELROSA. Hark ! — Steps approach — Eftella ? EsTELLA liv/jo has rctlredy advances haJlihA Hafte, Cssfarlo ! You mud away ! the King's returned! I fee Histrain now loitering near the garden-gate I Fly by the private poftern ! CiESARlO. Straight I '11 follow. \Exit ERcIla. Andmufl Heave thee, leave thee for fo long too? The King's aitairs now call me far from Burgos, And ere we meet again twelve hours mufl: pafs. AMELROSA. Ah! me! to love an age! C^SARIO. Yet fliould I leave thee With calmer foul, nor feel fuch pain in abfence. Were I but fure one wi(h AMELROSA. \_Eagerlj7\ Oh! name it, name it! But aflc me nothing light in action : afic me Something ftrange, hard, and painful ! Something, fuch As 46 ALFONSO: Act II. As none would dare to do but otie who loves. Nam$, name this blefled wifti ! C^SARIO. *Tis this — ^From midnight. Till my return, avoid the royal tower. AMELROSA. I promife ; yet what reafon C-ESARIO. When we meet Thou (halt know all ; till then forgive my fiience .' Seal with a kifs thy promife, then farewell ! [^Here ALFONSO advances in filence j his eyes are fixed en his daughter^ his hands are folded) and his nvhole appear^ ance eyprejfes the titmojl dejeBion.^ AMELROSA. Farewell, fince it muft be farewell— But mark! See not Ottilia ere you go ! C-ESARIO. I will not. AMELROSA. And when the bell's deep tongue attnounces mid- night. Breathe thou my name, for at that hour, my love, I '11 think on thee .... That hour ? Oh, fool! as if Hours could be found, in which I think not on thee. And muft thou go? — Nay, if thou muft, away. Or 1 Ihall bid thee ftay, and ft;ay for ever ! Farewell, my hufband ! CiESARIO. My foul's joy, farewell I \_Exlt. AMELROSA. Act II. A TRAGEDY. 47 AMELROSA. Oh! pain of parting ! [Tur fling round, her eye rejls on Alfonfo. She Jlarts^ and remains as petrijied luith terror. After a patife, he pajfes her in ftlence ; hut, on hs reaching the door, fjjs rujhes toivards him, her hands chfped infupplication.l^ Father ! [Alfonfo motions to forbid her following, and goes off.'\ AMELROSA. Oh! I 'm loft ! \Zhe falls fenfelefs on the ground.} END OP THE SECOND ACT. ALFONSO : Act III. ACT III. S C E N E I. A chamber In the palace. Enter OTTILIA and INIS. OTTILIA. Vv' AS it fo fudden ?— What ! no caufe affigned, y\nd fc fevere a fiiocl: too ?-^Tru(l ine, Inis, Thy tale aUvJWS me ! IN'IS, On the earth we found her Senfelefs and cold : we raifed and bore her hither, "Where (he revived only to figh and forrow, Wring her fiirh4nd^ arid ihciek her father's name. OTTILIA. 'Tls wondrous (Irange ! — Mourning my own afflictions. This rumour reached me; flraight all elfe forgotten, Hither by love and duty urged I fped, Kor co-.ne I trufb in vain. — This phial holds Drops of mcfi: precious power. — Good Inis, take it. And in vour lady's dr'ak r.fufe this liquid: Iviy life upon her cuie. INIS. Obedience bed Will fpeak my thanks, ncr dcubt .... Lo, where ap- proaches My lady's ghollly father, holy Bazil 1 Enter AcTlir. A TRAGEDY. 49 Enter Father bazil. BAZIL. Pardon that rudely thus I break your parley. But from the Kin^ 1 come, to bid the Infanta Attend him here. — Good Inis, lead me to her. IN IS. Here lies our \ray — Again I thant you, lady ; Ere night I '11 ufe your gift. l^Exit ivith Bazil. OTTILIA. And if thou doft, Go ring a funeral knell, and get thee mourning, And gather flowers to (Irow thy lady's grave : Thou 'It gather none fo fweet, as that I wither ! — Hark! 'twas her voice. — How at the found feemed ice To feize my every vein ! — My viclim comes ! — I cannot bear her fight ! — So young to die! So young, fo fair, fo gentle, and fo good ! With fuchan arj.el's life, and my foul's quiet Oh, God I Csefario, thou art purchafed dearly. \^Exit. Enter amelrosa, bazil, estella> inis, and Attendants. EAZIL. No pafTion fiufhed his cheek j his voice, his manner Though folemn, were not llcrn ; and when he named. you, A tear guftied forth, ere he could turn him from me. Then droop not thus, nor doubt paternal love H AMEI.ROS^ 50 ALFONSO : Act III. AMELROSA. Oh ! 'tis that love diilrac'is me, for his love Was love fo great ! 'Twas but this morn he termed me The only tie which chained him ftiil to life ! And i have broke that tie ! BAZIL. Nay, gentle Princefs ! AMELROSA. Perhaps have broke his heart lOO ! from his lips Have dafaed Joy's laft poor Jingeriiig drop, and lliown him, His only prop was frail as all the former ! Could I but think he felt like common parents, That when he found my iault, atFe6lion died. Then I were bleft ! then /alone {hould lufFer, And, when his hatred broke my heart, could feek Some lone fad place, and lay me down and die ! Alas ! alas I I know, I was his darling ! Know, by the joy I gave him once, too well How fliarp the grief mud be, I caufe him now I BAZIL. That partial love which cheriftied thus your virtues. Will now abfoive your fault. AMELROSA. But when he frowns ? I ne '^r yctfaw him frown, — but fure he's dreadful ! Oh! ere I meer thofe eyes (which yet ne 'er viewed me But their kind language fpoke uncounted bleffings) And find them dark with gloom, and dread with light- nings, Clofed be my own in death ! —Hark ! hark ! he comes In Act II r. A TRAGEDY. '51 In all his terrors ! comes io fpurn and drive me For ever from his fight.— His frown will kill me ! Shield me, Eflellq, fhield me ! ALFONSO eniers, folloived by RICARDO and Courtiers. ALFONSO. \_^fidcy Icohing at Amelrofa."] Can it be ! Can Ihe too have deceived ! — Retjre nwhile ! {^E.rez;nt Eftella, ^f. Matient alfonso and amelrosa. ALFONSO. Princefs ! AMELROSA. \_JdvaULing with timidity ^^thcfi rujinng forward^ and falling projirate at his feet."] My Father !— Oh ! my Father ! ALFONSO. Rife! Nay rife : what fear'ft thou ? Wherefore weep, and tremble ? Thou haft no caufe for grief ! The polfoned arrow Has pierced no heart, but mine ! Thefe eyes alone Need weep for what they 've feen * Thou haft not felt What 'tis to lofe ail faith m man ! to fee Joy and hope die together i and to find, When all thy foul loved beft hung on thy neck. Each kifs was falfe, and each fweet fmilc was hollow ! Weil! well ! 'Tis paft grief's curing! wondrous bitter. But muft be borne ! A few fliort months, and then The grave mends all. H 2 AMELROSA. S2' ALFONSO: Act III. AMELROSA. [y^Jitf^-] Pangs of the dying finner, Are ye more fliarp than mine ! ALFONSO. More tears ? — Perhaps You tremble, left my regal wrath fhould crufii The audacious flave, who ftole his fovereign's daughter ? No, Princefs, no ! I can excufe the youth, Nor look from mortals for divine forbearance. A fairer fruit, than ever dragon guarded, Courting his hand, and hung within his grafp, He could not choofe but pluck it. AMELROSA. Oh ! I would Mv heart could fprlng before thine eyes, and Ihow thee Each word thou utter'ft, written there in blood ! That it could fpeak ! ALFONSO. What could it fay ? but plead The youth's fair form, high fame, and great acquire- ments ! Gratitude that from ruffian hands he faved thee. Feelings too fond, and thus excufe thy love! But could it e'er excufe thy long difTembling, Thy feeming confidence, thy vows all broken. Thy arts to lull me in a biifsful dream. From 'vhich the waking .'s dreadful ? Why deceive me : "Why hide as from a foe thy thoughts from me ? Why baniih me thy bofom .