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Cora ; or, The Virgin of the Sun

Cross, J. C.
  
CORA;
  
[note]
  
CHARACTERS.

collapse section1. 
PART I.
 1. 
SCENE I.
 2. 
SCENE II.
 3. 
SCENE III.
 4. 
SCENE IV.
 5. 
SCENE V.
 6. 
SCENE VI.
 7. 
SCENE VII.
 8. 
SCENE VIII.
 9. 
SCENE IX.
expand section2. 
PART II.

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54

SCENE II.

Outside View leading to the Temple of the Sun.
Enter Cacique, Alonzo, Juan, and Diego. Female voices heard in the garden of the Temple of the Sun, joining in the following

DUET AND CHORUS.
While the sun's boundless blessings to chear us combine,
To adorn his glad temple the chaplet entwine.
In strains of delight,
Enraptur'd unite,
Soul of light! we adore thee! our consort divine!

While Alonzo is listening to the above strains, Cora ENTERS, veiled, attended by her Relatives, Priests, &c.—Alonzo seems struck with her figure —the door of the temple opens, and she is received by the Priestess, &c. and enters with some degree of trepidation—Alonzo's eyes following her—music is heard without—a shout of extacy from the multitude.
CHORUS OF ATALIBA'S ATTENDANTS, without.
“The day's golden birth, bids us joyfully sing,
“To the god of his people, the worth of our king.”

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The Cacique informs Alonzo the king is near at hand, and proffers to conduct them to him—Alonzo looks mournfully towards the door Cora had entered, and follows him—Diego returns prying, and endeavours to peep through the door—Rolla rushes on wildly, looks at the temple, and fetches a sigh— seeing Diego prying, he seizes, and dashes him to the earth—Diego appears dreadfully alarmed—he orders him to depart—he goes off much frightened —Rolla appears mournful—Zorimbo, his bow-bearer, ENTERS, looks at Rolla, and shakes his head, knotting his quipos—Rolla starts, and seeing him, asks his business.
ZORIMBO
—AIR.
Oh! hapless chieftain, mournful I compose,
The sad, sad history of Rolla's woes.
BALLAD.
The dangers of the raging fight,
Undaunted Rolla dared to prove;
His deeds attain'd fame's topmast height,
But glory's sun now sinks in night.
He yields, alas! to hopeless love!
“From time no ray of hope appears,
“The gods his fatal wish reprove;
“The idol of his soul is theirs,
“Religion claims her vows, her tears,
“And Rolla yields to hopeless love!”
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E'en now the solemn signal's given,
The virgins toward the temple move;
Depriv'd thus of his earthly heaven,
To wild despair sad Rolla driven.
A victim yields to hopeless love.

Rolla seems much agitated during this ballad, and goes off in perturbation, followed by Zorimbo.
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