University of Virginia Library

SCENE XII.

THE VICEROY, SYLVEYRA, CARASCO, GARCIA, and GUARDS.
In the moment CARASCO is falling, GARCIA enters with GUARDS, and seizes the sword of SYLVEYRA.
GARCIA.
What treachery is here? Castro, thou'rt wounded!

THE VICEROY.
My hurt is trifling: I have killed this traitor:
Guards bear Sylveyra to more close confinement!

SYLVEYRA.
Off! I will take a soldier's last farewell
Of this brave man, who dying thus pours forth
His generous blood in friendship's fatal cause.

THE VICEROY.
Away! they shall not interchange a word—

GUARDS force off SYLVEYRA.
CARASCO.
Insulting tyrant! thou mayst triumph now,
Thy triumph will be short.—It joys me yet
To see the lion circled in my toils,
Unconscious of his danger.—Sudden fate,
Invisible to thee, hangs o'er thy head:
This prospect of revenge, enough for me,
Gilds all the horrors of impending death,
E'en in these moments, while I feel his hand
Pressing most heavy—O! my life is past—
But thine, thine cannot last beyond—O Heaven!

(Dies.
GARCIA.
What mean these vile mysterious threats? I fear
Some dark, and deep conspiracy is formed
By those, who murmured at Sylveyra's fate:
My honored friend! haste! to thy bleeding wound
Get timely succour! while I search if aught
Of secret treason lurk within the walls.

THE VICEROY.
No, my kind Garcia, I will first go forth,
And make provision for the public safety.
Come then, my generous friend, dismiss thy fears!
Luxuriant case, and beauty are alone
The bane of Castro: in the hour of danger
Thy piercing eye shall never find his soul
False to the hopes of animated friendship,
And idly distant from the goal of honor.