align="left">Or very wise: I am not fool enough
| To smile in vanities, and hug a shadow; |
| Nor have I wisdom to elaborate |
| An artificial happiness from pains: |
| Ev'n joys are pains, because they cannot last.[sighs. |
| How many lift the head, look gay and smile, |
| Against their consciences? And this we know, |
| Yet, knowing, disbelieve, and try again |
| What we have try'd, and struggle with conviction. |
| Each new experience gives the former credit; |
| And rev'rend grey threescore is but a voucher, |
| That thirty told us true. |
| |
| Zan. My noble lord, |
| I mourn your fate: but are no hopes surviving? |
| |
| Car. No hopes. Alvarez has a heart of steel. |
| 'Tis fix'd—'tis past—'tis absolute despair! |
| |
| Zan. You wanted not to have your heart made tender, |
| By your own pains, to feel a friend's distress. |
| |
| Car. I understand you well. Alonzo loves; |
| I pity him. |
| |
| Zan. I dare be sworn you do. |
| Yet he has other thoughts. |
| |
| Car. What canst thou mean? |
| |
| Zan. Indeed he has; and fears to ask a favour |
| A stranger from a stranger might request; |
| What costs you nothing, yet is all to him: |
| Nay, what indeed will to your glory add, |
| For nothing more than wishing your friend well. |
| |
| Car. I pray be plain; his happiness is mine. |
| |
| Zan. He loves to death; but so reveres his friend, |
| He can't persuade his heart to wed the maid |
| Without your leave, and that he fears to ask. |
| In perfect tenderness I urg'd him to it. |
| Knowing the deadly sickness of his heart, |
| Your overflowing goodness to your friend, |
| Your wisdom, and despair yourself to wed her, |
| I wrung a promise from him he would try: |
| And now I come, a mutual friend to both, |
| Without his privacy, to let you know it, |
| And to prepare you kindly to receive him. |
| |
| Car. Ha! if he weds, I am undone indeed; |
| Not don Alvarez' self can then relieve me. |
| |
| Zan. Alas, my lord, you know his heart is steel: |
| "'Tis fixed, 'tis past, 'tis absolute despair." |
| |
| Car. Oh, cruel heav'n! and is it not enough |
| That I must never, never see her more? |
| Say, is it not enough that I must die; |
| But I must be tormented in the grave?— |
| Ask my consent!—Must I then give her to him? |
| Lead to his nuptial sheets the blushing maid? |
| Oh!—Leonora! never, never, never! |
| |
| Zan. A storm of plagues upon him! he refuses.[aside. |
| |
| Car. What, wed her—and to-day? |
| |
| Zan. To-day, or never. |
| To-morrow may some wealthier lover bring, |
| And then Alonzo is thrown out like you: |
| Then whom shall he condemn for his misfortune? |
| Carlos is an Alvarez to his love. |
| |
| Car. Oh, torment! whither shall I turn? |
| |
| Zan. To peace. |
| |
| Car. Which is the way? |
| |
| Zan. His happiness is yours—— |
| I dare not disbelieve you. |
| |
| Car. Kill my friend! |
| Or worse—Alas! and can there be a worse? |
| A worse there is: nor can my nature bear it. |
| |
| Zan. You have convinc'd me 'tis a dreadful task. |
| I find Alonzo's quitting her this morning |
| For Carlos' sake, in tenderness to you, |
| Betray'd me to believe it less severe |
| Than I perceive it is. |
| |
| Car. Thou dost upbraid me. |
| |
| Zan. No, my good lord; but since you can't comply, |
| 'Tis my misfortune that I mention'd it; |
| For had I not, Alonzo would indeed |
| Have died, as now, but not by your decree. |
| |
| Car. By my decree! Do I decree his death? |
| I do—Shall I then lead her to his arms? |
| Oh, which side shall I take? Be stabb'd, or—stab? |
| 'Tis equal death! a choice of agonies!—— |
| Ah, no!—all other agonies are ease |
| To one—O Leonora!—never, never! |
| Go, Zanga, go, defer the dreadful trial, |
| Though but a day; something, perchance, may happen |
| To soften all to friendship and to love. |
| Go, stop my friend, let me not see him now; |
| But save us from an interview of death. |
| |
| Zan. My lord, I'm bound in duty to obey you—— |
| If I not bring him, may Alonzo prosper
