Osm. My Lord, inquiring for the Prince
At the Apartment of the Cardinal, (whither he went)
His Pages answer’d me, he was at his Devotions:
A lucky time (I thought) to do the Deed;
And breaking in, found only their empty Habits,
And a poor sleepy Groom, who with much threatning,
Confess’d that they were fled, in holy Robes.
Abd. That Case of Sanctity was first ordain’d,
To cheat the honest World:
Twas an unlucky Chance—but we are idle—
Let’s see, how from this ill, we may advance a good—
[Pauses.
’.is now dead time of Night, when Rapes, and Murders
Are hid beneath the horrid Veil of Darkness—
I’ll ring thro all the Court, with doleful Sound
The sad Alarms of Murder—Murder—Zarrack,
Take up thy standing yonder—Osmin, thou
At the Queen’s Apartment—cry out, Murder:
Whilst I, like his ill Genius, do awake the King;
Perhaps in this Disorder I may kill him. [Aside.
—Treason—Murder—Murder—Treason.
Enter Alonzo, and Courtiers.
Alon. What dismal Crys are these?—
Abd. Where is the King?—Treason—Murder! Where—is the sleeping Queen?—Arise, arise.
Osm. The Devil taught him all his Arts of Falshood. [Aside.
Enter King in a Night-Gown, with Lights.
King. Who frights our quiet Slumbers with this Noise?
Enter Queen and Women, with Lights.
Qu. Was it a Dream, or did I hear the Sound Of Treason, call me from my silent Griefs?