XIMENA (exultingly).

Be thou glad!

I say, rejoice above thy favour'd child!
Joy, for the soldier when his field is fought,
Joy, for the peasant when his vintage-task

Is closed at eve!-But most of all for her,
Who, when her life had changed its glittering robes
For the dull garb of sorrow, which doth cling

So heavily around the journeyers on,

Cast down its weight-and slept !

ELMINA.

Alas! thine eye

Is wandering—yet how brightly!Is this death,

Or some high wondrous vision ?-Speak, my child!
How is it with thee now?

XIMENA (wildly).

I see it still!

'Tis floating, like a glorious cloud on high,

My father's banner !-Hear'st thou not a sound?
The trumpet of Castile ?-Praise, praise to Heaven!

-Now may the weary rest!-Be still!-Who calls
The night so fearful?-

[She dies.

ELMINA.

No! she is not dead!

-Ximena!-speak to me !-Oh! yet a tone
From that sweet voice, that I may gather in
One more remembrance of its lovely sound,
Ere the deep silence fall!-What! is all hush'd?
-No, no!-it cannot be !-How should we bear
The dark misgivings of our souls, if Heaven
Left not such beings with us?-But is this
Her wonted look?—too sad a quiet lies

On its dim fearful beauty !—Speak, Ximena !
Speak!—my heart dies within me !—She is gone,
With all her blessed smiles!-My child! my child!
Where art thou?-Where is that which answer'd me,
From thy soft-shining eyes?-Hush! doth she move?
-One light lock seem'd to tremble on her brow,
As a pulse throbb'd beneath;-'twas but the voice
Of my despair that stirr'd it!-She is gone!

[She throws herself on the body. GONZALEZ
enters, alone, and wounded.

ELMINA (rising as he approaches).

I must not now be scorn'd !—No, not a look,
A whisper of reproach!-Behold my woe!
-Thou canst not scorn me now!

GONZALEZ.

Hast thou heard all?

ELMINA.

Thy daughter on my bosom laid her head,
And pass'd away to rest. Behold her there,
Even such as death hath made her! 8

GONZALEZ (bending over XIMENA's body).
Thou art gone

A little while before me, oh, my child!

Why should the traveller weep to part with those
That scarce an hour will reach their promised land
Ere he too cast his pilgrim staff away,

And spread his couch beside them?

ELMINA.

Must it be

Henceforth enough that once a thing so fair
Had its bright place amongst us ?-Is this all,
Left for the years to come?-We will not stay!
Earth's chain each hour grows weaker.

GONZALEZ (still gazing upon XIMENA).

To slumber in the shadow, blessed child!

Of a yet stainless altar, and beside

And thou 'rt laid

A sainted warrior's tomb !-Oh, fitting place

For thee to yield thy pure heroic soul

Back unto him that gave it !—And thy cheek

Yet smiles in its bright paleness!

ELMINA.

Hadst thou seen

The look with which she pass'd!

GONZALEZ (still bending over her).
Why, 'tis almost

Like joy to view thy beautiful repose!
The faded image of that perfect calm
Floats, e'en as long-forgotten music, back
Into my weary heart!-No dark wild spot
On thy clear brow doth tell of bloody hands
That quench'd young life by violence !-We have seen

Too much of horror, in one crowded hour,

To weep for aught, so gently gather'd hence!

-Oh! man leaves other traces!

ELMINA (suddenly starting).

It returns

On my bewilder'd soul !-Went ye not forth

Unto the rescue ?-And thou 'rt here alone!

Where are my sons?

GONZALEZ (solemnly).

We were too late!

ELMINA.

Hast thou nought else to tell me?

GONZALEZ.

Too late!

I brought back

From that last field the banner of my sires,

And my own death-wound.

ELMINA.

Thine!

GONZALEZ.

Another hour

Shall hush its throbs forever. I go hence,

And with me

ELMINA.

No!-Man could not lift his hands

-Where hast thou left thy sons?

GONZALEZ.

I have no sons.

ELMINA.

What hast thou said?

GONZALEZ.

That now there lives not one

To wear the glory of mine ancient house,

When I am gone to rest.