ar._ No hopes. Alvarez has a heart of steel.
'Tis fix'd--'tis past--'tis absolute despair!

_Zan._ You wanted not to have your heart made tender,
By your own pains, to feel a friend's distress.

_Car._ I understand you well. Alonzo loves;
I pity him.

_Zan._ I dare be sworn you do.
Yet he has other thoughts.

_Car._ What canst thou mean?

_Zan._ Indeed he has; and fears to ask a favour
A stranger from a stranger might request;
What costs you nothing, yet is all to him:
Nay, what indeed will to your glory add,
For nothing more than wishing your friend well.

_Car._ I pray be plain; his happiness is mine.

_Zan._ He loves to death; but so reveres his friend,
He can't persuade his heart to wed the maid
Without your leave, and that he fears to ask.
In perfect tenderness I urg'd him to it.
Knowing the deadly sickness of his heart,
Your overflowing goodness to your friend,
Your wisdom, and despair yourself to wed her,
I wrung a promise from him he would try:
And now I come, a mutual friend to both,
Without his privacy, to let you know it,
And to prepare you kindly to receive him.

_Car._ Ha! if he weds, I am undone indeed;
Not don Alvarez' self can then relieve me.

_Zan._ Alas, my lord, you know his heart is steel:
"'Tis fixed, 'tis past, 'tis absolute despair."

_Car._ Oh, cruel heav'n! and is it not enough
That I must never, never see her more?
Say, is it not enough that I must die;
But I must be tormented in the grave?--
Ask my consent!--Must I then give her to him?
Lead to his nuptial sheets the blushing maid?
Oh!--Leonora! never, never, never!

_Zan._ A storm of plagues upon him! he refuses. [_aside._

_Car._ What, wed her--and to-day?

_Zan._ To-day, or never.
To-morrow may some wealthier lover bring,
And then Alonzo is thrown out like you:
Then whom shall he condemn for his misfortune?
Carlos is an Alvarez to his love.

_Car._ Oh, torment! whither shall I turn?

_Zan._ To peace.

_Car._ Which is the way?

_Zan._ His happiness is yours----
I dare not disbelieve you.

_Car._ Kill my friend!
Or worse--Alas! and can there be a worse?
A worse there is: nor can my nature bear it.

_Zan._ You have convinc'd me 'tis a dreadful task.
I find Alonzo's quitting her this morning
For Carlos' sake, in tenderness to you,
Betray'd me to believe it less severe
Than I perceive it is.

_Car._ Thou dost upbraid me.

_Zan._ No, my good lord; but since you can't comply,
'Tis my misfortune that