I thought of dying; better things come forward; Vengeance is still alive! from her dark covert, With all her snakes erect upon her crest, She stalks in view, and fires me with her charms. When, Isabella, arriv'd don Carlos here? _Isa._ Two nights ago. _Zan._ That was the very night Before the battle--Mem'ry, set down that; It has the essence of a crocodile, Though yet but in the shell--I'll give it birth-- What time did he return? _Isa._ At midnight. _Zan._ So-- Say, did he see that night his Leonora? _Isa._ No, my good lord. _Zan._ No matter--tell me, woman, Is not Alonzo rather brave than cautious, Honest than subtle, above fraud himself, Slow, therefore, to suspect it in another? _Isa._ You best can judge; but so the world thinks of him. _Zan._ Why, that was well--go, fetch my tablets hither. [_exit Isabella._ Two nights ago my father's sacred shade Thrice stalk'd around my bed, and smil'd upon me: He smil'd, a joy then little understood-- It must be so--and if so, it is vengeance Worth waking of the dead for. _Re-enter Isabella, with the tablets; Zanga writes, then reads as to himself._ Thus it stands-- The father's fix'd--Don Carlos cannot wed-- Alonzo may--but that will hurt his friend-- Nor can he ask his leave--or, if he did, He might not gain it--It is hard to give Our own consent to ills, though we must bear them. Were it not then a master-piece worth all The wisdom I can boast, first to persuade Alonzo to request it of his friend, His friend to grant--then from that very grant, The strongest proof of friendship man can give (And other motives), to work out a cause Of jealousy, to rack Alonzo's peace? I have turn'd o'er the catalogue of human woes, Which sting the heart of man, and find none equal. It is the hydra of calamities, The sev'nfold death; the jealous are the damn'd. Oh, jealousy, each other passion's calm To thee, thou conflagration of the soul! Thou king of torments, thou grand counterpoise For all the transports beauty can inspire! _Isa._ Alonzo comes this way. _Zan._ Most opportunely.-- Withdraw. [_exit Isabella._ _Enter Don Alonzo._ My lord, I give you joy. _Alon._ Of what, good Zanga? _Zan._ Is not the lovely Leonora yours? _Alon._ What will become of Carlos? _Zan._ He's your friend; And since he can't espouse the fair himself, Will take some comfort from Alonzo's fortune. _Alon._ Alas, thou little know'st the force of love! Love reigns a sultan with unrival'd sway; Puts all relations, friendship's self to death, If once he's jealous of it. I love Carlos; Yet well I know what pangs I felt this morning At his intended nuptials. For myself I then felt pains, which now for him I feel. _Zan._ You will not wed her then? _Alon._ Not instantly. Insult his broken heart the very moment! _Zan._ I understand you: but you'll wed hereafter, When your friend's gone, and his first pain assuag'd. _Alon._ Am I to blame in that?