 | The Happy Captive |  |
SCENE II.
Carlos and Pizarro.Carl.
What Tidings from the golden Shore,
The Land of Paradise?
Piz.
What but encreasing Joys?
The fair Zorayda
Salutes you with this Gemm,
(Delivering him a Jewel.
The secret Pledge of constant Faith.
Carl.
O lovely, gen'rous Maid!
Thou Miracle of Bounty!
Steal to my Breast, dear secret Pledge;
Bright Emblem of Zorayda's Eyes,
And Treasure of my Heart!
Piz.
She sighs to think upon those Bonds:
But—Freedom lives in Hope.
Carl.
My Chains are Bracelets, whilst I live her Slave.
Piz.
She was, like you, a Captive once;
Like you, Spain claims her Birth.
In earliest Infancy
She with her Mother (then the Boast
Of Saragossa's Plains;)
By Corsairs was surpriz'd, and hither brought.
The Moor Abdalla,
Your rigorous Master now,
Redeem'd them from the Pirates' Hands:
Beneath his Roof receiv'd his purchas'd Prize,
3
Soften'd their Doom of Bondage;
But soon the mourning Matron dy'd.—
Carl.
Alas! There poor Zorayda's Breast
First heav'd with Sorrow's Pangs.
Piz.
The tender Maid, with thousand soft Attractions
Won on her Moorish Master's Heart.
Careful, he rear'd her blooming Youth;
To Turkish Doctrines sway'd her yielding Mind;
And stiles the beauteous Proselyte his Child.
Carl.
Pernicious Zeal!—
Piz.
By Custom and Constraint
Her Service, not her Heart, consents.
Her Mother's Shade, a Call from Heav'n,
(For so the pious Virgin deems;)
Invite her longing Thoughts
To seek her native Clime, and native Faith.
But, for the Means—
Carl.
For that alone I would be free!
Where learn'd my Friend
This Story of her Fortunes?
Piz.
From Selima;
The fair, inchanting Selima:
The Partner of her inmost Thoughts.
Carl.
Thanks to the virtuous Maid!
Piz.
Forgive a Lover's Fondness:
Rapture and Joy are in her Name.
Gentle Love, thou Source of Pleasure,
Transports yielding without Measure,
Only bless'd, when we obtain thee,
Only savage Hearts disdain thee:
Sweet thy Tumults, soft thy Anguish,
Inly soothing past expressing:
Comforts blending as we languish,
Ev'ry Pang becomes a Blessing.
Transports yielding without Measure,
Only bless'd, when we obtain thee,
Only savage Hearts disdain thee:
Sweet thy Tumults, soft thy Anguish,
Inly soothing past expressing:
Comforts blending as we languish,
Ev'ry Pang becomes a Blessing.
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My sympathizing Heart
Bounds with the same Delight.
Zorayda sits inthron'd within my Breast,
And fills each vital Part with Joy.
Piz.
Retire, and know what Bliss attends thee.—
Soon as Suspicion's Ear is stop'd,
And Night and friendly Silence reign,
A subterranean Vault,
That opens to your Cell,
And to the Moor Abdalla's Garden leads,
Shall guide you to your lov'd Zorayda's Presence.—
She trusts you far: Let safe Discretion
Set Limit to your Transports.—
I must return: Close to your Cell,
And wait th'expected Hour.
Carl.
Now, Blessings on thy Soul!
(Embracing, and exit Pizarro.
| The Happy Captive | |