Delphi Complete Works of Richard Brinsley Sheridan

by Richard Brinsley Sheridan

  Piz. Why am I not obeyed? — Tear her hence!

  Elv. ’Tis past — but didst thou know my story, Rolla, thou wouldst pity me.

  Rol. From my soul I do pity thee!

  Piz. Villains! drag her to the dungeon! — prepare the torture instantly.

  Elv. Soldiers — but a moment more— ’Tis to applaud your general — It is to tell the astonished world, that, for once, Pizarro’s sentence is an act of justice; yes, rack me with the sharpest tortures that ever agonized the human frame, it will be justice. Yes, bid the minions of thy fury wrench forth the sinews of those arms that have caressed, and even have defended thee! Bid them pour burning metal into the bleeding cases of these eyes, that so oft — oh, God! — have hung with love and homage on thy looks — then approach me bound on the abhorred wheel — there glut thy savage eyes with the convulsive spasms of that dishonoured bosom, which was once thy pillow! — Yet will I bear it all; for it will be justice, all! And when thou Shalt bid them tear me to my death, hoping that thy unshrinking ears may at last be feasted with the music of my cries, I will not utter one shriek or groan — but to the last gasp my body’s patience shall deride thy vengeance, as my soul defies thy power.

  Piz. [Endeavouring to conceal his agitation.

  Hearest thou the wretch whose hands were even now prepared for murder? —

  Rol. Yes! And if her accusation’s false, thou wilt not shrink from hearing her: if true, thy barbarity cannot make her suffer the pangs thy conscience will inflict on thee.

  Elv. And now, farewell, world! — Rolla, farewell! — Farewell, thou condemned of Heaven! [to PIZARRO] — for repentance and remorse, I know, will never touch thy heart. — We shall meet again. — Ha! be it thy horror here to know that we shall meet hereafter! And when thy parting hour approaches — hark to the knell, whose dreadful beat will strike to thy despairing soul. Then will vibrate on thy ear the curses of the cloistered saint from whom you stole me. Then the last shrieks which burst from my mother’s breaking heart, as she died, appealing to her God against the seducer of her child! Then the blood-stifled groan of my murdered brother — murdered by thee, fell monster! — seeking atonement for his sister’s ruined honour. — I hear them now! To me the recollection’s madness! — At such an hour — what will it be to thee?

  Piz. A moment’s more delay, and at the peril of your lives —

  Elv. I have spoken — and the last mortal frailty of my heart is past. — And now, with an undaunted spirit and unshaken firmness, I go to meet my destiny, That I could not live nobly, has been Pizarro’s act: that I will die nobly, shall be my own. — [Exit, guarded.

  Piz. Rolla, I would not thou, a warrior, valiant and renowned, shouldst credit the vile tales of this frantic woman. The cause of all this fury — O! a wanton passion for the rebel youth Alonzo, now my prisoner.

  Rol. Alonzo is not now thy prisoner.

  Piz. How!

  Rol. I cade to rescue him — to deceive his guard — I have succeeded; — I remain thy prisoner.

  Piz. Alonzo fled! — Is then the vengeance dearest to my heart never to be gratified?

  Rol. Dismiss such passions from thy heart, then thou’lt consult its peace.

  Piz. I can face all enemies that dare confront me — I cannot war against my nature.

  Rol. Then, Pizarro, ask not to be deemed a hero — To triumph o’er ourselves is the only conquest where fortune makes no claim. In battle, chance may snatch the laurel from thee, or chance may place it on thy brow — but in a contest with yourself, be resolute, and the virtuous impulse must be the victor.

  Piz. Peruvian! thou shalt not find me to thee ungrateful or ungenerous — Return to you countrymen — You are at liberty.

  Rol. Thou dost act in this as honour and as duty bid thee.

  Piz. I cannot but admire thee Rolla: I would we might be friends.

  Rol. Farewell. — Pity Elvira! — Become the friend of virtue — and thou wilt be mine. [Exit.

  Piz. Ambition! tell me what is the phantom I have followed? where is the one delight which it has made my own? My fame is the mark of envy — my love the dupe of treachery — my glory eclipsed by the boy I taught — my revenge defeated and rebuked by the rude honour of a savage foe — before whose native dignity of soul I have sunk confounded and subdued! I would I could retrace my steps — I cannot — Would I could evade my own reflections! — No! — thought and memory are my hell. — [Exit.