-* Didft thou fear me ? Didfl Act HI. A TRAGEDY. 53 Di dft fear my power, my pride, my wrath ? Oh! was I.... Was I fo harfli a father, Amelrofa ? AMELROSA, [_J/ide.'j Heart, fure thy firings are fteel, or they would break! ALFONSO. Yet 'tis deferred I I was too fond I too partial I Still loved thee better than my fon, whofe heart Perhaps this partial love has turned againft me — If fo) my pain is juft I — Daughter, I 'II chide No more 5 nor came I here to chide, but blefs thee. This parchment gives thy lord Medina's dukedom. With all its fair domains j the dowry promifed. When my fond bofom hoped that princely Arraigon But that's now pail ! — Take it — farewell — be nappy ■ We meet no more ! AMELROSA. [Coverifig her face with her haudsT^ Oh ! heaven! ALFONSO. 'Twere vain, 'twere cruel. To make thee toil to fan thy love's faint embers. Since faith is deadj and though I (till dote on thee, I '11 truit no more — Thy choice is made, and may That choice prove all thy foudcft dreams e'er pidlured ! Bleft be thy days as the firft man's in Eden, Before fin was ! Be thy brave lord's affeclion Firm as his valour,'^lovely as thy form ! AndfiioultlO; thou ever know, with thy whole foul What 'tis to love a child, and hold it dearer! Than freedom, light, or life Oh I may that darling Show thee more faith, than thou haft ftiown to me. I've done— Have there the deed — Farewell! 3 • AMEtROSA. 54 ALFONSO: Act III. AMELROSA, TGro.fping the hand ivhich he extends luith the parchment^ and prcjjiug it to her /?//.] Have mercy ! ALFOKSO. Mercy ? — On whom ? AP^ELP.OSA. An humbled breaking heart, But M'hich, thoug'a breaking, loves thee dearly, dearly I Throw me not from thte I ALFONSO. Haft not all thy withes ? TTiy hufbana's pardon, honour, wealth, and- freedom To live with whom, and ho\v, aim where thou wilt ? "What wouldit thou mor^ t AMETPCSA. That, without which all thefe Are Tiothing, and each ft'em''ig grace true curfes ! Tliy heart! thy heart, my father ! Give me that! Thy whole, whoie heart, fuch as i once poflels'd it. Soft — kind — indulgent — open — feeling — fond ! Tisthis I afk, — or, this denied, to die. Yesl ftrike me at your foot ; fpurn, trample, crufli me ! Twill in my ftreaming locks your hand, ?>.nd drag me, Till from my wounded bofom ftreams of blood Gufh forth, and dye the marble red ! — All this Were far lefs anguifti to a generous foul, Than this fo torturing love, fo cruel kindnefs I ALFONSO. I will not hear . . . c . AMEIROSA. ^T III. A TRAGEDY. 55 AMELROSA. Oh \ leave me not, my father, Nor bid me leave thee ! Let my angulfli move thee; Let not, though great, a fingle error lofe me The fruits of twenty years pafs'd in thy fervice, Which in thy fervice pafs'd feemed fliort as moments. ALFOKSO. It muft not be . . ... . AMEl.TvOSA. You would, but cannot hide it ; I ftill am dear ! Each look, each feature fpeaks it. Speaks too a foftening heart — On ! hear irs pleading* And bid me ftay ! I'll only {lay to love thee ! Look on me! mark my altered form ! obfervc The (Irong convulfionsof my gafping bofom ! See my wan cheeks, eyes fwoln, lips trembling! feel Hovv fcalding are the tears with which I dew This dear, dear hand ! Judge by thy own my fufFeringSj And bid me ceafe to fufi'er j when with force, Such as defpair alone can give, and louder Than hends implore from their volcanic prifons Tlie Arch- angel's grace, I cry to thee— "Have mercy."-! ALFONSO. My child No, no I — 'Twere weaknefs AMELROSA. Weaknefs, faid'ft thou ? Oil ! glorious fault ! Ch ! fair defca l—Oh ! wcakne.f* PafTing all (trength ! If to forgive be Hn, How deeply then muft Heaven have fmned to mnn ! Oh ! be thy faults like Heaven's I Relent, my father I Pardon I Oh ! fpeak that word ! ALFONSO. 56 ALFONSO : Act II# ALFONSO. My heart! my heart ! My burfting heart ! A MEL ROSA. That word, that blelTed word, So quickly faid, fo eafy, as 'twere magic Breaks forrow's fpell, and bids her phantoms fly! That word, that word, that one, one httle word, And I am bleft ! — — — ALFONSO. I yielding to his emotid'iSy atid clafpitig her eagerly to his bofom?^ Be bleft then ! [^Exit. AiVIELROSA. Now, ye ftars, Which nightly grace the flcy, if ye love goodnefs, Pour dews celeftial from your golden vials On yon dear gracious head ! — Oh ! why is now ISIy hufband abfent ? — Lend thy doves, dear Venus, That I may fend them where Caefario ftrays ; And while he fmooths their lilver wings, and gives them .For drink the honey of his lips, I '11 bid them Coo in his ear, his Amelrofa 's happy ! Joy, joy, my foul ! Bound, my gay dancing heart ! Waft me, ye winds ! To bear fo bleft a creature Earth is not worthy.! Loved by thofe I love, I've all my foul e'er wiftied, my hopes e'er fancied, My father's friendfliip, and C?efario's heart ! Leave me but thefe, and, fortune, I defy thee ! lExih SCENE Act Hi. A TRAGEDY. 5? SCENE II. The for^eji as before. Enter CESARIO and HENRIQUEZ. C^SARIO. He fpurned him, Marquis, fpurned him ! With fuch fcorn, Such genuine ardent hate, repaid his foothing ..... Oh ! by that hate I feel, the blood which fills Thefe veins is ri^hc Orfmo's ! HENRIQUEZ. 'Tis reported. The King (hed tears. C^SARIO. Marquis, he wept, fawned, pleaded Remorfe, and fued for pardon with fuch fervour, As ftarving fouls for bread ! HENRIQUEZ. Did not at this Orfmo's fire melt ? C^SARIO. Melt ? Like yon fortrefs-rock, (Which rears its tower-clad front above the billows. Nor h'leJs the winds that blow, nor rains that beat,) Proof againft tears, and deaf to all entreaties. Unmoved the ftern one flood, and frowned his anfwer. Oh ! fear not, friend : like me he loaths Alfonfo, And, when 1 place revenge within his grafping. Will fpring to reach it. I HENRIQIJEZ. Se ALFONSO: Act III. HENRIQUEZ. 'T is pad doubt, his aid Were to our caufe a tower of ftrength ; yet ftill 1 fear, lell Some one leaves the cave 1— Tis he I 1 'U wait beneath yon limes. [Exit. ORSINO enters from the cave. CiESARIO. Now by my life A noble ruin ! ORSINO. I return to Burgos ? For what? To fhow my fears, and hear Court-Ladies Rail at the wars for m.aking men fo hideous ? To bear the coxcomb's fneer, the minion's fawning. And fee fools fweetly fmile at my good fortune, Who, when my death was Ggned, fmilcd full as fweetly ? No, no, I '11 none on't. — [i'mV/^Csefario.] — ^Plagues and fiends! another? More gold and filk ! more mufk, fair words, and lying ! Will thefe Court-flies ne'er ceafe to buz around me ? \Vell> blr, what fcek ye here ? C^SARIO. Revenge ! ORSINO. Indeed ? On whom ? C^SARIO. On lawlefs Power ! — Alk ye for what? A Father's wrongs and Mother's murder ! ORSINO. Act III. A TRAGEDY. 