The Works of Aphra Behn, Vol. II by Aphra Behn

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_Abd_. If he were so, the Powers above forbid
We should not serve, adore, and fight for him;
But _Philip_ is a Bastard:--nay, 'twill surprize ye,
But that 'tis Truth, the Queen will satisfy you.

_Qu_. With one bold Word he has undone my Honour.
[_Weeps_.
Too bluntly, _Abdelazer_, you repeat
That which by slow Degrees you shou'd have utter'd.

_Abd_. Pardon my Roughness, Madam, I meant well.

_Card. Philip_ a Bastard!
If by such Arts you wou'd divide me from him,
I shall suspect you wou'd betray us both.

_Qu_. Sir, he informs you Truth; and I blush less
To own him so, than that he is a Traitor.

_Card. Philip_ a Bastard! oh, it cannot be--
Madam, take heed you do not for Revenge,
Barter your dearer Honour, and lose both.

_Qu_. I know what's due to Honour, and Revenge,
But better what I owe to _Spain_, and you--
You are a Prince o'th' Blood, and may put off
The Cardinal when you please, and be a Monarch.

_Card_. Though my Ambition's equal to my Passion,
Neither shall make me act against those Principles
My Honour ever taught me to obey.
--And, Madam--
'Tis less a Sin, not to believe you her,
Than 'tis to doubt your Virtue.

_Qu_. I wish it were untold, if it must forfeit
The least of your Esteem--but that 'tis Truth,
Be witness, Heav'n, my Shame, my Sighs, and Tears.
[_Weeps_.

_Card_. Why, Madam, was't so long conceal'd from me?

_Qu_. The Circumstances I shall at leisure tell you:
And for the present,
Let it suffice, he cannot rule in _Spain_,
Nor can you side with him, without being made
As much incapable to reign as he.

_Card_. Though Love and Honour I have always made
The Business of my Life;
My Soul retains too so much of Ambition,
As puts me still in mind of what I am,
A Prince, and Heir to Spain:
Nor shall my blinded Zeal to Loyalty,
Make me that glorious Interest resign,
Since _Philip's_ Claims are not so great as mine.
--Madam, tho I'm convinc'd I've done amiss
In taking Arms for _Philip_,
Yet 'twill be difficult to disengage my self.

_Abd_. Most easily--
Proclaim it in the head of all your Troops,
The Justice of your Cause for leaving him;
And tell 'em, 'tis a Work of Piety
To follow your Example.
The giddy Rout are guided by Religion,
More than by Justice, Reason, or Allegiance.
--The Crown which I as a good Husband keep,
I will lay down upon the empty Throne;
Marry you the Queen, and fill it--and for me,
I'll ever pay you Duty as a Subject.
[_Bows low_.

_Card_. On these Conditions all I am is yours;
_Philip_ we cannot fear, all he can do
Is to retire for refuge into _Portugal_.

_Abd_. That wou'd be dangerous--
Is there no Arts to get him in our Power?

_Card_. Perhaps by Policy, and seeming Friendship,
For we have reason yet to fear his Force;
And since I'm satisfy'd he's not my lawful Prince,
I cannot think it an Impiety
To sacrifice him to the Peace of _Spain_,
And every Spirit that loves Liberty:
First we'll our Forces join, and make 'em yours,
Then give me your Authority to arrest him;
If so we can surprize him, we'll spare the hazard
Of a second Battel.

_Abd_. My Lord, retire into my inner Tent,
And all things shall be instantly perform'd.

[_Exeunt all_.

SCENE VII. _The Grove_.

_Enter some of_ Philip's _Party running over the Stage,
pursued by_ Philip, Alonzo, Sebastian, Antonio,
_and some few Officers more_.

_Alon_. Do not pursue 'em, Sir, such coward Slaves
Deserve not Death from that illustriate Hand.

