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"Ata. How impious, had I murmured! How wondrous, thou fupreme Difpofer, are thy acts! Even in this moment, which I had thought the bittereft trial of mortal fuffering, thou haft infused the sweetest sensation of my life-it is the affurance of my people's love.

"Boy. (Turning forward.) O, father!-Stranger, fee those hideous men that rufh upon us yonder!

"Ata. Ha! Spaniards! And I-Ataliba-ill-fated fugitive, without a fword even to try the ransom of a moBarch's life.

"Enter DAVILLA, ALMAGRO, and Spanish Soldiers.

"Dav. 'Tis he-our hopes are answered-I know him well-It is the King.

"Alm. Away! Follow with your royal prize. Avoid thofe Peruvians, though in flight. This way we may regain our line.

[Exeunt Davilla, Almagro, and Soldiers, with Ataliba

prifoner.

"Old Man. The King! Wretched old man, that could not fee his gracious form !-Boy, would thou hadst led me to the reach of thofe ruffians' fwords!

"Bay. Father! all our countrymen are flying here for refuge.

"Old Man. No-to the refcue of their King-they never will defert him. (Alarms without.)

"Enter Peruvian Officers and Soldiers, flying across the flage; ORANO following.

"Ora. Hold, I charge you! Rolla calls you. "Officer. We cannot combat with their dreadful engines.

"Enter ROLLA.

"Rol. Hold, recreants! cowards!-What, fear ye death, and fear not shame? By my foul's fury, I'll cleave to the earth the first of you that ftirs, or plunge your daftard fwords into your leader's heart, that he no more may witness your difgrace. Where is the King?

"Ora. From this old man and boy I learn that the detache ment of the enemy which you obferved fo fuddenly to quit the

field,

field, have fuccceded in furprifing him; they are yet in fight.

"Ro!. And bear the Inca off a prifoner?-Hear this, ye base difloyal rout! Look there! The duft you fee hangs on the bloody Spaniards track, dragging with ruffian taunts your King, your father!-Ataliba in bondage. Now fly, and feek your own vile fafety, if you can.

"Old Man. Blefs the voice of Rolla-and bless the stroke I once lamented, but which now fpares these extinguished eyes the shame of seeing the pale trembling wretches who dare not follow Rolla though to fave their King!

"Rol. Shrink ye from the thunder of the foe-and fall ye not at this rebuke? Oh! had ye each but one drop of the loyal blood which gushes to waste through the brave heart of this fightlefs veteran! Eternal fhame pursue you, if you defert me now!-But do-alone I go-alone-to die with glory by my monarch's fide.

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"Soldiers. Rolla! we'll follow thee. (Trumpets found; Rolla rushes out, followed by Orano, Officers, and Soldiers)

"Old Man. O godlike Rolla-And thou fun, fend from thy clouds avenging lightning to his aid!-Haste, my boy; afcend fome height, and tell to my impatient terror what thou feeft.

"Boy. I can climb this rock, and the tree above. (afcends a rock, and from thence into the tree) O-now I fee themnow-yes-and the Spaniards turning by the steep. "Old Man. Rolla follows them?

"Boy. He does-he does-he moves like an arrow! now he waves his arm to our foldiers-(Report of cannon heard.] Now there is fire and fmoke.

"Old Man. Yes fire is the weapon of those fiends.

"Boy. The wind blows off the fmoke: they are all mixed together.

"Old Man. Seeft thou the King?

"Boy. Yes-Rolla is near him! His fword fheds fire as he ftrikes!

"Old Man. Blefs thee, Rolla! Spare not the monsters. "Boy. Father! father! the Spaniards fly '-O-now I fee the King embracing Rolla. (Waving his cup for joy. Shouts of victory, flourish of trumpets, &c.)

« Old

"Old Man. (Falls on his knees.) Fountain of life! how can my exhaufted breath bear to thee thanks for this one moment of my life! My boy, come down, and let me kifs thee-My #rength is gone! (The Bay having run to the Old Man,)

"Boy. Let me help you, father-You tremble fo"Old Man. 'Tis with transport, boy!

[Boy leads the Old Man off.

Rolla exchanging the Prison with Alonzą, contains fome noble fentiments.

ACT IV.

SCENE I.

