The Mourning Bride Read Online

It might raise him

To act some Violence upon himself,

So to be caught in an unguarded Hour,

And when his Soul gives all her Passions Way,

Secure and loose in friendly Solitude.

I know his Noble Heart would burst with Shame

To be surpriz'd by Strangers in its Frailty.

GARCIA.

Go Gen'rous Heli, and relieve your Friend.

Far be it from me, officiously to pry

Or Press upon the Privacies of others.

HELI.

Y'are truly Noble.

Exit.

GARCIA.

Perez, the King expects from our return,

To have his Jealousie confirm'd or clear'd

Of that appearing Love, which Zara bears

To Osmyn; but some other Opportunity

Must make that plain.

PEREZ.

To me 'twas long since plain.

And every Look of his and hers confess it.

GARCIA.

If so, Unhappiness attends their Love

And I cou'd pity 'em. I hear some coming,

The Friends perhaps are met; let us avoid 'em.

Exeunt.

Enter Almeria and Leonora.

ALMERIA.

It was a fancy'd Noise; for all is hush'd.

LEONORA.

It bore the Accent of a Humane Voice.

ALMERIA.

It was thy Fear; or else some transient Wind

Whistling thro' Hollows of this vaulted Isle.

We'll listen –

LEONORA.

Hark!

ALMERIA.

No, all is hush'd, and still as Death – 'Tis dreadful!

How rev'rend is the Face of this tall Pile,

Whose antient Pillars rear their Marble Heads,

To bear aloft its arch'd and pond'rous Roof,

By its own Weight, made stedfast, and immoveable,

Looking Tranquility. It strikes an Awe

And Terror on my aking Sight; the Tombs

And Monumental Caves of Death, look Cold,

And shoot a Chilness to my trembling Heart.

Give me thy Hand, and speak to me, nay, speak,

And let me hear thy Voice;

My own affrights me with its Echo's.

LEONORA.

Let us return; the Horrour of this Place

And Silence, will encrease your Melancholy.

ALMERIA.

It may my Fears, but cannot add to that.

No, I will on: shew me Anselmo's Tomb,

Lead me o'er Bones and Skulls, and mouldring Earth

Of Humane Bodies; for I'll mix with them,

Or wind me in the Shroud of some pale Coarse

Yet green in Earth, rather than be the Bride

Of Garcia's more detested Bed. That Thought,

Exerts my Spirits; and my present Fears

Are lost in dread of greater Ill. Shew me,

Lead me, for I am bolder grown: Lead me

Where I may kneel and pay my Vows again

To him, to Heav'n and my Alphonso's Soul.

LEONORA.

I go; but Heav'n can tell with what Regret.

Exeunt.

[Scene II]

The Scene opening discovers a Place of Tombs. One Monument fronting the View, greater than the rest.

Enter Heli.

HELI.

I wander thro' this Maze of Monuments,

Yet cannot find him – Hark! sure 'tis the Voice

Of one complaining – There it sounds – I'll follow it.

Exit.

Re-Enter, Almeria and Leonora.

LEONORA.

Behold the Sacred Vault, within whose Womb,

The poor Remains of good Anselmo rest;

Yet fresh and unconsum'd by Time, or Worms.

What do I see? O Heav'n! either my Eyes

Are false, or still the Marble Door remains

Unclos'd; the Iron Grates that lead to Death

Beneath, are still wide stretch'd upon their Hinge,

And staring on us with unfolded Leaves.

ALMERIA.

Sure, 'tis the Friendly Yawn of Death for me;

And that dumb Mouth, significant in Show,

Invites me to the Bed, where I alone

Shall rest; shews me the Grave where Nature wearied,

And long oppressed with Woes and bending Cares,

May lay the Burden down, and sink in Slumbers

Of Eternal Peace. Death, grim Death, will fold

Me in his leaden Arms, and press me close

To his cold clayie Breast: my Father then,

Will cease his Tyranny; and Garcia too

Will fly my pale Deformity with loathing.