_Phil_. Eternal Plagues consume 'em in their flight;
Oh, this damn'd coward Cardinal has betray'd us!
When all our Swords were nobly dy'd in Blood,
When with red Sweat that trickled from our Wounds
We'ad dearly earn'd the long disputed Victory,
Then to lose all, then to sound base Retreat,
It swells my Anger up to perfect Madness.

_Alon_. Indeed 'twas wondrous strange.

_Sebast_. I'm glad, Sir--

_Phil_. Art glad of it? art glad we are abandon'd?
That I, and thou have lost the hopeful'st Day--

_Sebast_. Great Sir, I'm glad that you came off alive.

_Phil_. Thou hast a lean Face--and a carrion Heart--
A plague upon the Moor, and thee--Oh, _Alonzo_,
To run away--follow'd by all the Army!
Oh, I cou'd tear my Hair, and curse my Soul to Air!
--Cardinal--thou Traitor, _Judas_, that would'st sell
Thy God again, as thou hast done thy Prince.
--But come--we're yet a few,
And we will fight till there be left but one--
If I prove him, I'll die a glorious death.
Ant. Yes, but the Cardinal has took pious Care
It shall be in our Beds.

_Sebast_. We are as bad as one already, Sir; for all our
Fellows are crawl'd home, some with ne'er a Leg, others
with ne'er a Arm, some with their Brains beat out, and
glad they escaped so.

_Phil_. But, my dear Countrymen, you'll stick to me.

_1 Sold_. Ay, wou'd I were well off-- [_Aside_.

_Phil_. Speak, stout _Sceva_, wilt thou not?

_1 Sold. Sceva_, Sir, who's that?

_Phil_. A gallant _Roman_, that fought by _Caesar's_ side,
Till all his Body cover'd o'er with Arrows,
Shew'd like a monstrous Porcupine.

_1 Sold_. And did he die, Sir?

_Phil_. He wou'd not but have dy'd for Caesar's Empire.

_1 Sold_. Hah--why, Sir, I'm none of _Sceva_, but honest
_Diego_, yet would as willingly die as he, but that I have
a Wife and Children; and if I die they beg.

_Phil_. For every drop of Blood which thou shalt lose,
I'll give thy Wife--a Diadem.

_Sold_. Stark mad, as I am valiant!

_Enter_ Card. _Officers and Soldiers_: Philip _offers to run on
him, is held by_ Alonzo.

_Phil_. Oh Heav'n! is not that the Cardinal?
Traitor, how dar'st thou tempt my Rage, and Justice?

_Card_. Your Pardon, Sir, I come in humble Love
To offer happy Peace.

_Phil_. Was that thy aim when base Retreat was sounded?
Oh, thou false Cardinal--let me go, _Alonzo_--
Death! offer happy Peace! no, offer War,
Bring Fire and Sword--Hell and Damnation-Peace!
Oh, damn your musty Peace--No, will you fight and cry,
Down with the Moor! and then I'll die in peace.
I have a Heart, two Arms, a Soul, a Head,
I'll hazard these--I can but hazard all--
Come--I will kneel to thee--and be thy Slave--
[_Kneels_.
I'll let thee tread on me, do any thing,
So this damn'd Moor may fall.

_Card_. Yes, Sir, he shall--

_Phil_. Gods! shall he--thy noble Hand upon't,
And for this Promise, take my grateful Heart.
[_Embraces him_.
--Shall _Abdelazer_ fall?

_Card_. Yes, upon thee--
Like the tall Ruins of a falling Tower,
To crush thee into Dust--
[_As they embrace, the Guards seize him and the rest_.
Traitor and Bastard, I arrest thee of High-Treason.

_Phil_. Hah!--Traitor!--and Bastard--and from thee!
[_They hold_ Philip's _Hands_.

_Card_. Guards, to your Hands the Prisoner is committed.
There's your Warrant--_Alonzo_, you are free.
[_Ex_. Card.

