XIMENA. Why should this be? GONZALEZ enters, and detains ELMINA. GONZALEZ. Elmina, dost thou shun me?-Have we not, 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 GONZALEZ. This is but The wildness and the bitterness of grief, Ere yet the unsettled heart hath closed its long 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 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, ELMINA. May this be borne ?-How much of agony 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 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, Ne'er hath thine eye till now shrunk back perturb'd With shame or dread, from mine! Thou never hadst !—Yet hear me !—by the free And unattainted fame which wraps the dust Of thine heroic fathers |