My Soul, enlarg'd from its vile Bonds will mount,

And range the Starry Orbs, and Milky Ways,

Of that refulgent World, where I shall swim

In liquid Light, and float on Seas of Bliss

To my Alphonso's Soul. O Joy too great!

O Exstacy of Thought! help me Anselmo:

Help me Alphonso, take me, reach thy Hand;

To thee, to thee I call, to thee Alphonso.

O Alphonso.

Osmyn ascending from the Tomb.

OSMYN.

Who calls that wretched thing, that was Alphonso?

ALMERIA.

Angels, and all the Host of heaven support me!

OSMYN.

Whence is that Voice whose Shrilness from the Grave,

And growing to his dead Father's Shrowd, roots up Alphonso?

ALMERIA.

Mercy and Providence! O speak to it,

Speak to it quickly, quickly, speak to me.

Comfort me, help me, hold me, hide me, hide me,

Leonora, in thy Bosome, from the Light,

And from my Eyes.

OSMYN.

Amazement and Illusion! Rivet me

To Earth, and nail me, where I stand, ye Powers;

Coming forward.

That motionless, I may be still deceiv'd.

Let me not stir, nor breath, lest I disolve

That tender, lovely Form of painted Air

So like Almeria. Ha! it sinks, it falls,

I'll catch it 'ere it goes, and grasp her Shade.

'Tis Life! 'tis warm! 'tis she! 'tis she her self!

Nor Dead, nor Shade, but breathing and alive!

It is Almeria! 'tis my Wife!

Enter Heli.

LEONORA.

O Heav'n unfold these Wonders!

Alas, she stirs not yet, nor lifts her Eyes;

He too is fainting – help me, help me, Stranger,

Who 'ere thou art, and lend thy Hand to raise

These Bodies.

HELI.

By Heav'n 'tis he, and with –– ha! Almeria!

Almeria! O Miracle of Happiness!

O Joy unhop'd for, does Almeria live!

OSMYN.

Where is she?

Let me behold and touch her, and be sure

'Tis she; shew me her Face, and let me feel

Her Lips with mine – 'Tis she, I'm not deceiv'd;

I taste her Breath, I warm'd her and am warm'd.

Look up Almeria, bless me with thy Eyes;

Look on thy Love, thy Lover, and thy Husband,

Look on Alphonso.

ALMERIA.

I've sworn I'll not wed Garcia; why d'ye force me?

Is this a Father?

OSMYN.

Thy Father is not here, nor Garcia: I am

Neither, nor what I seem, but thy Alphonso.

Wilt thou not know me? Hast thou then forgot me?

Hast thou thy Eyes, yet can'st not see Alphonso?

Am I so alter'd, or, art thou so chang'd,

That seeing my Disguise, thou seest not me?

ALMERIA.

It is, it is Alphonso, 'tis his Face,

His Voice, I know him now, I know him all.

O take me to thy Arms, and bear me hence,

Back to the Bottom of the boundless Deep,

To Seas beneath, where thou so long hast dwelt.

O how hast thou return'd? How hast thou charm'd

The Wildness of the Waves and Rocks to this?

That thus relenting, they have giv'n thee back

To Earth, to Light and Life, to Love and me.

OSMYN.

O I'll not ask, nor answer how, or why,

We both have backward trod the paths of Fate,

To meet again in Life, to know I have thee,

Is knowing more than any Circumstance,

Or Means by which I have thee –

To fold thee thus, to press thy balmy Lips,

And gaze upon thy Eyes, is so much Joy;

I have not Leisure to reflect, or know,

Or trifle time in thinking.

ALMERIA.

Let me look on thee, yet a little more.

OSMYN.

What would'st thou? thou dost put me from thee.

ALMERIA.

Yes.

OSMYN.

Why? what dost thou mean? why dost thou gaze so?

ALMERIA.

I know not, 'tis to see thy Face I think –

It is too much! too much to bear and live!

