Seb. Produce that writing.
Alv. [To Dorax.] Alonzo has it in his custody;
The same, which, when his nobleness redeemed me,
And in a friendly visit owned himself
For what he is, I then deposited,
And had his faith to give it to the king.
Dor. Untouched, and sealed, as when intrusted with me, [Giving a sealed Paper to the King.
Such I restore it with a trembling hand,
Lest aught within disturb your peace of soul.
Seb. Draw near, Almeyda; thou art most concerned,
For I am most in thee.—[Tearing open the Seals.
Alonzo, mark the characters;
Thou know'st my father's hand, observe it well;
And if the impostor's pen have made one slip
That shews it counterfeit, mark that, and save me.
Dor. It looks indeed too like my master's hand:
So does the signet: more I cannot say;
But wish 'twere not so like.
Seb. Methinks it owns
The black adultery, and Almeyda's birth;
But such a mist of grief comes o'er my eyes,
I cannot, or I would not, read it plain.
Alm. Heaven cannot be more true, than this is false.
Seb. O couldst thou prove it with the same assurance!
Speak, hast thou ever seen my father's hand?
Alm. No; but my mother's honour has been read
By me, and by the world, in all her acts,
In characters more plain and legible
Than this dumb evidence, this blotted lie.—
432 Oh that I were a man, as my soul's one,
To prove thee traitor, and assassinate
Of her fame! thus moved, I'd tear thee thus,— [Tearing the Paper.
And scatter o'er the field thy coward limbs,
Like this foul offspring of thy forging brain. [Scattering the Paper.
Alv. Just so shalt thou be torn from all thy hopes;
For know, proud woman, know, in thy despite,
The most authentic proof is still behind,—
Thou wear'st it on thy finger: 'Tis that ring,
Which, matched to that on his, shall clear the doubt.
'Tis no dumb forgery, for that shall speak,
And sound a rattling peal to either's conscience.