_Car._ Hope, thou hast told me lies from day to day, For more than twenty years; vile promiser! None here are happy, but the very fool, Or very wise: I am not fool enough To smile in vanities, and hug a shadow; Nor have I wisdom to elaborate An artificial happiness from pains: Ev'n joys are pains, because they cannot last. [_sighs._ How many lift the head, look gay and smile, Against their consciences? And this we know, Yet, knowing, disbelieve, and try again What we have try'd, and struggle with conviction. Each new experience gives the former credit; And rev'rend grey threescore is but a voucher, That thirty told us true. _Zan._ My noble lord, I mourn your fate: but are no hopes surviving? _Car._ No hopes. Alvarez has a heart of steel. 'Tis fix'd--'tis past--'tis absolute despair! _Zan._ You wanted not to have your heart made tender, By your own pains, to feel a friend's distress. _Car._ I understand you well. Alonzo loves; I pity him. _Zan._ I dare be sworn you do. Yet he has other thoughts. _Car._ What canst thou mean? _Zan._ Indeed he has; and fears to ask a favour A stranger from a stranger might request; What costs you nothing, yet is all to him: Nay, what indeed will to your glory add, For nothing more than wishing your friend well. _Car._ I pray be plain; his happiness is mine. _Zan._ He loves to death; but so reveres his friend, He can't persuade his heart to wed the maid Without your leave, and that he fears to ask. In perfect tenderness I urg'd him to it. Knowing the deadly sickness of his heart, Your overflowing goodness to your friend, Your wisdom, and despair yourself to wed her, I wrung a promise from him he would try: And now I come, a mutual friend to both, Without his privacy, to let you know it, And to prepare you kindly to receive him. _Car._ Ha! if he weds, I am undone indeed; Not don Alvarez' self can then relieve me. _Zan._ Alas, my lord, you know his heart is steel: "'Tis fixed, 'tis past, 'tis absolute despair." _Car._ Oh, cruel heav'n! and is it not enough That I must never, never see her more? Say, is it not enough that I must die; But I must be tormented in the grave?-- Ask my consent!--Must I then give her to him? Lead to his nuptial sheets the blushing maid? Oh!--Leonora! never, never, never! _Zan._ A storm of plagues upon him! he refuses. [_aside._ _Car._ What, wed her--and to-day? _Zan._ To-day, or never. To-morrow may some wealthier lover bring, And then Alonzo is thrown out like you: Then whom shall he condemn for his misfortune? Carlos is an Alvarez to his love. _Car._ Oh, torment! whither shall I turn? _Zan._ To peace. _Car._ Which is the way? _Zan._ His happiness is yours---- I dare not disbelieve you. _Car._ Kill my friend! Or worse--Alas! and can there be a worse? A worse there is: nor can my nature bear it.