resisting; yet his lips breathed nought but bitterness, and scorn. Piz. Drag him before us. I [GOMEZ leaves the tent, and returns, conducting OROZEMBO, and attendants, in chains, guarded.) What art thou, stran ger? | Oro. First tell me which among you, | is the cap'tain of this band of robbers. | Piz. Ha! Dav. Mad man! | tear out his tongue, or else — Dav. (showing his poignard.) Shall I not plunge this into his heart'? | Oro. (to Pizarro.) Does your army boast many such heroes as this? | Piz. Audacious! This insolence has sealed thy doom: die thou shalt, grey-headed ruffian. | But first confess what thou knowest. | Oro. I know that which thou hast just assured me of that I shall die. | Piz. Less audacity, perhaps, might have preserved thy life. Oro. My life is as a withered tree: it is not worth preserving. Piz. Hear me, old man. | Even now', we march against the Peruvian army. We know there is a secret path that leads to your strong-hold among the rocks, guide us to that, and name thy reward. | If wealth be thy wish Oro. Ha! ha! ha!| Piz. Dost thou despise my offer? | Oro. Thee, and thy offer. Wealth! I have the wealth of two dear gallant sons; I have stored in heav'n, the riches which repay good actions here'; and still my chiefest treasure do I bear about me. [ Piz. What is that? Inform me. [ Oro. I will; for it never can be thine sure of a pure, unsullied conscience. the trea Piz. I believe there is no other Peruvian who dares speak as thou dost. I Oro. Would I could believe there is no other Spăniard who dares act as thou dost. | Gom. Ob durate Pagan! | How numerous is your army? | Oro. Count the leaves of yonder forest. I Dav. Which is the weakest part of your camp?! Oro. It has no weak part; | on every side 't is forti fied by justice have you concealed your wives, and children? | Oro. In the hearts of their husbands, and their fathers. Piz. Knowest thou Alonzo ? | Oro. Know him? nation's benefactor! Alonzo? | Know him? | Our The guardian angel of Peru. ! | Piz. By what has he merited that title? | Oro. By not resembling thee. | Dav. Who is this Rolla, joined with Alonzo in command.? Oro. I will answer that; for I love to hear, and to repeat the hero's name. | Rolla, the kinsman of the king, is the idol of our army; in war, a tiger, chafed by the hunter's spear; in peace, more gentle than the unweaned lamb. | Cora was once betrothed to him; but finding that she preferred Alonzo, he resigned his claim, and, I fear, his peace, to friendship, and to Cora's happiness; yet still he loves her with a pure, and holy fire. Piz. Romantic savage! I shall meet this Rolla soon'. - Oro. Thou hadst better not. noble eye would strike thee dead. I Dav. Silence! or tremble! | The terrors of his Oro. Beard less robber! | I never yet have trembled before man: why should I tremble before thee, | thou less than man! | Dav Another word, audacious heathen, and I strike.; Oro. Strike', Christian! | Then boast among thy I too have murdered a Peruvian ! | fellows Dav. Vengeance seize thee! [Stabs him Dav. Couldst thou longer have endured his insults? | Piz. And therefore should he die untortured? | Oro. True! Observe, young man', your unthinking rashness has saved me from the rack; and you yourself have lost the opportunity of a useful lesson: | you might have seen with what cruelty vengeance would have inflicted torments - and with what pa tience virtue would have borne them. I [OROZEMBO is borne off, dying. Piz. Away! Davilla, if thus rash a second time Dav. Forgive the hasty indignation which Piz. No more. Unbind that trembling wretch:| let him depart; 't is well he should report the mercy | which we show to insolent defiance. | Hark! | Our guard, and guides approach. [Soldiers march through the tents. Follow me, friends! Each shall have his post assigned; and ere Peruvia's god shall sink beneath the main, the Spanish banners, bathed in blood, | shall float above the walls of vanquished Quito." | ELEGY WRITTEN IN A COUNTRY CHURCH-YARD. (GRAY.) The curfew, tolls | the knell of parting day, ! | Now fades the glimm'ring landscape on the sight, | Save where the beetle wheels his droning flight', | Save, that from yonder ivy-mantled tower, | Beneath those rugged elms'; that yew-tree's shade', | The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep. | The breezy call of incense-breathing morn', | The swallow, twitt'ring from the straw-built shed, | For them no more the blazing hearth shall burn, | Or climb his knees', the envied kiss to share. | Oft did the harvest to their sick le yield; | Their furrow oft the stubborn glebe has broke.;! How jocund did they drive their team afield'! | How bow'd the woods beneath their sturdy stroke!| |