_Vera._ Obey me, and be blest; if not, accurst. A father's curse has wings, remember that; Through this world and the next it will pursue thee, And sink thee down for ever. _Vict._ 'Tis enough, I know how far a daughter owes obedience; But duty has a bound like other empires: It reaches but to life, for all beyond it Is the dominion of another world, Where you have no command.-- For you, Don Garcia, You know the power a mistress ought to have; But, since you will be master, take your hour, The next is mine. _Gar._ I grant the debt of service which I owe you; But 'tis a sum too vast to pay at sight. If now you call it in, I must be bankrupt To all my future bliss. _Vict._ I find by you, The laws of love are like the laws of heaven; All know, but few will keep them.--To the temple, Where I myself am victim. _Enter_ ALPHONSO, _unarmed; all seem amazed_. _ Alph._ Stay, Veramond. _Vera._ Alphonso here! then all my hopes are blasted; The town is his, and I once more a slave. [_Aside._ _Alph._ Dismiss thy fears, and tremble not, old man; I neither come with purpose, nor with power, To avenge my wrongs, but single, and unarmed. This head is necessary to thy peace, And to Victoria's violated vows, Who, while I live, can never be Don Garcia's. Take then this odious life; securely take it, And glut thy vengeance with Alphonso's blood. Behold the man, who forced thee in thy strength, In thy imperial town made thee a captive. Now give thy fury scope; revenge the affront, And show more pity not to spare my life, Than I, in sparing thine. _Xim._ [_To_ CEL.] Oh boundless courage, or extreme despair! _Cel._ [_To her._] I tremble for the event; see, the king reddens. The fear which seized him at Alphonso's sight, And left his face forsaken of his blood, Is vanished now; And a new tide returns upon his cheeks, And rage and vengeance sparkle in his eyes. _Vera._ [_Aside._] All things are hushed; no noise is in the streets, Nor shouts of soldiers, nor the cries of matrons, To speak a town in plunder.--Then I take A traitor's counsel once, and thou shalt die. [_To_ _Alph._ Condemned by thy own sentence, go to death; Nor shall thy seeming generosity, And feigned assurance, save thee: 'tis despair, To see thy frustrate hopes, that brought thee hither, To meet my just revenge. _Alph._ Yes, I will die, because I chuse to die; Which had I not desired, I had not come Unarmed, unguarded, and alone, to tempt Thy known ingratitude, and barbarous hate. Boast not the advantage which thou hold'st of me, But know thyself for what thou art,--no more Than the mean minister of my despair.