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XIMENA.

Why should this be?

GONZALEZ enters, and detains ELMINA.

GONZALEZ.

Elmina, dost thou shun me?-Have we not,
E'en from the hopeful and the sunny time
When youth was as a glory round our brows,
Held on through life together?-And is this,
When eve is gathering round us, with the gloom
Of stormy clouds, a time to part our steps

Upon the darkening wild?

ELMINA (coldly).

There needs not this.

Why shouldst thou think I shunn'd thee?

GONZALEZ.

Should the love

That shone o'er many years, th' unfading love,

Whose only change hath been from gladdening smiles To mingling sorrows and sustaining strength,

Thus lightly be forgotten?

ELMINA.

Speak'st thou thus?

-I have knelt before thee with that very plea,

When it avail'd me not!-But there are things

Whose very breathings on the soul erase
All record of past love, save the chill sense
Th' unquiet memory of its wasted faith,
And vain devotedness!-Aye! they that fix
Affection's perfect trust on aught of earth,
Have many a dream to start from!

GONZALEZ.

This is but

The wildness and the bitterness of grief,

Ere yet the unsettled heart hath closed its long
Impatient conflicts with a mightier power,

Which makes all conflict vain.

-Hark! was there not

A sound of distant trumpets, far beyond

The Moorish tents, and of another tone

Than th' Afric horn, Ximena?

ΧΙΜΕΝΑ.

Oh, my father!

I know that horn too well.-'Tis but the wind,

Which, with a sudden rising, bears its deep

And savage war-note from us, wafting it

O'er the far hills.

GONZALEZ.

Alas! this woe must be!

I do but shake my spirit from its height
So startling it with hope!-But the dread hour
Shall be met bravely still. I can keep down
Yet for a little while-and Heaven will ask
No more-the passionate workings of my heart;
-And thine-Elmina?

I have prepared for all.

ELMINA.

"Tis-I am prepared.

GONZALEZ.

Oh, well I knew

Thou wouldst not fail me!-Not in vain my soul,

Upon thy faith and courage, hath built up

Unshaken trust.

ELMINA (wildly).

Away!-thou know'st me not!

Man dares too far, his rashness would invest

This our mortality with an attribute

Too high and awful, boasting that he knows

One human heart!

GONZALEZ.

These are wild words, but yet

I will not doubt thee!—Hast thou not been found

Noble in all things, pouring thy soul's light

Undimm'd o'er every trial?—And, as our fates,
So must our names be, undivided !—Thine,
I' th' record of a warrior's life, shall find
Its place of stainless honour.-By his side-

ELMINA.

May this be borne ?-How much of agony
Hath the heart room for ?-Speak to me in wrath-

I can endure it!-But no gentle words!

No words of love! no praise!-Thy sword might slay, And be more merciful!

GONZALEZ.

Wherefore art thou thus?

Elmina, my beloved!

ELMINA.

No more of love!'

-Have I not said there's that within my heart,

Whereon it falls as living fire would fall

Upon an unclosed wound?

GONZALEZ.

Nay, lift thine eyes

That I may read their meaning!

ELMINA.

Never more

With a free soul-What have I said?-'twas nought!

Take thou no heed! The words of wretchedness

Admit not scrutiny. Wouldst thou mark the speech
Of troubled dreams?

GONZALEZ.

I have seen thee in the hour

Of thy deep spirit's joy, and when the breath

Of grief hung chilling round thee; in all change,
Bright health and drooping sickness; hope and fear;
Youth and decline; but never yet, Elmina,

Ne'er hath thine eye till now shrunk back perturb'd

With shame or dread, from mine!

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Thou never hadst !—Yet hear me !—by the free

And unattainted fame which wraps the dust

Of thine heroic fathers

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