_Phil_. Prithee lend me one Hand--to wipe my Eyes,
And see who 'tis dares authorize this Warrant:
--The Devil and his Dam!--the Moor and Queen!
Their Warrant!--Gods! _Alonzo_, must we obey it?
Villains, you cannot be my Jailors; there's no Prison,
No Dungeon deep enough; no Gate so strong,
To keep a Man confin'd--so mad with Wrong.
--Oh, dost thou weep, _Alonzo_?

_Alon_. I wou'd fain shed a Tear,
But from my Tears so many Show'rs are gone,
They are too poor to pay your Sorrow's Tribute;
There is no Remedy, we must to Prison.

_Phil_. Yes, and from thence to Death--
I thought I should have had a Tomb hung round
With tatter'd Ensigns, broken Spears and Javelins;
And that my Body, with a thousand Wounds,
Shou'd have been borne on some triumphant Chariot,
With solemn Mourning, Drums, and Trumpets sounding;
Whilst all the wondring World with Grief and Envy,
Had wish'd my glorious Destiny their own:
But now, _Alonzo_--like a Beast I fall,
And hardly Pity waits my Funeral.

[_Exeunt_.

ACT V.

SCENE I. _A Presence-Chamber, with a Throne and Canopy.

Enter_ Abdelazer, Cardinal, Alonzo, Ordonio, Roderigo,
_and other Lords, one bearing the Crown, which is laid on
the Table on a Cushion; the_ Queen, Leonora, _and Ladies.
They all seat themselves, leaving the Throne and Chair
of State empty_. Abdelazer _rises and bows_, Roderigo
_kneeling, presents him with the Crown_.

_Abd_. Grandees of _Spain_, if in this royal Presence
There breathes a Man, who having laid his hold
So fast on such a Jewel, and dares wear it,
In the Contempt of Envy, as I dare;
Yet uncompell'd (as freely as the Gods
Bestow their Blessings) wou'd give such Wealth away;
Let such a Man stand forth--are ye all fix'd?
No wonder, since a King's a Deity.
And who'd not be a God?
This glorious Prospect, when I first saw the Light,
Met with my Infant Hopes; nor have those Fetters
(Which e'er they grew towards Men, Spain taught me how to wear)
Made me forget what's due to that illustrious Birth;
--Yet thus--I cast aside the Rays of Majesty--
[_Kneels, and lays the Crown on the Table_.
And on my Knee do humbly offer up
This splendid powerful thing, and ease your Fears
Of Usurpation and of Tyranny.

_Alon_. What new Device is this? [_Aside_.

_Card_. This is an Action generous and just--
Let us proceed to new Election.

_Abd_. Stay, Peers of _Spain_,
If young Prince _Philip_ be King _Philip's_ Son,
Then is he Heir to _Philip_, and his Crown;
But if a Bastard, then he is a Rebel,
And as a Traitor to the Crown shou'd bleed:
That dangerous popular Spirit must be laid,
Or _Spain_ must languish under civil Swords;
And _Portugal_ taking advantage of those Disorders,
(Assisted by the Male-contents within,
If _Philip_ live) will bring Confusion home.
--Our Remedy for this is first to prove,
And then proclaim him Bastard.

_Alon_. That Project wou'd be worth your Politicks [_Aside_.
--How shou'd we prove him Bastard?

_Abd_. Her Majesty being lately urg'd by Conscience,
And much above her Honour prizing _Spain_,
Declar'd this Secret, but has not nam'd the Man;
If he be noble and a _Spaniard_ born,
He shall repair her Fame by marrying her.

_Card_. No; Spaniard, or Moor, the daring Slave shall die.

_Qu_. Would I were cover'd with a Veil of Night,
[_Weeps_.
That I might hide the Blushes on my Cheeks!
But when your Safety comes into Dispute,
My Honour, nor my Life must come in competition.
--I'll therefore hide my Eyes, and blushing own,
That _Philip's_ Father is i'th' Presence now.

_Alon_. I'th' Presence! name him.

_Qu_. The Cardinal--
[_All rise in Amazement_.