To see him thus again, is such profusion

Of delight, I cannot bear it –– I shall

Be mad –– I cannot be transported thus.

OSMYN.

Thou Excellence, thou Joy, thou Heav'n of Love!

ALMERIA.

Where hast thou been? and how art thou alive?

How is all this? All-powerful Heav'n, what are we!

O my strain'd Heart –– let me behold thee,

For I weep to see thee – Art thou not paler,

Much, much, alas; how, thou art chang'd!

OSMYN.

Not in my Love.

ALMERIA.

No, no, thy Griefs have done this to thee.

Thou hast wept much Alphonso; and I fear,

Too much lamented me.

OSMYN.

Wrong not my Love, to say too much.

No more, my Life; talk not of Tears or Grief;

Affliction is no more, now thou art found.

Why dost thou weep, and hold thee from my Arms,

My Arms which ake to fold thee fast, and grow

To thee with twining? Come, come to my Heart.

ALMERIA.

I will, for I should never look enough.

They wou'd have marry'd me; but I had sworn

To Heav'n and thee; and sooner wou'd have dy'd –

OSMYN.

Perfection of all Truth!

ALMERIA.

Indeed I wou'd – Nay, I wou'd tell thee all

If I cou'd speak; how I have mourn'd and pray'd,

For I have pray'd to thee as to a Saint:

And thou hast heard my Prayer; for thou art come

To my Distress, to my Despair, which Heav'n

Without thee cou'd not cure.

OSMYN.

Grant me but Life, good Heaven, but length of Days,

To pay some Part, some little of this Debt;

This countless Summ of Tenderness and Love,

For which I stand engag'd to this All-excellence:

Then, bear me in a Whirl-wind to my Fate;

Snatch me from Life, and cut me short unwarn'd:

Then, then 'twill be enough – I shall be Old.

I shall have liv'd beyond all Æra's then,

Of yet unmeasur'd Time; when I have made

This exquisite, amazing Goodness,

Some Recompence of Love and matchless Truth.

ALMERIA.

'Tis more than Recompence, to see thy Face:

If Heaven is greater Joy, it is no Happiness,

For 'tis not to be born – What shall I say?

I have a thousand Things to know, and ask,

And speak – That thou art here, beyond all Hope,

All Thought; that all at once, thou art before me,

And with such Suddenness, hast hit my Sight;

Is such Surprize, such Mystery, such Exstacy,

As hurries all my Soul, and dozes my weak Sense.

Sure, from thy Father's Tomb, thou didst arise!

OSMYN.

I did, and thou didst call me.

ALMERIA.

How camest thou there? wert thou alone?

OSMYN.

I was, and lying on my Father's Lead;

When broken Echoes of a distant Voice,

Disturb'd the Sacred Silence of the Vault,

In Murmurs round my Head. I rose and listened;

And thought, I heard thy Spirit call Alphonso.

I thought I saw thee too; but O, I thought not

I indeed shou'd see thee –

ALMERIA.

But still, how camest thee hither? how thus? – Ha!

What's he, that like thy self, is started here

Ere seen?

OSMYN.

Where? ha! what do I see? Antonio here!

My Friend too safe!

HELI.

Most happily, in finding you thus bless'd.

ALMERIA.

More Miracles! Antonio too escap'd!

OSMYN.

And twice escap'd, both from the Wreck of Seas,

And Rage of War: For in the Fight, I saw

Him fall.

HELI.

But fell unhurt, a Prisoner as your self;

And as your self made free, hither I came

To seek you, where, I knew your Grief would lead you,

To lament Anselmo –

OSMYN.

There are no Wonders, or else all is Wonder.

HELI.

I saw you on the Ground, and rais'd you up.

I saw Almeria –

OSMYN.

I saw her too, and therefore saw not thee.

ALMERIA.

Nor I, nor could I, for my Eyes were yours.

OSMYN.

What means the Bounty of All-gracious Heav'n,

That thus with open Hand it scatters good,

As in a Waste of Mercy?

