ELMINA.

This to me!

-Bring your inspiring war-notes, and your sounds
Of festal music round a dying man!

Will his heart echo them?-But if thy words
Were spells, to call up, with each lofty tone,
The grave's most awful spirits, they would stand
Powerless before my anguish !

GONZALEZ.

Then, by her,

Who there looks on thee in the purity

Of her devoted youth, and o'er whose name

No blight must fall, and whose pale cheek must ne'er
Burn with that deeper tinge, caught painfully

From the quick feeling of dishonour.-Speak!
Unfold this mystery!-By thy sons-

ELMINA.

And canst thou name them?

My sons!

GONZALEZ.

Proudly!-Better far

They died with all the promise of their youth,

And the fair honour of their house upon them,

Than that with manhood's high and passionate soul

To fearful strength unfolded, they should live,
Barr'd from the lists of crested chivalry,

And pining, in the silence of a woe,

Which from the heart shuts daylight ;-o'er the shame Of those who gave them birth!-But thou couldst ne'er Forget their lofty claims!

ELMINA (wildly).

"Twas but for them!

"Twas for them only !-Who shall dare arraign
Madness of crime?-And he who made us, knows

There are dark moments of all hearts and lives,
Which bear down reason!

GONZALEZ.

Thou, whom I have loved

With such high trust, as o'er our nature threw

A glory, scarce allow'd ;-what hast thou done?

-Ximena, go thou hence!

ELMINA.

No, no! my child!

There's pity in thy look!-All other eyes

Are full of wrath and scorn!-Oh! leave me not!

GONZALEZ.

That I should live to see thee thus abased!

-Yet speak?-What hast thou done?

ELMINA.

Look to the gate!

Thou 'rt worn with toil-but take no rest to-night!
The western gate!-Its watchers have been won-
The Christian city hath been bought and sold!
They will admit the Moor!

GONZALEZ.

They have been won !

Brave men and tried so long!-Whose work was this?

ELMINA.

Think'st thou all hearts like thine?-Can mothers stand To see their children perish?

Was thine?

GONZALEZ.

Then the guilt

ELMINA.

-Shall mortal dare to call it guilt?

I tell thee, Heaven, which made all holy things,
Made nought more holy than the boundless love
Which fills a mother's heart!-I say, 'tis woe
Enough, with such an aching tenderness,
To love aught earthly !—and in vain! in vain!
-We are press'd down too sorely!

GONZALEZ (in a low desponding voice).
Now my life

Is struck to worthless ashes!-In my soul
Suspicion hath ta'en root. The nobleness
Henceforth is blotted from all human brows,
And fearful power, a dark and troublous gift,
Almost like prophecy, is pour'd upon me,
To read the guilty secrets in each eye

That once look'd bright with truth!

-Why then I have gain'd

What men call wisdom!-A new sense, to which

All tales that speak of high fidelity,

And holy courage, and proud honour, tried,
Search'd, and found stedfast, even to martyrdom,
Are food for mockery!-Why should I not cast
From my thinn'd locks the wearing helm at once,
And in the heavy sickness of my soul

Throw the sword down for ever? Is there aught
In all this world of gilded hollowness,

Now the bright hues drop off its loveliest things,
Worth striving for again?

ΧΙΜΕΝΑ.

Turn unto me, thy child!

Father! look up!

GONZALEZ.

Thy face is fair;

And hath been unto me, in other days,

As morning to the journeyer of the deep;

But now-'tis too like hers!

ELMINA (falling at his feet).

Woe, shame and woe,

Are on me in their might !-forgive, forgive!

GONZALEZ (starting up).

Doth the Moor deem that I have part or share,
Or counsel in this vileness?-Stay me not!
Let go thy hold-'tis powerless on me now-
I linger here, while treason is at work!

[Exit GONZALEZ.

ELMINA.

Ximena, dost thou scorn me?

XIMENA.

I have found

In mine own heart too much of feebleness,

Hid, beneath many foldings, from all eyes

But His whom nought can blind;-to dare do aught
But pity thee, dear mother!

ELMINA.

Blessings light

On thy fair head, my gentle child, for this!