OCR Text |
Show PROGRAMMES OF BALLETS. 427 Alphonso receives her without moving from his place, and affects an indifference which he does not feel. The wily Zara is not deceived by his assumed looks of cold dignity, although she feigns to believe that they are real. Tears stream down her cheeks, she confesses that she is guilty, but to Love alone is her crime to be imputed, and she implores him to pardon her. She expresses her remorse at having brought her King into difficulties, and her sorrow and despair at being abandoned by him. Alphonso becomes agitated ; he would fain draw a veil over the past ; their final separation is the first step imposed on him by duty towards rendering his people happy; the public welfare imperatively demands the sacrifice of their mutual passion. Zara complains to heaven of the rigour of her fate; she expresses what grief the loss of her lover's heart occasions her; she is rejected and almost banished by him who so lately raised her to the honours of a diadem. She assails him with the most tender reproaches, reminds him of his love and his vows of constancy. Alphonso, with difficulty, bears up against her touching expressions, and tears escape from his eye-lids. His emotion does not pass unper-ceived by Zara and Morico, who now see that their triumph is almost certain. They mutually assail h i m- the one by expressing the most violent grief, and the other by her tears and her prayers. Thus the defeat of Alphonso's virtuous resolution is hastened. Zara threatens to put herself to death ; he shudders at the thought ; she seizes a poniard ; he wrests it from her, and, unable longer to resist the impulse of his heart, he says that he still loves her. Zara, unobserved by the King, expresses herjoyatthe prospect of once again commanding as a Queen; she throws herself at Alphonso's feet, and covers his hand with kisses. He endeavours to avoid her |