Enter HELI. Leon. Alas! she stirs not yet, nor lifts her eyes; He, too, is fainting-Help me, help me, stranger, Whoe'er thou art, and lend thy hand to raise These bodies. Hel. Ha! 'tis he! and with- -Almeria! Oh, miracle of happiness! Oh, joy Unhoped for! Does Almeria live? Osm. Where is she! Let me behold, and touch her, and be sure 'Tis she; shew me her face, and let me feel Her lips with mine-'Tis she, I am not deceived; I taste her breath, I warm her and am warmed. Is this a father? Osm. Look on thy Alphonso. Thy father is not here, my love, nor Garcia :. Nor am I what I seem, but thy Alphonso. Wilt thou not know me? Hast thou then forgot me? Hast thou thy eyes, yet canst not see Alphonso? Oh, how hast thou returned? How hast thou charmed The wildness of the waves and rocks to this; Osm. Oh, I'll not ask, nor answer, how or why Alm. Stay a while Let me look on thee yet a little more. Osm. What wouldst thou? thou dost put me from thee. Alm. Yes. Osm. And why? What dost thou mean? Why dost thou gaze so? Alm. I know not; 'tis to see thy face, I think-It is too much! too much to bear and live! To see thee thus again in such profusion Of joy, of bliss-I cannot bear-I must Be mad I cannot be transported thus. Osm. Thou excellence, thou joy, thou heaven of love! Alm. Where hast thou been? and how art thou alive? How is all this? All-powerful Heaven, what are we? Oh, my strained heart-let me again behold thee, For I weep to see thee-Art thou not paler? Much, much; how thou art changed! Osm. Not in my love. Alm. No, no! thy griefs, I know, have done this to thee. Thou hast wept much, Alphonso; and, I fear, Osm. Wrong not my love, to say too tenderly. No more, my life; talk not of tears or grief; Affliction is no more, now thou art found. Why dost thou weep, and hold thee from my arms, Alm. Indeed I would-Nay, I would tell thee all, Could only, by restoring thee, have cured. Osm. Grant me but life, good Heaven, but length of days, To pay some part, some little of this debt, Snatch me from life, and cut me short unwarned: Then, then, 'twill be enough-I shall be old, Of yet unmeasured time; when I have made thou. Alm. True; but how cam'st thou there? Wert thou alone? Osm. I was, and lying on my father's lead, In murmurs round my head. I rose and listened, Alm. But still, how cam'st thou thither? How thus- -Ha! What's he, who, like thyself, is started here Osm. Where? Ha! What do I see, Antonio! I am fortunate indeed-my friend, too, safe! Heli. Most happily, in finding you thus blessed. Alm. More miracles! Antonio escaped! -Osm. And twice escaped; both from the rage of seas And war: for in the fight I saw him fall. Heli. But fell unhurt, a prisoner as yourself, And as yourself made free; hither I came, Impatiently to seek you, where I knew Your grief would lead you to lament Anselmo. Osm. There are no wonders; or else all is wonder. Heli. I saw you on the ground, and raised you up, When with astonishment I saw Almeria. Osm. I saw her too, and therefore saw not thee. Alm. Nor I; nor could I, for my eyes were yours. Osm. What means the bounty of all-gracious Heaven, That persevering still, with open hand, It scatters good, as in a waste of mercy! In all, and can continue to bestow, Leon. Or I am deceived, or I beheld the glimpse Of two in shining habits cross the aisle ; Who, by their pointing, seem to mark this place. Alm. Sure I have dreamt, if we must part so soon.. Osm. I wish at least our parting were a dream, Or we could sleep till we again were met. |