_Gar._ And well she may: Her eyes, her lips, her cheeks, her shape, her features, Seem to be drawn by Love's own hand; by Love, Himself in love: but oh, 'tis now too late, My eyes have drank a poison in before; A former basilisk has seen me first.-- Yet know, fair princess, if there were a part In all my breast, that could receive a wound, Your eyes could only give it. _Cel._ So, helpless friends, when safe themselves ashore, Behold a vessel driven against a rock; They sigh, they weep, they counsel, and they pray, They stretch their unassisting hands in vain; But none will plunge into the raging main, To save the sinking passenger from death. _Xim._ Already see the joyless bride appears. Grief, rage, disdain, distraction, and despair Are equal in my daughters' different fates; In one, to be constrained to be your wife; In one, to be refused. _Enter_ VERAMOND, _and_ VICTORIA _led as to Marriage: A Train follows; and after it a Guard_. _Cel._ Great nature, break thy chain, that links together The fabric of this globe, and make a chaos Like that within my soul! O heaven unkind! That gives us passions strong and unconfined, And leaves us reason for a vain defence; Too powerful rebels, and too weak a prince. [GARCIA, XIMENA, CELIDEA, _mix with the Train, which walk, as in procession, towards the Temple_. _Enter, on the sudden_, ALPHONSO _and_ CARLOS, _at the Head of their Party; the Soldiers attack the Guards and King, and drive them off the Stage_: ALPHONSO _fights with_ GARCIA, _grapples with him, and gets him under; in the mean time_, XIMENA, VICTORIA, _and_ CELIDEA _retire to a corner of the Stage: When_ GARCIA_ is fallen_, CELIDEA _runs, and kneels to_ ALPHONSO. _Cel._ Oh spare him, spare the noble Garcia's life, Or take the forfeit in the loss of mine! How happy should I be to die for him, Who will not live for me! _Alph._ [_To_ GARCIA.] Rise, and be safe; If you have any thanks to pay, reserve them To give this royal maid. _Gar._ [_Rising._] You'd been more kind To take my life, for I would throw it off: Dishonoured as I am, 'tis worn to rags, Nor worth a prince's wearing. [_Exit_ GARCIA, _followed by_ CELIDEA. _Re-enter_ VERAMOND, _disarmed, and led by_ CARLOS. _Vera._ Ungrateful traitor! _Alph._ Hold thy peace, old man! I do not love to insult on thy misfortunes, Though thou hast brought this ruin on thyself. _Vera._ Avenging heaven---- _Alph._ I pr'ythee, curse me not, Because I held thee for my father once. _Vera._ Then would I were thy father, that my curse Might take the surer place, and----