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Gon. They shout again! Whate'er he means to do, 'Twere fit the soldiers were amused with hopes; And in the meantime fed with expectation

To see the king in person at their head.
Gar. Were it a truth, I fear 'tis now too late,
But I'll omit no care, nor haste; to try
Or to repel their force, or bravely die..
Re-enter ALONZO.

Gon. What hast thou done, Alonzo?
Alon.

As but an hour ago I'd not have done,

Though for the crown of universal empire.

[Exit.

Such a deed

But what are kings reduced to common clay?
Or who can wound the dead? I've from the body
Severed the head, and in an obscure corner

Disposed it, muffled in the mute's attire,
Leaving to view of them that enter next,
Alone the undistinguished trunk :

Which may be still mistaken by the guards
For Osmyn, if in seeking for the king

They chance to find it.

Gon.

'Twas an act of horror;

And of a piece with this day's dire misdeeds.

But 'tis no time to ponder or repent.

Haste thee, Alonzo, haste thee hence with speed,
To aid my son. I'll follow with the last
Reserve to re-enforce his arms: at least,
I shall make good, and shelter his retreat.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

The same.

Enter ZARA, followed by SELIM, and two Mutes bearing bowls.

Zara. Silence and solitude are everywhere!

Through all the gloomy ways and iron doors

That hither lead, nor human face nor voice
Is seen or heard. A dreadful din was wont

To grate the sense, when entered here; from groans
And howls of slaves condemned, from clink of chains,
And crash of rusty bars and creeking hinges:
And ever and anon the sight was dashed
With frightful faces, and the meagre looks
Of grim and ghastly executioners.
Yet more this stillness terrifies my soul,
Than did that scene of complicated horrors.
It may be, that the cause of this my errand
And purpose, being changed from life to death,
Has also wrought this chilling change of temper.
Or does my heart bode more? what can it more
Than death?
[Alpnonso
[To SELIM.] Let 'em set down the bowls, and warn
That I am here- so. [The Mutes go in.] You return and
The king; tell him, what he required I've done,
And wait his coming to approve the deed. [Exit SELIM.

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The Mutes return, and look affrighted.

[find

Zara. What have you seen? Ha! wherefore stare

you thus

With haggard eyes? why are your arms a-cross?
Your heavy and desponding heads hung down?
Why is't you more than speak in these sad signs?
Give me more ample knowledge of this mourning.
[They go to the Scene, which opening, she perceives the body.
Ha! prostrate! bloody! headless! O-I'm lost!
O Osmyn! O Alphonso! Cruel fate!

Cruel, cruel, O more than killing object!
I came prepared to die, and see thee die—
Nay, came prepared myself to give thee death—
But cannot bear to find thee thus, my Osmyn-
O this accursed, this base, this treacherous king!

Re-enter SELIM.

Sel. I've sought in vain, for nowhere can the king Be found.

Con.

II

Zara. Get thee to hell, and seek him there!

His hellish rage had wanted means to act,

But for thy fatal and pernicious counsel.

[Stabs him.

Sel. You thought it better then-but I'm rewarded: The mute you sent by some mischance was seen, And forced to yield your letter with his life: I found the dead and bloody body strippedMy tongue falters, and my voice fails-I sinkDrink not the poison-for Alphonso is

Zara. As thou art now-and I shall quickly be. 'Tis not that he is dead; for 'twas decreed We both should die. Nor is't that I survive ;

I have a certain remedy for that.

But oh, he died unknowing in my heart!

He knew I loved, but knew not to what height:
Nor that I meant to fall before his eyes,
A martyr and a victim to my vows:
Insensible of this last proof he's gone.
Yet fate alone can rob his mortal part

[Dies.

Of sense; his soul still sees, and knows each pur

pose,

And fixed event of my persisting faith.

Then, wherefore do I pause? give me the bowl.

[A Mute kneels and gives one of the bowls.

Hover a moment, yet, thou gentle spirit,
Soul of my love, and I will wait thy flight!
This to our mutual bliss when joined above.
O friendly draught, already in my heart!
Cold, cold! my veins are icicles and frost.
I'll creep into his bosom, lay me there;
Cover us close-or I shall chill his breast,
And fright him from my arms--See, see, he slides
Still further from me! look, he hides his face!

I cannot feel it
O now he's gone, and all is dark-

quite beyond my reach---

[Drinks,

[Dies.

[The Mutes kneel and mourn over her.

Enter ALMERIA and LEONORA,

Alm. O let me seek him in this horrid cell; For in the tomb, or prison, I alone

Must hope to find him.

Leon.

Heavens! what dismal scene

Of death is this? The eunuch Selim slain !

Alm. Show me, for I am come in search of death ; But want a guide; for tears have dimmed my sight. Leon. Alas, a little farther, and behold Zara all pale and dead! two frightful men, Who seem the murderers, kneel weeping by, Feeling remorse too late for what they've done. But O forbear-lift up your eyes no more; But haste away, fly from this fatal place! Where miseries are multiplied; return, Return! and not look on; for there's a dagger Ready to stab the sight, and make your eyes Rain blood.

Alm.

Oh I foreknow, foresee that object.
Is it at last then so? is he then dead?

What, dead at last! quite, quite, for ever dead!
There, there I see him! there he lies, the blood
Yet bubbling from his wounds-O more than savage!
Had they or hearts or eyes, that did this deed!
Could eyes endure to guide such cruel hands?
Are not my eyes guilty alike with theirs,
That thus can gaze, and yet not turn to stone?
I do not weep! The springs of tears are dried
And of a sudden I am calm, as if

All things were well: and yet my husband's murdered!
Yes, yes, I know to mourn! I'll sluice this heart,
The source of woe, and let the torrent loose.
Those men have left to weep! they look on me!
I hope they murder all on whom they look.
Behold me well; your bloody hands have erred,
And wrongfully have slain these innocents;

I am the sacrifice designed to bleed;

And come prepared to yield my throat-they shake
Their heads, in sign of grief and innocence!

O well

[The Mutes point to the bowl on the ground. And point what mean they? Ha! a cup. I understand what medicine has been here. O noble thirst! yet greedy to drink all— Oh for another draught of death.-What mean they? [The Mutes point to the other cup.

Ha! point again? 'tis there, and full, I hope.

Thanks to the liberal hand that filled thee thus;
I'll drink my glad acknowledgment-

Leon.

O hold.

For mercy's sake! upon my knee I beg—

Alm. With thee the kneeling world should beg in vain. Seest thou not there? behold who prostrate lies,

And pleads against thee? who shall then prevail?
Yet I will take a cold and parting leave,

From his pale lips; I'll kiss him, ere I drink,
Lest the rank juice should blister on my mouth,
And stain the colour of my last adieu.
Horror! a headless trunk! nor lips nor face,

[Coming nearer the body, starts and lets fall the cup. But spouting veins, and mangled flesh! Oh, oh!

Enter ALPHONSO, HELI, PEREZ, with GARCIA prisoner, Guards and Attendants.

Alph. Away, stand off! where is she? let me fly, Save her from death, and snatch her to my heart. Alm. Oh!

Alph. Forbear; my arms alone shall hold her up, Warm her to life, and wake her into gladness.

O let me talk to thy reviving sense,

The words of joy and peace! warm thy cold beauties,
With the new-flushing ardour of my cheek!

Into thy lips pour the soft trickling balm

Of cordial sighs! and re-inspire thy bosom
With the breath of love! Shine, awake, Almeria !

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