Where will this end! but Heav'n is Infinite

In all, and can continue to bestow,

When scanty Numbers shall be spent in telling.

LEONORA.

Or I'm deceiv'd, or I beheld the Glimpse

Of two in shining Habits, cross the Ile,

And bending this way.

ALMERIA.

Sure I have dreamt, if we must part so soon.

OSMYN.

I wish our Parting were a Dream; or we

Could sleep till we again were met.

HELI.

Zara with Selim, Sir, I saw and know 'em:

You must be quick, for Love will lend her Wings.

ALMERIA.

What Love? Who is she?

OSMYN.

She's the Reverse of thee; she's my Unhappiness.

Harbour no Thought, that may disturb thy Peace;

But gently take thy self away, lest she

Should come and see the straining of my Eyes

To follow thee. I'll think, how we may meet

To part no more; my Friend will tell thee all;

How I escap'd, how I am here, and thus;

How I'm not call'd Alphonso, now, but Osmyn;

And he Heli. All, all he will unfold.

ALMERIA.

Sure we shall meet again.

OSMYN.

We shall; we part not but to meet again.

Gladness, and Warmth of ever-kindling Love,

Dwell with thee, and revive thy Heart in Absence.

Exit Almeria, Leonora, and Heli.

Yet I behold her – Now no more.

Turn your Lights inward, Eyes, and look

Upon my Thought; so, shall you still behold her.

It wonnot be; O, impotence of Sight!

Mechanick Sense, which to exteriour Objects,

Owest thy Faculty –

Not seeing of Election, but Necessity.

Thus, do our Eyes, like common Mirrours

Successively reflect succeeding Images;

Not what they would, but must; a Star, or Toad:

Just as the Hand of Chance administers.

Not so the Mind, whose undetermin'd View

Revolves, and to the present adds the past:

Essaying further to Futurity;

But that in vain. I have Almeria here.

At once, as I have seen her often;

I'll muse on that, lest I exceed in thinking.

Enter Zara attended by Selim.

ZARA.

See, where he stands, folded and fix'd to Earth,

Stiff'ning in Thought; a Statue amongst Statues.

Why, cruel Osmyn, dost thou fly me thus?

Is it well done? Is this then the Return

For Fame, for Honour, and for Empire lost?

But what is Loss of Honour, Fame and Empire?

Is this the Recompence of Love?

Why dost thou leave my Eyes, and fly my Arms,

To find this Place of Horrour and Obscurity?

Am I more loathsome to thee, than the Grave?

That thou dost seek to shield thee there, and shun

My Love. But to the Grave I'll follow thee –

He Looks not, minds not, hears not; barbarous Man!

Am I neglected thus? Am I despised?

Not heard! Ungrateful Osmyn.

OSMYN.

Ha, Zara!

ZARA.

Yes, Traytor, Zara; lost, abandon'd Zara,

Is a regardless Suppliant, now, to Osmyn.

The Slave, the Wretch that she redeem'd from Death,

Disdains to listen now, or look on Zara.

OSMYN.

Far be the Guilt of such Reproaches, from me;

Lost in my self, and blinded by my Thoughts,

I saw you not.

ZARA.

Now, then you see me –

But with such dumb, and thankless Eyes you look;

Better I was unseen, than seen thus coldly.

OSMYN.

What would you from a Wretch, that came to mourn;

And only for his Sorrows chose this Solitude?

Look round; Joy is not here, nor Cheerfulness.

You have pursu'd Misfortune, to its Dwelling;

Yet look for Gaiety and Gladness there.

ZARA.

Inhumane! why, why dost thou wrack me thus?

And with Perverseness, from the Purpose, answer?

What is't to me, this House of Misery?

What Joy do I require? if thou dost mourn,

I come to mourn with thee; to share thy Griefs,

And give thee in Exchange, my Love.

OSMYN.

O that's the greatest Grief –– I am so poor,

I have not wherewithal to give again.

ZARA.

