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 friendship 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.
