Boy. One messenger alone. From the temple they all march'd to meet the foe.

O. Man. Hark! I hear the din of battle. O! had I still retain'd my sight, I might now have grasp'd a sword, and died a soldier's death! Are we quite alone?

Boy. Yes!-I hope my father will be safe!

O. Man. He will do his duty. I am more anxious for thee, my child.

Boy. I can stay with thee, dear grandfather.

O. Man. But should the enemy come, they will drag thee from me, my boy.

Boy. Impossible, grandfather! for they will see at once that thou art old and blind, and cannot do without me.

O. Man. Poor child! thou little know'st the hearts of these inhuman men. [Trumpets, alarums, and dis➡ charges of cannon heard.] Hark! the noise is near -I hear the dreadful roaring of the fiery engines of these cruel strangers. [Shouts at a distance.] every shout, with involuntary haste, I clench my hand, and fancy still it grasps a sword! Alas! I can only serve my country by my prayers. Heaven preserve the Inca, and his gallant soldiers!

Boy. O father! there are soldiers running—
O. Man. Spaniards, boy?

Boy. No, Peruvians!

At

O. Man. How! and flying from the field!— It cannot be.

Enter Two Peruvian SOLDIERS.

O speak to them, boy!-Whence come you? How goes the battle?

Sol. We may not stop; we are sent for the reserve behind the hill. The day's against us.

O. Man. Quick, then, quick.

[Exeunt SOLDIERS,

Boy. I see the points of lances glittering in the light.

O Man. Those are Peruvians. Do they bend this way?

Enter a Peruvian SOLDIER.

Boy. Soldier, speak to my blind father.

Sol. I'm sent to tell the helpless father to retreat among the rocks: all will be lost, I fear.-The king is wounded.

O. Man. Quick, boy! Lead me to the hill where thou mayst view the plain.

[Alarms.-OLD MAN and Boy retire.

Enter ATALIBA, wounded, with ORANO, Officers, and Soldiers.

Ata. My wound is bound; believe me, the hurt is nothing; I may return to the fight.

Ora. Pardon your servant, but the allotted priest who attends the sacred banner has pronounced, that the Inca's blood once shed, no blessing can await the day, until he leave the field.

Ata. Hard restraint! O! my poor brave soldiers! -Hard that I may no longer be a witness of their valour. But haste you; return to your comrades: I will not keep one soldier from his post. Go, and avenge your fallen brethren. [Exeunt ORANO, etc.] I will not repine: my own fate is the last anxiety of my heart. It is for you, my people, that I feel and fear. [OLD MAN and Box advance.

O. Man. Did I not hear the voice of an unfortunate? Who is it complains thus?

Ata. One almost by hope forsaken.

O. Man. Is the king alive?

Ata. The king still lives.

O. Man. Then thou art not forsaken! Ataliba protects the meanest of his subjects.

Ata. And who shall protect Ataliba?

O. Man. The Immortal Powers, that protect the just. The virtues of our monarch alike secure to him the affection of his people, and the benign regard of heaven.

Even

Ata. How impious had I murmur'd! How wondrous, thou Supreme Disposer, are thy acts! in this moment, which I had thought the bitterest

trial of mortal suffering, thou hast infused the sweetest sensation of my life-it is the assurance of my people's love.

Boy. [Turning forward.] O father!-Stranger!see those hideous men that rush upon us yonder!

Ata. Ha! Spaniards!—And I, Ataliba-ill-fated fugitive! without a sword even to try the ransom of a monarch's life.

Enter DAVILLA, ALMAGRO, and Spanish Soldiers. Dav. 'Tis he-our hopes are answered-I know him well-it is the king.

Alm. Away; follow with your prize. Avoid those Peruvians, though in flight. This way we may regain our line. [Exeunt DAVILLA, ALMAGRO, elc. with ATALIBA, prisoner. O. Man. The king, Wretched old man, that could not see his gracious form!-Boy, would thou hadst led me to the reach of those ruffian's swords!

