give me, God of Truth? if I am wrong. Alonzo flatters himself that we shall meet again!-Yes-there!-[Lifting his hands to heaven.]—Assuredly we shall meet again; there possess, in peace, the joys of everlasting love and friendship-on earth, imperfect and embitter'd. I will retire, lest the guard return before Alonzo may have passed their lines. [Retires into the Cavern. Enter ELVIRÁ.

El. No, not Pizarro's brutal taunts, not the glowing admiration which I feel for this noble youth, shall raise an interest in my harassed bosom, which honour would not sanction. If he reject the vengeance my heart has sworn against the tyrant, whose death alone can save this land, yet shall the delight be mine, to restore him to his Cora's arms, to his dear child, and to the unof fending people, whom his virtues guide, and valour guards. Alonzo, come forth!

Enter ROLLA.

Ha! who art thou? Where is Alonzo?

Rol. Alonzo's fled.

Ew. Fled!

Rol. Yes; and he must not be pursued. Pardon this roughness, [Seizing her hand.] but a moment's precious to Alonzo's flight.

Ew. What if I call the guard?

Rol. Do so; Alonzo still gains time.

Ew. What ifI thus free myself? [Shews a dagger. Rol. Strike it to my heart! still with the convulsive grasp of death I'll hold thee fast.

Ew. Release me! I give my faith, I never will alarm the guard, nor cause pursuit.

Rol. At once, I trust thy word. A feeling boldness in those eyes assures me that thy soul is noble.

Ew. What is thy name? speak freely; by my order the guard is remov'd beyond the outer porch.

Rol. My name is Rolla.

El. The Peruvian leader?

Rol. I was so yesterday. To day, the Spaniard's captive.

Ew. And friendship for Alonzo moved thee to this act?

Rol. Alonzo is my friend. I am prepared to die for him. Yet is the cause a motive stronger far than friendship.

Ew. One only passion else could urge such generous

rashness.

Rol. And that is-
Ew. Love?

Rol. True!

Ew. Gallant, ingenuous Rolla! Know that my purpose here was thine; and were I to save thy friend.— Rol. How! a woman blessed with gentleness and courage, and yet not Cora?

Elv. Does Rolla think so meanly of all female hearts?

Rol. Not so-you are worse and better than we are! Ew. Were I to save thee, Rolla, from the tyran'ts vengeance-restore thee to thy native land-and thy native land to peace-wouldst thou not rank Elvira with the good?

Rol. To judge the action I must know the means.
Ew. Take this dagger.

Rol. How to be used?

Ew. I will conduct thee to the tent where fell Pizarro sleeps; the scourge of innocence-the terror of thy race-the fiend that desolates thy afflicted country. Rol. Hast thou net been injured by Pizarro?

Ew. Deeply as scorn and insult can infuse their deadly venom.

Rol. And thou ask'st that I shall murder him in his sleep?

Ew. Would he not have murdered Alonzo in his chains? He that sleeps and he that's bound are equally defenceless. Hear me, Rolla: so may I prosper in this perilous act, as searching my full heart I have put by all rancorous motive of private vengeance there, and feel that I advance to my dread purpose in the cause of human nature, and at the call of sacred justice,

Rol. The God of justice sanctifies no evil as a step to

wards good. Great actions cannot be achieved by wicked

means.

Ew. Then, Peruvian, since thou dost feel so coldly for thy country's wrongs, this hand, though it revolt my soul, shall strike the blow.

Rol. Then is thy destruction certain, and for Peru thou perishest! Give me the dagger!

Ew. Now follow me; but first-and dreadful is the hard necessity—thou must strike down the guard. Rol. The soldier who was on duty here?

Elv. Yes, him; else, seeing thee, the alarm will be instant.

Rol. And I must stab that soldier, as I pass?-Take back thy dagger.

Elv. Rolla!

Rol. That soldier, mark me, is a man! All are not men that bear the human form. He refus'd my prayers-refused my gold-denying to admit me-till his own feelings bribed him. For my nation's safety, I would not harm that man.

Ew. Then he must with us. I will answer for his safety. Rol. Be that plainly understood between us: for, whate'er betide our enterprise, I will not risk a hair of that man's head, to save my heartstrings from consuming fire. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-The Inside of Pizarro's Tent.