59 ORSINO. [Star/ifig.] How ? That voice Let me look on thee well — Thofe lips; Thofe eyes Oh ! Heaven, thofe eyes too ! — I ne'er faw But one have eyes like thine, an earthly angel, And with the angels now ! — Fair youth, who art thou ? CJESARIO. Speaks not thy heart ORSINO. It does, youth. Oh ! it does ; But I '11 not truft it, for if falfe its wliifpers So fweet, fo painful fweet .....! Dear good youth, tell me, Spare a poor broken heart, and tell me quickly Thy father's name. C^SARIO. My father ? Oh ! that was A man indeed, and model for all others ! His country's fword ! his country's ihield ! an hero I A demi-god ! And, great as were his adlions. So were his wrongs ! ORSINO. His name! His name ! CitSARlo. l^Rtz/hing itito his arms.\ Orfino ! ORSINO. I have him ! hold him here ! — Death alone parts us, My fon ! Victoria's fon ! — Come, come, my boy, Kneel at this tomb with me \ join thou my I'uit For the bleft dull beneath, ind read through tears I 2 Here 60 ALFONSO: Act III. Here fleeps thy mother. Wandering forth to /cek her. Unknown her fate and thine, chance led me hither : I marked yon tablet, read yon piteous lines. Threw thofe now ufelefs arms for ever from me, Sank on Victoria's grave, nor left it more. Yet, yet I died not ! — Amelrofa's kincinefs, Which gave me freedom, traced me to this fpot. And faved my life, my wretched life, which ftill I only ufe to mourn thy lofs, Vidloria ! Knovv'fl: thou, my boy, when her eyes clofed for ever, Whofe hand ...... C^SARIO. Herfon's!..— ORSjNO. {prafping Caefarip's hand.} Was 't thine ? CJESAVilO. 'Twas mine too raifed Yon rufl-ic tomb, and 'twas this cave received her When, defperate at your lofs, fhe fled the Court, Here long ihe forrowed, here at length flic died. Died of a broken heart !r—Aye, weep, my father 5 For know the King fl^all pay each tear thou (hedd'ft With drops of blood ! ORSINO. The King ?-r-Boy, name him not ! That found is poifon ! — I was once fo liappy I j,? Was once fo rich ! — And that one man ftole all \ My curfe be on him ! C^SARIO. Man, thy curfe is heard. ORSINO, » Act Iir, A TRAGEDY. €1 ORSINO. Is heard ? What mean'ft thou ? C^SARIO. Vengeance ! Hark, Qrfino Soon as my mother died, (believed Csefario, A young unknown) I fought the Court, where chance 'Gave me from rufEan -Moors to fave the Princefs. This made Alfonfo mine, and ftill I 've ufed him To further mine own ends. Joy, joy, my father f My plots are ripe, the King's beft troops corrupted, Jlis fon too through my arts declared a rebel, And ere two nights are paft, I '11 ftrip the tyrant Both of his throne and life — Roufe then, and aid ! Now, fir ? Why gaze you thus ? ORSINO. I fain would doubt it, J'ain find fome plea No, no ! each look, cacK feature, And my own heart ♦,.,.. *Tis true j thou art my fon ? f:$SARlO. What mean you ? ORSINO. {PaJfionateJy.'^ Art my fon, and yet a villain ! CiESARio, [Starting.'] Villain ? ORSlNO, Deftroy Alfonfo ?— What ! Alfonfo The wife, the good ? C^SARIO. With thee then was he either ? Has he not wronged thee ? ORSINO. 62 ALFONSO: Act UL ORSINO. Deeply, boy, mod deeply !- But in his whole wide kingdom none but me ! Look through Caftile ! See all fmile, bloom, and flourifli ! No peafant fleeps ere he has breathed a ble.fliug On his good King ! — No thirft of power, falfe pride. Or martial rage he knows ; nor would he fhed One drop of fubje£l -blood to buy the title Of a new Mars ! E'en broken-hearted widows And chilulcfs mothers, while they weep the fiain, Cuifing the wars, confefs his caufe was juft! Such is Alfonfo, fuch the man whofe virtues Now fill thy throne, Caflile, to blefs thy children ? What fhows the adverfe fcale ? What find we there ? My fufFerings ! Mine alone ' And what am /, ■That I fiiouid weigh me 'gaind the public welfare ? V.'hat are my wrongs again il a monarch's rights r What is my curfe against a nation's bleffings ? C^SARjJQ- Yet hear me ORSINO- / aOTift your plots ? /injure One hair that's nouriflied with Alfonfo's blood ? No ! The wronged fubje«El hates the ungrateful mAfter, But the world's friend mufl: love the Patriot King. C^SARIO. Amazement ! Can it be Orfino fpeaking ? * lis fome Court minion fure, fome tool of office. Some tliread-bare mufc penfioncd to praife the throne. 4 ■ This Act III. A TRAGEDY. 63 This cannot be the man, whofc burning vengeance, Whofe fixed averfion ORSlNO. Boy, 'tis fixed as ever ! Alfonfo's ()ght, his name, his very goodnefs Forcing my praife, torture my foul to madnefs. I hate him ! hate him ! — but iViIl own his virtues; And though / hate, Oh! Blefs the good King, Heaven 1 C^SAKIO. Oh! mod ftrange patience! moft rare ftretch of temper ! What ! Blels the man, who thought you treacherous, bafe. Ungrateful I ORSINO. And becaufe he thought me fuch, (Remembering only what his fault deferves. Forgetting all that 's due to mine own honour,) Shall I become the wretched thing he thought me ? Prove his fufpicions jufl ? quit the proud ftation Where injured virtue towers, and fink me down to His level who ojnprefs'd me ? Oh ! Not fo I When hoftile arms (train every nerve to crufii me, Pang follows pang, and wrong to wrong fuccceds Piled like the Alps, each loftier than the lalt one : To pay thofe wrongs with good, thofe pangs with kind- nefs. To raife the foe once fallen, bind his gored bread, And heap with generous zeal favours on favours. Till his repentant fpirit melts, and bleeds To 64 ALFONSO: Act lit To thiak he ever pained an heart like mirte, Such is my hate ! fuch my proud fouFs whole objedl! The only vengeance noble minds Ihould take. C^SARIO. Farewell then, fince far other hate is mine. And aflcs far other vengeance. — I '11 to feek itf ORSINO. Stay, youth, and hear me ! Ere you quit this fpot (Since virtue has no power to chain or awe thee) Swear to forego thy traitoroua fchemes, or ftraight I'll feek the King CiESARlO. You dare not 1 No, you dare not! Nay, flart not ! I but know my power, and ufe It. Look on thefe lips and eyes ! they are Vicloria's ! And fliall Victoria's lips be fealed for ever ? And ftiall Victoria's eyes be clofed in death ? E'en while ^ou rage, with looks fo fond you eye me. They fpeak, your love will guaranty yourfilence. ORSINO. 'Tis true, too true ! But, dear and cruel boy, Though threats fucceed not, let thefe tears prevail, Tears for thy dying virtue — Oh ! look round theej See to mankind what curfes bad Kings are. And learn from them the ble fling of a good one ! C^SARIO. Father, in vain you urge me ! Know, I 've fworn Alfonfo's death ! my mother's fhade demands it ; Who aflced that promlfe, with an oatk confirmed, And wliat Ihe alked I gave ! ORSINO, Act in. A TRAGEDY. 65 ORSINO. Oh ! Wherefore (Iklfi: thou ? Since fhe required an oath to feal thy promife. Thou (houldft have known thy prornife muft be wrong. Virtue and truth are in themfelves convincing, Nor need the feeble fan6lion of man's lips,— As the fun needs no aid from foreign orbs, Itfelf a fire-forraed world of light and glory. What meant thine oath ? What meant thofe magic words, Save by thy lips to bind thy hand t*^ do, What makes each wife head (hake, each good hearf fhudder ? Thy impious vow CliSARlO. Impious or juft, once fworn, To break it fure were fliame ! ORSINO. My fon, 't were virtue, When to perform it were the worft of crimes. 