"Al. Rolla!-my friend!-(Embraces him.) Heavens ! how could't thou pass the guard? Did this habit "Rol. There is not a moment to be loft in words;-this difguife I tore from the dead body of a friar, as I pafs'd our field of battle-it has gain'd me entrance to thy dungeonnow 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 seeks, not Rolla's-and from my prifon foon will thy arm deliver me ;—or, should it be otherwife-I.am as a blighted plantain ftanding alone amid the fandy defart--Nothing seeks or lives beneath my shelter-Thou art a husband, and a father-The being of a lovely wife and helpless infant hang upon thy life -Go! Go!-Alonzo !-Go-to fave-not thy felf-but Cora, and thy child! "Al. Urge me not thus, my friend-I had prepar'd to die in peace. "Rol. To die in peace!-devoting her you've fworn to live for,-to madnefs, mifery, and death!-For, be affured-the ftate I left her in forbids all hope but from thy quick re turn. "Al. Oh! God! "Rol. If thou art yet irrefolute, Alonzo-now heed me well. I think thou haft not known that Rolla ever pledg'd his word, and shrunk from its fulfilment.-And, by the heart of truth I swear, if thou art proudly obftinate to deny thy friend the tranfport of preferving Cora's life, in thee,-no power that fways the will of man fhall ftir me hence ;-and thoul't but have the defperate triumph of feeing Rolla perish by thy fide, with the affur'd conviction, that Cora and thy child are loft for ever. "Al. Oh! Rolla!-you diftract 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, paffing the fecret way, may'it at night return-release thy friend, and bear him back • in in triumph-Yes hatten-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 !-(Embracing 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, bold fast thy chains-Now-God be with thee! "Al. At night we meet again-Then,-so aid me heaven! I return to fave-or-perish with thee! [Exit. "Rol. (Alone.) He has pafs'd the outer potch-He is fafe! -He will foon embrace his wife and child!-Now, Cora, did'fit thou not wrong me? This is the first time throughout my life I ever deceived man-Forgive me, God of truth! if I am wrong-Alonzo flatters himfelf that we shall 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 embitter'd -I will retire, left the guard return before Alonzo may have pafs'd their lines. [Retires into the Recefs. The charming fcenes which exhibit Rolla faving Cora's child, form the conclufion. We muft indulge ourselves and our readers in transcribing them. "Enter PIZARRO. "Piz. What do I fee! Rolla! "Rol. O to thy surprise, no doubt. "Piz. And bound too! "Rol. So faft, thou need'ft not fear approaching me. "Alm. The guards furpris'd him, paffing our out-poft. "Piz. Relcafe him inftantly.-Believe me, I regret this infult. "Rol. You feel then as you ought. "Piz. Nor can I brook to fee a warrior of Rolla's fame difarm'd-Accept this, tho' it has been thy enemy's. (Gives a fword) The Spaniards know the courtefy that's due to valour. "Rol. And the Peruvian, how to forget offence. Dd 2 "Piz. "Piz. May not Rolla and Pizarro cease to be foes? "Rol. When the fea divides us; yes!-May I now depart? "Pix. Freely. "Rol. And thall I not again be intercepted? "Piz. No!-let the word be given that Rolla paffes freely. " Enter DAVILLA and Soldiers, with the Child. "Dav. Here are two foldiers, captived yesterday, who have efcap'd from the Peruvian hold, and by the fecret way we have fo long endeavoured to discover. "Piz. Silence,-imprudent! Seeft thou not- - ? (pointing to Rolla.) "Dav. In their way they found a Peruvian child, who feems "Piz. What is the imp to me?—Bid them tofs it into the fea. "Rol. Gracious heaven! it is Alonzo's child!-give it to me. "Piz. Ha! Alonzo's child!-Welcome, thou pretty hof. tage. Now Alonzo is again my prisoner! "Rel. Thou wilt not keep the infant from its mother? "Piz. Will I not!-What, when I fhall meet Alonzo in the heat of the victorious fight-think'st thou I shall not have a check upon the valour of his heart, when he is reminded that a word of mine is this child's death? "Rol. I do not understand you. "Piz. My vengeance has a long arrear of hate to fettle with Alonzo!