Ay, by my soul! while on yon plain
The Saxon rears one shock of grain;
While of ten thousand herds, there strays
But one along yon river's maze-
The Gael, of plain and river heir,

Shall, with strong hand, redeem his share.
Where live the mountain chiefs, who hold
That plundering lowland field and fold,
Is aught but retribution due ?—

Seek other cause 'gainst Roderic Dhu.
James.
And if I sought,

Thinkest thou no other could be brought?
What deem ye, of my path way-laid,
My life given o'er to ambuscade?

Rod. As a reward to rashness due;
Hadst thou sent warning fair and true,
Free hadst thou been to come and go;
But secret path marks secret foe.

James. Well, let it pass; nor will I now
Fresh cause of enmity avow,

To chafe thy mood and cloud thy brow.
Enough, I am by promise tied

To match me with this man of pride.
Twice have I sought Clan Alpine's glen
In peace; but, when I come again,
I come with banner, braud, and bow,
As leader seeks his mortal foe.
For love-lorn swain in lady's bower,
Ne'er panted for the appointed hour,
As I, until before me stand

This rebel chieftain and his band.

Rod. Have then thy wish. (He whistles, and soldiers rush in on all sides.) How sayest thou now?

These are Clan Alpine's warriors true ;

And, Saxon- am Roderic Bhu.

(King James starts back a little, then draws his sword and pla

ces his back against the rock.)

James. Come one, come all! this rock shall fly

From its firm base, as soon as I.

(Roderic waves his hand, and the soldiers retire.) Rod. Fear not, nay, that I need not say,

But doubt not aught from mine array.

Thou art my guest, I pledged my word
As far as Coilantogle ford.
So move we on; I only meant

To show the reed on which you leant,
Deeming this path you might pursue
Without a pass from Roderic Dhu.
Bold Saxon! to his promise just,
Vich Alpine shall discharge his trust.
This murderous chief, this ruthless man,
This head of a rebellious clan,

Will lead thee safe through watch and ward,
Far past Clan Alpine's outmost guard;
Then man to man, and steel to steel,
A chieftain's vengeance thou shalt feel.
James.
I ne'er delayed
When foeman bade me draw my blade;
Nay, more, brave chief, I vowed thy death;
Yet sure thy fair and generous faith,
And my deep debt for life preserved,
A better meed have well deserved;
Can nought but blood our feud atone?
Are there no means?

Rod.

No, stranger, none !
James. Nay, first to James at Sterling go.
When, if thou wilt be still his foe,

Or if the king shall not agree
To grant thee grace and favor free,
I plight mine honor, oath, and word,
That to thy native holds restored,
With each advantage shalt thou stand,
That aids thee now to guard thy land.

Rod. Thy rash presumption now shall rue
The homage named to Roderic Dhu.
He yields not, he, to man nor fate-
Thou addest but fuel to my hate!
My clansmen's wrongs demand revenge.
Not yet prepared! by Heaven! I change
My thought, and hold thy valor light
As that of some vain carpet knight,
Who ill deserved my courteous care,
And whose best boast is but to wear

A braid of his fair lady's hair. (Pointing to a braid on James's breast.)

James. I thank thee, Roderic, for the word;
It nerves my heart, it steels my sword.
I had it from a frantic maid,

By thee dishonored and betrayed;
And I have sworn the braid to stain
In the best blood that warms thy vein.
Now, truce, farewell! and ruth, begone!
I heed not that my strength is worn-
Thy word's restored; and if thou wilt,
We try this quarrel, hilt to hilt.

XXIX.-FROM PIZARRO.-Sheridan.

PIZARRO-VALVERDE-LAS CASAS-ALMAGRO-DAVILLO

Pizarro. Alonzo! the traitor! How I once loved that man! His noble mother intrusted him, a boy, to my protection. (Elvira walks about pensively in the back ground.) At my table did he feast-in my tent did he repose. I had marked his early genius, and the valorous spirit that grew with it. Often had I talked to him of our first adventures-what storms we struggled with what perils we surmounted! When landed with a slender host upon an unknown land-then, when I told how famine and fatigue, discord and toil, day by day, did thin our ranks; amid close pressing enemies, how still undaunted, I endured and dared-maintained my purpose and my power, in despite of growling mutiny or bold revolt, till, with my faithful few remaining, I became at last victorious !-When, I say, of these things I spoke, the youth Alonzo, with tears of wonder and delight, would throw him on my neck, and swear his soul's ambition owned no other leader.

