University of Virginia Library

ACT II.

SCENE, An Apartment in Abdalla's House.
Enter Pizarro and Selima.
Piz.
That tender Love, and soft Desires,
Fierce Jealousy, ungentle Scorn,
(Discordant Twins) should be the Guests
Of one fair Bosom!—
Never such Tumult shake again
The Region of thy Breast!

Sel.
You may forgive that Tempest,
Which rises from the Coast of Love.—
How fares it with your Friend?

Piz.
As with a Man, whom Fortune courts
With all her gayest Smiles.—
His Ransom paid, by Spanish Friends,
For so Abdalla deems—Gen'rous Zorayda!
He waits but my Approach
To lead him forth to Liberty and Love.

Sel.
Fly with the Wings of swiftest Friendship
To execute that pleasing Task.
I should accuse my savage Heart
Of stern Injustice, should he languish,
Thro' me, one Moment in his Bonds.

Piz.
Are all your ruffled Thoughts at Peace?

Sel.
They are—they are—Oh, stay not to reply.

Hastening him out, exit Pizarro.

SCENE II.

Selima alone.
Sel.
The Fates are busy in our Aid;
Heav'ns prosper the Event!—
Hope lifts me up above myself:
And, to distrust, were Cowardice of Mind,
That merits not Success.

SCENE III.

Selima, and Zorayda, to her, weeping.
Sel.
Ha! whence these Tears?

Zoray.
Oh, pity my lost State.

Sel.
What unforeseen Event?

Zoray.
Morat—Morat—Detested Moor!
Demands me for his Wife—Abdalla,
Mov'd by his Wealth, his Rank, his Pow'r,
Consents, enjoins that instant I obey.

Sel.
What do you then determine?

Zoray.
Never to yield to that Embrace.

Sel.
Carlos no longer's now a Slave.

Zoray.
There Comfort dawns upon my Soul;
And combats with my Fears.

Sel.
Dry up your Tears; Art must repel
This sudden Stroke of wayward Fate.
Seem to accept the Match propos'd—

Zoray.
How shall I teach my Heart that Baseness!

Sel.
In Love, Deceit's a venial Crime:
Force justifies defensive Wiles.—
Abdalla this Way bends his Steps;
Leave me to sooth his credulous Ear
With a delusive Tale,
How you, in secret Transport, prize
Th'intended Honour of Morat's Embrace.

Zoray.
How will That aid?

Sel.
Anon, when, high in Mirth and Wine,
His solemn Festival he celebrates,
Occasion shall befriend our Counsels,
To form some Scheme of safe Redress.
Retire at once:—
I would not have the subtle Moor
See us together—Cherish Hope;
We'll teach our Fates to smile.

Exeunt separately.

SCENE IV.

Changes to Carlos's Cell.
Carlos alone.
Carl.
The Halcyon, sure, has built her Nest
Within my peaceful Bosom:
No—'tis Zorayda, (charming Maid!)
Has fix'd her chosen Mansion here:
And, where she dwells,
It must be calm, and Sunshine, all around.

Enter a Mute, who takes off Carlos's Fetters.
Carl.
Ha! Say, what means this dreaded Courtesy?—
But thou art mute, and ha'st no Tongue
T'expound, or answer to my Fears.
Exit Mute.
Serenity, thou short-liv'd Guest,
Where art thou fled? Now, in thy room,
Croud in a thousand boist'rous Cares,
Heart-sick Distrust, and agonizing Pains.—
What have I done, so soon to forfeit
My Paradise of Bliss!

SCENE V.

Carlos, Pizarro to him, who runs and embraces him.
Piz.
Welcome to Liberty, my Friend!

Carl.
Alas! How can that State be welcome,
Which may for ever shut me out
From dear Zorayda's Sight?

Piz.
Not so the tender Virgin hop'd,
When she contriv'd for your Release.
O Golden Ransom ill-employ'd,
Were that to be th'Event!

Carl.
Do I then to the Charmer's Goodness
Owe my Enfranchisement?

Piz.
To her alone—You now exchange
The servile Fetters of Constraint
For her soft, pleasureable, Chains;
Link'd in the Arms of Love.

Carl.
This swift Vicissitude of Fate
Chides my desponding Soul; and tells me,
Man ought not to despair.

Piz.
The Heav'ns are watchful for our Good,
When least they promise Aid;
Shifting th'uncertain Scene.

Carl.
Comfort, how sweet from Friendship's Tongue!
What now remains my Bliss to crown?

Piz.
My Roof for your Reception waits.
There, Change of Habit is assign'd,
Suiting your Change of State.
You must the Moorish Garb assume,
So shall you pass Abdalla's Slaves
Unquestion'd, unsuspected;
And, in your lov'd Zorayda's Eyes,
Pour forth in Thanks your grateful Soul.

