"Enter Governor, with his hair properly disordered.

Gov. A hemisphere of evil planets reign! And every planet sheds contagious frenzy! My Spanish prisoner is slain! my daughter, Meeting the dead corse borne along, has gone Distract! [A loud flourish of trumpets. But hark! I am summon'd to the fort: Perhaps the fleets have met! amazing crisis! O Tilburina! from thy aged father's beard Thou'st pluck'd the few brown hairs which time had left!

Sneer. Poor gentleman!

[Exit."

Sneer. Never, while I live! Puff. You observed how she mangled the metre? Dang. Yes-egad, it was the first thing made me suspect she was out of her senses!

Sneer. And pray what becomes of her? Puff. She is gone to throw herself into the sea, to be sure--and that brings us at once to the scene of action, and so to my catastrophe-my seafight, I mean.

Sneer. What, you bring that in at last?

Puff. Yes, yes-you know my play is called The Spanish Armada; otherwise, egad, I have no occasion for the battle at all.-Now then for my

ter !

Dang. And the planets

Puff. True.-Now enter Tilburina!

Sneer. Egad, the business comes on quick here. Puff. Yes, sir-now she comes in stark mad in white satin.

Sneer. Why in white satin?

Puff. O Lord, sir-when a heroine goes mad, she always goes into white satin.-Don't she, Dangle?

Dang. Always-it's a rule.

Puff. Yes-here it is-[Looking at the book.]

"Enter Tilburina stark mad in white satin, and her confidant stark mad in white linen."

"Enter TILBURINA and Confidant, mad, according to custom."

Sneer. But, what the deuse, is the confidant to be mad too?

Puff. To be sure she is the confidant is always to do whatever her mistress does; weep when she weeps, smile when she smiles, go mad when she goes mad.-Now, madam confidant-but keep your madness in the back-ground, if you please.

"Tilb. The wind whistles-the moon rises-see, They have kill'd my squirrel in his cage! Is this a grasshopper ?-Ha! no; it is my Whiskerandos-you shall not keep him— I know you have him in your pocket—

An oyster may be cross'd in love!-Who says

A whale's a bird?-Ha! did you call, my love?-
He's here! he's there!-He's everywhere!
Ah me! he's nowhere!

[Exit."

Puff. There, do you ever desire to see anybody madder than that?

procession! You are all ready?

Und. Promp. [Within.] Yes, sir.
Puff. Is the Thames dressed?

"Enter THAMES with two Attendants." Thames. Here I am, sir.

Puff. Very well indeed!-See, gentlemen, there's a river for you!-This is blending a little of the masque with my tragedy-a new fancy, you know -and very useful in my case; for as there must be a procession, I suppose Thames, and all his tributary rivers, to compliment Britannia with a fête in honour of the victory.

Sneer. But pray, who are these gentlemen in green with him?

Puff. Those?-those are his banks.

Sneer. His banks?

Puff. Yes, one crowned with alders, and the other with a villa !—you take the allusions?-But hey! what the plague! you have got both your banks on one side. Here, sir, come round.-Ever while you live, Thames, go between your banks.-[Bell rings.] There, so now for't.-Stand aside, my dear friends!-Away, Thames.

[Exit THAMES between his banks. [Flourish of drums, trumpets, cannon, &c. &c. Scene changes to the sea-the fleets engage-the music plays "Britons, strike home."-Spanish fleet destroyed by fire-ships, &c.—English fleet advances-music plays "Rule Britannia."-The procession of all the English rivers, and their tributaries, with their emblems, &c. begins with Handel's water music, ends with a chorus, to the march in Judas Maccabæus.-During this scene, PUFF directs and applauds everything-then Puff. Well, pretty well-but not quite perfect. -So, ladies and gentlemen, if you please, we'll rehearse this piece again to-morrow. [Curtain drops.

CHILL'D by rude gales, while yet reluctant May
Withholds the beauties of the vernal day;
As some fond maid, whom matron frowns reprove,
Suspends the smile her heart devotes to love;
The season's pleasures too delay their hour,
And Winter revels with protracted power:
Then blame not, critics, if, thus late, we bring
A Winter Drama-but reproach-the Spring.
What prudent cit dares yet the season trust,
Bask in his whisky, and enjoy the dust?
Horsed in Cheapside, scarce yet the gayer spark
Achieves the Sunday triumph of the Park;
Scarce yet you see him, dreading to be late,
Scour the New-road, and dash through Grosvenor-
gate :-

Anxious-yet timorous too!-his steed to show,
The hack Bucephalus of Rotten-row.