  ACT V.

  SCENE I.

  A thick Forest — In the back Ground, a But almost covered by Boughs storm, — A dreadful Storm, with Thunder and Lightning — CORA has covered her Child on a Bed of Leaves and Moss — Her whole appearance is wild and distracted.

  Cora. O Nature! thou hast not the strength of love. My anxious spirit is untired in its march; my wearied, shivering frame sinks under it. And for thee, my boy — when farnt beneath thy lovely burden, could I refuse to give thy slumbers that poor bed of rest! O my child! were I assured thy father breathes no more, how quickly would I lay me down by thy dear side! — but down — down for ever. [Thunder and lightning.] I ask thee not, unpitying storm! to abate thy rage, in mercy to poor Cora’s misery; nor while thy thunders spare his slumbers will I disturb my sleeping cherub. Though Heaven knows I wish to hear the voice of life, and feel that life is near me. But I will endure all while what I have of reason holds.

  SONG.

  Yes, yes, be merciless, thou Tempest dire;

  Unaw’d, unsheltered, I thy fury brave:

  I’ll bare my bosom to thy forked fire,

  Let it but guide me to Alonzo’s grave!

  O’er his pale corse then while thy lightnings glare,

  I’ll press his clay-cold lips, and perish there.

  But thou wilt wake again, my boy,

  Again thou’lt rise to life and joy —

  Thy father never! —

  Thy laughing eyes will meet the light,

  Unconscious that eternal night —

  Veils his for ever. —

  On you green bed of moss there lies my child,

  Oh! safer lies from these chill’d arms apart;

  He sleeps, sweet lamb! nor heeds the tempest wild,

  Oh! sweeter sleeps, than near this breaking heart

  Alas! my babe, if thou wouldst peaceful rest,

  Thy cradle must not be thy mother’s breast.

  Yet, thou wilt wake again, my boy,

  Again thou’lt rise to life and joy —

  Thy father never! —

  Thy laughing eyes will meet the light,

  Unconscious that eternal night

  Veils his for ever.

  Thunder and lightning. Still, still implacable! unfeeling elements! yet still dost thou sleep, my smiling innocent!

  O, death! when wilt thou grant to this babe’s mother such repose? Sure I may shield thee better from the storm; my veil may —

  [While she is wrapping her mantle and her veil over him, ALONZO’S voice is heard at a great distance.

  Alon. Cora!

  Cora. Ha! [Rises.] —

  Alon. [Again.] Cora!

  Cora. O, my heart! Sweet Heaven, deceive me not! — Is it not Alonzo’s voice?

  Alon. [Nearer.] Cora!

  Cora. It is — it is Alonzo! —

  Alon. [Nearer still.] Cora! my beloved! —

  Cora. Alonzo! — Here! — here! — Alonzo!

  [Runs out.

  Enter two Spanish Soldiers.

  1st Sold. I tell you we are near our out-posts, and the word we heard just now was the countersign.

  2d Sold. Well, in our escape from the enemy, to have discovered their secret passage through the rocks, will prove a lucky chance to us — Pizarro will reward us.

  1st Sold. This way — The sun, though clouded, is on our left. [Perceives the Child.] What have we here? — A child! — as I’m a soldier.

  2d Sold. ’Tis a sweet little babe. Now would it be a great charity to take this infant from its pagan mother’s power.

  1st S
old. It would so — I have one at home shall play with it. — Come along.

  [Takes the Child. Exeunt.

  Re-enter CORA with ALONZO.

  Cora. [Speaking without.] This way, dear Alonzo. Now am I right — there — there — under that tree. Was it possible the instinct of a mother’s heart could mistake the spot? Now will you look at him as he sleeps, or shall I bring him waking with his full blue laughing eyes to welcome you at once? — Yes — yes — Stand thou there — I’ll snatch him from his rosy slumber, blushing like the perfumed morn.

  [She runs up to the spot, and finding only the mantle and veil, which she tears from the ground, and the Child gone, shrieks, and stands in speechless agony.]

  Alon. [Running to her.] Cora! — my heart’s beloved!

  Cora. He is gone!

  Alon. Eternal God!

