Scene-The Walls of the City. The Plain beneath, with the Moorish Camp and Army.

GONZALEZ, GARCIAS, HERNANdez.

(A wild Sound of Moorish Music heard from below.)

HERNANDEZ.

What notes are these in their deep mournfulness

So strangely wild ?

GARCIAS.

"Tis the shrill melody

Of the Moor's ancient death-song. Well I know
The rude barbaric sound; but, till this hour,
It seem'd not fearful.-Now, a shuddering chill
Comes o'er me with its tones.-Lo! from yon tent
They lead the noble boys!

HERNANDEZ.

The young, and pure,

And beautiful victims !-Tis on things like these

We cast our hearts in wild idolatry,

Sowing the winds with hope!-Yet this is well.

Thus brightly crown'd with life's most gorgeous flowers,

And all unblemish'd, earth should offer up

Her treasures unto Heaven!

for yon

Heaven

I knew they could not perish;

Would ne'er behold it !-Where is he that said
I was no more a father?-They look changed-
Pallid and worn, as from a prison-house!
Or is 't mine eye sees dimly?-But their steps
Seem heavy, as with pain.-I hear the clank-
Oh God! their limbs are fetter'd!

ABDULLAH (coming forward beneath the walls).
Christian! look

Once more upon thy children. There is yet
One moment for the trembling of the sword;
Their doom is still with thee.

GONZALEZ.

Why should this man

So mock us with the semblance of our kind?

-Moor! Moor! thou dost too daringly provoke,

In thy bold cruelty, th' all-judging One,

Who visits for such things!-Hast thou no sense
Of thy frail nature?-Twill be taught thee yet,
And darkly shall the anguish of my soul,
Darkly and heavily, pour itself on thine,
When thou shalt cry for mercy from the dust,
And be denied!

ABDULLAH.

Nay, is it not thyself,

That hast no mercy and no love within thee?
These are thy sons, the nurslings of thy house;
Speak! must they live or die?

GONZALEZ (in violent emotion).

Is it Heaven's will

To try the dust it kindles for a day,

With infinite agony !-How have I drawn

This chastening on my head!-They bloom'd around me,

And my heart grew too fearless in its joy,

Glorying in their bright promise!—If we fall,

Is there no pardon for our feebleness?

(HERNANDEZ, without speaking, holds up a Cross before him.)

ABDULLAH.

Speak!

GONZALEZ (snatching the Cross, and lifting it up).
Let the earth be shaken through its depths,

But this must triumph! ...

This is your place no longer. There are things

No human heart, though battle-proof as yours,
Unmadden'd may sustain.

GONZALEZ.

Be still! I have now

No place on earth but this!

ALPHONSO (from beneath).

Men! give me way,

That I may speak forth once before I die!

GARCIAS.

The princely boy!—how gallantly his brow
Wears its high nature in the face of death!

Father!

ALPHONSO.

GONZALEZ.

My son my son !-Mine eldest-born!

ALPHONSO.

Stay but upon the ramparts !-Fear thou not-
There is good courage in me: oh! my father!
I will not shame thee !-only let me fall
Knowing thine eye looks proudly on thy child,
So shall my heart have strength.

GONZALEZ.

Would, would to God,

That I might die for thee, my noble boy!

Alphonso, my fair son !

ALPHONSO.

Could I have lived,

I might have been a warrior!-Now, farewell!
But look upon me still!-I will not blench
When the keen sabre flashes-Mark me well!

Mine eyelids shall not quiver as it falls,

So thou wilt look

upon me!

GARCIAS (to GONZALEZ).

Nay, my lord!

We must begone !-Thou canst not bear it!

GONZALEZ.

Peace!

-Who hath told thee how much man's heart can bear?

-Lend me thine arm-my brain whirls fearfully