Boy. Father! all our countrymen are flying here for refuge.

O. Man. No-to the rescue of their king-they never will desert him. [Alarms without. Enter Peruvian Officers and Soldiers, ORANO

following.

Ora. Hold, I charge you! Rolla calls you.
Ofi. We cannot combat with their dreadful engines.

Enter ROLLA.

Rol. Hold, recreants! cowards!-What, fear ye death, and fear not shame? By my soul's fury, I cleave to the earth the first of you that stirs, or plunge your dastard swords into your leader's heart, that he no more may witness your disgrace. Where is the king?

Ora. From this old man and boy I learn, that the detachment of the enemy, which you observed so suddenly to quit the field, have succeeded in surprising him; they are yet in sight.

Rol. And bear the Inca off a prisoner!-Hear this,

ye base, disloyal rout! Look there!-the dust you see hangs on the bloody Spaniard's track, dragging, with ruffian taunts, your king, your father-Ataliba in bondage! Now fly and seek your own vile safety, if you can!

O. Man. Bless the voice of Rolla!-and bless the stroke I once lamented, but which now spares these extinguished eyes the shame of seeing the pale, trembling wretches who dare not follow Rolla, though to save their king!

Rol. Shrink ye from the thunder of the foe, and fall ye not at this rebuke?-Oh! had ye each but one drop of the loyal blood which gushes to waste through the brave heart of this sightless veteran! Eternal shame pursue you if you desert me now!-But doalone I go-alone-to die with glory by my monarch's side!

Soldiers. Rolla! we'll follow thee!

[ROLLA rushes out, followed by ORANO, etc. O Man. O, godlike Rolla! And thou, sun, send from thy clouds avenging lightning to his aid!Haste, my boy, ascend some height, and tell to my impatient terror what thou seest!

Boy. I can climb this rock, and the tree above. [Ascends a rock.] O, now I see them-now-—yes— and the Spaniards turning by the steep.

O. Man. Rolla follows them?

Boy. He does-he does-he moves like an arrow! -now he waves his arm to our soldiers. [Report of cannon.] Now there is fire and smoke.

O Man. Yes, fire is the weapon of those fiends. Boy. The wind blows off the smoke; they are all mixed together.

O. Man. Seest thou the king!

Boy. Yes! Rolla is near him!-His sword sheds fire as he strikes!

O. Man. Bless thee, Rolla! Spare not the monsters. Boy. Father! father! the Spaniards fly!-O, now I see the king embracing Rolla.

[Shouts of victory, flourish of trumpets, etc.

**

O. Man. [Falls on his knees.] Fountain of life! how can my exhausted breath bear to thee thanks for this one moment of my life! My boy, come down and let me kiss thee!-My strength is gone

[Boy descends. Boy. Let me help thee, father. Thou tremblest soO. Man. 'Tis with transport, boy!

[Boy leads him off — Shouts, flourish, etc.

Enter ATALIBA, ROLLA, and Peruvians.

Ata. In the name of my people, the saviour of whose sovereign thou hast this day been, accept this emblem of his gratitude. [Giving ROLLA his sun of diamonds.] The tear that falls upon it may for a moment dim its lustre, yet does it not impair the value of the gift.

Rol. It was the hand of heaven, not mine, that saved my king.

Enter PERUVIAN OFFICER.

Rol. Now, soldier, from Alonzo?

Offi. Alonzo's genius soon repaired the panic which early broke our ranks; but I fear we have to mourn Alonzo's loss: his eager spirit urged him too far in the pursuit.

Ata. How! Alonzo slain! O! victory, dearly purchased!

Rol. O Cora! who shall tell thee this?

Ata. Rolla, our friend is lost—our native country saved! Our private sorrows must yield to the public claim for triumph. Now go we to fulfil the first, the most sacred duty which belongs to victory-to dry the widowed and the orphaned tear of those whose brave protectors have perished in their country's cause. [Triumphant march.-KING takes the hand of ROLLA, and exeunt, Soldiers following.