The Revenge Part 5

_Zan._ My lord, I'm bound in duty to obey you---- If I not bring him, may Alonzo prosper! [_aside, exit._

_Car._ What is this world?--Thy school, oh, misery!

Our only lesson is to learn to suffer; And he who knows not that was born for nothing.

But put it most severely--should I live-- Live long--alas, there is no length in time!

Nor in thy time, oh, man!--What's fourscore years Nay, what, indeed, the age of time itself, Since cut from out eternity's wide round?

Yet Leonora--she can make time long, Its nature alter, as she alter'd mine.

While in the l.u.s.tre of her charms I lay, Whole summer suns roll'd unperceiv'd away; I years for days, and days for moments, told, And was surpris'd to hear that I grew old.

Now fate does rigidly its dues regain, And ev'ry moment is an age of pain.

_Enter Zanga and Don Alonzo; Zanga stops Don Carlos._

_Zan._ Is this don Carlos? this the boasted friend?

How can you turn your back upon his sadness?

Look on him, and then leave him if you can.

_Car._ I cannot yield; nor can I bear his griefs.

Alonzo! [_goes to him, and takes his hand._

_Alon._ Oh, Carlos!

_Car._ Pray, forbear.

_Alon._ Art thou undone, and shall Alonzo smile?

Alonzo, who, perhaps, in some degree Contributed to cause thy dreadful fate?

I was deputed guardian of thy love; But, oh! I lov'd myself! Pour down, afflictions!

On this devoted head; make me your mark; And be the world by my example taught, How sacred it should hold the name of friend.

_Car._ You charge yourself unjustly: well I know The only cause of my severe affliction.

Alvarez, curs'd Alvarez!--So much anguish Felt for so small a failure, is one merit Which faultless virtue wants. The crime was mine, Who plac'd thee there, where only thou couldst fail; Though well I knew that dreadful post of honour I gave thee to maintain. Ah! who could bear Those eyes unhurt? The wounds myself have felt (Which wounds alone should cause me to condemn thee,) They plead in thy excuse; for I too strove To shun those fires, and found 'twas not in man.

_Alon._ You cast in shades the failure of a friend, And soften all; but think not you deceive me; I know my guilt, and I implore your pardon, As the sole glimpse I can obtain of peace.

_Car._ Pardon for him, who but this morning threw Fair Leonora from his heart, all bath'd In ceaseless tears, and blus.h.i.+ng for her love!

Who, like a rose-leaf wet with morning dew, Would have stuck close, and clung for ever there!

But 'twas in thee, through fondness for thy friend, To shut thy bosom against ecstacies; For which, while this pulse beats, it beats to thee; While this blood flows, it flows for my Alonzo, And every wish is levell'd at thy joy.

_Zan._ [_to Alon._] My lord, my lord, this is your time to speak.

_Alon._ [_to Zan._] Because he's kind? It therefore is the worst; Do I not see him quite possess'd with anguish, And shall I pour in new? No, fond desire; No, love: one pang at parting, and farewell, I have no other love but Carlos now.

_Car._ Alas! my friend, why with such eager grasp Dost press my hand, and weep upon my cheek?

_Alon._ If, after death, our forms (as some believe) Shall be transparent, naked every thought, And friends meet friends, and read each other's hearts, Thou'lt know one day that thou wast held most dear, Farewell.

_Car._ Alonzo, stop--he cannot speak-- [_holds him._ Lest it should grieve me--Shall I be outdone?

And lose in glory, as I lose in love? [_aside._ I take it much unkindly, my Alonzo, You think so meanly of me not to speak, When well I know your heart is near to bursting.

Have you forgot how you have bound me to you?

Your smallest friends.h.i.+p's liberty and life.

_Alon._ There, there it is, my friend; it cuts me there.

How dreadful is it to a generous mind To ask, when sure it cannot be deny'd!

_Car._ How greatly thought! In all he towers above me. [_aside._ Then you confess you would ask something of me?

_Alon._ No, on my soul.

_Zan._ [_to Alon._] Then lose her.

_Car._ Glorious spirit!

Why, what a pang has he run through for this!

By heaven, I envy him his agonies. [_aside._ My Alonzo!

Since thy great soul disdains to make request, Receive with favour that I make to thee.

_Alon._ What means my Carlos?

_Car._ Pray observe me well.

Fate and Alvarez tore her from my heart, And, plucking up my love, they had well nigh Pluck'd up life too, for they were twin'd together.

Of that no more--What now does reason bid?

I cannot wed--Farewell, my happiness!

But, O my soul, with care provide for hers!

In life, how weak, how helpless, is a woman!

Take then my heart in dowry with the fair, Be thou her guardian, and thou must be mine; Shut out the thousand pressing ills of life With thy surrounding arms--Do this, and then Set down the liberty and life thou gav'st me, As little things, as essays of thy goodness, And rudiments of friends.h.i.+p so divine.

_Alon._ There is a grandeur in thy goodness to me, Which with thy foes would render thee ador'd.

_Car._ I do not part with her, I give her thee.

_Alon._ O, Carlos!

But think not words were ever made For such occasions. Silence, tears, embraces, Are languid eloquence; I'll seek relief In absence from the pain of so much goodness, There, thank the blest above, thy sole superiors, Adore, and raise my thoughts of them by thee. [_exit._

_Zan._ Thus far success has crown'd my boldest hope.

My next care is to hasten these new nuptials, And then my master-works begin to play. [_aside._ Why that was greatly done, without one sigh [_to Car._ To carry such a glory to its period.

_Car._ Too soon thou praisest me. He's gone, and now I must unsluice my over-burden'd heart, And let it flow. I would not grieve my friend With tears; nor interrupt my great design; Great, sure, as ever human breast durst think of.

But now my sorrows, long with pain supprest, Burst their confinement with impetuous sway, O'er-swell all bounds, and bear e'en life away: So till the day was won, the Greek renown'd With anguish wore the arrow in his wound, Then drew the shaft from out his tortur'd side, Let gush the torrent of his blood, and dy'd. [_exeunt._

ACT THE THIRD.

SCENE I.

_Enter Zanga._

_Zan._ O joy, thou welcome stranger! twice three years I have not felt thy vital beam; but now It warms my veins, and plays around my heart: A fiery instinct lifts me from the ground, And I could mount!--the spirits numberless Of my dear countrymen, which yesterday Left their poor bleeding bodies on the field, Are all a.s.sembled here, and o'er-inform me.-- O, bridegroom! great indeed thy present bliss; Yet even by me unenvy'd! for be sure It is thy last, thy last smile, that which now Sits on thy cheek; enjoy it while thou may'st; Anguish, and groans, and death, bespeak to-morrow.