Rol. Thou feel'st then as thou ought'st.

Piz. Nor can I brook to see a warrior of Rolla's fame disarm'd. Accept this, though it has been thy enemy's. [Gives a Sword] The Spaniards know the courtesy that's due to valour.

Rol. And the Peruvians how to forget offences.

Piz. May not Rolla and Pizarro cease to be foes? Rol. When the sea divides us; yes! May 1 now depart?

Piz. Freely.

Rol. And shall I not again be intercepted?

Piz. No!-let the word be given that Rolla passes freely.

Enter DAVILLA and Soldiers, with the Child.

Dav. Here are two soldiers, captivated yesterday, who have escap'd from the Peruvian hold, and by the secret way we have so long endeavoured to dis

cover.

Piz. Silence!-imprudent! Seest thou not-?

[Pointing to Roll. Dav. In their way, they found a Peruvian child, who seems.

Piz. What is the imp to me? Bid them toss it into the sea.

Rol. Gracious heaven! it is Alonzo's child!—give

it to me.

Piz. Ha! Alonzo's child! [Takes the Child.] Welcome, thou pretty hostage. Now Alonzo is again my prisoner!

Rol. Thou wilt not keep the infant from its mother? Piz. Will I not? What, when I shall meet Alonzo in the heat of the victorious fight, think'st thou I shall not have a check upon the valour of his heart, when he is reminded, that a word of mine is this child's death?

Rol. I do not understand thee.

Piz. My vengeance has a long arrear of hate to settle with Alonzo! and this pledge may help to settle the account. [Gives the Child to a Soldier.

Rol. Man! Man! Art thou a man! Couldst thou hurt that innocent! By Heaven! it's smilling in thy face. Piz. Tell me, does it resemble Cora?

Rol. Pizarro! thou hast set my heart on fire. If thou dost harm that child, think not his blood will sink into the barren sand. No! faithful to the eager hope that now trembles in this indignant heart, 'twill rise to the common God of nature and humanity, and cry aloud for vengeance on its accurs'd destroyer's head. Piz. Be that peril mine.

Rol. [Throwing himself at his feet.] Behold me at thy feet. Me, Rolla!-Me, the preserver of thy life-Me, that have never yet bent or bow'd before created man!-In humble agony I sue to thee-prostrate I implore thee-but spare that child, and I will be thy slave.

Piz. Rolla! still art thou free to go-this boy remains with me.

Rol. [Rises.] Then was this sword heaven's gift, not thine! [Seizes the Child.] Who moves one step to follow me, dies upon the spot [Exit, with the Child.

Piz. Pursue him instantly-but spare his life. [Exeunt ALMAGRO and Soldiers.] With what fury he defends himself! Ha! he fells them to the groundand now

Enter ALMAGRO.

Alm. Three of thy brave soldiers are already victims to thy command to spare this madman's life; and if he once gain the thicket—

Piz. Spare him no longer. [Exit. ALMAGRO.] Their guns must reach him—he'll yet escape-holloa to those horse-the Peruvian secs them-and now he turns among the rocks-then is his retreat cut off.

[ROLLA crosses the wooden bridge pursued by the Soldiers-they fire at him—a shot strikes him. Piz. Now!-quick! quick! seize the child! [ROLLA retreats by the background, bearing off the Child.

Re-enter ALMAGRO.

Alm. By hell! he has escaped! and with the child

unhurt.

Dav. No-he bears his death with him.- Believe me, I saw him struck upon the side.

Piz. But the child is sav'd-Alonzo's child! Oh! the furies of disappointed vengeance.

Alm. Away with the revenge of words-let us to deeds. Forget not we have acquired the knowledge of the secret pass, which through the rocky cavern's gloom brings thee at once to the strong hold, where are lodg'd their women and their treasures.

Piz. Right, Almagro! Swift as thy thought, draw forth a daring and a chosen band-I will not wait for numbers. Stay, Almagro!-Valverde is informed Elvira dies to day?

Alm. He is and one request alone she

Piz. I'll hear of none!