  Cora. He is gone! — my child! my child!

  Alon. Where did you leave him?

  Cora. [Dashing herself on the spot.] Here!

  Alon. Be calm, beloved Corar — he has waked and crept to a little distance — we shall find him — Are you assured this was the spot you left him in?

  Cora. Did not these hands make that bed and shelter for him? — and is not this the veil that covered him?

  Alon. Here is a hut yet unobserved.

  Cora. Ha! yes, yes! there lives the savage that has robbed me of my child — the door, — exclaiming] Give me back my child — restore to me my boy! —

  Enter LAS-CASAS from the Hut

  Las-Cas. Who calls me from my wretched solitude?

  Cora. Give me back my child! [Goes into the Hut, and calls] Fernando!

  Alon. Almighty powers! do my eyes deceive me? Las-Casas!

  Las-Cas. Alonzo, my beloved young friend!

  Alon. My revered instructor! [Embracing.

  Cora. [Returned.] Will you embrace this man before he restores my boy?

  Alon. Alas, my friend — in what a moment of misery do we meet!

  Cora. Yet his look is goodness and humanity. — Good old man, have compassion on a wretched mother — and I will be your servant while I live. — But do not, for pity’s sake — do not say you have him not — do not say you have not seen him. — [Runs into the Wood.

  Las-Cas. What can this mean?

  Alon. She is my wife. — Just rescued from the Spaniards’ prison, I learned she had fled to this wild forest — Hearing my voice, she left the child, and flew to meet me — he was left sleeping under yonder tree.

  Las-Cas. How! did you leave him? —

  [CORA returns.

  Cora. O, you are right! — right! — unnatural mother, that I was — I left my child — I forsook my innocent — but I will fly to the earth’s brink but I will find him. — [Runs out.

  Alon. Forgive me, Las-Casas, I must follow her: for at night I attempt brave Rolla’s rescue.

  Las-Cas. I will not leave thee, Alonzo — you must try to lead her to the right — that way lies your camp — Wait not my infirm steps, — I follow thee, my friend. — [Exeunt.

  SCENE II.

  The Out-post of the Spanish Camp. — The hack Ground wild and rocky, with a Torrent falling down the Precipice, over which a Bridge is formed by a felled Tree. Trumpets sound without.

  Almagro. [Without.] Bear him along — his story must be false. [Entering]

  ROLLA, in Chains, brought in by Soldiers.

  Rol. False! — Rolla utter falsehood! — I would I had thee in a desert with thy troop around thee; — and I, but with my sword in this unshackled hand! — [Trumpets without.

  Alm. Is it to be credited that Rolla, the renowned Peruvian hero, should be detected like a spy, skulking through our camp?

  Rol. Skulking!

  Alm. But answer to the general — he is here.

  Enter PIZARRO.

  Piz. What do I see! Rolla!

  Rol. O! to thy surprise, no doubt.

  Piz. And bound too!

  Rol. So fast, thou need’st not fear approaching me.

  Alm. The guards surprised him passing our out-post.

  Piz. Release him instantly. — Believe me, I regret this insult.

  Rol. You feel then as you ought.

  Piz. Nor can I brook to see a warrior of Rolla’s fame disarmed — Accept this, though it has been thy enemy’s. [Gives a sword.] The Spaniards know the courtesy that’s due to valour.

  Rol. And the Peruvian how to forget offence.

  Piz. May not Rolla and Pizarro cease to be foes?

  Rol. When the sea divides us; yes! — May I now depart?

  Piz. Freely.

  Rol. And shall I not again be intercepted?

  Piz. No! — let the word be given that Rolla passes freely.

  Enter DAVILLA and Soldiers, with the Child.

  Dav. Here are two soldiers, captived yesterday, who have escaped from the Peruvian hold, — and by the secret way we have so long endeavoured to discover.

  Piz. Silence, imprudent! — Seest thou not — ?

  [Pointing to ROLLA.

  Dav. In their way, they found a Peruvian child, who seems —

  Piz. What is the imp to me? — Bid them toss it into the sea.

  Rol. Gracious heavens! it is Alonzo’s child! — give it to me.

  Piz. Ha! Alonzo’s child! — Welcome, thou pretty hostage. — Now Alonzo is again my prisoner!

  Rol. Thou wilt not keep the infant from its mother?

