will

20 SOL. Well, in our escape from the enemy, to have discovered their secret passage through the rocks, prove a lucky chance to us-Pizarro will reward us.

IST SOL. This way. The sun, though clouded, is on our left. [Perceives the Child.] What have we here? A child? as I'm a soldier.

2D SOL. 'Tis a sweet little babe. Now would it be a great charity to take this infant from its pagan mother's power.

IST SOL. It would so. I have one at home shall play with it. Come along. [Takes the Child.—Exeunt, R.

Re-enter CORA and Alonzo, L. S. E.

CORA. [Speaking without.] This way, dear Alonzo. Now am I right-there-there-under that tree. Was it possible the instinct of a mother's heart could mistake the spot! Now, wilt thou look at him as he sleeps, or shall I bring him waking with his full blue laughing eyes to welcome thee at once? Yes-yes. Stand thou there; I'll snatch him from his rosy slumber, blushing like the perfum'd morn.

[Finding only the mantle and veil, which she tears from the ground, and the child gone, she screams.

AL. [Running to her.] Cora! my heart's beloved.
CORA. He is gone!

AL. Eternal God!

CORA. He is gone!—my child, my child!
AL. Where didst thou leave him?

CORA. [Dashing herself on the spot.] Here!

AL. Be calm, beloved Cora! he has awak'd and crept to a little distance-we shall find him. Are you assured this was the spot you left him in?

CORA. (R.) Did not these hands make that bed, and shelter for him? And is not this the veil that covered him? O, unnatural mother that I was. I left my child—I forsook my innocent-but I will fly to the earth's brink, but I will find him.

[Runs out, R., takes up mantle, followed by Alonzo.

7

SCENE II.-The Outpost of the Spanish Camp, and a Bridge. [Trumpets sound without.]

ALMAGRO.-Without, L.]

Bear him along-his story must be false.-[Entering.] ROLLA in chains, brought in by Soldiers, L.

ROL. (L.) False! Rolla uttér falsehood! I would I had thee in a desert with a troop around thee; and I but with my sword in this unshackled hand!

[Trumpets without. ALM. (c.) Is it to be credited that Rolla, the renown'd Peruvian hero, should be detected like a spy, skulking through our camp?

ROL. (L. c.) Skulking!

ALM. But answer to the general-he is here.

Enter PIZARRO, R.

Pız. What do I see! Rolla!

ROL. Oh! to thy surprise, no doubt.

Pız. And bound too!

ROL. So fast, thou need'st not fear approaching me. ALM. The guards surpris'd him, passing our outpost. Pız. Release him instantly. Believe me, I regret this insult.

ROL. Thou feel'st then as thou ought'st.

Pız. Nor can I brook to see a warrior of Rolla's faine disarm'd. Accept this, though it has been thy enemy's. [Gives a sword.] The Spaniards know the courtesy that's due to valour.

ROL. And the Peruvians how to forget offences.

Pız. May not Rolla Pizarro cease to be foes?

ROL. When the sea divides us; yes! May I now depart? Piz. Freely.

ROL. And shall I not again be intercepted?

Piz. No! let the word be given that Rolla passes freely.

Enter DAVILLA and Soldiers, with the Child, L.

DAV. Here are two soldiers, captived yesterday, who have escap'd from the Peruvian hold, and by the secret way we have so long endeavoured to discover..

Pız. Silence!-imprudent! Seest thou not-?

[Pointing to Rolla. DAV. In their way, they found a Peruvian child, who

seems-

Piz. What is the imp to me? Bid them toss it into the

sea.

ROL. (L. c.) Gracious heaven! it is Alonzo's child!give it to me.

Piz. (c.) Ha! Alonzo's child! [Takes the Child.] Welcome, thou pretty hostage. Now Alonzo is again my prisoner!

ROL. Thou wilt not keep the infant from its mother?

Pız. Will I not? What, when I shall 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 thee.

count.

Piz. My vengeance has a long arrear of hate to settle with Alonzo! and this pledge may help to settle the ac[Gives the Child to a Soldier. ROL. Man! Man! Art thou a man! Couldst thou hurt that innocent! By Heaven! it's smiling in thy face. Pız. Tell me, does it resemble Cora?

ROL. Pizarro! thou hast set my heart on fire. If thou dost harm that child, think not his blood will sink into the barren sand. No! faithful to the eager hope that now trembles in this indignant heart, 'twill rise to the common God of nature and humanity, and cry aloud for vengeance on his accurs'd destroyer's head.

Piz. (c.) Be that peril mine.

ROL. [Trowing himself at his feet, c.] Behold me at thy feet. Me, Rolla!-Me, the preserver of thy life! Me, that have never yet bent or bow'd before created man !

-In humble agony I sue to thee-prostrate I implore thee-but spare that child, and I will be thy slave.

Pız. Rolla! still art thou free to go-this boy remains with me.

ROL. [Rises.] Then was this sword heaven's gift, not thine! [Seizes the Child.] Who moves one step to foilow me, dies upon the spot. [Exit, with the Child, L. Pız. Pursue him instantly-but spare his life. [Exeunt Almagro and Soldiers, L.] Whit what fury he defends himself! Ha! he fells them to the ground-and now——

Enter ALMAGRO, L.

ALM. Three of thy brave soldiers are already victims to thy command to spare this madman's life; and if be once gain the thicket

Pız. Spare him no longer. [Exit Almagro.] Their guns must reach him-he'll yet escape-holloa to those horse the Peruvian sees them-and now he turns among the rocks-then is his retreat cut off.

[Rolla crosses the wooden bridge from L. to R., pursued by the Soldiers-they fire at him—a shot strikes him.

Pız. Now!-quick! quick! seize the child!

[Rolla retreats by the background, bearing off the Child.

Re-enter ALMAGRO, L.

ALM. (L.) By hell! be has escaped! and with the child unhurt.

DAV. (c.) No-he bears his death with him.-Believe me, I saw him struck upon the side.

Pız. But the child is sav'd-Alonzo's child! Oh! the furies of disappointed vengeance.

ALM. Away with the revenge of words-let us to deeds. Forget not we have acquired the knowledge of the secret pass, which through the rocky cavern's gloom brings thee at once to the strong hold, where are lodg'd their women and their treasures.

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 today?

ALM. He is and one request alone she

Piz. I'll hear of none!

ALM. The boon is small-'tis but for the noviciate habit which you first beheld her in. She wishes not to suffer in the gaudy trappings which remind her of her shame.

Piz. Well, do as thou wilt-but tell Valverde, that, at our return, as his life shall answer it, to let me hear that the is dead. [Exeunt severally, R. and L.

SCENE III.-Alaliba's Tent.

Enter ATALIBA followed by Cors and Alonzo, R.

CORA. (c.) Oh! avoid me 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 thee ?—And will not my sweet boy, if thou❜lt but restore him to me, one day fight thy battles too.

AL. Oh! my suffering love-my poor heart-broken Cora!—thou but wound'st our sovereign's feeling soul and not reliev'st thy own.

CORA. Is he our sovereign, and has he not the power to give me back my child?

ATA. (c.) When I reward desert or can relieve my people, I feel what is the real glory of a king; when I hear them suffer, and cannot aid them, I mourn the impotence of all mortal power.

[Voices behind, R.] Rolla! Rolla! Rolla!

Enter ROLLA, R. his countenance ghastly, and bleeding, with the Child, followed by Peruvians.

ROL. Thy child!

[Gives the Child into Cora's arms, and falls, c. CORA. O God! there is blood upon him!

ROL. 'Tis my blood, Cora?

AL. Rolla, thou diest.

ROL. For thee and Cora.

[Dies.