ELMINA (throwing herself on the ground, and speaking in a low hurried voice). In one brief hour, all gone!-and such a death! -I see their blood gush forth!-their graceful heads— We strive with fierce impatience, which but lays Our own frail spirits prostrate? (After a long pause.) Now I know Thy hand, my God!-and they are soonest crush'd That most withstand it!-I resist no more. (She rises.)-A light, a light springs up from grief and death, Which with its solemn radiance doth reveal Why we have been thus tried! Fix my last look on thee, in holy love, Parting, but yet with hope! ELMINA (falling at his feet). Canst thou forgive ? —Oh, I have driven the arrow to thy heart, And borne the pang in silence!-I have cast Whence thou hast snatch'd it back, to bear from earth, GONZALEZ. I have stood upon that verge Within this hour whence mortals fall, And learn'd how 'tis with one whose sight grows dim, And whose foot trembles on the gulf's dark side. In pity and in love. ELMINA. Death!-And thou too Art on thy way!—Oh, joy for thee, high heart! Recoil the fierce invokings of despair, In this, thine hour of victory, thou shouldst yield GONZALEZ. Thou art! thou art! Oh! a life's love, a heart's long faithfulness, (A Citizen enters hastily.) CITIZEN. The Moors! the Moors! GONZALEZ. How is the city storm'd? Oh! righteous Heaven!-for this I look'd not yet! Hath all been done in vain ?—Why then, 'tis time For prayer, and then to rest! CITIZEN. The sun shall set, And not a Christian voice be left for prayer, GONZALEZ. Then my place Is here no longer.-I had hoped to die Of ELMINA. No, not farewell!-My soul hath risen To mate itself with thine! and by thy side As one on whom a brave man's love hath been Wasted not utterly. GONZALEZ. I thank thee, Heaven! That I have tasted of the awful joy Which thou hast given to temper hours like this, With a deep sense of thee, and of thine ends In these dread visitings! (TO ELMINA.) We will not part, But with the spirit's parting! ELMINA. One farewell To her, that mantled with sad loveliness, |