-and this pledge may help to fettle the account. "Rol. Man! Man!-Art thou a man? Could't thou hurt that innocent?-By heaven! its smiling in thy face. "Piz. Tell me, does it resemble Cora? "Rol. Pizarro! thou haft fet my heart on fire.-If thou do'ft harm that child-think not his blood will fink into the barren fand-No!-faithful to the eager hope that now trembles in this indignant heart-'twill rife to the common God of nature and humanity, and cry aloud for vengeance on its ac curs'd destroyer's head. "Piz. Be that peril mine. Rol. "Rol. (Throwing himself at his feet.) Behold me at thy feet-Me, Rolla !-Me, the preferver of thy life!--Me, that have never yet bent or bow'd before created man!-In humble agony I fue to you-proftrate I implore you-but spare that child, and I will be your flave. "Piz. Rolla! ftill art thou free to go-this boy remains with me. "Rol. Then was this fword heaven's gift, not thine! (Seizes the Child)-Who moves one step to follow me, dies upon the spot. [Exit with the Child. "Piz. Purfue him inftantly-but fpare his life. [Exeunt Almagro and Soldiers.] With what fury he defends himself! -Ha-he fells them to the ground-and now——— "Enter ALMAGRO. "Alm. Three of your brave foldiers are already victims to your command to fpare this madman's life; and if he once gains the thicket "Piz. Spare him no longer. [Exit Almagro.] Their guns must reach him-he'll yet efcape-holloa to thofe horfe -the Peruvian fees them-and now he turns among the rocks then is his retreat cut off. (Rolla croffes the wooden bridge over the cataract, pursued by the foldiers they fire at him-a shot firikes him-Pizarro exclaims "Piz. Now! quick! quick! feize the child !- (Rolla tears from the rock the tree which fupports the bridge, and retreats by the back ground, bearing off the child.) "Re-enter ALMAGRO. "Alm. By hell! he has escaped!-and with the child unhurt. "Dav. No-he bears his death with him.-Believe me, I faw him struck upon the fide. "Piz. But the child is fav'd-Alonzo's child! Oh! the furies of difappointed vengeance! "Alm. Away with the revenge of words-let us to deeds. Forget not we have acquired the knowledge of the fecret pafs, which thro' the rocky cavern's gloom brings you at once to the ftrong hold, where are lodg'd their women and their treafures, Dd 3 "Piz "Piz. Right, Almagro! Swift as thy thought draw forth a daring and a chosen band-I will not wait for numbers.→ Stay, Almagro! Valverde is informed Elvira dies to-day? Alm. He is and one request alone fhe "Piz. I'll hear of none. "Alm. The boon is small-'tis but for the noviciate habit which you firft beheld her in-fhe wishes not to suffer in the gaudy trappings, which remind her of her fhame. "Piz. Well, do as thou wilt-but tell Valverde, that at our return, as his life fhall answer it, to let me hear that the is dead. [Exeunt, feverally, SCENE III. Ataliba's Tent. "Enter ATALIBA, follow'd by CORA and ALONZO. "Cora. Oh! Avoid nie not, Ataliba! To whom, but to her King, is the wretched mother to address her griefs?—The Gods refuse to hear my prayers? Did not my Alonzo fight for you?-and will not my fweet boy, if thou'lt but reftore him to me, one day fight thy battles too? "Alon. Oh! my fuffering love-my poor heart-broken Cora!-you but wound our fovereign's feeling foul, and not relieve thy own. "Cora. Is he our fovereign, and has he not the power to give me back my child? "Ata. When I reward defert, or can relieve my people, I feel what is the real glory of a king-when I hear them fuffer, and cannot aid them, I mourn the impotence of all mortal power. (Voices behind) Rolla! Rolla! Rolla! "Enter ROLLA, bleeding, with the Child, follow'd by Peruvian Soldiers. "Rol. Thy child (gives the child into Cora's arms, and falls.) "Cora. Oh God!-there's blood upon him! "Rol. 'Tis my blood, Cora! "Alon. Rolla, thou dieft! Rol. For thee, and Cora.-(Dies.) "Enter |