Valverde. What could subdue attachment so begun ?

Piz. Las Casas. He it was, with fascinating craft and canting precepts of humanity, raised in Alonzo's mind a new enthusiasm, which forced him, as the stripling termed it, to forego his country's claims for those of human nature.

Val. Yes, the traitor left thee, joined the Peruvians, and became thy enemy, and Spain's.

Piz. But first with weariless remonstrance he sued to win me from my purpose, and untwine the sword from my deter.

mined grasp. Much he spoke of right, of justice, and humanity, calling the Peruvians our innocent and unoffending brethren.

Val. They!-Obdurate heathens !-They our brethren! Piz. But when he found that the soft folly of the pleading tears he dropped upon my bosom, fell on marble, he flew and joined the foe; then, profiting by the lessons he had gained in wronged Pizarro's school, the youth so disciplined and led his new allies, that soon he forced me-ha! I burn with shame and fury while I own it !-in base retreat and foul discomfiture to quit the shore.

Val. But the hour of revenge is come.

Piz. It is; I have returned-my force is strengthened, and the audacious boy shall soon know that Pizarro lives, and has— a grateful recollection of the thanks he owes him,

(Trumpets without.) (Enter Las Casas, Almagro, Davillo, and soldiers.) Las Casas. Pizarro, we attend thy summons.

Piz. Welcome, venerable father-my friends, most welcome. Friends and fellow soldiers, at length the hour has arrived, which to Pizarro's hopes presents the full reward of our undaunted enterprise, and long enduring toils. Confident in security, this day the foe devotes to solemn sacrifice: if with bold surprise we strike on their solemnity-trust to your leader's word-we shall not fail.

Almagro. Too long inactive have we been mouldering on the coast our stores exhausted, and our soldiers murmuring. Battle! battle!-then death to the armed, and chains for the defenseless.

Davillo. Death to the whole Peruvian race!

Yes, general, the attack, and instantly! Then shall Alonzo, basking at his ease, soon cease to scoff our sufferings, and scorn our force.

Las C. Alonzo !-Scorn and presumption are not in his

nature.

Alm. 'Tis fit Las Casas should defend his pupil.

Piz. Speak not of the traitor-or hear his name but as the bloody summons to assault and vengeance. It appears we are agreed?

Alm. We are.

Las C. Is, then, the dreadful measure of your cruelty not yet complete ?-Battle !-gracious Heaven! Against whom?

Against a king, in whose mild bosom your atrocious injuries even yet have not excited hate! but who, insulted or victorious, still sues for peace. Against a people, who never wronged the living being their Creator formed a people who, children of innocence! received you as cherished guests-with eager hospitality and confiding kindness. Generously and freely did they share with you their comforts, their treasures, and their homes: you repaid them by fraud, oppression, and dishonor. These eyes have witnessed all I speak-as gods you were received; as fiends you have acted.

Piz. Las Casas !

Las C. Pizarro, hear me !-hear me, chieftains !—And thou, All-powerful, whose thunders can shiver into sand the adamantine rock-whose lightnings can pierce to the core of the rived and quaking earth-oh! let thy power give effect to thy servant's words, as thy spirit gives courage to his will! Do not, I implore you, renew the foul barbarities which your insatiate avarice has inflicted on this wretched, unoffending race !—But hush, my sighs-fall not drops of useless sorrow! -heart-breaking anguish, choke not my utterance. All I entreat is, send me once more to those you call your enemies.— Oh! let me be the messenger of penitence from you: I shall return with blessings and with peace from them.

Piz. Close this idle war of words: time flies, and our op. portunity will be lost. Chieftains, are ye for instant battle? Alm. We are.

Las C. Oh, men of blood! I was anointed, not to curse, but to bless my countrymen: yet now my blessing on their force were blasphemy. No! I curse your purpose, homicides! I curse the bond of blood by which you are united. May fell disunion, infamy, and rout, defeat your projects, and betray your hopes! On you and your children be the peril of the innocent blood, which shall be shed this day! I leave you, and for ever! No longer shall these aged eyes be seared by the horrors they have witnessed. In caves, in forests, will I hide myself; with tigers and with savage beasts commune; and when at length we meet before the blessed tribunal of that Deity, whose mild doctrines and whose mercies ye have this day renounced, O then shall you feel the agony and grief of soul which tear the bosom of your accuser now. (Exit.) Piz. (Turning to Almagro.) Now to prepare our muster and our march. At mid-day is the hour of the sacrifice. Consulting with our guides, the route of your divisions shall be given