'Twas wrong to fwear ; be with that wrong contested j A fecond fault cannot make righ,t the firft. And acls of guilt abfolve no adl: of folly *. CiRSARip. Guilt ? Then we jar for words ! I fee but glory. Where thou fee'ft guilt ! Yet call it what thou wilt : I may be guilty, but I mitji be great. * " Promifes are not binding, whare th^; pcrforinance is unlawful : the guilt of fufth promifes is in th« making, not in the breaking them. *' Promiflbry oaths are not binding where the promife itfelf would not be fo. — Thus Jephthah's vow was not binding, becaufc the pcr- fopmancb in that contingency became unlav. ful.'' — Pale/i PbilufeJ'b^. K ORSiMO. 66 ALFONSO : Act III. O RSI NO.. A dreadful word ! C.'ESARIO. A Crown ! A Crown invites me ! A glorious Crown ! ORSINO. Glorious ? Oh 1 No ! True glory h not to wear a Crown, but to ilefirve oue. The peafant-fwain, who leads a good man's life, , And dies at laft a good man's death, obtains In wifdom's eye wreaths of far brighter fplendour, Than he whofe wanton pride and third for empire Make kings his captives, and lay %vafl;e a world. C^SARiO. And is 't not glorious then to blefs my country By juft and gentle ruling \ fight her battles ! Freferve her laws f ORSINO. Thou, thou preferve her laws ? Thou fight her battles, thou ? I tell thee, boy. The hand which ferves its Country fliould be pure ! Ambition, felfifh love, vain lull of pov/er Ravage thy head and heart 1 and would'il thou hold The judgment-balance with an hand (1111 red With royal blood ? Would'ft thou dare fpeak a penance On guilt, thyfelf fo guilty? Canft: thou hope, Caftile will truft her to thee ? God forbid ! ^lad i'' thai nation, mad paft thought of cure, Paft chains and dungeons, whips, Ipare food, and failing. Who yields the immoral man a patriot's name, ■ And ActUI. A TRAGEDY. 67 And looks in private vice fur public virtue! Thou play the patriot's p;irtr Avay i Away ! Who luotwds his Country is the woril of monOers ; But good men only fliould prefume to ferve her— * Thy guilt once feen dSARIO. And who fhall fee that guilt When wrapt in purple, and tlie world's eye dazzled By the o'er powering blaze a Crown ennits? — What pilgrim, gazing on fome awful torrent, Thinks through what roads it pafs'd ? Let golden fortune But fmile propitious on my daring crimes, And all my cr mes are virtues ! — Mark tiiis, father ! The world ne'er holds thofe guilty, who fucceed. [ii.v/Y. ORSiNo. [Alone.'] How fhall I aQ ? — He faid, within two nights !•- Whace'cr is done, mull be done ioon — Oh ! how. How {hall I thread this labyrinth ! How contrive To fave my King, yet r.nt deftroy my fon ! The Princefc :— Ha' Well thought !— It fhall be fo. I '11 feek her, and Alfcnfo's lite prefer ved, At once fhall pay her kindnefs for my freedom. And buy my fon's full pardon ! — Yes, I 'II ha!le. And fnatch my fovereign from this gulph of ruin, I, I the Atlas of his tottering tu;one — Profperous, I fliunned 5 Unhappy, I forgive him 5 He reigned, I fcorned his powei—He finks, I '11 fave him. END OF THE THIRD ACT. K 2 ACT 6b ALFONSO: Aer IV. JCT IK SCENE I. Atnelrofa's chamber. AMELROSA [in white fobesy and crowned with flowers], ESTELLA {with -a letter^. AMELROSA. ,X I S ftrange !— At this late hour ! — In armour fay'ft thou ? ESTELLA. In fable armour •, round his wtcV was flung A bugle-horn. — ^In courteous guife he prayed mc Give you this note unieen. AMELBOSA. Unfeen ? — How 's this? [Reading] " One, not unknown, rcquefts an immediate audience " on Hiattcr^ moft important: Princefs, delay not, as you ** value your father's life." Not figned ? — - My father's life ! EfLcUa, fay, Did he not tell his name ? ESTELLA. He faid this jewel Would fpeak, whence caroe his letter. AMELROSA. Ha !— The ring I gave Orfino !— Quickly feek yon ftranger, And Act TV. A TRAGEDY. €9 And charge him wait me at St. Juan's Chapel ; For there to pafs the night in grateful prayer, E'en now I go -Friend, fpeed thee I [Exit Eftella; AMELROSA. [J/ofie.] Doubt and terror My father's life ? — And yet, for fuch a father What need I fear ? Heaven will defend its own, And wings of feraphs fliield that King from hartn, Whofe proudefl title is — *' His People's Father," Whofe deareft treafure is his people's love ! \_Exni. SCENE IL St. Juan's cloijers by mcon-light. — On one Jide a Gothic chapel. ORSINO. [_Alone in black armour.'] Yes, this muft be the place — Eftelia named St. Juan's fhrine, and fure 'tis for the Princefs Yon altar flr.mes— Oh ! hallowed vaults, how often Ye ring with prayers, which granted would deftroy The fools who form them * ! Virgins there requelt Their charm f. may lire the heart of fome gay rake. Who proves a wedded curfc — ^There wives afk children;, And, when they have them, find their vices fuch They mourn their birth — ^The Spendthrift begs fomc kmfman May die, and vows ihat Heaven fliall fliare the fpoil — While the young foldier prays his fword ere long * \'idc Ji.u'cn?.!. Saiiit lo. May 70 ALFONSO : Act IV. May blufh with blood, (and with whofe blood he cares not,) Swearing, if fo his arm may purchafe glory, He'll pay its price, a thojland human hearts. And all ihefe mad, thcfe impious vows are ufliered With chaunt of cloillered maids, and fwcil of organs — As could cur earthly fongs charm Him, who hears Seraphs and cherubs wake their harps divine, While the bleft planets, hymning in tiicir orbits. Pour forth fuch tones, as reached ihey mortal ears, Man would go mad for very ecftafy ! — "Well, well ! Such forms are good to force example On purbiu'id eyes : But prayer from earth abftrsc^ed, Breathed in no ear but Hea\en's * ; whcii lips are filent. But the heart fpeaks full loudly , thanks And let me know the word ! ORSINO. Thy fears, though great, Are juftified by that I have to tell. Princefs, a plot is formed., and ripe for a£Hon^ To fpoil thy farfher of his throne and life. AMELROSA, My father ! my good father ? ORSINO, What can goodnefs And moral duties 'galnfl the affaults of paflion ? Thofe chains, e'en when they feem than diamond harder^ Soften, calcine, and fall like dull away, Touched by the burning finger of ambition. AMELROSA. This vile, vile worW ! Oh 1 is there one on earth So loft to virtue, he would harm my father ! ORSINO. There is, and one moft favoured ! one who owns He long has lived nejireft Alfonfo's heart ; His Act IV. A TRAGEDY. 73 His friend, his trufted friend ! and yet this traitor, This worfl of traitors .... (fhame denies me utterance '.) This traitor, Princefs, is Orfmo's fon ! AMELROSA. Thy fon ? thy long loft fon ? ORSINO. Long loft, late found, And better than found thus, if loft for ever ! Go, Princefs, go j preferve your fire : — I lay Bound at my fovereign's feet this precious vi£lim— Yet while you paint the fon's offence, paint alfo His father's anguifli ! Plead for him, dear lady. Oh ! plead for him, and fave him ! fince I own, (Own it with fhame) dearer than air or eye-fight I love, I dote upon Ciefario ! AMELROSA. [_Startifig.] Whom r ORSINO. Csefario is his name. AMELROSA. 'Tis not ! 'tis not ! Or, if It be, it means not th^i Cxfario ! Not }ny Ctcfario ! No, no, no ! ORSINO. A foldier, Who fays he faved thee once AMELROSA. Peace ! death-bell, peace ! . Thou ring'ft the knell of all my joys ! ORSINC WTiat mean'ft thou ? What fudden paffion L AMELROSA. 