hate my memory. Thou ftill wilt live, and still wilt bePizarro. (Exit, guarded.)

Elv. Alonzo then at morn will die?

Piz Thinkeft thou yon fun will fet? As furely at his rifing fhall Alonzo die.

Elv. Then be it done; the ftring is cracked, fundered forever. But mark me, thou haft heretofore had caufe, it is true, to doubt my refolution, however offended; but mark me now, the lips which, cold and jeering, barbering revenge with rancorous mockery, can infult a falling ene. my, fhall never more receive the pledge of love or friendfhip. The arm which, unfhaken by its bloody purpose, fhall affign to needless torture the victim who avows his heart, never more fhall prefs the hand of faith! Pizarro, fcorn not my words; beware you flight them not; I feel how noble are the motives which now animate my thoughts. Who could not feel as I do, I condemn; who feeling fo, yet would not act as I fall, I defpife.

Pix I have heard the, Elvira; believe me, I pity thy tender feelings for the youth, Alonzo! he dies at firnrife!

CHAPTER CVI.

ALONZO IN CHAINS. A SENTINEL WALKING NEAR THE ENTRANCE OF ALONZO'S DUNGEON IN A ROCK.

FOR

SCENE-III.

ALONZO ALONE..

OR the last time, I have beheld the fhadowed ocean close upon the light. For the last time, through my cleft dungeon's roof, I now behold the quiv. ering luftre of the ftars. For the last time, O fun! (and foon the hour) I fhall behold thy rifing, and thy level beams melting the pale mifts of morn to glittering dew drops Then comes my death, and in the morning of my day, I fall! No, Alonzo, date not the life which thou haft run, by the mean reckoning of the hours and days, which thou haft breathed. A life fpent worthily, fhould be measured by a nobler line, by deeds, not years." Then

wouldst thou murmur not, but blefs the Providence, which in fo fhort a fpan, made thee the inftrument of wide and fpreading bleffings, to the hopeless and ope preffed! Though finking in decrepit age, he prematurely falls, whofe memory records no benefit confer. red by him on man. They only have lived long, who bave lived virtuously.

Enter a foldier; fhews the fentinel a passport, who withdraws. Al. What bear you there?

Sol. Thefe refrefhments I was ordered to leave in your dungeon.

Al. By whom ordered?

Sol. By the lady Elvira; fhe will be here herself before the dawn.

Al. Bear back to her my humbleft thanks; and take thou the refreshments, friend, I need them not.

Sol. I have ferved under you, Don Alonzo. Pardon my faying, that my heart pities you. (Exit)

Al In Pizarro's camp to pity the unfortunate, no doubt, requires forgiveness. (Looking out.) Surely, even now, thin ftreaks of glimmering light fteal on the darkness of the eaft. If fo, my life is but one hour more. I will not watch the coming dawn; but, in the darkness of my cell, my laft prayer to thee, Power Supreme! fhall be for my wife and child! Grant them to dwell in innocence and peace; grant health and purity of mind, all elfe is worthlefs. (Enters the cavern.) Cent. Who's there? answer quickly! who's there? Rol. A friar, come to vifit your prifoner.

ROLLA enters, difguifed as a Monk.

Rol. Inform me, friend; is not Alonzo, the Spanish prifoner, confined in this dungeon?

Cent. He is.

Rol I must speak with him.
Cent. You must not.

Rol. He is my friend.

Gent. Not if he were your brother.
Rol. What is to be his fate?

Cent. He dies at fun rife.

Rol. Ha then I am come in time.
Cent. Juft-to witness his death.
Rol. Soldier, I must speak with him:
R

Cent. Back, back. It is impoffible!

Rol. I do entreat you, but for one moment!
Cent. You intreat in vain; my orders are moft frict.
Rol. Even now I faw a meffenger go hence.

Cent. He brought a pafs, which we are all accustomed so obey.

Rol. Look on this wedge of maffive gold, look on these precious gems In thine own land they will be wealth for thee and thine, beyond thy hope or with. Take them, they are thine. Let me but pass one minute with Alonzo. Cent. Away! wouldft thou corrupt me? Me! an old Caftil ian! I know my duty better.

Rol. Soldier, haft thou a wife?

Cent. I have.

Rol. Haft thou children?

Cent. Four; honeft, lively boys.

Rol. Where didft thou leave them?

Cent. In my native village, even in the cot where myfelf was born.

Rol. Doft thou love thy children and thy wife?
Cent. Do I love them? most affectionately!

Rol. Soldier, imagine thou wert doomed to die a cruel death in this ftrange land; what would be thy laf request?