_Card_. How's this, Madam!

_Abd_. How! the Cardinal!

_Card_. I _Philip's_ Father, Madam!

_Qu_. Dull Lover--is not all this done for thee!
Dost thou not see a Kingdom and my self,
By this Confession, thrown into thy Arms?

_Card_. On Terms so infamous I must despise it.

_Qu_. Have I thrown by all Sense of Modesty,
To render you the Master of my Bed,
To be refus'd--was there any other way?--

_Card_. I cannot yield; this Cruelty transcends
All you have ever done me--Heavens! what a Contest
Of Love and Honour swells my rising Heart!

_Qu_. By all my Love, if you refuse me now,
Now when I have remov'd all Difficulties,
I'll be reveng'd a thousand killing ways.

_Card_. Madam, I cannot own so false a thing,
My Conscience and Religion will not suffer me.

_Qu_. Away with all this Canting; Conscience, and Religion!
No, take advice from nothing but from Love.

_Card_. 'Tis certain I'm bewitch'd--she has a Spell
Hid in those charming Lips.

_Alon_. Prince Cardinal, what say you to this?

_Card_. I cannot bring it forth--

_Qu_. Do't, or thou'rt lost for ever.

_Card_. Death! What's a Woman's Power!
And yet I can resist it.

_Qu_. And dare you disobey me?

_Card_. Is't not enough I've given you up my Power,
Nay, and resign'd my Life into your Hands,
But you wou'd damn me too--I will not yield--
Oh, now I find a very Hell within me;
How am I misguided by my Passion!

_Alon_. Sir, we attend your Answer.

_Qu_. 'Tis now near twenty Years, when newly married,
(And 'tis the Custom here to marry young,)
King _Philip_ made a War in _Barbary_,
Won _Tunis_, conquer'd Fez, and hand to hand
Slew great _Abdela_, King of _Fez_, and Father
To this _Barbarian_ Prince.

_Abd_. I was but young, and yet I well remember
My Father's Wound--poor _Barbary_--but no more.

_Qu_. In absence of my King I liv'd retir'd,
Shut up in my Apartment with my Women,
Suffering no Visits, but the Cardinal's,
To whom the King had left me as his Charge;
But he, unworthy of that Trust repos'd,
Soon turned his Business into Love.

_Card_. Heavens! how will this Story end? [_Aside_.

_Qu_. A Tale, alas! unpleasant to my Ear,
And for the which I banish'd him my Presence,
But oh, the power of Gold! he bribes my Women,
That they should tell me (as a Secret too)
The King (whose Wars were finish'd) would return
Without acquainting any with the time;
He being as jealous, as I was fair and young,
Meant to surprize me in the dead of Night:
This pass'd upon my Youth, which ne'er knew Art.

_Card_. Gods! is there any Hell but Woman's Falshood! [Aside.

_Qu_. The following Night I hasted to my Bed,
To wait my expected Bliss--nor was it long
Before his gentle Steps approach'd my Ears.
Undress'd he came, and with a vigorous haste
Flew to my yielding Arms: I call'd him King,
My dear lov'd Lord; and in return he breath'd
Into my Bosom, in soft gentle Whispers,
My Queen! my Angel! my lov'd _Isabella_!
And at that word--I need not tell the rest.

_Alon_. What's all this, Madam, to the Cardinal?

_Qu_. Ah, Sir, the Night too short for his Caresses,
Made room for Day, Day that betray'd my Shame;
For in my guilty Arms I found the Cardinal.

_Alon_. Madam, why did not you complain of this?

_Qu_, Alas, I was but young, and full of Fears;
Bashful, and doubtful of a just Belief,
Knowing King _Philip's_ rash and jealous Temper;
But from your Justice I expect Revenge.

_Rod_. His Crime, my Lords, is Death, by all our Laws.

_Card_. Have you betray'd me by my too much Faith?
Oh shameless Creature, am I disarm'd for this?
Had I but so much Ease to be inrag'd,
Sure I shou'd kill thee for this Treachery:
But I'm all Shame, and Grief--By all that's holy,
My Lords, I never did commit this Crime.

