University of Virginia Library

ACT V.

SCENE, A Hall in the Castle.
Enter Gaspero with a Key.
GASPERO.
He's well secur'd, nor shall his vehemence
Again demand such numbers to controul it.
Hunger will soon subdue him, and his rage
Subside, when left without antagonist;
While Seraphina, prison'd in her chamber,
May pray in vain to save him—my reward
Will be substantial for this service render'd
To Fabio, and the Duke.—Who's here? A Lady!

Enter Zoriana (in disorder).
ZORIANA.
O, Sir! if ever pity touch'd your heart,
I do beseech you, tell me where my lord,
My husband, my Lorenzo may be found.
Alone I have pursu'd a frantic journey,
Nor ever rested since I left Madrid.
'T was expectation buoy'd me up to bear
The pressure of fatigue; but shou'd my search
Be fruitless, the untoward disappointment
Would surely kill me.

GASPERO.
There has been here a youth
Of fierce pretension, and repulsive valour,
Who came, it seems, a suitor to the Duchess.

ZORIANA.
'T was he—yet, yet, assure me of his safety,
For danger, and distrust, and horrid murder
Are all abroad, and each ill-omen'd breeze
Whispers prophetic woe, and swift destruction.

GASPERO.
He has obtain'd the meed of his designs.

ZORIANA.
The meed! O speak! has he then suffer'd injury?
No one, I trust, has done him violence;
He is a nobleman of high renown,
And excellent desert. Support me, heaven!
(Giving a Purse
Accept this trivial pledge of future giving;
You shall indeed be more than rich hereafter,
If you'll explain his fate, or lead me to him.

GASPERO.
Lady! I dare not.

ZORIANA.
Tell me, does he live?

GASPERO.
As yet, 'tis probable he may!

ZORIANA.
As Yet!

GASPERO.
If you will not betray me; but I fear.

ZORIANA.
Nay, do not doubt.

GASPERO.
I'll shew you to his dungeon.

ZORIANA.
His dungeon!

GASPERO.
Yes—then follow—but be sure
That you return e'er a short hour elapse,
Or you must share his fate!

ZORIANA.
I am content;
It shall be so—I ask no further kindness—
That I should meet thee thus, ador'd Lorenzo!

[Exeunt.
SCENE, A Dungeon—a lamp faintly burning—Lorenzo in chains, reclining on a block of stone.
LORENZO.
(Raising himself)
Within these walls, thus ends my sad career!
O, hapless Zoriana! could'st thou see
How horribly I expiate ingratitude,
Thy pitying lids would surely weep forgiveness.
Creator infinite! if on thy thought
(Kneeling.
An atom's supplication may intrude,
Grant consolation to her wounded spirit;
And on my Seraphina, in thy mercy,
Bestow a blest futurity of joy.
(Rising.
Ah! what is this existence? 'Tis a storm
Of varying passions, and successive troubles.
First Fear assails the child, and then he trembles,
And screams but at a frown; with youth comes Love
Torturing the helpless bosom, where fierce flames
Of rage, resentment, jealousy contend.
Disturb'd Ambition next presents itself,
To bid us grasp the moon, and waste our days
In angry sighs, and rivalry for shadows.
Till, to conclude the wretched catalogue,
Appears pale Avarice, with heart of stone,
Straining delusive counters to his breast,
E'en in the hour of death. Surely to escape
From this oppressive being, must be peace!
Begone, then, fancy, reason, memory,
Since ye are but the ministers of evil,
Melt into air, I'll be your slave no longer!
My brain begins to burn—my heart is bursting;
They've torn away my soul, my Seraphina,
And now distorted phantoms of despair,
Array'd in darkness, and convuls'd with fury,
Deride my pangs, and drag me to the earth.