  Piz. Will I not! — What, when I shall meet Alonzo in the heat of the victorious fight — think’st thou I shall not have a check upon the valour of his heart, when he is reminded that a word of mine is this child’s death?

  Rol. I do not understand you.

  Piz. My vengeance has a long arrear of hate to settle with Alonzo! — and this pledge may help to settle the account.

  Rol. Man! man! — Art thou a man? — Couldst thou hurt that innocent? — By Heaven! it’s smiling in thy face.

  Piz. Tell me, does it resemble Cora?

  Rol. Pizarro! thou hast set my heart on fire.

  — If thou dost harm that child; — think not his blood will sink into the barren sand — No! — faithful to the eager hope that now trembles in this indignant heart, ‘twill rise to the common God of nature and humanity, and cry aloud for vengeance on his accursed destroyer’s head.

  Piz. Be that peril mine.

  Rol. [Throwing himself at his feet.] Behold me at thy feet — Me, Rolla! — me, the preserver of thy life! — Me, that have never yet bent or bowed before created man! — In humble agony I sue to you — prostrate I implore you — but spare that child, and I will be your slave.

  Piz. Rolla! still art thou free to go — this boy remains with me.

  Rol. Then was this sword Heaven’s gift, not thine! [Seizes the Child.] — Who moves one step to follow me, dies upon the spot. —

  [Exit, with the Child.

  Piz. Pursue him instantly — but spare his life. [Exeunt ALMAGRO and Soldiers.] With what fury he defends himself! — Ha! — he fells them to the ground — and now —

  Enter ALMAGRO.

  Alm. Three of your brave soldiers are already victims to your command to spare this madman’s life; and if he once gains the thicket —

  Piz. Spare him no longer. [ALMAGRO.] Their guns must reach him — he’ll yet escape — holloa to those horse — the Peruvian sees them — and now he turns among the rocks — then is his retreat cut off.

  [ROLLA crosses the wooden bridge over the cataract, pursued by the Soldiers — they fire at him — a shot strikes him — PIZARRO exclaims —

  Piz. Now! quick! quick! seize the child! — [ROLLA tears from the rock the tree which supports the bridge, and retreats by the hack ground, bearing off the Child.

  Re-enter ALMAGRO.

  Alm. By hell! he has escaped! — and with the child unhurt.

  Dav. No — he bears his death with him — Believe me, I saw him struck upon the side.

  Piz. But the child is saved — Alonzo’s child! Oh! the furies of disappointed vengeance!

 
Alm. Away with the revenge of words — let us to deeds — Forget not we have acquired the knowledge of the secret pass, which through the rocky cavern’s gloom brings you at once to the strong hold, where are lodged their women and their treasures.

  Piz. Right, Almagro! Swift as thy thought draw forth a daring and a chosen band — I will not wait for numbers. — Stay, Almagro! Valverde is informed Elvira dies to-day?

  Alm. He is — and one request alone she —

  Piz. I’ll hear of none.

  Alm. The boon is small— ’tis but for the noviciate habit which you first beheld her in — she wishes not to suffer in the gaudy trappings, which remind her of her shame. —

  Piz. Well, do as thou wilt — but tell Valverde, at our return, as his life shall answer it, to let me hear that she is dead. — [Exeunt, severally.

  SCENE III.

  ATALIBA’S Tent.

  Enter ATALIBA, followed by CORA and ALONZO.

  Cora. Oh! Avoid me not, Ataliba! To whom, but to her king, is the wretched mother to address her griefs? — The gods refuse to hear my prayers! Did not my Alonzo fight for you? — And will not my sweet boy, if thou’lt but restore him to me, one day fight thy battles too?

  Alm. Oh! my suffering love — my poor heartbroken Cora! — you but wound our sovereign feeling soul, and not relieve thy own.

  Cora. Is he our sovereign, and has he not the power to give me back my child?

  Ata. When I reward desert, or can relieve my people, I feel what is the real glory of a king — when I hear them suffer, and cannot aid them, I mourn the impotence of all mortal power.

  [Voices behind.] Rolla! Rolla! Rolla!

  Enter ROLLA, — bleeding, the followed by Peruvian Soldiers.

  Rol. Thy child!

  [Gives the Child into CORA’S arms, and falls.