7* ALFONSO: Act IV- AMELROSA. Hear me, wretched father ! This fon, now guilty thought, but guiltier far, (Who knows with what idolatry I dote on My father, and yet plots to tear him from mc !) Is one, to buy whofe barbarous heart, I fpurned All the world prizes — fame, refpeft, and empire ! Nay, rlfqued my father's love ! This man, this man .... He is ... . Oh Heaven ! . . . My hufband ! ORSINO. [^Striking his forehead'] Slave! — Wretch! — Fiend! And yet Orfino's fon ! Alas ? Poor Princefs I Gav'ft thou him all, and rends he all from thee ? Was he thy love, and would he be thy bane ? Has he thy heart, and ftabs it ? Now, all plagues Hell ever forged for daemons, light . . . AMELROSA. Hold! hold! Oh I curfe him not — No, fave him ! Some one comes . . . We (hall be marked . . . This way, and let us ftudy How we may refcue belt ORSINO. No I let him perifli ! Perifli, and feek the flames his guilt deferves ; The fooner, ' tis the better ! AMELROSA. Silence, filence ! Dear friend, this way — ^be patient!— Oh ! Caefario, And couldft thou have the heart to torture mine ! 3 CJESARIO Act IV. A TRAGEDY. 75 C^SARIO enters mujfled in his cloah. C.^SARIO- Not come yet ? ^TIs pad midnight, and 'twas hei-c She bade me join her. — Ha ! why flame yon lamps ? Should any loitering monk . . . No, no, 'tis vacant. And all as yet if fafe. Fate! let this hour Be mine, and wich the reft do what thou wilt. I hear her ! — To my work then ! — Why this fliivering ? — ^I would fain fpare her. — If flie yields to reafon Tis well ; if not She 's here. Enter ottilia. I find thee punflual ! 'Tis well for tliee thou art fo ! By my life, If thou hadil failed me, I had fought the King! Where is the priefl ? — On to the chapel ! CjBSARIO. Stay, And hear me I for the hour is come, that weighs Our fates in the fame balance. Thus then briefly Thou art moll fair, in wit mod choice and fubtle j In all rare talents flill furpalhng all j And for thefe gifts, and thy long tried afl^e<5tion, I feel, I owe thee much ! owe thee firm friendfhip. Eternal gratitude, faith, favour, lore. And all things, fave my hand ! Except but this, (Which now I muft not give, nor couldft thou take) And aflc what elfe thou wilt I OTTILIA. Mod gracious fir, For thy fair praife, and thefe fo liberal ofl'ers Of granting all, fave that which 1 would have, L 2 Accept 76 ALFONSO: Act IV. Accept my thanks. I 've heard thee ; now hear me. I '11 be thy wife, or nothing ! C^SARIO, Lady, lady, You know not what you aflc t OTTILIA. I know myfelf Worthy of what I aflc, and know my power, Which you, it feems, forget. — Is not my dowry Your life and crown ? Let me but fpeak one word, And ftraiglit your fancied throne becomes a fcaffold ' No more, but to the chapel. C^SARIO. If to move thee Ought would avail .... OTTILIA.' It cannot. C/ESARIO. Once a king .... OTTILIA. I fhare thy throne. CJESARIO. "Mid all CaRile's firfl: honours • Make thou thy choice OTTILIA. 'Tis made. C^SARIO. And ftill remaining My friend, my love .... O-JTILIA. Thy wife ! thy wife ! or nothing I C^SARIO. Act IV. A TRAGEDY. 77 CSSARIO. Nay, then I '11 crufh thy frantic hopes at once : I'm married! OTTILIA. Startbig.~\ What ? — I hope thou doll but feign ; For thy fake hope it, fince, if true this marriage, Thou 'rt loft pad faving ! CiESARIO. Nay, unbend thy brow. Nor ftamp, nor r::ve — the Princefs is my wife,, And frowns unbind not whom the church hath bou'.id. The javelin 's thrown, and cannot be recalled j — Thine be the fecond prize, the lirft is won, And all thy grief and rage, that 'tis another's, Will but torment thyfelf. — Be wife, be wife. And bear with patience what (hou canft not cure. OTTILIA. T will not curfe ! — No ; I 'U not wafte in vapour The fire, which burns within me. What I teel. My deeds will tell thee beft. [G^-/;/j.] CiESARio. {^Detaining ker.'] Ottilia, ftay; If yet one fpark. of love remains .... OTTILIA. [^PaJJionnielj.'] Of love ? Of love for thee ?— Mark me ! ere fets the fun My rival dies, and thou once more art free : But now fo deadly is the hate I be;ir thee, ^Twill joy me lefs to fee thee mine, than dead ! Thy blood ! thy blood ! 'lis for thy blood 1 thirft, And it fliall llream. — Farewell. . , CiiSARIO. 78 ALFONSO ; . Act IV. C.iESARlO. Go tfien, proud woman, I brave thy rancour Ere thou gain'ft the palace,, I *J1 fpring the mine. OTTILIA. Indeed ? Now hark awhile, Then die for fpite, thou bafe, thou baffled traitor! Six trufly flaves wait but my call to bind And bear thee to the King ! — Aye, rage, rage, rage \ For I 'U invent fuch tortures to difpatch thee, Such racks, fuch whips, fuch baths of boiling fulphur, llie damned flail think their pains mere mirth and paftime. And envying furies own their fkill outdone. I go to prove my words 1 CJE^ARIO. Thou muft not leave me OTTILIA. Worlds fhould not bribe my flay CiBSARia Thou 'rt in ray power OTTILIA. Thy power ? Thy power ? I brave it ! I defy it, Scorn both thy power and thee ! Unhand me, ruffian, I HI not be held — Within there ! Haften hither ! Anthonio \ Lopez ! — ^Treafon ! Treafon ! C^SARI0» Nay then, This to thy heart [Stabbing her."^ OTTILIA. Help, help! Oh !. vile aflaflin ! Act IV. A TRAGEDY. 79 Enter orsiko. iHaJIUy.} ORSINO. What clamours Hold ! You pafs not ! C^SARIO. Give me way, Or elfe thy life ORSINO. Ruffian; defend thine own ! \_Exeunt fghting. OTTILIA. [Alone^ leaning ngainjl a pillar.'] My blood ftreams fafl I I 'm wounded . . . deeply wounded ! My voice too fails: I cannot call for help. To hope for life were vain ; but for revenge Coutd I but reach the palace \_Advaticirig a feiv Ji^ps^ then finking on the ground.'} ' Twill not be ! ? faint ! Ohj Heaven ! £n*cr AMELROSA. AMELROSA. A* 's hufhed apjain ! How fearful After thofe (hrieks appears the midnight calm ! — Orfino ?— Spcr.k ! Oifino r — No one aufwers. What can tl^s mean ? OTTILIA. Fainter and fainter flill ! And no oiie comes ! — AMELROSA. Hark! 'Tvvas a j:;roan ! whence came it? \_Seelng Qttilia.] Stranger, look up ! OTTILIA. 80 ALFONSO : Act. IV. OTTILIA. A voice ! Oh ! blefled found ! Whoe'er thou art, mark well my dying words ; A villain's hand I 'm vi'ounded AMELROSA. Gracious Heaven ! Oh ! let me Hy for aid OTTILIA. All aid were vain. Stay ! Mark! Revenge! — {T'akitig a paper from her hofom-l This paper . . . take it . . • bear it Swift to the Royal Tower — lofe not a moment— Infifl to fee the King — take no denial, For 'tis of mofl dear import. AMELROSA. • Sure ! It muft be . . . .'' Ottilia ! OTTILIA. [Starting up wildly.'] Heaven, who fpcaks ? 'Tis fhe herfeif 1 My viftim, 'tis my vitlim ! — Doll thou live then ? Haft thou efcaped Spare me, thou God of n^rcy! Oh ! fpare me this one crime ! AMELROSA. What means this palfion ? How wild flie eyes me ! How ihe grafps my hand ! OTTILIA. Anfwer, and blefs me! Say thou didll: not drink it ! Say Inis did not . . . While I fpeak, the blood Fades from thy cheek! Thine eyes clofe ! Dying pangs Diftort thy features I Pangs like thofe which ftiortened tJis Act IV. A TRAGEDY. 