Officers, and Soldiers.

Las C. Pizarro, we attend thy summons. Piz. Welcome, venerable father-my friends, most welcome. Friends and fellow-soldiers, at length the hour has arrived, which to Pizarro's hopes presents the full reward of our undaunted enterprise, and long-enduring toils. Confident in security, this day the foe devotes to solemn sa crifice if with bold surprise we strike on their solemnity-trust to your leader's word-we shall not fail.

Enter LAS CASAS, ALMAGRO, GONZALO, DAVILLA, their force were blasphemy against thy goodness. bless my countrymen: yet now my blessing on [Rises.] No! I curse your purpose, homicides! I curse the bond of blood by which you are uni. ted. May fell disunion, infamy, and rout, defeas your projects, and betray your hopes! On you and your children be the peril of the innocent blood which shall be shed this day! I leave you, and for ever! No longer shall these aged eyes be seared by the horrors they have witnessed. In caves, in forests, will I hide myself; with tigers and with savage beasts commune; and when at length we meet before the blessed tribunal of that Deity, whose mild doctrines and whose mercies ye have this day renounced, O then shall you feel the agony and grief of soul which tear the bosom of your accuser now! [Going.

Alm. Too long inactive have we been mouldering on the coast-our stores exhausted, and our soldiers murmuring. Battle! battle!-then death to the arm'd, and chains for the defenceless.

Dav. Death to the whole Peruvian race!
Las C. Merciful Heaven!

Alm. Yes, General, the attack, and instantly! Then shall Alonzo, basking at his ease, soon cease to scoff our sufferings, and scorn our force.

Las C. Alonzo!-Scorn and presumption are not in his nature.

Alm. 'Tis fit Las Casas should defend his pupil. Piz. Speak not of the traitor-or hear his name but as the bloody summons to assault and vengeance. It appears we are agreed?

Alm. Dav. We are.

Gon. All!-Battle! Battle!

Las C. Is, then, the dreadful measure of your cruelty not yet complete?-Battle! - gracious Heaven! Against whom?-Against a king, in whose mild bosom your atrocious injuries even yet have not excited hate! but who, insulted or victorious, still sues for peace. Against a people, who never wronged the living being their Creator formed a people who, children of innocence! received you as cherished guests-with eager hospitality and confiding kindness. Generously and freely did they share with you their comforts, | their treasures, and their homes: you repaid them by fraud, oppression, and dishonour. These eyes have witnessed all I speak-as gods you were received; as fiends you have acted.

:

Piz. Las Casas!

Las C. Pizarro, hear me !-Hear me, chieftains! -And thou, All-powerful, whose thunders can shiver into sand the adamantine rock-whose lightnings can pierce to the core of the rived and quaking-Oh! let thy power give effect to thy servant's words, as thy spirit gives courage to his will! Do not, I implore ye, chieftains-countrymen--do not, I implore you, renew the foul barbarities which your insatiate avarice has inflicted on this wretched, unoffending race!-But hush, my sighs-fall not, drops of useless sorrow! heart-breaking anguish, choke not my utterance. All I entreat is, send me once more to those you call your enemies-Oh! let me be the messenger of penitence from you, I shall return with bless ings and with peace from them. [Turning to ELv.] Elvira, you weep!-Alas! and does this dreadful crisis move no heart but thine!

Alm. Because there are no women here but she and thou.

Piz Close this idle war of words: time flies, and our opportunity will be lost. Chieftains, are ye for instant battle?

Aim. We are.

Las C. Oh, men of blood! [Kneels.] God! thou bast anointed me thy servant-not to curse, but to

NO 4.

Elv. [Rises, and takes the hand of Las C.] Oh! take me with thee.

Las C. Stay! lost, abused lady! I alone am useless here. Perhaps thy loveliness may persuade to pity, where reason and religion plead in vain. Oh! save thy innocent fellow-creatures, if thou canst: then shall thy frailty be redeemed, and thou wilt share the mercy thou bestowest.

[Exit.

Your

Piz. How, Elvira! wouldst thou leave me? Elv. I am bewildered-grown terrified ! inhumanity-and that good old man-oh! he appeared to me just now something more than heavenly!- and you!-ye all looked worse than earthly.