_Abd_. 'Tis but in vain, Prince Cardinal, to deny it.

_Qu_. Do not believe him, Lords;--
Revenge--let Sentence pass upon the Traitor.

_Card_. I own that Name with Horror, which you drew me to,
When I betray'd the best of Men, and Princes;
And 'tis but just you fit me for Despairs,
That may instruct me how to follow him in Death:
Yet as I'm Prince o'th' Blood, and Cardinal too,
You cannot be my Judges.

_Abd_. You shall be try'd, Sir, as becomes your Quality.
_Osmin_, we commit the Cardinal to your Charge.

_Card_. Heaven! should I live to that! No,
I have within me a private Shame,
That shall secure me from the publick one.

_Alon_. A pretty turn of State!--we shall all follow, Sir.

_Card_. The Powers above are just:
Thus I my Prince a Sacrifice first made,
And now my self am on the Altar laid.
[_Ex_. Card, _guarded_.

_Abd_. Madam, retire, you've acted so divinely,
You've fill'd my Soul with new admiring Passion:
I'll wait on you in your Apartment instantly,
And at your Feet pay all my Thanks, and Love.

_Qu_. Make haste, my dearest Moor, whilst I retire,
And fit my Soul to meet thy kind Desire.

[_Ex_. Queen _and her Train_; Leon, _advancing to
follow, is staid by_ Abd.

_Abd_. Stay, beauteous Maid, stay, and receive that Crown,
[_Leads her back_.
Which as your due, Heav'n and all _Spain_ present you with.

_Alon_. But granting _Philip_ is--that thing you call him,
If we must grant him so, who then shall reign?
Not that we do not know who ought to reign,
But ask who 'tis you will permit to do so. [_To_ Abd.

_Abd_. Who but bright _Leonora_! the Royal Off-spring
Of noble _Philip_, whose Innocence and Beauty,
Without th' advantage of her glorious Birth,
Merits all Adoration.

_All_. With Joy we do salute her Queen.

_Abd_. Live _Leonora_! beauteous Queen of _Spain!
[Shout_.

_Alon_. From _Abdelazer_ this! it cannot be,
At least not real. [_Aside_.

_Abd_. My Lords,
Be it now your Care magnificently to provide
Both for the Coronation, and the Marriage
Of the fair Queen;
Let nothing be omitted that may shew,
How we can pay, where we so vastly owe.
[_Bows_.

_Alon_. I am much bound to _Spain_, and you, my Lords,
For this great Condescenion.

_Leo_. My Lords, I thank ye all,
And most the gallant Moor--I am not well--
[_Turns to Alon_.
Something surrounds my Heart so full of Death,
I must retire to give my Sorrow Breath.

[_Ex_. Leo. _followed by all but_ Abd. _and_ Rod. _who
looks on_ Abd.

_Rod_. Sir,--what have you done?

_Abd_. What every Man that loves like me shou'd do;
Undone my self for ever, to beget
One Moment's thought in her, that I adore her;
That she may know, none ever lov'd like me,
I've thrown away the Diadem of _Spain_--
'Tis gone! and there's no more to set but this--
(My Heart) at all, and at this one last Cast,
Sweep up my former Losses, or be undone.

_Rod_. You court at a vast Rate, Sir.

_Abd_. Oh, she's a Goddess! a Creature made by Heaven
To make my prosperous Toils all sweet and charming!
She must be Queen, I and the Gods decree it.

_Rod_. Sir, is she not designed _Alonzo's_ Bride?

_Abd_. Yes, so her self and he have ill agreed;
But Heav'n and I am of another Mind,
And must be first obey'd.

_Rod. Alonzo_ will not yield his Interest easily.

_Abd_. Wou'd that were all my stop to Happiness;
But, _Roderigo_, this fond amorous Queen
Sits heavy on my Heart.