(Falls.
Enter Zoriana.
ZORIANA.
Wherefore this dread obscurity, this cavern
Fit for a felon's punishment? They dare not
Degrade him to this worst indignity,
'T would be an insult to the name of Spaniard
That must excite commotion were it known!
(Sees Lorenzo on the ground.
O! is my sight diseas'd; cling not so closely
To my conviction, unrelenting furies!
Drain not my heart of its last drop of hope,
Nor blast me with this spectacle of horror.
He's dead, he's dead, yet hear me, my Lorenzo!
Leave not the hallow'd confines of the skies,
Where yet thy spirit lingers, till I join thee.
This cordial draught, meant for my latest refuge,
Shall be the immediate med'cine of my woe.
(Zoriana takes a Phial of Poison and drinks it.
Nor will commiserating heaven refuse
It's pardon to the victim of despair.

LORENZO.
(Rising)
What soothing notes of melting sympathy
Reclaim me from the shades? O welcome, welcome,
Lovliest of women, noblest of thy sex!

ZORIANA.
Unutterable rapture!

LORENZO.
Fair perfection!
Methought they forc'd thee from me, and decreed
That we should meet no more.

ZORIANA.
Ah when?

LORENZO.
How hast thou
Eluded all their vigilance?

ZORIANA.
He raves!

LORENZO.
Thy ev'ry gesture shews divinity;
Amidst thy tresses countless cupids play;
Thy look is transport, and thy voice is heav'n!
Let these fond arms encircle thee!

ZORIANA.
I come!

LORENZO.
My life! my Seraphina!
(Zoriana running towards Lorenzo, stops on hearing the name of Seraphina.)
Why shrinks my fair, why turns from my embrace?

ZORIANA.
'Tis not for me to press thee to my breast,
To weep upon thy neck, and charm thy grief;
There is no pow'rful magic in my eye,
To fascinate thy soul—my fatal touch
Would chill thy nature—I'll no more approach thee.

LORENZO.
O, why this mystery of cold reproof?
My reason is disturb'd, 'tis all illusion!

Enter Fabio.
FABIO.
The wretch who may be lured by hopes of gain
To execute the intentions of another,
May, for a weighter profit, turn deceiver!
I will not trust this Gaspero, and methinks
The entrance was not guarded, or secured,
Nor is there time to pause, or hesitate;
Yonder he stands in meditation fix'd,
His hour is come, my rage shall make him sure.

(Fabio slowly advances to stab Lorenzo—Zoriana perceives his approach.
ZORIANA.
'Tis some assassin! who would operate
Against Lorenzo's life—strengthen my arm,
Almighty justice! Aid me to protect him.

Fabio
(in the act to kill Lorenzo.)
Die!
(Before Fabio can strike Lorenzo, Zoriana stabs Fabio—he falls.
Thou art doom'd to fall—'tis done—'tis done,
And I have sav'd his valued life; to you!
Applauding saints! I dedicate the blow,
Which kill'd a murd'rer, and preserv'd my husband.

LORENZO.
O Zoriana!

FABIO
(to Zoriana.)
Thou hast triumph'd! yet in death
I am consol'd to think thou must be wretched;
No fond return of passion e'er shall bless thee;
Lorenzo scorns thee! Curses on you both;
Disasters wither you! Ah Seraphina!
Yet will I not repent—fiends ne'er shall mock me
For trembling pray'rs preferr'd, or abject wav'rings—
O torture! O remorse! Yet, yet, have mercy!

(Dies.
ZORIANA.
Such, Fabio, is the meed of impious daring!
May there be pity for thy soul and mine!
Alas, my nerves relax, my spirit trembles—

(Leans against the side Scene.
Enter Guzman, wounded, supported by Garcias and Gaspero—Lights, &c.
GUZMAN.
My Lord Lorenzo! pray ye, loose his chains.

(Lorenzo is unbound.
LORENZO.
Guzman, thou bleed'st apace, what treach'rous hand—?

GUZMAN.
Scarce had I pass'd the covert in the vale,
But deeming my attendants were too slow,
I turn'd to hail them; when, upon the instant,
Some fell assassins, hired to murder thee,
Rush'd forth, and fix'd their poignards in my heart.
This gallant youth, whom chance had brought to the spot,
(Shewing Garcias.)
Gave brave assistance—Ah! I faint!

