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ELMINA.

Thy daughter on my bosom laid her head,
And pass'd away to rest. Behold her there,
Even such as death hath made her! 8

GONZALEZ (bending over XIMENA's body).
Thou art gone

A little while before me, oh, my child!

Why should the traveller weep to part with those
That scarce an hour will reach their promised land
Ere he too cast his pilgrim staff away,

And spread his couch beside them?

ELMINA.

Must it be

Henceforth enough that once a thing so fair
Had its bright place amongst us?—Is this all,
Left for the years to come?-We will not stay!
Earth's chain each hour grows weaker.

GONZALEZ (still gazing upon XIMENA).

To slumber in the shadow, blessed child!

Of a yet stainless altar, and beside

And thou 'rt laid

A sainted warrior's tomb !-Oh, fitting place

For thee to yield thy pure heroic soul

Back unto him that gave it!--And thy cheek

Yet smiles in its bright paleness!

ELMINA.

Hadst thou seen

The look with which she pass'd!

GONZALEZ (still bending over her).
Why, 'tis almost

Like joy to view thy beautiful repose!
The faded image of that perfect calm
Floats, e'en as long-forgotten music, back
Into my weary heart!-No dark wild spot
On thy clear brow doth tell of bloody hands
That quench'd young life by violence !-We have seen

Too much of horror, in one crowded hour,

To weep for aught, so gently gather'd hence!

-Oh! man leaves other traces!

ELMINA (suddenly starting).

It returns

On my bewilder'd soul !-Went ye not forth
Unto the rescue ?—And thou 'rt here alone!

-Where are my sons?

GONZALEZ (solemnly).

We were too late!

ELMINA.

Hast thou nought else to tell me?

GONZALEZ.

Too late!

I brought back

From that last field the banner of my sires,

And my own death-wound.

ELMINA.

Thine!

GONZALEZ.

Another hour

Shall hush its throbs forever. I go hence,

And with me

ELMINA.

No!-Man could not lift his hands

-Where hast thou left thy sons?

GONZALEZ.

I have no sons.

ELMINA.

What hast thou said?

GONZALEZ.

That now there lives not one

To wear the glory of mine ancient house,

When I am gone to rest.

ELMINA (throwing herself on the ground, and speaking in a low hurried voice).

In one brief hour, all gone!—and such a death!

—I see their blood gush forth!—their graceful heads—
-Take the dark vision from me, oh, my God!
And such a death for them!-I was not there!
They were but mine in beauty and in joy,
Not in that mortal anguish !-All, all gone!
-Why should I struggle more?—What is this Power,
Against whose might, on all sides pressing us,

We strive with fierce impatience, which but lays

Our own frail spirits prostrate?

(After a long pause.)

Now I know

Thy hand, my God!—and they are soonest crush'd

That most withstand it!-I resist no more.

(She rises.)-A light, a light springs up from grief and

death,

Which with its solemn radiance doth reveal

Why we have been thus tried!

GONZALEZ.

Then I may still

Fix my last look on thee, in holy love,

Parting, but yet with hope!

ELMINA (falling at his feet).

Canst thou forgive ?

-Oh, I have driven the arrow to thy heart,
That should have buried it within mine own,

And borne the pang in silence!—I have cast
Thy life's fair honour, in my wild despair,

As an unvalued gem upon the waves,

Whence thou hast snatch'd it back, to bear from earth, All stainless, on thy breast.-Well hast thou doneBut I-canst thou forgive ?

GONZALEZ.

I have stood upon that verge

Within this hour

whence mortals fall,

And learn'd how 'tis with one whose sight grows dim,

And whose foot trembles on the gulf's dark side.
-Death purifies all feeling-We will part

In pity and in love.

ELMINA.

Death!-And thou too

Art on thy way!-Oh, joy for thee, high heart!
Glory and joy for thee !-The day is closed,
And well and nobly hast thou borne thyself
Through its long battle-toils, though many swords
Have enter'd thine own soul !-But on my head

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