Careless he seems, yet, vigilantly sly,
Woos the stray glance of ladies passing by,
While his off heel, insidiously aside,
Provokes the caper which he seems to chide,
Scarce rural Kensington due honour gains;
The vulgar verdure of her walk remains!
Where white-robed misses amble two by two,
Nodding to booted beaux-" How'do, how'do?"
With generous questions that no answer wait,
"How vastly full! An't you come vastly late?
In't it quite charming? When do you leave town?
An't you quite tired? Pray, can we set you down?"
These suburb pleasures of a London May,
Imperfect yet, we hail the cold delay;
Should our Play please - and you're indulgent

ever

Be your decree-"'Tis better late than never."

SCENE I.-A Pavilion near PIZARRO's Tent.

ELVIRA discovered sleeping under a canopy. VALVERDE enters, gazes on ELVIRA, kneels, and attempts to kiss her hand; ELVIRA, awakened, rises and looks at him with indignation.

Elv. Audacious! whence is thy privilege to interrupt the few moments of repose my harassed mind can snatch amid the tumults of this noisy camp? Shall I inform your master of this presumptuous treachery? Shall I disclose thee to Pizarro? hey!

Val. I am his servant, it is true-trusted by him and I know him well; and therefore 'tis I ask, by what magic could Pizarro gain your heart; by what fatality still holds he your affection? Elv. Hold thou trusty secretary!

Val. Ignobly born! in mind and manners rude, ferocious, and unpolished, though cool and crafty if occasion need-in youth audacious-ill his first manhood-a licensed pirate-treating men as brutes, the world as booty; yet now the Spanish hero is he styled-the first of Spanish conquerors! and for a warrior so accomplished, 'tis fit Elvira should leave her noble family, her fame, her home, to share the dangers, humours, and the crimes of such a lover as Pizarro !

Elv. What! Valverde moralising! But grant I am in error, what is my incentive? Passion, infatuation, call it as you will; but what attaches thee to this despised, unworthy leader? Base lucre is thy object, mean fraud thy means. Could you gain me, you only hope to win a higher interest in Pizarro. I know you.

Val. On my soul, you wrong me! what else my faults, I have none towards you. But indulge the scorn and levity of your nature; do it while yet the time permits; the gloomy hour, I fear, too soon approaches.

Elv. Valverde, a prophet too!

Val. Hear me, Elvira. Shame from his late defeat, and burning wishes for revenge, again have brought Pizarro to Peru; but trust me, he overrates his strength, nor measures well the foe. Encamped in a strange country, where terror cannot force, nor corruption buy a single friend, what have we to hope? The army murmuring at increasing hardships, while Pizarro decorates with gaudy spoil the gay pavilion of his luxury! each day diminishes our force.

Elv. But are you not the heirs of those that fall? Val. Are gain and plunder then our only purpose? Is this Elvira's heroism?

Elv. No, so save me Heaven! I abhor the motive, means, and end of your pursuits; but I will trust none of you. In your whole army there is not one of you that has a heart, or speaks ingenuously aged Las-Casas, and he alone, excepted. Val. He an enthusiast in the opposite and worse extreme!

:

Elv. Oh! had I earlier known that virtuous man, how different might my lot have been !

Val. I will grant, Pizarro could not then so easily have duped you: forgive me, but at that event I still must wonder.

Elv. Hear me, Valverde. When first my virgin fancy waked to love, Pizarro was my 'country's idol. Self-taught, self-raised, and self-supported, he became a hero; and I was formed to be won by glory and renown. 'Tis known that when he left Panama in a slight vessel, his force was not a hundred men. Arrived in the island of Gallo, with his sword he drew a line upon the sands, and said, "Pass those who fear to die or conquer with their leader." Thirteen alone remained, and at the head of these the warrior stood his ground. Even at the moment when my ears first caught this tale, my heart exclaimed, "Pizarro is its lord!" What since I have perceived, or thought, or felt, you must have more worth to win the knowledge of.

