University of Virginia Library

SCENE VII.

The Palace.
Almeria and Alibech.
Alm.
'Tis sure, my sister,
Some secret purpose is in agitation,
Dark as the night!—The sound of clustring feet
Is all we hear; while crouds, succeeding crouds,
Throng toward the western gate.

Alib.
Our brother too
Is missing. O, the gods, the gods preserve
The last male pillar of the ancient house
Of great Traxalla!

Alm.
Listen!—Hear you not
The fife and golden ringer?

Alib.
Dismal sound—
It is the knell of death!

[A Bier born by Traxallans, others follow trailing their Ensigns.
Alm.
Ah, friends! whom bear ye,
With such a pomp of woe?

Trax.
Our prince, Orbellan—
Yet warm, and bleeding from the hand of Cortez.

Alib.
Unhappy brother!—

Alm.
O, the light,
The light of our great father's royal house,
Is now extinct for ever!

Alib.
Would to Heaven,
Would I had died for thee, my brother!—I
Had been well spared; or, haply, well away
From bonds and foul dishonour!

Alm.
Fatal Mexico!
Ill omen'd race of hostile Montezuma!
Father and mother, and both brothers now,
By you have fallen—Hear me, gods and dæmons!
[Kneels.
This Montezuma, blast him!—Let him stand
On the bleak heath, quite lopp'd of every branch
That now adorns him!—Sudden death engulph
His offspring! that no future name may rise,
To tell, by whom, our father's high built house
Was dash'd to ruin!

[Rises and follows the bier.