Thou hast a Heart, though 'tis a savage one;

Give it me as it is; I ask no more

For all I've done, and all I have endur'd,

For saving thee, when I beheld thee first,

Driv'n by the Tide upon my Country's Coast,

Pale and expiring, drench'd in briny Waves

Thou and thy Friend; till my Compassion found thee,

Compassion, scarce will it own that Name, so soon,

So quickly was it Love; for thou wert Godlike

Ev'n then. Kneeling on Earth, I loos'd my Hair,

And with it dry'd thy wat'ry Cheeks; chafing

Thy Temples, till reviving Blood arose,

And like the Morn vermilion'd o'er thy Face.

O Heav'n! how did my Heart rejoice and ake,

When I beheld the Day-break of thy Eyes,

And felt the Balm of thy respiring Lips!

OSMYN.

O call not to my Mind what you have done,

It sets a Debt of that Account before me,

Which shews me Bankrupt even in my Hopes.

ZARA.

The faithful Selim, and my Women know

The Dangers which I 'tempted to conceal you.

You know how I abus'd the credulous King;

What Arts I us'd to make you pass on him,

When he receiv'd you as the Prince of Fez;

And as my Kinsman, honour'd and advanc'd you.

O, why do I relate what I have done?

What did I not? Was't not for you, this War

Commenc'd? not knowing who you were, nor why

You hated Manuel, I urg'd my Husband

On to this Invasion; where he was lost,

Where all is lost, and I am made a Slave.

Look on me now, from Empire fall'n to Slavery;

Think on my Suff'ring first, then, look on me;

Think on the Cause of all, then, view thy self:

Reflect on Osmyn, and then look on Zara,

The fall'n, the lost, the Captive Zara.

What then is Osmyn?

OSMYN.

A fatal Wretch –– a huge stupendous Ruine,

That tumbling on its Prop, crush'd all beneath,

And bore contiguous Pallaces to Earth.

ZARA.

Yet thus, thus fall'n, thus levell'd with the vilest;

If I have gain'd thy Love, 'tis Glorious Ruine;

Ruine, 'tis still to reign, and to be more

A Queen; for what are Riches, Empire, Power,

But larger Means to gratifie the Will?

The Steps on which we tread, to rise and reach

Our Wish; and that obtain'd, down with the Scaffolding

Of Sceptres, Crowns, and Thrones; they've serv'd their End,

And are like Lumber, to be left and scorn'd.

OSMYN.

Why was I made the Instrument, to throw

In Bonds, the Frame of this exalted Mind?

ZARA.

We may be free; the Conquerour is mine;

In Chains unseen, I hold him by the Heart,

And can unwind, or strain him as I please.

Give me thy Love, I'll give thee Liberty.

OSMYN.

In vain you offer, and in vain require

What neither can bestow. Set free your self,

And leave a Slave the Wretch that would be so.

ZARA.

Thou canst not mean so poorly, as thou talk'st.

OSMYN.

Alas, you know me not.

ZARA.

Not who thou art.

But what, this last Ingratitude declares,

This groveling Baseness – Thou say'st true, I know

Thee not, for what thou art, yet wants a Name:

But something so unworthy, and so vile,

That to have lov'd thee, makes me yet more lost

Than all the Malice of my other Fate.

Traytour, Monster, cold and perfidious Slave;

A Slave, not daring to be free! nor dares

To love above him, for 'tis dangerous:

'Tis that, I know; for thou dost look, with Eyes

Sparkling Desire, and trembling to possess.

I know, my Charms have reach'd thy very Soul,

And thrill'd thee through with darted Fires; but thou

Dost fear so much, thou dar'st not wish. The King!

There, there's the dreadful Sound, the King's thy Rival!

SELIM.

Madam, the King is here.

ZARA.

As I could wish; by Heav'n I'll be reveng'd.

Enter the King, Perez, and Attendants.

KING.

Why does the Fairest of her Kind, withdraw

Her shining from the Day, to gild this Scene

Of Death and Night? Ha! what Disorder's this?