GARCIAS.
The villain that I slew, proclaim'd in dying
Don Fabio his employer—and his purpose
To assassinate Lorenzo.

GASPERO.
'Twas, indeed!

GUZMAN.
O thy decrees are just, Omniscient Heav'n!

LORENZO.
Would I had met the meditated blow
Ere suffer'd this redundant agony!

GUZMAN.
I trust compassion will subdue thy anger!
Deceiv'd by Fabio, I espous'd his daughter,
Not knowing thy pretensions! Lead me to her;
For I would bless her with my parting breath!

(Garcias and Gaspero lead out Guzman.
LORENZO.
Peace! holy peace be thine, expiring Alba!

(Zoriana, weakened by the efforts of the poison, advances to Lorenzo.)
ZORIANA.
It only now remains, my Lord, that I
Should supplicate forgiveness.

LORENZO.
Do not wound me
By such reproachful sorrow.

ZORIANA.
I misled thee,
Call'd Seraphina false, altho' I knew
Her mind unsullied as descending snow,
Her truth more steady than the mountain's base.
From her, too, I conceal'd thy slav'ry.
Yes, I have caus'd thee ev'ry bitter woe!
Have sunk thee to despair, and lost myself.

LORENZO.
O fatal hearing!

ZORIANA.
Yet love was all my crime!

LORENZO.
Alas! its mandates may not be resisted!

ZORIANA.
Since thou can feel its force, pity its weakness!
And think not half so dear was Seraphina
To thy regard, as thou hast been to me.
She well deserves that heart I now resign her!
May happier days attend thee! and my fate
Scatter no ling'ring anguish o'er thy thought,
For O! I pay the price of such deceit.
A subtle poison working in my bosom,
Brings swift oblivion.

(Zoriana sinks to the ground.
LORENZO.
Horror! Zoriana!
My cruelty has kill'd her! hither haste,
Ye vengeful ministers of eternal pain!
And seize your rightful, miserable victim;
Ingratitude, cold perjury, and murder,
These are my light offences, and I claim
The homage of the damn'd, and proud perdition.
Tho' I have wrong'd thee thus, yet do not leave me,
(Tenderly to Zoriana.
My wife, my benefactress.

(Leans over her.
Enter Seraphina.
SERAPHINA.
Guzman is dead!
I saw his life-blood issuing from the wound,
As his dim eyes were fix'd in sadness on me.
I will embalm him with the tears of pity!
What's here? My father slain! Distraction! Murder!
'Tis desolation all, and mingled carnage.
Dear author of my being—laid so low—
Thy former harshness now seems due controul,
While filial sorrow sanctifies thy corse.

ZORIANA.
O Seraphina! I beseech thee, hear me!
Let not resentment for thy parent's death
Deny a consolation to my shade.
I leave thee now to him I truly lov'd.
Unite your fervent, holiest supplications
To the Supreme Disposer of Events;
And, banishing my crimes from your remembrance.
Plead for a wretched suicide.

SERAPHINA.
Tho' by that hand my hapless father fell,
Yet my reluctant reason certifies
That there was justice in the deed; then live,
And not one sigh of mine shall e'er disturb thee.
Far from the world retir'd, my penitence
Shall be devoted to his soul's repose.

ZORIANA.
Let me breathe forth my spirit in thy arms,
My own Lorenzo!

LORENZO.
Save her, Powers of Mercy!

ZORIANA.
Let thy lips bestow
A sacred earnest of approaching heaven:
In life, my heart was thine, 'tis thine in death.

(Dies.
SERAPHINA.
(To Zoriana.)
Alas, thy love deserv'd a different fate!
How vain are the presumptuous schemes of man!
How fleetingly delusive ev'ry prospect
Of life's uncertain journey! There alone
In yonder sapphire region, may be found
Content, and pure prosperity of virtue!

LORENZO.