Volume Ii Part 13 (1/2)

--_Alonzo_, was it thou?--her Brother!

_Alon_. When she was good, I own'd that t.i.tle, Sir.

_King_. Good!--by all the G.o.ds, she was as chaste as Vestals, As Saints translated to Divine Abodes.

I offer'd her to be my Queen, _Alonzo_, To share the growing Glories of my Youth; But uncorrupted she my Crown contemn'd, And on her Virtue's Guard stood thus defended.

[Alon. _weeps_.

--Oh my _Florella_! let me here lie fix'd, [_Kneels_.

And never rise, till I am cold and pale As thou, fair Saint, art now--But sure She cou'd not die;--that n.o.ble generous Heart, That arm'd with Love and Honour, did rebate All the fierce Sieges of my amorous Flame, Might sure defend it self against those Wounds Given by a Woman's Hand,--or rather 'twas a Devil's.

[_Rises_.

--What dost thou merit for this Treachery?

Thou vilest of thy s.e.x-- But thou'rt a thing I have miscall'd a Mother, And therefore will not touch thee--live to suffer By a more shameful way;--but here she lies, Whom I, though dead, must still adore as living.

_Alon_. Sir, pray retire, there's danger in your stay; When I reflect upon this Night's Disorder, And the Queen's Art to raise my Jealousy; And after that my Sister's being murder'd, I must believe there is some deeper Plot, Something design'd against your sacred Person.

_King. Alonzo_, raise the Court, I'll find it, [_Ex_. Alonzo.

Tho 'twere hid within my Mother's Soul.

_Qu_. My gentle Son, pardon my kind mistake, I did believe her arm'd against thy Life.

_King_. Peace, Fury! Not ill boding Raven Shrieks, Nor midnight Cries of murder'd Ghosts, are more Ungrateful, than thy faint and dull Excuses.

--Be gone! and trouble not the silent Griefs, Which will insensibly decay my Life, Till like a Marble Statue I am fixt, Dropping continual Tears upon her Tomb.

[_Kneels and--weeps at_ Florella's _Feet_.

_Abd. [Within]_. Guard all the Chamber-Doors--Fire and Confusion Consume the _Spanish_ Dogs--was I for this Sent to fetch back a _Philip_, and a Cardinal, To have my Wife abus'd?

_Enter_ Abdelazer.

_Qu_. Patience, dear _Abdelazer_.

_Abd_. Patience and I am Foes: where's my _Florella_?

The King! and in _Florella's_ Bed-Chamber!

_Florella_ dead too!-- Rise, thou eternal Author of my Shame; Gay thing--to you I speak, [King _rises_.

And thus throw off Allegiance.

_Qu_. Oh, stay your Fury, generous _Abdelazer_.

_Abd_. Away, fond Woman.

[_Throws her from him_.

_King_. Villain, to me this Language?

_Abd_. To thee, young amorous King.

How at this dead and silent time of Night, Durst you approach the Lodgings of my Wife?

_King_. I scorn to answer thee.

_Abd_. I'll search it in thy Heart then.

[_They fight_, Queen _and_ Elv. _run out crying Treason_.