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The REVENGE.
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Felt for so small a Failure, is one Merit
Which faultless Virtue wants: The Crime was mine,
Who plac'd thee there, where only thou could'st fail;
Tho' well I knew that dreadful Post of Honour
I gave thee to maintain. Ah! Who could bear
Those Eyes, unhurt? The Wounds my self have felt,
(Which Wounds alone should cause me to condemn thee)
They plead in thy Excuse; for I too strove
To shun their Fires, and found 'twas not in Man.
Which faultless Virtue wants: The Crime was mine,
Who plac'd thee there, where only thou could'st fail;
Tho' well I knew that dreadful Post of Honour
I gave thee to maintain. Ah! Who could bear
Those Eyes, unhurt? The Wounds my self have felt,
(Which Wounds alone should cause me to condemn thee)
They plead in thy Excuse; for I too strove
To shun their Fires, and found 'twas not in Man.
Alon.You cast in Shades the Failures of a Friend,
And soften all; but think not you deceive me:
I know my Guilt, and I implore your Pardon,
As the sole Glympse I can obtain of Peace.
And soften all; but think not you deceive me:
I know my Guilt, and I implore your Pardon,
As the sole Glympse I can obtain of Peace.
Car.Pardon for him who but this Morning threw
Fair Leonora from his Heart, all bath'd
In ceaseless Tears, and blushing with her Love?
Who, like a Rose-leaf, wet with Morning Dew,
Would have stuck close, and clung for ever there?
But 'twas in thee, thro' Fondness to thy Friend,
To shut thy Bosom against Ecstasies;
For which, while this Pulse beats, it beats to thee,
While this Blood flows, it flows for my Alonzo,
And every Wish is levell'd at thy Joy.
Fair Leonora from his Heart, all bath'd
In ceaseless Tears, and blushing with her Love?
Who, like a Rose-leaf, wet with Morning Dew,
Would have stuck close, and clung for ever there?
But 'twas in thee, thro' Fondness to thy Friend,
To shut thy Bosom against Ecstasies;
For which, while this Pulse beats, it beats to thee,
While this Blood flows, it flows for my Alonzo,
And every Wish is levell'd at thy Joy.
Zan. to Alon.My Lord, my Lord, this is your time to speak.
Alon. to Zan.Because he's kind? it therefore is the worst;
For 'tis his Kindness which I fear to hurt.
Shall the same Moment see him sink in Woes,
And me providing for a Flow of Joys,
Rich in the Plunder of his Happiness?
No, I may Dye; but I can never speak.
For 'tis his Kindness which I fear to hurt.
Shall the same Moment see him sink in Woes,
And me providing for a Flow of Joys,
Rich in the Plunder of his Happiness?
No, I may Dye; but I can never speak.
Car.Now, now it comes! they are concerting it,
The first Word strikes me dead—O Leonora!
And shall another taste her fragrant Breath!—
Who knows what After-time may bring to pass?
Fathers may change, and I may wed her still. [Aside.
The first Word strikes me dead—O Leonora!
And shall another taste her fragrant Breath!—
Who knows what After-time may bring to pass?
Fathers may change, and I may wed her still. [Aside.
Alon. to Zan.Do I not see him quite possess'd with Anguish,
Which,