my misfortunes, on what grounds can I be bold enough to utter any
complaint against you? My love has rendered itself a thousand times
odious, and has done nothing but outrage your glorious charms; when by a
just and noble sacrifice, I was endeavouring to render some service to
your family, fortune abandoned me, and made me taste the bitter grief of
being forestalled by a rival. After this, Madam, I have nothing more to
say. I deserve the blow which I expect; and I see it coming, without
daring to call upon your heart to assist me. What remains for me in this
extreme misfortune is to seek a remedy in myself, and, by a death which
I long for, free my heart from all those tribulations. Yes, Don Alphonso
will soon be here; already my rival has made his appearance; he seems to
have hurried hither from Leon, to receive his reward for having killed
the tyrant. Do not fear that I shall use my power within these walls to
offer him any resistance. If you allowed it, there is no being on earth
which I would not defy in order to keep you; but it is not for me, whom
you detest, to expect such an honourable permission. No vain attempts of
mine shall offer the smallest opposition to the execution of your just
designs. No, Madam, your feelings are under no compulsion; you are
perfectly free. I will open the gates of Astorga to the happy conqueror,
and suffer the utmost severity of fate.




SCENE IV.--DONNA ELVIRA, DONNA INEZ, ELIZA.


ELV. Madam, do not ascribe all my afflictions to the interest which I
take in his unhappy lot. You will do me but justice if you believe that
you have a large share in my heart-felt grief; that I care more for