University of Virginia Library

ACT I.

SCENE, the Court of a Prison.
Enter Carlos, fetter'd; a Letter in his Hand.
Carl.

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,
And, vanquish'd by the Mother's Charms,
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.

Carl.
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.

SCENE III.

Carlos alone.
Carl.
Am I on Earth? Or, like to raptur'd Bards,
Mount I the Heav'ns, and tread on Stars?
Come, sable Night; thou blissful Time,
Which Lovers never think too long,
Wrap me in thy inchanting Shades:
I sicken at the Sun.—
Exit Carlos.

SCENE IV.

A Garden. Zorayda and Selima come forward, as from an Arbour.
Zor.
My Breast is like a troubled Sea,
Toss'd by unruly Winds.
Fears—Wishes—Doubts—and flatt'ring Hopes,
With momentary, varying Rage,
Like Wave on Wave, succeed by Turns,
And dash each other out.

Sel.
Your wonted Constancy resume.
Oft the conflicting Soul,
Flutter'd with wild Suspense,
(Like tender Bird in Air too rude;)
Forms to itself imaginary Tumults.

Zoray.
O Selima! Indulgent Maid!
Reason, and conscious Honour
Tell me, I've been too rash.
How may the censuring World impeach my Name,
And envious Obloquy
Stain and misconstrue what I've done!
Ev'n Carlos too, perhaps,
Shall with ungen'rous Thought arraign
The Fondness of my Heart;
Wounding my Love with sland'rous Imputation.

SCENE V.

Zorayda, Selima, Pizarro.
Piz.
Hail, virtuous Maids! How well your Beauties
Supply the waining Day?
The busie Heav'n
Is lighting up its choicest Lamps
To guide the happy Carlos to his Bliss.

Zoray.
Does he with willing Soul embrace my Summons?

Piz.
Not with more Pride the lawrell'd Chief
Mounts his triumphal Carr:
Not with more Ecstacy of Love
Greet I my darling Selima.

Zoray.
How like a wanton Prodigal
I've set my Fortunes all at Stake!
Should he prove false—

Piz.
Distrust not so your Charms:
Those beauteous Eyes must bind his Soul
In adamantine Chains.

Sel.
Ha! my deluded Heart!
Softness and Passion
Steal thro' his Looks, and tremble on his Tongue.

Enter Page.
Page.
Madam, my Lord Abdalla
With most impatient Haste
Demands your Presence.

Zoray.
Say, I attend his Will.
Exit Page.
My Bosom's full of many Cares.
Let me, before you seek Repose,
Partake your friendly Counsels.
(To Selima.
Pizarro,
My Fate depends upon your Faith.
Exit Zorayda.

SCENE VI.

Pizarro, Selima.
Piz.
My Selima!

Sel.
Her Fate depends upon your Faith.—

Piz.
What means my Fair?

Sel.
Distrust not so your Charms:
Those beauteous Eyes must bind his Soul
In adamantine Chains.—
Perfidious Wretch!

Piz.
From what a Spirit comes This?

Sel.
Take back your fickle Vows,
Breath'd to the list'ning Heav'ns in vain;
I scorn to share in a divided Heart.
Your Sex is all Delusion.—

Piz.
Ah, cruel and injurious Maid!
With your keen Ponyard pierce my Breast;
But do not wound my Faith.

Sel.
Your Faith is tainted by Zorayda's Eyes.

Piz.
Harbour not such a Thought.
If I am false, the vengeful Pow'rs,
That witness to a Lover's Truth,
Strike me with Misery! Swift Lightnings blast me!
Or, what I most should dread, let Death
Come wing'd from Selima's resenting Frown!

Sel.
Enough; I'm satisfied:—
What most we value, most we fear to lose.

Piz.
O Sounds to chear a lovesick Heart!
Sweet as the Musick of the Spheres
Sung to by Angels Notes!
The Transports of my Joy
O'erpow'r all Sense.—My kindest Fair,
O let me lead thee to that blissful Bow'r
Where first I breath'd my Love;
There I'll recount a thousand Vows
Of firmest Constancy:
Whilst Zephyrs with officious Zeal
Waft 'em, like Incense, to the purple Heavens.

Sel.
Too frail are Women's Hearts.
Take heed, how with a Syren's Song
You cheat my credulous Soul.

Exeunt.

SCENE VII.

Changes to Carlos's Cell.
Carlos alone.
Carl.
How am I tortur'd on the Rack
Of fierce Impatience!—Mortal Joys
Are ever dash'd with these Abatements,
To teach us what we are.—
My Eyes are Traytors, or a Gleam of Light
Breaks on my gloomy Cell;
Fair as the Beam that dawn'd on Chaos first,
And gladden'd springing Nature's Face;
Sweet as the Bliss-inviting Taper,
That flam'd from Hero's Wave-beat Tow'r,
To guide Leander to the Virgin's Arms.
Auspicious Love,
Befriend thy faithful Votary!

Enters the Vault.

SCENE VIII.

Prospect of a Grotto in Abdalla's Garden.
Enter Zorayda, veil'd.
Zoray.
He cannot miss the Way.
Thro' the long Vault a Train of Lamps
Shoot their directing Fires.—
A Lover's secret Steps should be
Fleet as the Air, and softer than the Down
Of Cytherea's Doves.—He comes;
Be still, my lab'ring Heart!

SCENE IX.

Carlos from the Grotto, and Zorayda.
Carl.
Cynthia, who deign'd on Latmos' Brow
To greet Endymion, lowly Swain,
Came not in Cloud:
But, liberal, to the happy Boy
Display'd the Treasure of her Charms.

Zoray.
I would have skreen'd the mantling Blood,
That flushes to my Cheek:—
But, see, you are obey'd.

[Unveiling.
Carl.
O Beauties, orient as the Morn,
When with her earliest rosy Beams
She paints the crimson Skyes!

Zoray.
Stranger, our Conf'rence must be short.
What wou'd I say?—If that your Eye
Be not inthrall'd, and your ty'd Heart
Owns not some happier Virgin's Sway,
The rest let Blushes speak.

Carl.
Witness ye Heav'ns, and kindly Stars,
That govern human Fates,
Whilst, with transported Tongue, I vow
This Heart was free as Air,
Till fetter'd by those Eyes.

Zoray.

Carl.
What have the mystick Fates in Store,
To make me yet more bless'd?

Zoray.
Leave that to Time.
Approve your Faith and constant Heart,
Ourselves will guide our Fates.
Take this, and with a serious Soul
Weigh its Contents.

(Giving him a Paper.
Carl.
Oh, let me on my Knees receive
The Harbinger of Joy:
And on that snowy Hand impress
My Vows of purest Faith.

Zoray.
I grow too lavish of my Fame,
And play with Danger.—
If I appear not cheap in your Esteem,
Faithful Pizarro will assist
To lead us thro' the Maze of winding Fortune.
I stay too long.

DUETTO.
Carl.
'Tis Night indeed now you depart,

[Carl.], Zoray.
I feel the/Let not a/ Gloom o'erspread my/your Heart.

Carl. Zoray.
When/Soon/ shall gay Comfort ease/my/your Heart.

Both.
And Hours of Bliss return again.


'Tis Night, &c.

They go out separately: Carlos to the Grotto; and Zorayda as to Abdalla's House.