Alm. The boon is small-'tis but for the noviciate habit which you first beheld her in. She wishes not to suffer in the gaudy trappings which remind her of her shame.

Piz Well, do as thou wilt-but tell Valverde, that, at our return, as his life shall answer it, to let me hear that she is dead. [Exeunt severally. SCENE III.-Ataliba's Tent.

Enter ATALIBA followed by CORA and ALONZO.

Cora. Oh! avoid me not, Ataliba! To whom but to her king is the wretched mother to address her griefs? The gods refuse to hear my prayers. Did not my Alonzo fight for thee?-And will not my sweet boy, if thou'lt but restore him to me, one day fight thy battles too.

Al. Oh! my suffering love-my poor heart-broken Cora!-thou but wound'st our sovereign's feeling soul and not reliev'st thy own.

Cora. Is he our sovereign, and has he not the power to give me back my child?

Ata. When I reward, desert or can relieve my people, I feel what is the real glory of a king; when I hear them suffer, and cannot aid them. I mourn the impotence of all mortal power.

[Voices behind.] Rolla! Rolla! Rolla!

Enter ROLLA, his countenance ghastly, and bleeding, with the Child, followed by Peruvians.

Rol. Thy child!

[Gives the Child into CORA's arms, and fulls. Cora. O God! there is blood upon him!

Rol. 'Tis my blood, Cora!

Al. Rolla, thou diest.

Rol. For thee and Cora.

Enter ORANO.

[Dies.

Ora. Treachery has revealed our asylum in the rocks. Even now the foe assails the peaceful band retired for protection there.

Al. Lose not a moment! Swords, be quick! Your wives and children cry to you. Bear our loved hero's body in the van; 'twill raise the fury of our men to madness. Now, fell Pizarro! the death of one of us is near!-Away! be the word of assault, Revenge and Rolla. [Exeunt ALONZO and ATALIBA. [Soldiers take up the body, and bear it off, followed by CORA and Child, and Army.-Charge.

SCENE IV.-Recess among the Rocks.

Enter PIZARRO, ALMAGRO, VALVERDE, and
Spanish Soldiers.

Piz. Well!-if surrounded, we must perish in the centre of them. Where do Rolla and Alonzo hide their heads?

Enter ALONZO, ORANO, and Peruvians.

Al. Alonzo answers thee, and Alonzo's sword shall speak for Rolla.

Piz. Thou know'st the advantage of thy numbers. Thou dar'st not singly face Pizarro.

Al. Peruvians, stir not a man: Be this contest only ours.

Piz. Spaniards!-observe ye the same.

[They fight.-ALONZO is disarmed, and is beat down. Piz. Now, traitor to thy heart.

[ELVIRA enters in black.-PIZARRO, appalled, staggers back.-ALONZO recovers his sword, renews the fight, and slays him.

ATALIBA enters, and embraces ALONZO.

Ata. My brave Alonzo!

Alm. Alonzo, we submit. Spare us! we will embark, and leave the coast.

Val. Elvira will confess 1 sav'd her life; she has sav'd thine.

Al. Fear not. You are safe.

[Spaniards ground their arms. El. Valverde speaks the truth; nor could he think to meet me here. An awful impulse, which my soul could not resist, impelled me hither.

Al. Noble Elvira! my preserver! How can I speak what I, Ataliba, and his rescued country, owe to thee! If amid this grateful nation thou wouldst remain—

Ew. Alonzo, no! the destination of my future life is fix'd. Humbled in penitence I will endeavour to atone the guilty errors, which, however mask'd by shallow cheerfulness, have long consum'd my secret heart. When, by my sufferings purified and penitence sincere, my soul shall dare address the Throne of Mercy in behalf of others, for thee, Alonzo, for thy Gora, and thy child-for thee, thou virtuous monarch, and the innocent race thou reign'st over, shall Elvira's prayers address the God of Nature.-Valverde, thou hast preserved my life. Cherish humanity, avoid the foul examples thou hast view'd. Spaniards, returning to your native home, assure your rulers they mistake the road to glory or to power.