81 His life, whofe angry ghoft, grim, fierce, and ghaflly. Comes gliding yonder ! See his livid finger Points to the poifoned cup! He frowns and threatens ! Pray for me^ angel ! Pray for me ! I dare not ! AMELROSA. Alas ! poor wretch ! OTTILIA. Help ! help ! The fpe£lre grafps me, And folds me to his breaft, where the worm feeds ! He tears my heart firings! — Now he finks, he finks, And finliing grafps me ftill ! and drags me down with him, A thoufand fathom deep !—0h ! loft ! loft I loft. [Dies. AMELROSA. She 's gone ! — Sure earth affords no fight more awful, Than when a finner dies She named the King ! Perhaps this writing. , ... By yon favouring lamp i 'U find its meaning. [Afcending the chapel Jieps, Enter orsino. ORSINO. Aided by the night The villain has cfcaped me. [Seeing Amelrofa, ivho, while reading by the lump fiifpeudcd in the chapel-porch ^ exprejfes the rhoft violent agitation.'^ Princefs ! — -Ha ! Why thus alarme-J ? — [Amelrofa giws him the paper in ftlenccy ivith a look of agonyP^ This paper? — Heaven, what 's this .'' \Reading,'\ *• My King, Caefario plots your deftru(5iion : — A M " mine 82 ALFONSO: Acr V. " mine is formed in the Claudian vaults, beneath the *' Royal Tower, and which the confpirators meun to " fpring this night. This warning will enable ycu to *' defeat their purpofe : Accept it as an atonement for *' thecrimesof the dying Guzman. The mine is appoint- *' ed to be fpiung, when the clock ftrikes one." — [The letter falls from his hand. AMELROSA. [RtfJjiiig f'otn the chapel 111 defpair.'] One ! One !— 'Tis that already !— Oh ! He 's loR ! My father's loft ! — Ere we can reach his chamber, Twill Cnk in flames ! ORSINO. That muft be tried — Say, Princefs, How may I gain admittance to the King, Nor meet delay ? AMELROSA. This fignet . . . [Giving a ring.] ORSINO. 'Tis enough. Know you the Claudian vaults ? AMELROSA. I do. ORSINO. Away then ! Reach them with fpeed ! cling round Csefario, kneci. Weep, threaten, foothe, implore ! to roufe his feelings Ufe every art ; at leaft delay his purpofe, Till thou (halt hear this bugle found ; that fignal Shall fpcak Alfonfo fafe. — Farewell, AMELROSA. Act IV. A TRAGEDY. 83 AMELROSA. Oh ! Heaven ! Oh 1 dreadful hour ! ORSINO. Take heart : if time allows me, I '11 fave thy father : if too late . . . AMELROSA. Then, then, What then wilt do ? ORSINO. What .' Plunge into the flames. And pcrifli with my King ! — Away ! away ! \_Exeunt fever ally, SCENE III. A cavern. Enter melchior ivith a lamp, as from an inner cavern. MELCHIOR. Hufti ! — No, he comes not ! Sure 'tis near the time. A light I —Who 's there ? — Henriquez ^ Enter henriquez, lighted by LUCio. HENRIQUEZ. Aye, the fame. MELCHIOR. Now, Lucio, where 's thy loid ? LUCID. He charged me tell you. He would not fail at one. M 2 liELCHIOR. 84 ALFONSO : Act IV- MELCHIOL. The reft wait yonder. Gomez, Sebaftian, Marcos, none are wanting; Our Ohief alone is abfeut, HENRI QUEZ. He '11 not tarry. Lead to the inner vault, I '11 wait him there. [^Exeunt. Enter amelkosa, AMELROSA. Thofe gleams of light .... I muft be near the place. —Voices ! — I'll on ! — Oh ! Heaven ! I can no further. —I faint! — I die ! — [Catching at a fragment of the cave, againj} ichich fhe leans as Jiupefed. — A paufe. — The hell flrikes One'] Hark ! the bell gives the fignal ! Oh ! for a moment's ftrength Hold, murderers, hold ! [RuJ/jes of. SCENE IV. [The ir.ner cavern^ partially lighted ivith lamps. In the middle^ folding-doors guarded with iron-hars. — On one fide a rough hewn flair cafe leading to a [mall door above.^ GOMEZ, MARCOS, and Con/pi rators, difovered in lifl- cning attitudes, GOMEZ. 'Tis llrange 1 the time is pall .... andy et not htra ? MARCOS. Henriquez too is abfent. GOMEZ. Act IV. . ■- A TRAGEDY. <5 GOMEZ. Steps approach. \Knoclhig at the folding- door. 1 Who knocks ? HENRIQUEZ. [TVithoilt.'] A friend. MARCOS. The pafs word. HBNRIQUEZ. Empire ! . GOMEZ, Open, [Marcos unbars the door.'] HENRIQUEZ, MELCHIOR, and LV CIO, enter through t/jt folding-doors f ivhich Marcos again clofes. GOMEZ. Friends, welcome ! Melchior, is thy work complete ? MELCHIOR, Complete, and fit for fpringing — Nought is wanting— The train is laid ; one fpark, and all is done. Our Chief alone .... GOMEZ. The private door unlocks ! HENRIQUEZ. Cjefario only has the key. MELCHIOR. 'Tis he ! [c^tSARio defends the flair cafe fwiftly, his loohs are wild i his hairfoivsloofy a?id he grafps a bloody dagger. "} All. Welcome, Cxfario, welcome ! C^SAIlIu- 86 ALFONSO: Act IV. C^oARIO. Aye, fhout, (hout, And kneeling greet your blood-anointed king, This fteel his fceptre ! Tremble, dwarfs in guilt, And own your mailer ! Thou art proof, Henriquez, jGainft pity ; I once faw thee llab in battle A page who clafpcd thy knees: And Melchior there Made quick work with a brother whom he hated. But what did /this night? Hear, hear, and reverence ! There was a breaft, on which my head had refted A thoufand times ; a bread, which loved me fondly. As Heaven loves martyred faints ; and yet this breaft I flabbcd, knaves, ftabbed it to the heart ! Wine ! wine there ! For my foul 's joyous 1 [Gomez brings a goblet.'] HENRIQJJEZ. Friend, what means this phrenfy ? "What haft thou done .? Where is Ottilia ? c^SARio. \_DaJ}jhig doivn the gok'et-'J Dead ! Dead, Marquis ! — At that word how the vault rings, A.nd the ground fliakes ! It (hall not fhake my purpofe. Murder and I are grown familiar, friends ; The ailaiTin's trade is fweet ! I've tafted blood, And third for more ! Say, is the mine MELCHIOR. All 's ready — C^SARIO. Who fires the train ? HENRiQ^TEZ, MELCHIOR. citid all the Coiifpirators, I! i! ActIV. a tragedy. 87 CASARIO. Oh ! cheerful cry f Oh ! glorious ftrife for guilt ! Let each man thro\r His dagger in my cafque ; be his the fervice, Whofe Heel I draw. HENRIQUEZ. 'Tis mine csrsARio. [To Lucie] Thy torch, boy ! [Giving it to Henriquez.] Take it. Here lies thy way — fpeed, fpeed, and let yon vaults. Shivering in fragments, tell my raviQied ear Alfonfo dies 1 Away ! away ! -lOn his throiviiig open the folding doors ^ Amelrofa 2/ difcovered.y AMELROSA. Forbear ! JIL The Princcfs ! AMELROSA. No ! no Princefs ; 'tis a daughter, Fierce through defpair, frantic with fear and anguifh. Hear me, ye dread unknown ! Yon flinty man Ne'er knew a father's care, and knows not now What 'tis to love^ what 'tis to lofe a father ! But ye (if e'er a parent's hand hath dried Your infant tears ; if e'er your eyes have dreamed To fee him weep, knowing your hand but fcarred Gave him more pain, than his own heart torn piece- meal.) Oh ! fpare my father ! Bid thofe hours revive Which filial love once blefs'd ; recall youth's feelings. And by thofe feelings learn to pity mine. Spare, fpare my father ! 