Elvira A Tragedy |
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| 1. | SCENE I. |
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 | Elvira |  |
SCENE I.
ALONZO, the QUEEN.ALONZO.
Yes, let her come. The justice of a King,
That law supreme which ever ought to guide
His public will, requires she should be heard.
Her virtues too, and the fair services
To former monarchs and to me perform'd
By her forefathers, make it juster still.
QUEEN.
What would you more? Is not her guilt confess'd
In that unworthy passion she inspires?
Nor is the pride of her ambition bounded
Barely to suffer it: I know, my Lord,
That drawing glory from her conquest won,
She spares no grace, no favor, to maintain it.
ALONZO.
Such oft is woman seen: to Vanity,
To that mere idol—yet their greater god;
For Love himself holds but the second place—
Devoting even that honor they oppose
To Nature's law!
QUEEN.
And will you leave her then
To boast this triumph o'er a monarch's oath?
Leave her at large to stretch her boundless sway,
Up from your meanest subject to the throne;
Where she will reign imperious in a heart
By love enslav'd: perpaps decide the fate,
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Who is to heir your throne!
ALONZO.
I hear, and weigh
What you so justly urge: and my first thought
Was, with her death, to have atton'd her crime.
But no: that were on the wild sea of passion
To drive at random, as th'unguided bark
Is borne before the blast—She shall be heard—
Yourself shall hear her; sound her secret aims,
And search thro all the woman in her soul.
You know my thoughts, and what I purpose for her:
Set those in open light before her eyes,
With firmness—but with temper.
| Elvira | |