Somewhat I heard of King and Rival mention'd.

What's he that dares be Rival to the King?

Or lift his Eyes to like, where I adore?

ZARA.

There, he; your Prisoner, and that was my Slave.

KING aside.

How? better than my Hopes; does she accuse him?

ZARA.

Am I become so low, by my Captivity;

And do your Arms so lessen, what they conquer,

That Zara must be made the Sport of Slaves?

And shall the Wretch, whom yester Sun, beheld

Waiting my Nod, the Creature of my Lord,

And me; presume to day to plead audacious Love,

And build bold Hopes, on my dejected Fate?

KING.

Better for him, to tempt the Rage of Heav'n,

And wrench the Bolt red-hissing, from the Hand

Of him that thunders, than but think that Insolence.

'Tis daring for a God. Hence, to the Wheel

With that Ixion, who aspires to hold

Divinity embrac'd; to Whips and Prisons,

Drag him with speed, and rid me of his Face.

Guards carry off Osmyn.

ZARA.

Compassion led me to bemoan his State,

Whose former Faith had merited much more:

And through my Hopes in you, I promis'd Freedom

From his Chains; thence sprung his Insolence,

And what was Charity, he constru'd Love.

KING.

Enough; his Punishment be what you please.

But let me lead you from this Place of Sorrow,

To one, where young Delights attend; and Joys

Yet new, unborn and blooming in the Bud,

That wait to be full-blown at your Approach,

And spread like Roses to the Morning Sun.

Where, ev'ry Hour shall roll in circling Joys;

And Love, shall wing the tedious-wasting Day.

Life without Love is Load; and Time stands still:

What we refuse to him, to Death we give;

And then, then only, when we love, we live.

Exeunt Omnes.

The End of the Second Act.

Act III.

Scene I.

A Prison.

Enter Osmyn alone, with a Paper.

OSMYN.

But now, and I was clos'd within the Tomb

That holds my Father's Ashes; and but now,

Where he was Pris'ner, I am too imprison'd.

Sure 'tis the Hand of Heav'n, that leads me thus,

And for some Purpose points out these Remembrances.

In a dark Corner of my Cell, I found

This Paper; what it is, this Light will show.

Reading.

If my Alphonso – Ha!

If my Alphonso live, restore him, Heav'n,

Give me more Weight, crush my declining Years

With Bolts, with Chains, Imprisonment and Want;

But bless my Son, visit not him for me.

It is his Hand; this was his Pray'r –– yet more.

Reading.

Let ev'ry Hair, which Sorrow by the Roots,

Tears from my hoary and devoted Head;

Be doubled in thy Mercies to my Son:

Not for my self, but him, hear me, all-gracious –

'Tis wanting what should follow – Heav'n, Heav'n shou'd follow.

But 'tis torn off – why should that Word alone

Be torn from his Petition? 'Twas to Heav'n.

But Heav'n was deaf, Heav'n heard him not; but thus,

Thus as the Name of Heav'n from this is torn,

So did it tear the Ears of Mercy, from

His Voice; shutting the Gates of Pray'r against him.

If Piety be thus debarr'd Access

On high; and of good Men, the very best

Is singled out to bleed, and bear the Scourge;

What is Reward? or, what is Punishment?

But who shall dare to tax Eternal Justice!

Yet I may think – I may? I must; for Thought

Precedes the Will to think; and Errour lives

Ere Reason can be born: Reason, the Power

To guess at Right and Wrong; the twinkling Lamp

Of wand'ring Life, that winks and wakes by turns,

Fooling the Follower, betwixt Shade and Shining.

What Noise! Who's there? My Friend, how cam'st thou hither?

Enter Heli.

HELI.

The time's too precious to be spent in telling;

The Captain influenc'd by Almeria's Power,

Gave order to the Guards for my Admittance.

OSMYN.

How does Almeria? But I know; she is

As I am. Tell me, may I hope to see her?

