That only Zara's mutes, or such who bring

Her warrant, have admittance to the Moor.

Zar. They, and no other, not the princess' self.

Per. Your Majesty shall be obey'd..

King. Retire.

160

[Exit Perez.

Gons. That interdiction so particular Pronounc'd with vehemence against the princess, Should have more meaning than appears barefac'd. This king is blinded by his love, and heeds It not. [Aside.]-Your majesty sure might have spar'd The last restraint: you hardly can suspect The princess is confed'rate with the Moor.

Zar. I've heard her charity did once extend

So far, to visit him at his request.

Gons. Ha!

King. How! She visit Osmyn! What, my daughter? Sel. Madam, take heed; or you have ruin'd all.

Zar. And after did solicit you on his

Behalf.

King. Never. You have been misinform'd.

Zar. Indeed! Then 'twas a whisper spread by some

Who wish'd it so; a common art in courts,

I will retire and instantly prepare

Instruction for my ministers of death.

181.

[Exit Zara and Selim.

Gons. There's somewhat yet of mystery in this;
Her words and actions are obscure and double,
Sometimes concur, and sometimes disagree:
I like it not.

King. What dost thou think, Gonsalez?

[Aside.

Are we not much indebted to this fair one?
Gons. I am a little slow of credit, sir,

In the sincerity of women's actions.
Methinks this lady's hatred to the Moor
Disquiets her too much; which makes it seem
As if she'd rather that she did not hate him.
I wish her mutes are meant to be employ'd
As she pretends-I doubt it now-Your guards
Corrupted! How? By whom? Who told her so?
I' th' evening Osmyn was to die; at midnight
She begg'd the royal signet to release him;
I' th' morning he must die again; ere noon
Her mutes alone must strangle him, or he'll
Escape. This put together suits not well.

200

King. Yet that there's truth in what she has discover'd
Is manifest from every circumstance.
This tumult, and the lords who fled with Heli,
Are confirmation; - that Alphonso lives,
Agrees expressly too, with her report.

Gons. I grant it, sir; and doubt not, but in rage
Of jealousy, she has discover'd what
She now repents. It may be I'm deceiv'd.
But why that needless caution of the princess ?
What if she had seen Osmyn? Tho' t'were strange;
But if she had, what was't to her? Unless

She fear'd her stronger charms might cause the Moor's
Affection to revolt.

King. I thank thee, friend.

There's reason in thy doubt, and I am warn'd.-
But think'st thou that my daughter saw this Moor?

Gons. If Osmyn be, as Zara has related,
Alphonso's friend, 'tis not impossible
But she might wish, on his account, to see him.

220

King. Say'st thou? By Heav'n, thou hast rous'd a

thought,

That like a sudden earthquake shakes my frame.
Confusion! then my daughter's an accomplice,
And plots in private with this hellish Moor.

Gons. That were too hard a thought-but see,

she comes

'Twere not amiss to question her a little,
And try, how'er, if I've divin'd aright.
If what I fear be true, she'll be concern'd
For Osmyn's death, as he's Alphonso's friend:
Urge that, to try if she'll solicit for him.

Enter ALMERIA and LEONORA.

King. Your coming has prevented me, Almeria;

I had determined to have sent for you.
Let your attendant be dismiss'd; I have

[Leonora retires.

To talk with you. Come near; why dost thou shake?
What mean those swoll’n and red-fleck'd eyes, that look
As they had wept in blood, and worn the night
In waking anguish ? Why this on the day
Which was design'd to celebrate thy nuptials;)
But that the beams of light are to be stain'd
With reeking gore, from traitors on the rack?
Wherefore I have deferr'd the marriage-rites;

240

Nor shall the guilty horrors of this day

Prophane that jubilee.

i

Alm. All days to me

Henceforth are equal: this, the day of death,
To-morrow, and the next, and each that follows
Will undistinguish'd roll, and but prolong
One hated line of more extended woe.

King. Whence is thy grief? Give me to know the

cause;

And look thou answer me with truth; for know
I am not unacquainted with thy falshood.
Why art thou mute? Base and degen'rate maid!

Gons. Dear madam, speak, or you'll incense the king.
Alm. What is't to speak? Or wherefore should I
speak?

What mean these tears but grief unutterable?

King. They are the dumb confessions of thy
mind;

They mean thy guilt, and say thou wert confed'rate
With damn'd conspirators to take my life.
Oh, impious parricide! Now canst thou speak? 260

Alm. O earth, behold, I kneel upon thy bosom,

And bend my flowing eyes to stream upon
Thy face, imploring thee that thou wilt yield;
Open thy bowels of compassion, take
Into thy womb the last and most forlorn

Of all thy race. Hear me, thou common parent
-I have no parent else-be thou a mother,
And step between me and the curse of him
Who was-who was, but is no more a father;
But brands my innocence with horrid crimes;
And, for the tender names of child and daughter,

Now calls me murderer and parricide.

King. Rise, I command thee, rise-and if thou

wouldst

Acquit thyself of these detested names,

Swear thou hast never seen that foreign dog,

Now doom'd to die, that most accursed Osmyn.

Alm, Never, but as with innocence I might,

And free of all bad purposes. So Heaven's

My witness.

King. Vile equivocating wretch!

280

With innocence! Oh, patience! hear-she owns it!
Confesses it! By Heav'n, I'll have him rack'd,
Torn, mangled, flay'd, impal'd-all pains and tortures

That wit of man, or dire revenge can think,

Shall he, accumulated, underbear.

Alm. Oh, I am lost. There fate begins to wound. King. Hear me, then; if thou canst reply; know,

traitress,

I'm not to learn that curs'd Alphonso lives;
Nor am I ignorant what Osmyn is--

Alm. Then all is ended, and we both must die. Since thou'rt reveal'd, alone thou shalt not die. And yet alone would I have dy'd, Heav'n knows, Repeated deaths, rather than have reveal'd thee. "Yes, all my father's wounding wrath, tho' each "Reproach cuts deeper than the keenest sword, " And cleaves my heart, I would have borne it all, "Nay all the pains that are prepar'd for thee; "To the remorseless rack I wou'd have giv'n "This weak and tender flesh, to have been bruis'd

G