_Zan._ O, forbear! You totter on the very brink of ruin. _Alon._ What dost thou mean? _Zan._ That will discover all, And kill my hopes. What can I think or do? [_aside._ _Alon._ What, dost thou murmur? _Zan._ Force the secret from her! What's perjury to such a crime as this? Will she confess it then? O, groundless hope! But rest assur'd, she'll make this accusation, Or false or true, your ruin with the king; Such is her father's pow'r. _Alon._ No more, I care not; Rather than groan beneath this load, I'll die. _Zan._ But for what better will you change this load? Grant you should know it, would not that be worse? _Alon._ No; it would cure me of my mortal pangs By hatred and contempt: I should despise her, And all my love-bred agonies would vanish. _Zan._ Ah! were I sure of that, my lord-- _Alon._ What then? _Zan._ You should not hazard life to gain the secret. _Alon._ What dost thou mean? thou know'st I'm on the rack. I'll not be play'd with; speak, if thou hast aught, Or I this instant fly to Leonora. _Zan._ That is, to death. My lord, I am not yet Quite so far gone in guilt to suffer it; Though gone too far, heav'n knows--'Tis I am guilty; I have took pains, as you, I know, observ'd, To hinder you from diving in the secret, And turn'd aside your thoughts from the detection. _Alon._ Thou dost confound me. _Zan._ I confound myself; And frankly own, though to my shame I own it, Nought but your life in danger could have torn The secret out, and made me own my crime. _Alon._ Speak quickly, Zanga, speak. _Zan._ Not yet, dread sir: First, I must be assur'd, that if you find The fair one guilty, scorn, as you assur'd me, Shall conquer love and rage, and heal your soul. _Alon._ Oh! 't will, by heav'n. _Zan._ Alas! I fear it much, And scarce can hope so far; but I of this Exact your solemn oath, that you'll abstain From all self-violence, and save my lord. _Alon._ I trebly swear. _Zan._ You'll bear it like a man? _Alon._ A god. _Zan._ Such have you been to me, these tears confess it; And pour'd forth miracles of kindness on me: And what amends is now within my pow'r, But to confess, expose myself to justice, And as a blessing claim my punishment? Know then, don Carlos-- _Alon._ Oh! _Zan._ You cannot bear it. _Alon._ Go on, I'll have it, though it blast mankind; I'll have it all, and instantly. Go on. _Zan._ Don Carlos did return at dead of night-- That night, by chance (ill chance for me) did I Command the watch that guards the palace gate. He told me he had letters for the king, Despatch'd from you. _Alon._ The villain lied!