HELI.

You may; anon, at Midnight, when the King

Is gone to rest, and Garcia is retir'd,

(Who takes the Privilege to visit late,

Presuming on a Bridegroom's Right –) she'll come.

OSMYN.

She'll come; 'tis what I wish, yet what I fear.

She'll come, but whither, and to whom? O Heav'n!

To a vile Prison, and a captiv'd Wretch;

To one, whom had she never known, she had

Been happy; why, why was that Heav'nly Creature

Abandon'd o'er to love what Heav'n forsakes?

Why does she follow with unwearied Steps,

One, who has tir'd Misfortune with pursuing?

One, driv'n about the World like blasted Leaves

And Chaff, the Sport of adverse Winds; till late

At length, imprison'd in some Cleft of Rock,

Or Earth, it rests, and rots to silent Dust.

HELI.

Have Hopes, and hear the Voice of better Fate.

I've learn'd, there are Disorders ripe for Mutiny

Among the Troops who thought to share the Plunder,

Which Manuel to his own Use and Avarice,

Converts. This News has reach'd Valentia's Frontiers;

Where many of your Subjects long oppress'd

With Tyranny and grievous Impositions,

Are risen in Arms, and call for Chiefs to head

And lead 'em, to regain their Liberty

And Native Rights.

OSMYN.

By Heav'n thou'st rous'd me from my Lethargy.

The Spirit which was deaf to my own Wrongs,

Deaf to revenge, and the loud Crys of my

Dead Father's Blood; Nay, which refus'd to hear

The Piercing Sighs, and Murmurs of my Love

Yet unenjoy'd; what not Almeria could

Revive, or raise, my Peoples Voice has wak'ned.

O my Antonio, I am all on Fire,

My Soul is up in Arms, ready to charge

And bear amidst the Foe, with conqu'ring Troops.

I hear 'em call to lead 'em on to Liberty,

To Victory; their Shouts and Clamours rend

My Ears, and reach the Heav'ns; where is the King?

Where is Alphonso? ha! where? where indeed?

O I could tear and burst the Strings of Life,

To break these Chains. Off, off, ye Stains of Royalty.

Off Slavery. O curse! that I alone

Can beat and flutter in my Cage, when I

Would soar, and stoop at Victory beneath.

HELI.

Our Posture of Affairs and scanty Time,

My Lord, require you should compose your self,

And think on what we may reduce to Practise.

Zara the Cause of your restraint, may be

The Means of Liberty restor'd. That, gain'd;

Occasion will not fail to point out Ways

For your Escape. Mean time, I've thought already

With Speed and Safety, to convey my self

Where not far off some Male-Contents hold Counsel

Nightly; hating this Tyrant; some, who love

Anselmo's Memory, and will, no doubt,

When they shall know you live, assist your Cause.

OSMYN.

My Friend and Counsellour; as thou thinks't fit,

So do. I will with Patience wait my Fortune.

HELI.

When Zara comes, abate of your Aversion.

OSMYN.

I hate her not, nor can dissemble Love:

But as I may, I'll do. I have a Paper

Which I would shew thee Friend, but that the Sight

Would hold thee here, and clog thy Expedition.

Within I found it, by my Father's Hand

'Twas writ; a Prayer for me, wherein appears

Paternal Love prevailing o'er his Sorrows;

Such Sanctity, such Tenderness, so mix'd

With Grief, as wou'd draw Tears from Inhumanity.

HELI.

The Care of Providence, sure left it there,

To arm your Mind with Hope. Such Piety

Was never heard in vain: Heav'n has in Store

For you, those Blessings it with-held from him.

In that Assurance live; which Time, I hope,

And our next meeting will confirm.

OSMYN.

Farewell,

My Friend, the Good thou dost deserve attend thee.

Exit Heli.