PIZARRO on a couch.

Piz. [In his sleep.] No mercy, traitor. Now at his heart! Stand off there, you-let me see him bleed! Ha! ha ha! Let me hear that groan again.

Enter ROLLA and ELVIRA.

Ew. There!-Now lose not a moment.

Rol. Thou must leave me now.

blood fits not a woman's presence. Ew. But a moment's pause may

This scene of

Rol. Go!-retire to thy own tent, and return not

here.

I will come to thee.

this business, I implore thee!

Be thou not known in

Ew.

will withdraw the guard that waits. [Exit. Rol. Now have I in my power the accursed destroyer of my country's peace: yet tranquilly he rests. God! can this man sleep?

Piz. [In his sleep.] Away! away! hideous fiends! Tear not my bosom thus.

Rol. No: I was in error-the balm of sweet repose he never more can know. Look here, ambition's fools! Ye, by whose inhuman pride the bleeding sacrifice of nations is held as nothing, behold the rest of the guilty! He is in my power; and one blow!— No! my heart and hand refuse the act: Rolla cannot be an assassin!-Yet Elvira must be saved.-[Approaches the couch.]-Pizarro! awake!

Piz. [Starts up.] Who? Guard!—

Rol. Speak not-another word is thy death-call not for aid! this arm will be swifter than thy guard. Piz. Who art thou? and what is thy will?

Rol. I am thine enemy! Peruvian Rolla! Thy death is not my will, or I could have slain thee sleeping. Piz. Speak, what else?

Rol. Now thou art at my mercy, answer me! Did a Peruvian ever yet wrong or injure thee, or any of thy nation? Didst thou, or any of thy nation, ever yet shew mercy to a Peruvian in thy power? Now shalt thou feel, and if thou hast a heart, thou❜lt feel it keenly-a Peruvian's vengeance!-[Drops the dagger at his feet.]-There!

Piz. Is it possible!

Rol. Can Pizarro be surprised at this? I thought forgiveness of injuries had been the Christian's precept. Thou seest, at least, it is the Peruvian's practice.

Piz. Rolla, thou hast indeed surpris'd-subdued me. [Retires.

Re-enter ELVIRA. (Not seeing Pizarro.) El Is it done? Is he dead?-[Sees PIZARRO.]How! still living! Then I am lost! And for you, wretched Peruvians! mercy is no more! Oh, Rolla! treacherous or cowardly!

Piz. How can it be, that—

Rol. Away! Elvira speaks she knows not what!— Leave me [To ELVIRA], I conjure thee, with Pizarro.

Ew. How! Rolla, dost thou think I shall retract— or that I meanly will deny, that in thy hand I placed a poniard to be plunged into that tyrant's heart? No! my sole regret is, that I trusted to thy weakness, and did not strike the blow myself. Too soon thou❜lt learn that mercy to that man is direct cruelty to all thy_race!

Piz. Guard! quick! a guard, to seize this frantic

woman.

Ew. Yes, a guard! I call them too! And soon I know they'll lead me to my death. But think not, Pizarro, the fury of thy flashing eyes shall awe me for a moment! Nor think that woman's anger, or the feelings of an injured heart, prompted me to this design. No! had I been only influenced so, thus failing, shame and remorse would weigh me down. But, though defeated and destroyed, as now I am, such is the greatness of the cause that urged me, I shall perish, glorying in the attempt, and my last breath of life shall speak the proud avowal of my purpose-to have rescued millions of innocents from the blood-thirsty tyranny of one-by ridding the insulted world of thee!

Rol. Had the act been noble as the motive, Rolla would not have shrunk from its performance.

Enter GUARDS.

Piz. Seize this discovered fiend, who sought to kill your leader.

Elv. Touch me not, at the peril of your souls; I am your prisoner, and will follow you. But thou, their triumphant leader, first shalt hear me. Yet, first, for thee, Rolla, accept my forgiveness; even had I been the victim of thy nobleness of heart, I should have admired thee for it. But 'twas myself provoked my doom. Thou wouldst have shielded me. Let not thy contempt follow me to the grave. Didst thou but know the fiendlike arts by which this hypocrite first undermined the