_Rod_. She's but a Woman, nor has more Lives than one.

_Abd_. True, _Roderigo_, and thou hast dealt in Murders,
And knowest the safest way to--

_Rod_. How, Sir!--

_Abd_. Thou dar'st not sure pretend to any Virtue;
Had Hell inspir'd thee with less Excellency
Than Arts of killing Kings, thou'dst ne'er been rais'd
To that exalted Height, t' have known my Secrets.

_Rod_. But, Sir--

_Abd_. Slave, look back upon the Wretchedness I took thee from;
What Merits had thou to deserve my Bounty,
But Vice, brave prosperous Vice?
Thou'rt neither wise, nor valiant.

_Rod_. I own my self that Creature rais'd by you,
And live but to repay you, name the way.

_Abd_. My business is--to have the Queen remov'd;
She does expect my coming this very Hour;
And when she does so, 'tis her Custom to be retir'd,
Dismissing all attendance, but _Elvira_.

_Rod_. The rest I need not be instructed in.
[_Ex_. Rod.

_Enter_ Osmin.

_Osm_. The Cardinal, Sir, is close confin'd with _Philip_.

_Abd_. 'Tis well.

_Osm_. And do you think it fit, Sir, they shou'd live?

_Abd_. No, this day they both must die, some sort of Death,
That may be thought was given them by themselves:
I'm sure I give them cause--_Osmin_, view well this Ring;
Whoever brings this Token to your Hands,
Without considering Sex, or Quality,
Let 'em be kill'd.

_Osm_. Your Will shall be obey'd in every thing.

[_Exeunt severally_.

SCENE II. _A fine Chamber. A Table and Chair_.

_Enter_ Queen _and_ Elvira.

_Qu. Elvira_, hast thou drest my Lodgings up,
Fit to receive my Moor?
Are they all gay, as Altars, when some Monarch
Is there to offer up rich Sacrifices?
Hast thou strew'd all the Floor his Feet must press,
With the soft new-born Beauties of the Spring?

_Elv_. Madam, I've done as you commanded me.

_Qu_. Let all the Chambers too be fill'd with Lights;
There's a Solemnity methinks in Night,
That does insinuate Love into the Soul,
And make the bashful Lover more assur'd.

_Elv_. Madam,
You speak as if this were your first Enjoyment.

_Qu_. My first! Oh _Elvira_, his Power, like his Charms,
His Wit, or Bravery, every hour renews;
Love gathers Sweets like Flow'rs, which grow more fragrant,
The nearer they approach Maturity.
[_Knock_.
--Hark! 'tis my Moor,--give him admittance strait,
The Thought comes o'er me like a gentle Gale,
Raising my Blood into a thousand Curls.

_Elv_. Madam, it is a Priest--

_Qu_. A Priest! Oh, send him quickly hence;
I wou'd not have so cold and dull an Object,
Meet with my nobler Sense, 'tis mortifying.

_Elv_. Perhaps 'tis some Petition from the Cardinal.

_Qu_. Why, what have I to do with Priest or Cardinal?
Let him not enter--

[Elv. _goes out, and returns with_ Roderigo _drest like a Fryar_.

_Elv_. From _Abdelazer_, Madam.

_Qu_. H'as named a Word will make all Places free.

_Rod_. Madam, be pleas'd to send your Woman hence,
I've something to deliver from the Moor,
Which you alone must be acquainted with.

_Qu_. Well, your Formality shall be allowed--retire--
[_To_ Elv. _Exit_ Elv.
What have you to deliver to me now?

_Rod_. This--

[_Shews a Dagger, and takes her roughly by the Hands_.

_Qu_. Hah!--

_Rod_. You must not call for help, unless to Heaven.

_Qu_. What daring thing art thou?

_Rod_. One that has now no time to answer thee.

[_Stabs her, she struggles, her Arm bleeds_.

_Qu_. Oh, hold thy killing Hand! I am thy Queen.