4 CiEliARIO. •8 ALFONSO: Act IV. CiESARio. [Struggling to conceal his confuftoti.'] Spare him ? Sure thou rav'ft ! What fears my gentle love ? AMELROSA. I'm not thy love ! Not gentle ! Strange defpair has changed my nature j Steeled my foft bofom, braced my woman's nerves, And brought me here, prepared and proud ta peri(h, If my heart's blood may fave my fire's from ftreaming* The favage tigrefs guards her new-born young With tenderefi-, fierceft. care; the timorous fwallow. If robber-hands approach her brood, defends it With eagle-fury ; and what brutes will do To guard their offspring, born perhaps that day. Shall / not do for one, to whom I owe Full twenty years of love ? — Ccefario, mark me, For by Heaven's Heft, no power fliall move my purpofc Or thou muft fave my fire, or murder me. HENRIQUEZ. What muft be done ? MELCHIOR. ' Time prelTes ! CyESARlo. [Recovering fiom his Jlupor .1 Fire the train ! AMELROSA. \lnterpcfwg betwesn tie inner vault rtWr/Henriquez.) He fhall not ! Ca?:sARIO. Amelrofa ! AMELROSA. No ! he {hall not ! Back, ruffian, back ! and throw that torch away. Which Act IV. A TRAGEDY. 89 Which burns to light my father's funeral pile : Here I'll defy thy mge, thus check thy malice, Thus bar thy road, and, if thou needs wilt pafs, Make thee a way by trampling on my corfe ,! I ftir not elfe ! C.5SARIO. Nay, then I '11 ufe my power. And, as thy hulband, now cemmand thee A MEL ROSA. Thou ? Man, thou canfl not command mc ! CiESARIO. Art thou not * My wife? AMELROSA. I am ; but ere I was a wife, I was a daughter, was a fubjecl ; iwyi" Am ftill a Princefs, and as fuch command Thee, traitor! thac ! and bid tliee turn from evil. [TbHenriquez.] — Away ! You pafsnot I CiESARIO. Force her from the door ! AMELROSA. [^Clinging to a column.] Oh ! for the Hebrew's ftrength to (hake yon vaults, And crufh thefe traitors and myfelf ! MELCH£OR. In vain You ftruggle. AMELROSA. Cut rny hands off! ftab me ! kill me 1 [They force her r.way ,j a C^SARIO. 90 ALFONSO; Act IV. C.'ESARIO. Hcnrlquez, to your work ! • [Henriquez enters the vaiili.'\ AMELROSi. Oh ! barbarous men ! Where (hall I turn . . . .' Cienirlo, dear C?efario ! Once thou wert kind Aid, aid my prayers, ye angels, And force this cruel man to fave at once My huibxnd's honour, and my father's life ! Turn not away ! Look on me ! fee my tears, And pity me! Friend! hufband ! lover! all That makes life ■dear', I charge you ! I implore you .... HENRIQUEZ. [^Returning from the vault.'] The train is fired. AMELROSA. \_DaJljlng herfclf OH the earth.] Barb:irians ! Fiends ! Diilra£lion ! Fall, fai', ye vaults, and crufh me! [^^ I'ug'e honi founds, Amdro(a farts from the ground.'] Harkj the fignal 1 . . . . He lives I he lives I {Kneeling and clafping her hands.] Oh, Heaven ! my thanks CiESARIO. 'Tis done ! [fThe mine hloivs up with a loud explofouy and the bach part of the vault, bur fls into flames^ £ND OF THE FOURTH ACT. Act V. A TRAGEDY. 91 JCT r. SCENE I. The interior ^/'Crfiiio's hermiifigc. Alfonfo is difcovcrcd Jliepit'.g. Enter orsino and ricardo. ORSINO. V>«OA'IE they in force RICARDO. At leaft five thoufand (Irong, But flronger far in loyalty than numbe»;s. Scarce heard my tale, clamours of rage and pity Burft from the crowd, and every peafiint fwore He'd perifh or prcferve that fovercign's rights, Who ufcd them ever for the poor man's good. ORSINO. Honeft Ricardo ! When to fcrve thy King I judged thee truefl: of the true, I erred not. The lords to whom I fent ihce, what reception Found'it thou from them ? RiCARDO. Such as almofl; would prove. Ingratitude is not the vice of Courts : But v.hcn I faid, Orfino was to I..;ad ihem, Their zeal, their joy . . , ; ORSINO. No more. — Are they at hand ? N 2 R?'- ^ 92 , ALFONSO : Act V. RICARDO. An hour will bring them here. ORSINO. "We 'II then tow'rds Burgos, A.nd ere the fwarth Cadilian fees the fun Pour on his rip'ning vines meridian beams, Cjeuxrio'o roval dream ihall clofe for ever ! — [Lookifig en Alfonfo.] — He fleeps !— Oh I come, all ye who envy m.onarchs, Look on yon bed of leaves, and thank Heaven's kind- nefs ! Which faved ye from the forrows of a throne. RICARDO. My dear, my injured mafterf ORSIXO. Go, Ricardo, Watch for our friends; and when from yonder rock Thou fee'ft their forces, warn me [Exit Ricardo. oRSiN'o. [To Alfonfo.] Canft tliou fleep, AvA llctfp ihus-ioundly on fo rude a pr.Uet? ThcTv 'a many a prince (whofe couch is ftrownwith rofes,) Find^ their fweet ieave:^ but ferve to harbour afpics ; There's many a couquerov ilretched on downjV/ho pafTes Ihe live-long r.ig^-t to woo srepofe in vain, Ai^d viiW witli aching, reitlefs, faied eyes, T.'ie trophies which nod round his crimfon bed. But fra^d, jiT::'L.ition, treacliery, plots, and murder, InVaiP w:>uk baniflv ^ij rt* pofe, who ileeps Watched by h.s profpe-^ing klngdon.'s anxious angel. And luUV. to iiumber by his people's prayers. liuL fee ! — He wake& ! — [Loiuenng his vizor.'] ALFONSO. Act V. A TRAGEDY. 93 ALFONSO. \_WakifJg.1 Do what thou wilt, Caefario, But harm not my poor child ! — How now! — Where am I ? — What place .... I fee it all ! — Lo ! where he ftands, "Whofe well-timed warning fnatched me from the flames And led me hither. — Say, thou dread preferver, Myfterious ftranger, eiife a father's anguiih ; How fares it with my child r What news from Burgos ? ORSINO. Burgos believes thee dead ! Ca:farlo fills Thy vacant throne .... ALFONSO. I afk not of my throne ! My child ! Oh ! fay, my child . . . . ? ORSIMO. Is fafe, is well, And hopes ere long to fee her fire once more Adorned with regal pomp, and lord of Burgos. ALFONSO. Alas ! vain hope ! ORSINO. Not fo : thy faithful nobles, By me apprized, nowhafte to give thee fuccour : Ere night, Cxfario falls ! and, piercing his. Thy j uft revenge (liall print a mortal wound On his proud father's heart. ALFONSO. His father's .'' ORSINO. Aye! ^ On 9i ALFONSO: Act V, On Lis, who paid thy love this morn with curfes, Spurning thy proffered friendfliip — Know'ft thou not, Crcfario is Orfino's fon ? ALFONSO. Jufl heavens ! And does Orfino love him I ORSINO. Dearly, deaily ! Loves him to madnefs ! Loves him with hke fury, As hates he thee ! — Oh ! Glorious field for vengeance I Think, how 'twill writhe his haughty foul to hear, This fon, this darKng, periflied on the fcafFoId, Branded, difgrnced, a traitor, a foiled traitor ! Joy, joy, Alfonfo I Trc 'tis night, thy wrath Shall gorge itfeif with blood. ALFONSO. Now bleflings on thee, * Who giv'ft me more than all my foes can take ! Come, come, my friend! where are thefe troops ? Away ! Forv/ard to Burgos! ORSINO. [Petaiitujg bun.'] Whither now ? ALFONSO. To Burgos ! Dov/n with the walls ! Make once Caefario mine ORSINO. And then ? ALFONSO. I '11 feek his father, grafp his hand. And fay,—" This llripling ftole my darling daughter, " Betrayed ActV. a tragedy. 9S *' Betrayed my confidence, ufurped my throne, " Aimed at my life, and almoft broke my heart: *' But he 's Orfino's fon ! Orfino loves him, " And all 's forgiven.'' [Orfino kneels^takes the Kin£s hand, and preJTa ii to his lips.] — How now ? ORSiNO. [Raifitig his vizcr.'] All is forgiven ! ALFONSO. 'Tis he!