Piz. Compassion sometimes becomes a beauty. Elv. Humanity always becomes a conqueror. Pis. [Turning to ALM.] Now to prepare our muster and our march. At mid-day is the hour of the sacrifice. [ELV. sits.] Consulting with our guides, the route of your divisions shall be given to each commander. If we surprise, we conquer; and if we conquer, the gates of Quito will be open to us.

Alm. And Pizarro then be monarch of Peru.

Piz. Not so fast-ambition for a time must take counsel from discretion. Ataliba still must hold the shadow of a sceptre in his hand-Pizarro still appear dependent upon Spain; while the pledge of future peace, his daughter's hand [ELv. rises, much agitated] secures the proud succession to the crown seek.

Alm. This is best. In Pizarro's plans observe the statesman's wisdom guides the warrior's valour. Val. [To ELv.] You mark, Elvira ?

Elv. O yes-this is best-this is excellent. Piz. You seem offended. Elvira still retains my heart. Think-a sceptre waves me on.

Elv. Offended! No! Thou knowest thy glory is my idol; and this will be most glorious, most just and honourable.

Piz. What mean you?

Eiv. Oh! nothing-mere woman's prattle -a jealous whim, perhaps but let it not impede the royal hero's course. [Trumpets without.] The call of arms invites you. Away! away! you, bis brave, his worthy fellow-warriors.

Piz. And go you not with me? Elv. Undoubtedly: I needs must be the first to hail the future monarch of Peru.

Enter GOMEZ.

Alm. How, Gomez! what bring'st thou ? Gom. On yonder bill, among the palm-trees, we have surprised an old cacique; escape flight he

ould not, and we seized him and his attendant unresisting: yet his lips breathed nothing but bit- soon. terness and scorn.

Piz. Drag him before us. [ELv. sits pensively.-noble eye would strike thee dead.

Dav. Silence, or tremble!

Oro. Beardless robber! I never yet have trembled before God-why should I tremble before

Cro. First tell me which among you is the cap-man? Why before thee, thou less than man! tain of this band of robbers?

99 Al. Must not I fight against my country, against my brethren?

Cora. Do they not seek our destruction? and are not all men brethren?

Al. Should they prove victorious!

Cora. I will fly, and meet thee in the mountains.
Al. Fly with thy infant, Cora?

me-yes; me- -who, for his sake, bave sacrificed-Oh, God-what have I not sacrificed for him? yet, curbing the avenging pride that swells this bosom, I still will further try him. Oh, men! ye who, wearied by the fond fidelity of virtuous love, seek in the wanton's flattery a new delight, oh, ye may insult and leave the hearts to which your faith was pledged, and, stifling self-reproach, may fear no other peril; because such hearts, howe'er you injure and desert them, have yet the proud retreat of an unspotted fame-of unreproaching conscience. But beware the desperate libertine, who forsakes the creature whom his arts have first deprived of Al. Hasten, then, to the concealment in the all natural protection-of all self-consolation!-mountains; where all our matrons and virgins, and What has he left her?-Despair and vengeance. our warriors' offspring, are allotted to await the issue of the war.-Cora will not alone resist her husband's, her sister's, and her monarch's wish.

ACT II.

[Exit.

Cora. O, no, Alonzo! A mother's love for her sweet babe is not a stealth from the dear father's store; it is a new delight that turns with quickened gratitude to him, the author of her augmented bliss.

Al. Could Cora think me serious?

Cora. I am sure he will speak soon: then will be the last of the three holidays allowed by Nature's sanction to the fond anxious mother's heart.

Al. What are those three?

Cora. The ecstacy of his birth I pass; that in part is selfish: but when first the white blossoms of his teeth appear, breaking the crimson buds that did incase them, that is a day of joy: next, when from his father's arms he runs without support, and clings, laughing and delighted, to his mother's knees, that is the mother's heart's next holiday: and sweeter still the third, whene'er his little stammering tongue shall utter the grateful sound of father, mother!-Oh! that is the dearest joy of

all!

Al. Beloved Cora!

