 | Elvira |  |
63
SCENE VI.
ALONZO, ELVIRA.ELVIRA.
This moment, Sir,
This awful moment is, perhaps, the last
That e'er Elvira's voice shall reach your ear,
Or sight offend your eye—But let me now
Intreat this guard may go—He is already
Possess'd of what I purpose.
ALONZO.
Be it so.
Do what you have in charge.
ELVIRA.
Speed wing thy steps!
You have, against the voice of earth and heaven,
To day condemn'd your first, your only hope!
A Son who loves you, who reveres the voice
That dooms him to the block! an early Hero,
By you belov'd—O heaven!—and tho I see
Remorse sit sad and silent on your brow,
You yet devote this victim; that mankind
With dread amazement may revere the Justice,
They tremble to behold—You turn away—
May I proceed?
ALONZO.
Go on.
ELVIRA.
Thus far is well:
But then—'tis still the first, the law supreme,
On kings most binding, to be just in all.
Guilt may appear, where yet no crime is found;
64
And yet these names may not belong to him,
To your unhappy Son.
ALONZO.
Thy words are wild:
Despair and love thy reason have unsettled.
ELVIRA.
Ah no—If he, against the faith of treaties,
Refus'd Almeyda's hand, it was not, Sir—
Believe these tears—'twas not the crime suppos'd
Of disobedience—
ALONZO.
How!
ELVIRA.
And if he forc'd
These palace-gates, his noble soul abhorr'd
All criminal attempt against his king.
A word, a breath his innocence had prov'd:
But he, a hero in his cruel silence,
To save Elvira, greatly chose to die!
'Tis therefore mine, the sole remaining purpose
Of my last hour, to clear his injur'd name;
And lead you into truth. Don Pedro's faults
Were those of duty, Sir—He is my husband!
ALONZO.
Ha! husband! he! my son!—And dares thy fondness
Think, by discovery of this daring crime,
To move compassion? When no hope remains
Of grace to his offence, dost thou presume
On mercy for thy own acknowledg'd guilt?
ELVIRA.
I ask for none! my parting thoughts are fix'd
On something nobler, dearer far than life.
65
I only have transgress'd—
ALONZO.
True: and thy life
The penalty shall pay.
ELVIRA.
It is most just.
I bring no plea, I urge no vain defence,
That love for him—such love as would in heaven
Be held no crime—
ALONZO.
Away—that very love
Makes thee but still more guilty!
ELVIRA.
Sir, recall
The dreadful moment, when your court beheld
This Son, this blooming promise of a hero,
His eye extinguish'd and his fading cheek
Of its fresh rose forsaken, to the grave
Untimely sinking! and a father's tears
In hopeless silence streaming o'er his face!
I urge it not, that, to preserve his youth,
And save your only hope, I gave my hand
Where I had vow'd my heart—I urge not this:
But now at last devote myself for both!
In death exulting to have sav'd him twice!
ALONZO.
Thro all the horrors guilt has thrown around thee,
Thy virtue yet looks lovely—but in vain:
Thy crime and his stand manifest to view,
And what the laws exact shall be fulfill'd.
66
Just heaven! shouldst thou, when kings address thy throne
For mercy on their own offences, then
Be deaf to them, as he is now to me—
But on, my Lord; pursue these savage-maxims;
Without remorse consummate your revenge!
Yet, other victims, other heads attend,
To satiate its full fury—See, O King!
Lo! where they stand—
[Her two children are brought in by their Governess.
Acknowledge them for yours,
By dooming both to bleed!
ALONZO.
Ye holy Powers!
What do I see?
ELVIRA.
Yes, by one common fate,
Wife, children, husband—let us perish all!
ALONZO.
What say'st thou!—Justice! Mercy! how ye rend
My heart!
ELVIRA.
Forgive the language of despair.
My children, kneel with me. Your infant-tears
May wake at last the parent in his breast.
Sir, they are yours—behold them not as mine.
The law demands a victim: here, on me
Exhaust its utmost rage—but O, to these
A father save, and to yourself a son!
Yet some few moments from his ear conceal
Elvira's death—for should it reach him now,
His own too sure would follow—
67
Call my son!
Fly, let him know—Elvira is his own!
My daughter—
ELVIRA.
O unutterable Joy!
Here at your feet, to heaven and you I pour
My grateful bosom—
ALONZO.
Nature! thou hast conquer'd.
I am a man, a father!—Rise, Elvira;
Live, and be happy long—O my dear children!
Take, take me all—
| Elvira | |