— Orfino's felf! Cj^SINO. JNIy pride is vanquifhed : My King ! Thy hand, my King ! ALFONSO. My heart, my heart ! There find thy place, and never leave li. more/ Oh ! from my joy again to name thcc friend, Judge* of my grief to think thou were my foe ! How could I doubt thee ? Kow commit an error So grofs ! ORSINO. No more ! F'ennow thou pay 'ft its penai^ce: In this long chain of pr^fent woes, that error (Which feems at firll fo light) was tlie firft link. it tore me from my fon : Eife, reared by me. Formed in thy Court, and fchooled by my example. My foo mull fare have proveJ thy true'.l fubje61:. Oh ! Learn fron this, how weighty isthe charge, A monarch bears ; how nice a taOc to guide His power aright, to guide it wrong ho'K-'fatal ! If fubjecis Cn, with them the crime remains, ; With 96 ALFONSO : Act V. With them the penance ; but when monarchs err, The mifchief fpreads fwift as their kingdom's rivers. Strong as their power^ and wide as their domains. Etiter RicARDO. ORSINO. Now, friend ? ricare6. From yonder height 1 caught diilini^Iy The gleani ci arms. CRSINTd. *ris well — Away, my fovereign, And join your troops ; then fhape your march tow'rd& Burgos, Nor doubt the event, for who that lovee his Country, To fave his King (hall fear to die himfelf ? None, furely none ! The patriot-glow fhall catch From heart to heart throughout Callile, as fwiftly As fparks of fii^ difperfe through fummer-foreftsj Till all in care of thee forget themfelves. And every good man's bofom bucklers thine I Forward, my Kisig ! — ^Lead on ! [Exeunt. S C E N E II. A chamber in the palace. Enter henriquez and MELCHIOR. MELCHIOR. And the grave-eouncil Fell blindfold in the fnare ? 3 henriqueZp Act V. A TRAGEDY. 97 HiiNRIQUEZ. They coukl not fail, So well Caefario fpread It — With fuch art He told his tale, and m fuch glowinjr colours Painted Alfonfo's worth, and his fon's guilt, That all cried vengeance on the Prince Don Pedro, And bade Coefario mount his forfeit throne. IVIELCHIOR. And he, no doubt, obeyed ? HENRIQUEZ. In modeft guife He owned his union with the Princefs gave him So/ne rights, but vowed, fo heavy feemed its weight. He feared to wear a Crown, fo prayed them fpare him : Till won by urgent prayer at length he yielded, And kindly deigned to be a King. MELCHIOR, He 's here, And Bazil with him, JSnter C.ssARiO, Fiither BAZIL, and .iltendants, CJESARIO. \^Enti'ring.] Bid her reO: aiTured, Her King is her firft fubject. But, good father, How bears her health this fiiock ? Say, looks (lie pale ? Docs (lie e'er name ,? BAZIL. She bade me lead thee hither, And claimed my promife not to tell thee more. J '11 warn her, thou art here. \j-^oin^.] o C^SARro. ■'I 98 ALFONSO: Act V. C^SARIO. Say too. my heart S'lires everj pang of her'? j that Crowns are worthlefs Bought wrh her tears ; that could my prayers, my blood, Rcli'jvc Alfonic's life EAZIL. ITold'~On that fubjea What thou wouldft teil her, will come bed from thee. CiESARIO. Ha !— Meant he No ! Sure had he kno^yn my fecret, The monk had canted 'Tainft the guilt of treafon, Thundering out faint-like curfes ! — ^Vile, vile chance. Which led the Prmcefs Yet what feai I now ? She keeps my fecret : then Ore loves me ftillj And, Ic/ing, mult forgive me— -Hark ! I hear her.- Now, ail ve ooweis of bland perfuafion, (lied L^ Your honey on my lips ! Ccme to my aid. Ye fuft menicrip.L of departed pleafures, Kind words, fc nd look~, fweet te?r5, and melting kifles ! Si: Csefario, paufe, and hear rre( Whate'er thou wilt CJESARIO. Thy life ! ALFONSO, 'Medina's dukedom. And Amelrofa C^EEARIO. Flames confume the tongue, That names her ! Thou liaft rent my wound anew, p J Recalling 108 ALFONSO: Act V. Recalling wl^at was mine, but is no longer! Look to thy heart, for if my fword can reach it, Thou dicft !— Come on\-~[Tbey fght ; Alfonfo lofes his Jivordi attd is beaten on his knees. ^ CiESAPIO. Thbu'rt mine ! — and thus \Atthe mo.rent that he motions to Jlah Alfonfo, Orfino, ivithoitt his helm't-, deadly paie^ and bleeding profuje^iyt rujijes in., and arrejls his arm.^ ORSINO. Hold ! hold ! * C^SASIO, My father bleeding ! Horror ! ORSINO. Does that pain thee ? Oh ! by this blood, (a father's blood, the fame Which fills thy veins, and feeds thy life) I charge thcc. Shed not thy King's. C^SARIO. Father, thy prayers are vain ! He broke my mother's heart ! his own muft bleed for't ! Releafe my arm ! ORSINO. My fon, I klfs thy feet : * Should Mr. Harris execute bis prefent intention of producing this Tragedy at Covent-Gardcn TheatfCj the rcnwiuderof this Aft will be omitted, and a new cataftroplie fubftitutcd, better calculated ror rrfyejlntation. Thy Act a tragedy. 109 Thy father kneels ; let him not'kneel in vain. — — Nay, if thou ftirr'ft, my deadliefl curfe ..... CJESARIO. *Twill grieve me, But yet e*en that I '\l brave :— Curfe ; Hill Til ftrike ! No more ! ORSINO. Can nought appeafe thee ? C^SARIO. Nothing ! nothing ! ALFONSO. Nay, ceafe, Orfino : 'tis in vain CiESARIO. True, true ! This to thy heart; ORSINO. Oh ! yet arreft thy fword I My fon C^SARIO. He dies ! ORSINO. One word ! But one ! C^SARIO. Difpatch then ! ORSINO. Swear, ere you ftrike the blow, if ftill your power Anfwers your will, as now it docs, the King Has not an hour to Uve ! CESAR 10. An hour ? — An age ! Thrones (hall not buy that hour. — By Hell, I fvvear, Alfonfo breathes his laft, if fate allows mc -To live one moment more ! 6 ORSINO. IM ' ALFONSO; ActV* O'RSINO. ^Stabbing him.']' Then die this moment. CiRSARlO. My heart ! my heart ! — Oh ! oh ! IFalls lifelefs at Orfino*9 feet?[ ALFONSO. What hafl thou done ? ORSINO. Prcferved Caflile in thee ! MELCHIOR. Hew him to pieces ! HENRIQUEZ, Monfter, thy fon ORSINO. He was fo ; yet I flew him. Think ye, I loved him not ?— Oh ! Heaven, the blood My breafi: now pours, gives me not half fuch pain As that which ftains this poniard : yet I flew him, I, I his father ! And as I with him, So, traitors, fhall j'cwr Father deal v/ith ye. Your Father who frowns yonder.— [5r&««^(?r.]-^Hark ! He fpeaks ! The avenger fpeaks, and ftretches from the clouds His red right-arm, — See, fee ! His javelins fly. And fly to ftrike you dead !— While yet *tis time, Down, rebels, down! — Tremble, repent, and tremble! Fall at your fovereign's feet, and fue for grace ! \T'he Confpiratorsfwk on their knees. '\ ALFONSO. Oh ! Soul of Honour !— Oh ! my full, full heart ! Orfino ! Friend !— — • ORSINO, ActV. a tragedy. Ill ORSINO. No more ! — ^Thy hand ! — -Farewell. Life ebbs apace. — Oh ! lay me by my fon, That I may bicfs him, ere I die — Pale, pale ! No warmth ! — No fenfe !— Not one convulfive throb! Not one lafl lingering breath on thofe wan lips ! All gone! All, all ! — So fair, fo young ! to die Was hard, moft hard I Canft thou forgive thy father, Canfl thou, my boy ? He loved thee dearly, dearly, • And would to fave thy life have died himfelf, Though he had rather fee thee dead than gtiilty. My fand runs faft. — Oh ! I am fick at foul ! I '11 breathe my laft figh on my fon's cold lips, Clafp his dead hand in mine, and lay my heart Clofe to his gaping wound, that it may break 'Gainft his dear breaft. — My eyes grow faint and clouded. I fee thy face no more, my boy, but dill Feel thy blood trickle ! — Oh ! that pang, that pang ! •Tis done— All 's darkl — My fon, my fon, my fon ! [DUf, BND OF THE FIFTH ACT, Tbf /olhufin^ WORKS by M.Xy