University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

Front of Teutile's Cottage.
Enter Teutile and Gonsalvo.
TEUTILE.
Cheer up, young stranger—Nourish not a grief
So unavailing. Fate may yet relent—

GONSALVO.
Alas! good father, what hath fate in store
For such a wretch as I am? Flown for ever
Are the gay prospects of my op'ning youth;
Friends, country, all that give a zest to life
For ever lost!—In the cold earth is laid
My brave, my luckless friend. His cares are over—
When mine will end—

TEUTILE.
Take courage. Thou may'st yet
See thy lov'd country, once again embrace
Those whom thy sick'ning heart now yearns to meet.

GONSALVO.
Could I indeed review them! That were bliss
I scarcely dare to hope for. Yet I know not—
There may be means—

TEUTILE.
Would'st thou rejoin thy comrades?

GONSALVO.
Could'st thou object t' it?

TEUTILE.
'Tis an honest wish,
Which nature prompts, and man should not oppose.
But mark me, youth—Should'st thou with them combine
To spread destruction 'mid our peaceful tribes,
Oh! think what double guilt would load thy soul.
Thou had'st no claim on me; the innocent blood
Wherewith thy hands were stain'd bore witness 'gainst thee,
And cried aloud for vengeance; yet I sav'd thee—

GONSALVO.
May heav'n's dread bolt light on me, if I harm
One of thy gen'rous people! While my soul
Preserves the mem'ry of thy recent kindness,
My voice shall plead for them, my arm shall guard them.

TEUTILE.
Go, good young man, I will not, cannot doubt thee.
Thou hast a feeling heart; follow it's guidance
When suff'ring fellow creatures claim thy pity,
And heav'n will pay thee tenfold.—Come—prepare—
Take some provision for thy vent'rous course,
And then may Providence direct thy way!

[Exeunt.