Enter ORANO, L. ORA. Treachery has revealed our asylum in the rocks. Even now the foe assails the peaceful band retired for protection there. AL. (c.) Lose not a moment! Swords, be quick! Your wives and children cry to you. Bear our lov'd 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, 1. [Soldiers take up the body, and bear it off L., folloved by Cora and Child, and Army-Charge, L. SCENE IV.-A Recess among the Rocks. Enter PIZARRO, Almagro, Valverde, and Spanish Soldiers, R. U. E. Pız. (c.) Well!—if surrounded, we must perish in the centre of them. Where do Rolla and Alonzo hide their heads, Enter ALONZO, ORANO, and Peruvians, L. AL. (L.) 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. (L. c.) Peruvians, stir not a man! Be this contest only ours. Piz. (R. c.) 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, L., and embraces Alonzo. ATA. My brave Alonzo! ALM. Alonzo, we submit. Spare us! we will embark, and leave the coast. VAL. Elvira will confess I sav'd her life; she has sav'd thine. AL. Fear not. You are safe. [Spaniards ground their arms. ELV. 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 ELV. (c.) 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 Cora, 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. Tell them that the pursuits of avarice, conquest, and ambition, never yet made a people happy, or a nation great. [Takes a last look of Pizarro's body, and exit, R. Body borne off, R. S. E.-Flourish of Trumpets. AL. Ataliba, think not I wish to check the voice of triumph, when I entreat we first may pay the tribute due to our loved Rolla's memory. [Exeunt, R. DISPOSITION OF THE CHARACTERS AT THE FALL OF THE CURTAIN. [A solemn March. Enter L. U. E. a procession of Peruvian Soldiers, bearing Rolla's Body on a bier, —Choir form up the R. and L. of the stage.-Bier placed in the c., the feet toward the audience.-High Priest stands at the head.-Cora, with her Child, weeping R. of the bier, and bending over it.—Ataliba and Alonzo on the L., also bending over it.-Guards stand across background.-Solemn chorus.-Virgins and Priests kneel round the bier. DIRGE.-Priests and Priestesses. Let tears of gratitude and woe [Curtain slowly descends. THE END. Prologue. WRITTEN BY R. SHERIDAN. Chill'd by rude gales, while yet reluctant May As somefond maid whom matron frowns reprove, Should our play please-and you're indulgent ever— Be your decree" "Tis better late than never. 224 Epilogue WRITTEN BY THE HON. WILLIAM LAMB. Ere yet suspense has still'd its throbbing fear, To turn from all that pleas'd, from all that fir'd; The souls that pant, the griefs they see, to share; The sigh that sweet compassion owns with pride- O ye, who listen to the plaintive strain, |