Cora. Oh! my Alonzo! daily, hourly, do I pour thanks to Heaven for the dear blessing I possess in him and thee.

Al. To Heaven and Rolla.

Cora. Yes, to Heaven and Rolla: and art thou not grateful to them too, Alonzo? Art thou not happy?

Al. Can Cora ask that question?

Cora. Why, then, of late, so restless on thy couch? Why to my waking, watching ear, so often does the stillness of the night betray thy struggling sighs?

Cora. What! think you a mother, when she runs from danger, can feel the weight of her child? Al. Cora, my beloved, do you wish to set my heart at rest?

Cora. Oh, yes! yes! yes!

Cora. Alonzo, I cannot leave thee: Oh! how in every moment's absence would my fancy paint you, wounded, alone, abandoned! No, no, I cannot leave thee!

Al. Rolla will be with me.

Cora. Yes, while the battle rages, and where it rages most, brave Rolla will be found. He may revenge, but cannot save thee. To follow danger, he will leave even thee. But I have sworn never to forsake thee but with life. Dear, dear Alonzo! canst thou wish that I should break my vow?

Al. Then be it so. Oh! excellence in all that's great and lovely, in courage, gentleness, and truth! my pride, my content, my all! Can there on this earth be fools who seek for happiness, and pass by love in the pursuit?

Cora. Alonzo, I cannot thank thee-silence is the gratitude of true affection: who seeks to follow it by sound, will miss the track. [Shouts without.] Does the king approach?

Al. No, 'tis the general, placing the guard that will surround the temple, during the sacrifice. "Tis Rolla comes, the first and best of heroes.

ROLLA within.

Rol. Then place them on the hill fronting the Spanish camp. [Enters

Cora. Rolla! my friend, my brother! Al. Rolla! my friend, my benefactor! how can our lives repay the obligations which we owe thee?

Rol. Pass them in peace and bliss. Let Rolla witness it, he is overpaid.

Cora. Look on this child-he is the life-blood of my heart; but if ever he love or revere thee less than his own father, his mother's hate fall on him!

Rol. Oh, no more! What sacrifice have I made to merit gratitude? The object of my love was Cora's happiness. I see her happy. Is not my object gained; and am I not rewarded? Now, Cora, listen to a friend's advice. Thou must away; thou must seek the sacred caverns, the unprofaned recess, whither, after this day's sacrifice, our ma trons, and e'en the virgins of the sun, retire.

Cora. Not secure with Alonzo and with thee? Rol. We have heard Pizarro's plan is to surprise us. Thy presence, Cora, cannot aid, but may impede our efforts.

Cora. Impede!

Rol. Yes, yes. Thou know'st how tenderly we love thee; we, thy husband and thy friend. Art thou near us?-our thoughts, our valour-vengeance will not be our own. No advantage will be pursued, that leads us from the spot where thou art placed; no succour will be given but for the

protection. The faithful lover dares not be all they promise. Be our own plain answer this himself amid the war, until he knows that the be-The throne we honour is the people's choice-the loved of his soul is absent from the peril of the

fight.

Al. Thanks to my friend; 'tis this I would have urged.

Cora. This timid excess of love, producing fear instead of valour, flatters, but does not convince me: the wife is incredulous.

Rol. And is the mother unbelieving, too?

Cora. [Kisses Child.] No more. Do with me as thou pleasest. My friend, my husband! place me where thou wilt.

Al. My adored! we thank you both. [March without.] Hark! the king approaches to the sacrifice. Thou, Rolla, spokest of rumours of surprise. A servant of mine, I hear, is missing; whether surprised or treacherous, I know not.

Rol. It matters not; we are everywhere prepared.-Come, Cora, upon the altar 'mid the rocks thou'lt implore a blessing on our cause. The pious supplication of the trembling wife, and mother's heart, rises to the throne of mercy, the most resistless prayer of human homage.

[Exeunt.-ROLLA leads off CORA.-ALONZO takes the child by the hand, and follows.

SCENE II-The Temple of the Sun.-A_solemn
March. The Warriors and King enter.-ROLLA,
ALONZO, and Cona.

Ata. Welcome, Alonzo! [To ROLLA.] Kinsman, thy hand. [To CORA.] Bless'd be the object of the happy mother's love.