_Rod_. Thou may'st be Devil too, for ought I know;
I'll try thy Substance thus--
[_Stabs again_.

_Qu_. Oh, _Abdelazer_!--
Thou hast well reveng'd me--on my Sins of Love;--
[_He seats her in the Chair_.
But shall I die thus tamely unrcveng'd?
--Help--murder--help--
[_He offers to stab again_.

_Enter_ Elvira, _and other Women_.

_Elv_. Oh Heavens! the Queen is murder'd--help the Queen!

[Rod. _offers to stab_ Elv.

_Enter_ Abdelazer.

_Abd_. Hah! the Queen! what sacrilegious Hand,
Or Heart so brutal--
Durst thus profane the Shrine ador'd by me?
Guard well the Passages.--

_Qu_. Thou art that sacrilegious--brutal thing!--
And false as are the Deities thou worship'st.

_Abd_. Gods! let me not understand that killing Language?
--Inform me quickly, how you came thus wounded,
Lest looking on that sacred Stream of Blood,
I die e'er I've reveng'd you on your Murderer.

_Qu_. Haste then, and kill thy self; thou art my Murderer.
Nor had his Hand, if not by thee instructed,
Aim'd at a Sin so dangerous--

_Abd_. Surely she'll live--[_Aside_.]--This!--
Can Mischief dwell beneath this reverend Shape?
Confess who taught thee so much Cruelty.
Confess, or I will kill thee.

_Rod_. The Cardinal.

_Qu_. The Cardinal!

_Abd_. Oh impious Traitor!
How came I mention'd then?

_Rod_. To get Admittance.

_Abd_. But why do I delay thy Punishment?
Die,--and be damn'd together. [_Aside.]
[Stabs him_.
But oh, my Queen!--_Elvira_, call for help.
Have I remov'd all that oppos'd our Flame,
[_Kneels_.
To have it thus blown out, thus in a Minute?
When I, all full of youthful Fire, all Love,
Had rais'd my Soul with Hopes of near Delights,
To meet thee cold, and pale; to find those Eyes,
Those charming Eyes thus dying--Oh ye Powers!
Take all the Prospect of my future Joys,
And turn it to Despair, since thou art gone.

_Qu_. Cease,--cease--your kind Complaints--my struggling Soul,
'Twixt Death--and Love--holds an uneasy Contest;
This will not let it stay--nor that depart;--
And whilst I hear thy Voice--thus breathing Love,
It hovers still--about--the grateful--Sound.
My Eyes--have took--an everlasting Leave--
Of all that blest their Sight; and now a gloomy Darkness
Benights the wishing Sense,--that vainly strives--
To take another View;--but 'tis too late,--
And Life--and Love--must yield--to Death--and--
Fate.
[_Dies_.

_Abd_. Farewell, my greatest Plague,
[_He rises with Joy_.
Thou wert a most impolitick loving thing;
And having done my Bus'ness which thou wert born for,
'Twas time thou shouldst retire,
And leave me free to love, and reign alone.

_Enter_ Leonora, Alonzo, Ordonio, _and other Men and Women_.

Come all the World, and pay your Sorrows here,
Since all the World has Interest in this Loss.

_Alon_. The Moor in Tears! nay, then the Sin was his.

_Leon_. The Queen my Mother dead!
How many Sorrows will my Heart let in,
E'er it will break in pieces.
[_Weeps over her_.

_Alon_. I know the Source of all this Villany,
And need not ask you how the Queen came murder'd.

_Elv_. My Lord, that Fryer, from the Cardinal, did it.

_Alon_. The Cardinal!
'Tis possible,--for the Injuries she did him
Cou'd be repaid with nothing less than Death. [Aside.
My Fair, your Griefs have been so just of late,
I dare not beg that you would weep no more;
Though every Tear those lovely Eyes let fall,
Give me a killing Wound--Remove the Body.

[_Guards remove the Body. Ex. all but_ Alon. _and_ Leon.

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