virtue of a guileless heart! how, even in the pious sanctuary wherein I dwelt, by corruption and by fraud he practised upon those in whom I most confided-till my distempered fancy led me, step by step, into the abyss of guilt

Piz. Why am I not obeyed? Tear her hence.

Ew. 'Tis past-but didst thou know my story, Rolla, thou wouldst pity me.

Rol. From my soul I do pity thee.

Piz. Villains! drag her to the dungeon!-prepare the torture instantly.

Ew. Soldiers-but a moment more. 'Tis to applaud your general; it is to tell the astonished world, that, for once, Pizarro's sentence is an act of justice; yes, rack me with the sharpest tortures that ever agoniz'd the human frame; it will be justice. Yes, bid the minions of thy fury wrench forth the sinews of those arms that have caressed, and-even defended thee! Bid them pour burning metal into the bleeding cases of these eyes, that so oft, oh God! have hung with love.and homage on thy look; then approach me, bound on the abhorred wheel, there glut thy savage eyes with the convulsive spasms of that dishonoured bosom, which was once thy pillow!-Yet will I bear it all; for it will be justice, all! And, when thou shalt bid them tear me to my death, hoping that thy unshrinking ears may at last be feasted with the music of my cries, I will not utter one shriek or groan;-but to the last grasp, my body's patience shall deride thy vengeance, as my soul defies thy power.

Piz. Hear'st thou the wretch whose hands were even now prepared for murder?

Rol, Yes! and if her accusation's false, thou wilt not shrink from hearing her; if true, thy barbarity cannot make her suffer the pangs thy conscience will inflict on

thee.

Ew. And now, farewell, world! Rolla, farewell! Farewell, thou condemned of heaven! [To PIZARRO.] for repentance and remorse, I know, will never touch thy heart. We shall meet again. Ha! be it thy horror

here, to know that we shall meet here after! And when thy parting hour approaches, hark to the knell, whose dreadful beat will strike to thy despairing soul. Then will vibrate on thy ear the curses of the cloister'd saint from whom thou stolest me. Then, the last shrieks which burst from my mother's breaking heart, as she died, appealing to her God against the seducer of her child! Then the blood-stifled groan of my murder'd brother, murdered by thee, fell monster, seeking atonement for his sister's ruin'd honour! I hear them now: To me the recollection's madness! At such an hourwhat will it be to thee?

Piz. A moment's more delay, and at the peril of your lives

Ew. I have spoken, and the last mortal frailty of my heart is past And now, with an undaunted spirit and unshaken firmness, I go to meet my destiny. That I could not live nobly, has been Pizarro's act. That I will die nobly, shall be my own. [Exit guarded.]

Piz. Rolla, I would not thou, a warrior, valiant and renowned, shouldst credit the vile tales of this frantic woman. The cause of all this fury-O! awanton passion for the rebel youth Alonzo, now my prisoner. Rol. Alonzo is not now thy prisoner.

Piz. How!

Rol. I came to rescue him, to deceive his guard. I have succeeded; I remain thy prisoner.

Piz. Alonzo fled! Is then the vengeance dearest to my heart never to be gratified?

Rol. Dismiss such passions from thy heart; then thou'lt consult its peace.

Piz. I can face all enemies that dare confront meI cannot war against my nature.

Rol. Then, Pizarro, ask not to be deemed a hero. To triumph o'er ourselves is the only conquest, where fortune makes no claim. In battle chance may snatch the laurel from thee, or chance may place it on thy brow; but, in a contest with thyself, be resolute, and the virtuous impulse must be the victor.

Piz. Peruvian! thou shalt not find me to thee ungrateful or ungenerous. Return to thy countrymen— thou art at liberty.

Rol. Thou dost act in this, as honour, and as duty, bid thee.

Piz. I cannot but admire thee, Rolla; I would we might be friends.

Rol. Farewell! Pity Elvira!-Become the friend of virtue, and thou wilt be mine. [Exit.

Piz. Ambition! tell me what is the phantom I have followed? where is the one delight which it has made my own? My fame is the mark of envy-my love, the dupe of treachery-my glory, eclipsed by the boy I taught my revenge, defeated and rebuked by the rude honour of a savage foe-before whose native dignity of soul I have sunk confounded and subdued! I would I could retrace my steps-I cannot. Would I could evade my own reflections! No! thought and memory are my hell. [Exit.

