Look into those they call unfortunate,
And closer view'd, you'll find they are unwise:
Some flaw in their own conduct lies beneath,
And 'tis the trick of fools to save their credit,
Which brought another language into use.
Don Carlos is of antient, noble blood;
And then his wealth might mend a prince's fortune:
For him the sun is labouring in the mines,
A faithful slave, and turning earth to gold:
His keels are freighted with that sacred pow'r,
By which ev'n kings and emperors are made.
Sir, you have my good wishes: and I hope [To Carlos.
My daughter is not indispos'd to hear you. [Exit Alv.
O Leonora ! why art thou in tears?
Because I am less wretched than I was?
Before your father gave me leave to woo you,
Hush'd was your bosom, and your eye serene.
Will you for ever help me to new pains,
And keep reserves of torment in your hand,
To let them loose on every dawn of joy?
Think you my father too indulgent to me,
That he claims no dominion o'er my tears?
A daughter sure may be right dutiful,
Whose tears alone are free from a restraint-
Rather than come thus coldly; than come thus
With absent eyes, and alienated mien,
Suff'ring address, the victim of
my love.
O let me be undone the common way,
And have the common comfort to be pity'd,
And not be ruin'd in the mask of bliss,
And so be envy'd, and be wretched too!
Love calls for love. Not all the pride of beauty;
Those eyes, that tell us what the sun is made of;
Those lips, whose touch is to be bought with life;
Those hills of driven snow, which seen are felt:
All these possest are nought, but as they are
The proof, the substance of an inward passion,
And the rich plunder of a taken heart.
Alas! my lord, we are too delicate;
And when we grasp the happiness we wish'd,
We call on wit to argue it away :
A plainer man would not feel half your pains;
But some have too much wisdom to be happy.
Had I known this before, it had been well:
I had not then solicited
To add to my distress; as you behave,
Your father's kindness stabs me to the heart.
Give me your hand-Nay, give it, Leonora :
You give it not ;-nay, yet you give it not-
I ravish it.-
Ah! why so sad? You know each sigh does shake me;
Sighs there, are tempests here.
I've heard, bad men would be unblest in heav'n:
What is my guilt, that makes me so with you?
Have I not languish'd prostrate at thy feet?
Have I not liv'd whole days upon thy sight?
Have I not seen thee where thou hast not been,
And mad with the idea, clasp'd the wind,
And doated upon nothing?
Good Carlos, by recounting of my faults,
And telling how ungrateful I have been :
Alas! my lord if talking would prevail,
I could suggest much better arguments,
Than those regards you threw away on me ;
Your valour, honour, wisdom prais'd by all:
But bid physicians talk our veins to temper,
And with an argument new-set a pulse;
Then think, my lord, of reasoning into love.
Must I then despair? Do not shake me thus;
My tempest-beaten heart is cold to death:
Ah! turn, and let me warm me in thy beauties.
Heav'ns! what a proof I gave, but two nights past,
Of matchless love! To fling me at thy feet,
I slighted friendship, and I flew from fame;
Nor heard the summons of the next day's battle:
But darting headlong to thy arms, I left
The promis'd fight; I left Alonzo too,
To stand the war, and quell a world alone. [Trumpets.
The victor comes. My lord, I must withdraw.
Why should you wish my stay? Your friend's arrival will bring comfort to you, My presence none; it pains you and myself: For both our sakes, permit me to withdraw. [Exit Leonora.
Sure, there's no peril, but in love. O how
My foes would boast to see me look so pale!
Carlos!-I am whole again:
Claspt in thy arms, it makes my heart entire.
Whom dare I thus embrace? The conqueror of
Yes, much more; Don Carlos' friend.
The conquest of the world would cost me dear,
Should it beget one thought of distance in thee:
I rise in virtues to come nearer thee:
I conquer with Don Carlos in my eye:
And thus I claim my victory's reward. [Embracing him.
A victory indeed! Your godlike arm
Has made one spot the grave of Africa,
Such numbers fell; and the survivors fled
As frighted passengers from off the strand,
When the tempestuous sea comes roaring on them.
'Twas Carlos conquer'd; 'twas his cruel chains
Inflam'd me to a rage unknown before,
And threw my former actions far behind.
I love fair Leonora: How I love her!
Yet still I find (I know not how it is)
Another heart, another soul, for thee:
Thy friendship warms, it raises, it transports
Like music; pure the joy without allay;
Whose very rapture is tranquillity:
But love, like wine, gives a tumultuous bliss,
Heighten'd indeed beyond all mortal pleasures;
But mingles pangs and madness in the bowl.
Manuel, my lord, returning from the port,
On business both of moment and of haste,
Humbly begs leave to speak in private with you.
In private !-Ha-Alonzo I'll return;
No business can detain me long from thee, [Exit Car.
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