And we will cast our worthless grandeur from us,
As 'twere a cumbrous robe !-Why, thou art one,
To whose high nature pomp hath ever been
But as the plumage to a warrior's helm,
Worn or thrown off as lightly. And for me,
Thou knowest not how serenely I could take
The peasant's lot upon me, so my heart,
Amidst its deep affections undisturb'd,
May dwell in silence.

ΧΙΜΕΝΑ.

Father! doubt thou not

But we will bind ourselves to poverty,

With glad devotedness, if this, but this,

May win them back.—Distrust us not, my father!

We can bear all things.

GONZALEZ.

Can ye bear disgrace?

XIMENA.

We were not born for this.

GONZALEZ.

No, thou sayst well!

Hold to that lofty faith.-My wife, my child!
Hath earth no treasures richer than the gems
Torn from her secret caverns?—If by them

Chains may be riven, then let the captive spring
Rejoicing to the light!-But he, for whom
Freedom and life may but be won with shame,
Hath nought to do, save fearlessly to fix

His stedfast look on the majestic heavens,
And proudly die!

ELMINA.

Gonzalez, who must die?

GONZALEZ (hurriedly).

They on whose lives a fearful price is set,
But to be paid by treason!-Is 't enough?
Or must I yet seek words?

ELMINA.

That look saith more!

Thou canst not mean

GONZALEZ.

I do! why dwells there not

Power in a glance to speak it?—They must die!

They must their names be told-Our sons must die Unless I yield the city!

ΧΙΜΕΝΑ.

Oh! look up!

My mother, sink not thus !-Until the grave
Shut from our sight its victims, there is hope.

ELMINA (in a low voice).

Whose knell was in the breeze?—No, no, not theirs!
Whose was the blessed voice that spoke of hope?

-And there is hope!-I will not be subdued-
I will not hear a whisper of despair!

For Nature is all-powerful, and her breath
Moves like a quickening spirit o'er the depths
Within a father's heart.-Thou too, Gonzalez,
Wilt tell me there is hope!

GONZALEZ (solemnly).

Hope but in Him

Who bade the patriarch lay his fair young son
Bound on the shrine of sacrifice, and when
The bright steel quiver'd in the father's hand
Just raised to strike, sent forth his awful voice
Through the still clouds, and on the breathless air,
Commanding to withhold!—Earth has no hope,
It rests with Him.

ELMINA.

Thou canst not tell me this!

Thou father of my sons, within whose hands

Doth lie thy children's fate.

GONZALEZ.

If there have been

Men in whose bosoms Nature's voice hath made

Its accents as the solitary sound

Of an o'erpowering torrent, silencing

Th' austere and yet divine remonstrances

Whisper'd by faith and honour, lift thy hands,

And, to that Heaven, which arms the brave with strength, Pray, that the father of thy sons may ne'er

Be thus found wanting!

ELMINA.

Then their doom is seal'd!

Thou wilt not save thy children?

GONZALEZ.

Hast thou cause,

Wife of my youth! to deem it lies within

The bounds of possible things, that I should link
My name to that word—traitor ?—They that sleep
On their proud battle-fields, thy sires and mine,
Died not for this!

ELMINA.

Oh, cold and hard of heart!

Thou shouldst be born for empire, since thy soul
Thus lightly from all human bonds can free
Its haughty flight!-Men! men! too much is
Of vantage; ye, that with a sound, a breath,

yours

A shadow, thus can fill the desolate space
Of rooted up affections, o'er whose void

Our yearning hearts must wither!-So it is,
Dominion must be won!-Nay, leave me not—
My heart is bursting, and I must be heard!
Heaven hath given power to mortal agony

As to the elements in their hour of might
And mastery o'er creation!-Who shall dare

To mock that fearful strength ?—I must be heard!
Give me my sons!

GONZALEZ.

That they may live to hide

With covering hands th' indignant flush of shame
On their young brows, when men shall speak of him
They call'd their father!—Was the oath, whereby,
On th' altar of my faith, I bound myself,
With an unswerving spirit to maintain
This free and christian city for my God,

And for my king, a writing traced on sand?

That passionate tears should wash it from the earth,

Or e'en the life-drops of a bleeding heart

Efface it, as a billow sweeps away

The last light vessel's wake?—Then never more

Let man's deep vows be trusted!-though enforced