ACT V.

SCENE I.-A thick Forest.-A dreadful storm.CORA, has covered her Child on a bed of leaves and

moss.

Cora. [Sitting on bank by Child ] O, Nature, thou hast not the strength of love. My anxious spirit is untired in its march; my wearied shivering frame sinks under it. And for thee, my boy, when faint beneath thy lovely burden, could I refuse to give thy slumbers that poor bed of rest! O, my child! Were I assured thy father breathes no more, how quickly would I lay me down by thy dear side-but down-down for ever. [Thunder and lightning.] I ask thee not, unpitying storm! to abate thy rage, in mercy to poor Cora's misery; nor while thy thunders spare his slumbers, will I disturb my sleeping cherub; though heaven knows I wish to hear the voice of life, and feel that life is near me. But I will endure all, while what I have of reason holds. [Thunder and lightning.] Still, still implacable!-unfeeling ele

**

ments! yet still dost tnou sleep, my smiling innocent! O death! when wilt thou grant to this babe's mother such repose?-Sure I may shield thee better from the storm; my veil may

Al. [Without.] Cora!

Cora. Hah!

Al. Cora!

Cora. O, my heart! Sweet heaven deceive me not! Is it not Alonzo's voice?

Al. [Louder.] Cora!

Cora. It is-it is Alonzo!

Al. [Very loud.] Cora! my beloved!
Cora. Alonzo! Here!-here!-Alonzo

Enter two Spanish SOLDIERS.

[Runs out.

Ast. Sol. I tell you we are near our outpost, and the word we heard just now was the countersign.

2d. Sol. Well, in our escape from the enemy, to have discovered their secret passage through the rocks, will prove a lucky chance to us.-Pizarro will reward us.

1st Sol. This way. The sun, though clouded, is on our left. [Perceives the Child.] What have we here? A child! as I'm a soldier.

2d Sol. 'Tis a sweet little babe. Now would it be a great charity to take this infant from its pagan mother's power.

Ast Sol. It would so, I have one at home shall play with it. Come along. [Takes the Child.-Exeunt.

Re-enter CORA and ALONZO.

Cora. [Speaking without.] This way, dear Alonzo. Now am I right-there-there-under that tree. Was it possible the instinct of a mother's heart could mistake the spot! Now, wilt thou look at him as he sleeps, or shall I bring him waking with his full blue laughing eyes to welcome thee at once? Yes-yes. Stand thou there; I'll snatch him from his rosy slumber, blushing like the perfumed morn.

[Finding only the mantle and veil, which she tears from the ground,and the child gone, she screams.]

Al. [Running to her.] Cora! my heart's beloved! Cora. He is gone!

At Eternal God!

Cora. He is gone!-my child! my child!

Al. Where didst thou leave him?

Cora. [Dashing herself on the Spot.] Here!

Al. Be calm, beloved Cora! he has awak'd and crept to a little distance-we shall find him. Are you assured this was the spot you left him in?

Cora. Did not these hands make that bed, and shelter for him? And is not this the veil that covered him! O, unnatural mother that I was. I left my child-I forsook my innocent-but I will fly to the earth's brink, but I will find him.

[Runs out, takes up mantle, followed by ALONZO. SCENE II.-The Outpost of the Spanish Camp, and a Bridge.-[Trumpets sound without.]

ALMAGRO.-Without.]

Bear him along-his story must be false.

[Entering.

ROLLA in chains, brought in by Soldiers.

Rol. False! Rolla utter falsehood! I would I had thee in a desert with a troop around thee; and I but with my sword in this unshackled hand!

[Trumpets without. Alm. Is it to be credited that Rolla, the renown'd Peruvian hero, should be detected like a spy, skulking through our camp?

Rol. Skulking!

Alm. But answer to the general-he is here.

Enter PIZARRO.

Piz. What do I see! Rolla!

Rol. Oh! to thy surprise no doubt.

Piz. And bound too!

Kol. So fast, thou needs not fear approaching me. Alm. The guards surpris'd him, passing our outpost. Piz. Release him instantly. Believe me, I regret

this insult.