Cent That fome of my comrades fhould carry my dying bleffing to my wife and children.

Rol. Oh but if that com ade was at thy prifon gate, and should there be told, thy fellow foldier dies at sunrise, yet thou fhalt not for a moment fee him; nor shalt thou bear his dying bleffing to his poor children, or his wretched wife; what wouldst thou think of him, who thus could drive thy comrade from the door?

Cent How?

Rol. Alonzo has a wife and child, I am come but to receive for her and for her babe the last bleffing of my f.iend.

Cent. Go in (Retires.)

Rol O holy nature! thou dost never plead in vain. There is not, of our earth, a creature bearing form, and life, human, or favage native of the foreft, wild or giddy air, around whofe parent bofom, thou haft not a cord entwined of power to tie them to their offspring

claims, and at thy will to draw them back to thee. On iron pinions borne, the blood ftained vulture cleaves the form; yet, is the plumage clofeft to her heart, foft as the cygnet's down, and o'er her unfhelled brood, the murmuring ring dove fits not more gently! Yes; now he is beyond the porch, barring the outer gate; Alonzo! Alonzo my friend! Ha! in gentle fleep! Alonzo! rife! Al. How Is my hour elapfed? Well, I am ready. Rol Alonzo, know me.

Al. What voice is that?

Rul. 'Tis Rolla's

Al. Rolla! my friend! (Embraces him.) Heavens ! how couldft thou pafs the guard? did this habitRol. The guard withdrawn ; there is not a

moment

to be loft in words; this difguife I tore from the dead body of a friar, as I paffed our field of battle; it has gained me entrance to thy dungeon; now take it thou and fly

Al And Rolla

Rol. Will remain here in thy place

Al. And die for me! No! rather eternal tortures rack me.

Rol. I fhall not die, Alonzo. It is thy life Pizarro feeks, not Rolla's, and from prifon foon will thy arm deliver me; or, fhould it be otherwife, I am as a blighted plantain standing alone amid the fandy defert: nothing feeks or lives beneath my felter; thou art a father and a husband; the being of a lovely wife and helplefs infant hang upon thy life. Go! go! Alonzo, go! to fave, not thyfelf, but Cora and thy child!

Al Urge me not thus, my friend; I had prepared to die in peace.

Rol To die in peace devoting a tender wife and babe to mifery, to madness, and to death! For, be affured, the ftate I left her in forbids all hope, but from thy quick

return.

Al. Alas! what a painful thought!

Rol. If thou art yet irrefolute, Alonzo, now heed me well. I think thou haft not known that Rolla ever pledged his word, and fhrunk from its fulfilment. And, in truth declare, if thou art proudly obstinate

to deny thy friend the tranfport of preferving Cora's life, in thee; no power that sways the will of man fhall ftir me hence; and thou wilt have the desperate triumph of feeing Rolla perish by thy fide, with the affured conviction that Cora, and thy child are loft for ever. Al. Oh! Rolla you distract me!

Rol. A moment's further paufe, and all is loft. The dawn approaches; fear not for me; I will treat with Pizarro as for furrender and fubmiffion; I fhall gain time, doubt not, while thou with a chofen band, passing the fecret way, mayeft at night return, release thy friend, and bear him back in triumph. Yes; halten, dear Alonzo Even now I hear the frantic Cora call thee; Hafte! Hafte! Hafte!

Al. Rolla, I fear your friendship drives me from honour, and from right.

Rol Did Rolla ever counsel difhonour to his friend?" Al Oh! my preferver ! (Embraces him.")

Rol. I feel thy warm tears dropping on my cheek : Go! I am rewarded, (Throws the friar's garment over Alonzo.) There! conceal thy face; and that they may not clank, hold faft thy chains. Now may kind Providence profper thee !

Al. At night we meet again. Then, fo aid me Heaven! I return to fave, or perish with thee! (Exit.)

Rol. He has paffed the outer porch. He is fafe! He will foon embrace his wife and child! now, Cora, didst thou not wrong me? This is the first time throughout my life I ever deceived man. Forgive me, Oh, thou God of truth! If I am wrong. Alonzo flatters himself that we fhall meet again. Yes, there! (Lifting his hands to Heaven) affuredly, we fhall meet again; there poffefs in peace, the joys of everlasting love and friendship; on earth, imperfect, and embittered. I will retire, left the guard return before Alonzo may have paffed their lines.

CHAPTER CVII.

ROLLA AND ELVIRA.

Elv. WHO art thou? Where is Alonzo ?

Elv. Fled?

Rol. Alonzo is fled.