"A Dungeon in the Rock, near the Spanish Camp.-ALONZO in Chains.-4 Centinel walking near the Entrance.

"Alonzo. For the last time, I have beheld the shadow'd ocean close upon the light.-For the last time, thro' my cleft dungeon's roof, I now behold the quivering luftre of the stars. For the last time, O fun! (and foon the hour) I shall 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, which-No, Alonzo, date not the life which thou haft run, by the mean reck'ning of the hours and days which thou haft breath'd: a life fpent worthily fhould be meafured by a nobler line-by deeds-not yearsThen woud'st thou murmur not-but blefs the Providence, which in fo fhort a span, made THEE the instrument of wide and fpreading bleffings to the helplefs and opprefs'd!-Tho' finking in decrepid age-нE prematurely falls, whose memory records no benefit conferred by him on man: They only have lived long, who have lived virtuously.

"Enter a Soldier-fhers the Centinel a Passport, who withdraws.

"Alonzo. What bear you there?

"Sol. Thefe refreshments I was order'd to leave in your dungeon.

"Al. By whom order'd?

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

« Al.

"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.

"A. In Pizarro's camp, to pity the unfortunate, no doubt requires forgiveness.-Looking out Surely, even now, thin ftreaks of glimmering light steal on the darkness of the east.If fo, my life is but one hour more.-I will not watch the coming dawn; but in the darkness of my cell, my last prayer to thee, Power Supreme! fhall be for my wife and childGrant them to dwell in innocence and peace; grant health and purity of mind-all else his worthless. (Enters the Cavern.} "Cent. Who's there? anfwer quickly! who's there? "Rol. A friar, come to vifit your prisoner.

"ROLLA enters, disguised as a Monk.

"Rol. Inform me, friend-Is not Alonzo, the Spanish prifoner, confined in this dungeon.

"Gen. He is.

"Rol. I must fpeak with him.

"Cen. You must not.

"Rol. He is my friend.

"Cen. Not if he were your brother.

"Rol. What is to be his fate?

"Cen. He dies at fun-rife.

"Rol. Ha!-then I am come in time.

Cen. Juft

to witnefs his death.

"Rol. Soldier-I muft speak with him.

"Cen. Back, back.-It is impoffible!

"Rol. I do entreat you, but for one moment!

"Gen. You entreat in vain-my orders are most strict, "Rol. Even now, I faw a meffenger go hence.

"Cen. He brought a país, which we are all accustomed to obey.

"Rol. Look on this wedge of maffive gold-look on these precious gems. In thy own land they will be wealth for thee and thine, beyond thy hope or with. Take them-they are thine. Let me but pafs one minute with Alonzo.

"Cen. Away! woud'ft thou corrupt me Me! an old Caftilian I know my dary better.

"Rol. Soldier !-hait thou a wife?

❝ Cen.

"Cen. I have.

"Rol. Haft thou children?

"Cen. Four-honeft, lively boys.

"Rol. Where did't thou leave them?

"Cen. In my native village-even in the cot where myself was born.

"Rol. Do'st thou love thy children and thy wife?

"Cen. Do I love them! God knows my heart,-I do.

"Rol. Soldier! imagine thou wer't doom'd to die a cruel death in this ftrange land-What would be thy last request? "Cen. That fome of my comrades should carry my dying bleffing to my wife and children.

"Rol. Oh! but if that comrade was at thy prifon gateand should there be told thy fellow foldier dies at funrife, yet thou shalt not for a moment fee him-nor fhalt thou bear his dying bleffing to his poor children or his wretched wife, what would't thou think of him, who thus cou'd drive thy comrade from the door?

"Cen. 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 friend.

"Cen. Go in.-(Retires.)

"Rol. Oh! 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 forest wild, or giddy air-around whofe parent bofom, THOU haft not a cord entwined of power to tie them to their offspring's claims, and at thy will to draw them back to thee. On iron pennons borne-the blood-flain'd vulture cleaves the ftorm-yet, is the plumage clofeft to her heart, foft as the Cygnet's down, and o'er her unfhell'd 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 elaps'd?-Well, (returning from the recess, I am ready.

"Rol. Alonzo,-know me, "Al. What voice is that?

Rol. 'Tis Rolla's.

VOL. VII.

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