Cora. May the son bless the father of his people? Ata. In the welfare of his children lives the happiness of their king. Friends, what is the temper of our soldiers?

Rel. Such as becomes the cause which they support; their cry is, Victory or death! our king, our country, and our God!

Ata. Thou, Rolla, in the hour of peril, hast been wont to animate the spirit of their leaders, ere we proceed to consecrate the banners which thy valour knows so well to guard.

laws we reverence are our brave fathers' legacythe faith we follow teaches us to live in bonds of charity with all mankind, and die with hope of bliss beyond the grave. Tell your invaders this, and tell them, too, we seek no change; and, least of all, such change as they would bring us.

[Goes to the King.-Loud shouts of the Soldiery. Ata. [Embracing him.] Now, holy friends, ever mindful of these sacred truths, begin the sacrifice.

CHORUS.-Enter Priests and Virgins

Oh Pow'r supreme! in mercy smile
With favour on thy servant's toil!
Our hearts from guileful passions free,
Which here we render unto thee!
Thou Parent Light, but deign to hear
The voices of our feeble choir;
And this, our sacrifice of fear,

Consume with thine own hallow'd fire!
[Fire from above alights upon the altar.-ROLLA
and King advance to the altar.]

Give praise, give praise, the God has heard,
Our God most awfully revered!

The altar his own flames enwreath'd!
Then be the conquering sword unsheath'd,
And victory set on Rolla's brow,

His foes to crush-to overthrow!

Ata. Our offering is accepted. [Rise, and al close round, and prostrate at the altar.-Exit chorus, &c.] Now to arms, my friends, prepare for battle! [Goes with ROLLA.

Enter ORANO.

Ora. The enemy!
Ata. How near?

Ora. From the hill's brow, e'en now as I o'erlooked their force, suddenly I perceived the whole in motion: with eager haste they march towards our deserted camp, as if apprised of this most solemn sacrifice.

Rol. They must be met before they reach it. Ata. [To CORA, &c.] And you, my daughters, with your dear children, away to the appointed place of safety.

Cora. Oh, Alonzo!
Al. We shall meet again.

[Embracing him.

Cora. Bless us once more, ere thou leave us.
Al. Heaven protect and bless thee, my beloved;
and thee, my innocent!

Ata. Haste haste!-each moment is precious!
Cora. Farewell, Alonzo! Remember thy life is

mine.

Rol. [As she is passing him.] Not one farewell to Rolla?

Rol. Yet never was the hour of peril near, when to inspire them words were so little needed. My brave associates! partners of my toil, mv feelings, and my fame! Can Rolla's words add vigour to the virtuous energies which inspire your hearts? No! you have judged as I have, the foulness of the crafty plea by which these bold invaders would delude you. Your generous spirit has compared, as mine has, the motives which, in a war like this, can animate their minds and ours. They, by a strange frenzy driven, fight for power, for plunder, and extended rule. We, for our country, our altars, and our homes. They follow an adventurer whom they fear, and obey a power which they hate. We serve a monarch whom we love-a God whom we adore. Whene'er they move in anger, desolation tracks their progress!-Whene'er they pause in Ata. [Drawing his sword.] Now, my brethren, amity, affliction mourns their friendship. They my sons, my friends, I know your valour. Should boast they come but to improve our state, enlarge ill success assail us, be despair the last feeling of our thoughts, and free us from the yoke of error! your hearts. If successful, let mercy be the first. Yes-they will give enlightened freedom to our Alonzo, to thee I give to defend the narrow passage minds, who are themselves the slaves of passion, of the mountains. On the right of the wood be avarice, and pride. They offer us their protection Rolla's station. For me, straight forwards will I -yes, such protection as vultures give to lambs-march to meet them, and fight until I see my peo. covering and devouring them! They call on us to ple saved, or they behold their monarch fall. Be barter all of good we have inherited and proved, the word of battle-God! and our native land for the desperate chance of somethin better which

Cora. [Giving him her hand.] Farewell! the God of war be with thee: but bring me back Alonzo. [Exit with the Child.

[A march.-Exeunt.