TH

ACT I

HE play opens with a converfation between Rodrigo and Alvarez, from which we learn that Spain and Portugal had been at variance, but that their differences had been accommodated, and the friendship between the two crowns ftrengthened by a marriage between the queen, mother to Ferdinand king of Spain, and Alonso of Portugal, which was already celebrated; and another match between don Pedro and Almeyda the queen's daughter by her former husband, whofe nuptials had been delayed by don Pedro's stay in Africa to complete the reduction of the Moors.

The dramatic action commences in the 4th scene of this act with the first public audience of the Caftilian or Spanish ambaffador. After he

withdraws, the queen intimates to don Alonso a fufpicion, that don Pedro is averfe to marrying her daughter. The king promifes to compel him to it, and in the mean time goes to talk to Almeida on the fubject. The queen charges Elvira with enfnaring don Pedro's heart, and withdrawing his affections from Almeyda. Elvira gives an evafive anfwer the queen threatens revenge, if it should be found to be true, and leaves her in great rage. Elvira acquaints don Pedro, to whom she had been privately married, with her apprehenfions from the queen's refentment, and adds, that the hour was fixed for his marrying Almeida. Don Pedro, with all the warmth of the moft paffionate lover, declares that her virtue induced him to make her his wife, and that he was all to him, faith, virtue, honour; and no confideration fhould make him defert or ceafe one moment to protect her. But he advifes her to retire for a while from court.

ACT II.

Almeyda intreats Alonso to postpone her marriage for fome time: fhe is paffionately fond of don Pedro; but from the constraint of his addreffes to her, the dreads the answer he will give the king. Alonfo defires her to leave that to him. Don Pedro, at an audience of his father, urges in vain that his heart is preengaged, and that he cannot marry Almeyda: the queen coming in with Elvira, acquaints Alonso that Elvira is the lady to whom don Pedro facrifices Almeyda. Don Pe

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dro owns his paffion. The king orders Elvira to be confined to her chamber, under the queen's care.

ACT III.

Alonfo, contrary to the queen's fuggeftions, refolves, before he punishes Elvira, to hear her in her own defence. The queen fends for Elvira, and, in order to found, propofes, in feeming friendship, her marrying Rodrigo. Elvira declines Whilst they are talking together, word is brought to

this match.

the queen, that don Pedro, at the head of an armed mob, has entered

the palace. The queen retires, don Pedro rushes in, and whilft he is endeavouring to perfuade his Elvira to fly the palace, Almeyda generously comes to tell him that the king has difperfed his followers, and is coming to put him under arreft. The king enters: at the fight of his father, don Pedro melts into fubmiffion, delivers up his fword, and acknowledges that his apprehenfion that his Elvira's life was in danger, hurried him into this act of rebellion, The king, in much anguish of foul, orders his beloved fon and Elvira to be feparately confined in their apartments.

ACT IV.

The king, before he meets his council to confider of don Pedro's punishment, tries once more to induce him to obey his command to marry Almeyda; but in vain. The council meet; their tears and mournful filence fhew that don Pedro muft die. Whilft Alonso's bofom is filled with thofe pangs which none but a child can give, and none but a parent can feel, the queen aks, why don Pedro fhould push him to that extremity of pathing fentence on him? Alonso exclaims,

"Unhappy boy! it is too plain he has no mother." However, on the interceffion of Almeyda, the queen gives that lady a diftant hint, that poffibly an expedient may be found to prevent the execution of the fentence. Mean while Almeyda, not fatisfied with this, fends for her rival Elvira, and afks her to think of fome method to fave don Pedro. Elvira defires only that the may be admitted to an audience of the king. ACT V.

Mendoza, who is charged to fee the fentence of death executed on don Pedro, informing Ramirez, that the hour appointed for it fast approached, the latter declares that he will ftir up an infurrection to fave the prince; but firft he attempts to fpeak in his behalf to the queen. She, without hearing him, commands him to be gone. Almeyda ufes all the arguments with her mother, in favour of don Pedro, that her love could fuggeft: this works up the queen to a fit of rage near approaching to madness: fhe orders the Spanish ambaffador to return home immediately, and defire her fon to march an army ftraight to Lisbon, for the fecurity of his mother and fifter. Almeyda, without her mother's intervention, prevails on Alonso to fee Elvira, who acquaints him, that don Pedro's faults were those of duty, for fhe was his wife. The aftonished king declares that the hall die for her offence. Whilft the endeavours to extenuate it, her two children are brought in by their governefs, and the defires the king to put them alfo to death. Alonfo can refift no longer. He raifes Elvita from the ground where he kneels, fends for his fon, and gives him her. Scarce had don Pe

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