For

If it be so I could weep burning tears
very shame!-If this can be, return!
Tell him, of all his wealth, his battle-spoils,
I will but ask a war-horse and a sword,
And that beside him in the mountain-chase,
And in his halls and at his stately feasts,
My place shall be no more!—but no !—I wrong,
I wrong my father!-Moor! believe it not!

He is a champion of the cross and Spain,

Sprung from the Cid ;—and I too, I can die
As a warrior's high-born child!

ELMINA.

Alas! Alas!

And wouldst thou die, thus early die, fair boy?

What hath life done to thee, that thou shouldst cast

Its flower away, in very scorn of heart,

Ere

yet the blight be come?

ALPHONSO.

That voice doth sound

ABDULLAH.

Stranger, who art thou?—this is mockery! speak!

ELMINA (throwing off a mantle and helmet, and embracing her sons).

My boys! whom I have rear'd through many hours

Of silent joys and sorrows, and deep thoughts
Untold and unimagined; let me die

With you, now I have held you to my heart,

And seen once more the faces, in whose light
My soul hath lived for years!

CARLOS.

Thou shalt not leave us more.

Sweet mother! now

ABDULLAH.

Enough of this!

Woman! what seek'st thou here?-How hast thou dared To front the mighty thus amidst his hosts?

ELMINA.

Think'st thou there dwells no courage but in breasts
That set their mail against the ringing spears,
When helmets are struck down?-Thou little know'st
Of nature's marvels!-Chief! my heart is nerved
To make its way through things which warrior-men,
-Aye, they that master death by field or flood,
Would look on, ere they braved!—I have no thought,
No sense of fear!-Thou'rt mighty! but a soul
Wound up like mine is mightier, in the power

Of that one feeling, pour'd through all its depths,
Than monarchs with their hosts!-Am I not come
To die with these, my children?

ABDULLAH.

Doth thy faith

Bid thee do this, fond Christian?-Hast thou not

The means to save them?

ELMINA.

I have prayers, and tears,

And agonies!—and he-my God—the God
Whose hand, or soon or late, doth find its hour
To bow the crested head-hath made these things
Most powerful in a world where all must learn
That one deep language, by the storm call'd forth
From the bruised reeds of earth!-For thee, perchance,
Affliction's chastening lesson hath not yet

Been laid upon thy heart, and thou may'st love

To see the creatures, by its might brought low,

Humbled before thee. [She throws herself at his feet. Conqueror! I can kneel!

I, that drew birth from princes, bow myself

E'en to thy feet! Call in thy chiefs, thy slaves,

If this will swell thy triumph, to behold

The blood of kings, of heroes, thus abased!

Do this, but spare my sons!

ALPHONSO (attempting to raise her).

Thou shouldst not kneel

Unto this infidel!-Rise, rise, my mother!

This sight doth shame our house!

ABDULLAH.

Thou daring boy!

They that in arms have taught thy father's land

How chains are worn, shall school that haughty mien

Unto another language.

ELMINA.

Peace, my son !

Have pity on my heart!-Oh, pardon, Chief!
He is of noble blood!-Hear, hear me yet!

Are there no lives through which the shafts of Heaven
May reach your soul?-He that loves aught on earth,
Dares far too much, if he be merciless!

Is it for those, whose frail mortality

Must one day strive alone with God and death,
To shut their souls against th' appealing voice
Of nature, in her anguish ?-Warrior! Man!
Το

you too, aye, and haply with your hosts,

By thousands and ten thousands marshall'd round,

And your strong armour on, shall come that stroke

Which the lance wards not!-Where shall your high heart

Find refuge then, if in the day of might

Woe hath lain prostrate, bleeding at your feet,

And you have pitied not?

ABDULLAH.

These are vain words.

ELMINA.

Have you no children?-fear you not to bring
The lightning on their heads?—In your own land
Doth no fond mother, from the tents, beneath
Your native palms, look o'er the deserts out,
To greet your homeward step?--You have not yet
Forgot so utterly her patient love-

-For is not woman's, in all climes, the same ?

you should scorn my prayer!-Oh Heaven! his eye

That you

Doth wear no mercy!

ABDULLAH.

Then it mocks you not.

I have swept o'er the mountains of your land,

Leaving my traces, as the visitings

Of storms, upon them!—Shall I now be stay'd!
Know, unto me it were as light a thing,

In this, my course, to quench your children's lives,
As, journeying through a forest, to break off

The

young wild branches that obstruct the way With their green sprays and leaves.

ELMINA.

Are there such hearts

Amongst thy works, oh God?