I've been to blame, and question'd with Impiety

The Care of Heav'n. Not so, my Father bore

More Anxious Grief. This shou'd have better taught me;

This Lesson, in some Hour of Inspiration,

By him set down; when his pure Thoughts were born

Like Fumes of Sacred Incense, o'er the Clouds,

And wafted thence, on Angels Wings, thro' Ways

Of Light, to the bright Source of all. There, in

The Book of Prescience, he beheld this Day;

And waking to the World and mortal Sense,

Left this Example of his Resignation,

This his last Legacy to me, which I

Will treasure here; more worth than Diadems,

Or all extended Rule of regal Pow'r.

Enter Zara veil'd.

What Brightness, breaks upon me, thus thro' Shades,

And promises a Day to this dark Dwelling!

Is it my Love? –

ZARA.

O that thy Heart, had taught

Lifting her Veil.

Thy Tongue that Saying.

OSMYN.

Zara! I'm betray'd

By my surprize.

ZARA.

What, does my Face displease thee?

That having seen it, thou do'st turn thy Eyes

Away, as from Deformity and Horrour.

If so, this Sable Curtain shall again

Be drawn, and I will stand before thee seeing,

And unseen. Is it my Love? ask again

That Question, speak again in that soft Voice,

And Look again, with Wishes in thy Eyes.

O no, thou canst not, for thou seest me now,

As she, whose savage Breast has been the Cause

Of these thy Wrongs; as she, whose barbarous Rage

Has loaden thee with Chains and galling Irons:

Well, dost thou scorn me, and upbraid my Falseness;

Cou'd one that lov'd, thus torture what she lov'd?

No, no, it must be Hatred, dire Revenge,

And Detestation, that cou'd use thee thus.

So thou dost think; then, do but tell me so;

Tell me, and thou shall see how I'll revenge

Thee on this false one, how I'll stab and tear

This Heart of Flint, 'till it shall bleed; and thou

Shalt weep for mine, forgetting thy own Miseries.

OSMYN.

You wrong me, beauteous Zara, to believe

I bear my Fortunes with so low a Mind,

As still to meditate Revenge on all

Whom Chance, or Fate working by secret Causes,

Has made perforce subservient to that End

The Heav'nly Powers allot me; no, not you,

But Destiny and inauspicious Stars

Have cast me down to this low Being: or,

Granting you had, from you I have deserv'd it.

ZARA.

Can'st thou forgive me then! wilt thou believe

So kindly of my Fault, to call it Madness;

O, give that Madness yet a milder Name

And call it Passion; then, be still more kind,

And call that Passion Love.

OSMYN.

Give it a Name,

Or Being as you please, such I will think it.

ZARA.

O thou dost wound me now, with this thy Goodness,

Than e'er thou could'st with bitterest Reproaches;

Thy Anger cou'd not pierce thus, to my Heart.

OSMYN.

Yet I could wish –

ZARA.

Haste me to know it, what?

OSMYN.

That at this Time, I had not been this Thing.

ZARA.

What Thing?

OSMYN.

This Slave.

ZARA.

O Heav'n! my Fears interpret

This thy Silence; somewhat of high Concern,

Long fashioning within thy labouring Mind,

And now just ripe for Birth, my Rage has ruin'd.

Have I done this? tell me, am I so curs'd?

OSMYN.

Time may have still one fated Hour to come,

Which wing'd with Liberty, might overtake

Occasion past.

ZARA.

Swift as Occasion, I

My self will fly; and earlier than the Morn,

Wake thee to Freedom. Now, 'tis late; and yet

Some News, few Minutes past arriv'd, which seem'd

To shake the Temper of the King –– who knows

What racking Cares disease a Monarch's Bed?

Or Love, that late at Night still lights his Camp,

And strikes his Rays thro' dusk, and folded Lids,

Forbidding rest; may stretch his Eyes awake

And force their Balls abroad, at this dead Hour.

I'll try.

OSMYN.

I have not merited this Grace;

Nor, should my secret Purpose take Effect,

Can I repay, as you require, such Benefits.

ZARA.

Thou canst not owe me more, nor have I more

To give, than I've already lost.