Carl.
My best Deliv'rer!—Time, I trust,
Shall aid me to requite your Love.
Like guiding Hermes, lead me strait
To second Life.—My bounding Heart
Beats with unwonted Joy.

Exeunt.

SCENE VI.

SCENE, Abdalla's Garden.
(Musick with Trumpets and Tambours heard within.)
Zorayda, Selima.
Sel.
These sprightly Sounds proclaim
Their Revels at the Height. The licens'd Bowl,
At this their solemn Festival,
Goes round, ev'n till the crimson Juice
Glows thro' their swarthy Cheeks.—
Wherefore so pensive?
Greet not your Fortunes with a Brow of Care.

Zoray.
Have I not Cause with inward Thought
To ruminate th'approaching Change?
I dread th'Event, which most I seek.—
How will Abdalla,
In bitt'rest Agonies of Soul,
With Imprecations load my Name!
Call me a base, perfidious Robber!
And wooe th'avenging Pow'rs with Pray'r
To dart Revenge on my devoted Head!

Sel.
Tear not your Breast with fruitless Fears,
You but resume your own.
Did he not with rapacious Hands
Seize on your Mother's Wealth, and yours?
Did he not once with brutal Force
Attempt,—But the protecting Heav'ns
Rescued you from that Shame.

Zoray.
Yet has he since with tend'rest Love
Cherish'd my Youth.

Sel.
Yet would he now, with all that Love,
Commit a Force upon your Heart.—
Flight is the only Safety left:
Unless you've taught your abject Soul
To stoop to curst Morat's Embrace.

Zoray.
There you awake
A sleeping Terror in my Breast:
Come, Carlos, come with Arms of Love;
And snatch me from that dreaded Danger.

Sel.
See, with important Haste, and chearful Air,
Your Page advances tow'rds us.

SCENE VII.

Enter Page.
Page.
Pizarro makes Approach;
With him a comely Stranger Youth,
In Garb a seeming Moor,
But of Complexion fair.

Zoray.
'Tis well; their Coming is expected.—
Can'st thou be faithful, Boy?
And could'st thou be content, should Fate
Invite thy Mistress to some distant Shore,
Her wand'ring Steps t'attend?

Page.
With Marks of such indulgent Favour
You've still o'erpaid my worthless Duty,
Tho' Danger frown'd in rudest Shape,
I, to the utmost Bounds of Earth and Sea,
Would sue to be your Slave.

Zoray.
O Virtue far above thy Years!
I'll study well to prize thy Worth.
They come—Retire: Occasion soon
Shall put to Proof thy valued Trust.

Exit Page.

SCENE VIII.

Carlos, Pizarro, Zorayda, and Selima.
Carl.
Joy of my Eyes, and Transport of my Soul!
'Tis not in Words, tho' sweetest Eloquence
Flow'd from my Tongue, to breath those Thanks,
Which are too big for Thought.
My Length of Days to come shall be
In pleasing Recompence employ'd.

Zoray.
Enough; enough:
Think, I have play'd the Miser's Part;
Who, seeing a Mansion please his Eye,
Buyes it for his Delight.

Piz.
We will with distant Watchfulness provide,
Lest any sudden, rude, Surprize
Break on your springing Loves.

Exit Pizarro, leading Selima.

SCENE IX.

Carlos, Zorayda.
Carl.
May I on this fair Field of Snow,
Soft as the Cignet's Down,
And balmy as th'Arabian Breeze,
Repeat my Vows of lasting Faith,
And call the dear-lov'd Treasure mine?

Zoray.
Are you content to make it so?
And, at the Shrine, with solemn Rites,
Such as your Country's Laws prescribe,
To plight your constant Faith?

Carl.
Not Sickness wishes more for Health,
Thirst for the cooling Stream,
Than I for that transporting Hour.

Zoray.
Then, I am yours.—

Carl.
All is Elysium round me;
The Lover's Wish, and Poet's Dream;
Rich golden Bow'rs, and Beds of Roses,
Sabean Groves, and ev'ry Sweet
Fond Nature pours to charm the Sense.

SCENE X.

Pizarro, with Selima, hastily; Carlos, Zorayda.
Piz.
Their Feast is o'er.

Sel.
The Train disperse.

Zoray.
Then must we part.

Carl.
O killing Grief!

Sel.
Morat has sought you.

(To Zorayda.
Carl.
Curse on that Name!

Zoray.
Harbour no Fears—

Piz.
You must give o'er.

Zoray.
We soon shall meet—

Carl.
To part no more.

Omnes.
We soon shall meet to part no more.

Carlos and Bizarro go off one Way; Zorayda and Selima, as to the House.