Val. I press no further, still assured that while Alonzo de Molina, our general's former friend and pupil, leads the enemy, Pizarro never more will be a conqueror. [Trumpets without.

Elv. Silence! I hear him coming; look not perplexed. How mystery and fraud confound the countenance! Quick, put on an honest face, if thou canst.

Piz. [Without.] Chain and secure him; I will examine him myself.

Enter PIZARRO. VALVERDE bows-ELVIRA laughs.
Piz. Why dost thou smile, Elvira ?

Elv. To laugh or weep without a reason, is one of the few privileges poor women have.

Piz. Elvira, I will know the cause, I am resolved !

Elv. I am glad of that, because I love resolution, and am resolved not to tell you. Now my resolution, I take it, is the better of the two, because it depends upon myself, and yours does not. Piz. Psha! trifler!

Val. Elvira was laughing at my apprehensions that

Piz. Apprehensions!

Val. Yes-that Alonzo's skill and genius should so have disciplined and informed the enemy, as

to

Piz. Alonzo! the traitor! How I once loved that man! His noble mother entrusted him, a boy, to my protection. 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 I had 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.

Val. 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 you, 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 determined 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.

Pix. It is; I am 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.

Val. 'Tis doubted whether still Alonzo lives. Piz. 'Tis certain that he does; one of his armour-bearers is just made prisoner: twelve thousand is their force, as he reports, led by Alonzo and Peruvian Rolla. This day they make a solemn sacrifice on their ungodly altars. We must profit by their security, and attack them unprepared-the sacrificers shall become the victims.

Elv. Wretched innocents! And their own blood shall bedew their altars!

Pis. Right!-[Trumpets without.]

retire !

Elv. Why should I retire?

Piz. Because men are to meet here, and on manly business.

Alm. 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 defenceless. Dav. Death to the whole Peruvian race! Las-Cas. Merciful Heaven!

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

Las-Cas. 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. Dav. We are.

Gon. All-Battle! battle!

Las-Cas. 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 dishonour. These eyes have witnessed all I speak-as gods you were received; as fiends have you acted.

Pis. Las-Casas !

Elv. O men! men! ungrateful and perverse! O woman! still affectionate though wronged! The beings to whose eyes you turn for animation, hope, and rapture, through the days of mirth and revelry; and on whose bosoms in the hour of sore calamity you seek for rest and consolation; them, when the pompous follies of your mean ambition are the question, you treat as playthings or as slaves-I shall not retire.

Piz. Remain then; and, if thou canst, be silent.

Elv. They only babble who practise not reflection. I shall think and thought is silence. Piz. [Aside.] Ha! there's somewhat in her manner lately

[Looks sternly and suspiciously at ELVIRA, who meets his glance with a commanding and unaltered eye.

Enter LAS-CASAS, ALMAGRO, GONZALO, DAVILLA, Officers and Soldiers.-Trumpets without.

Las-Cas. Pizarro, we attend your summons. Piz. Welcome, venerable father!-My friends, most welcome!-Friends and fellow soldiers, at length the hour is 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.

Alm. Because there are no women here but she and thou.

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

Alm. We are.

Las Cas. Oh, men of blood!-[Kneels.] God! thou hast anointed me thy servant-not to curse, but to bless my countrymen: yet now my blessing on their force were blasphemy against thy goodness.-[Rises.] No! I curse your purpose, homicides! I curse the bond of blood by which you are united. May fell division, infamy, and rout, defeat your projects and rebuke your hopes! On you, and on 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 will I commune: and when at length we meet again before the blessed tribunal of that Deity, whose mild doctrines and whose mercies ye have this day renounced, then shall you feel the agony and grief of soul which tear the bosom of your accuser now! [Going. Elv. Las Casas! Oh! take me with thee, LasCasas.

Las-Cas. Stay! lost, abused lady! I alone am useless here. Perhaps thy loveliness may persuade to pity, where reason and religion plead in vain. Oh! save thy innocent fellow-creatures if thou canst: then shall thy frailty be redeemed, and thou wilt share the mercy thou bestowest. [Exit.

Piz. How, Elvira! wouldst thou leave me ? Elv. I am bewildered, grown terrified! Your inhumanity-and that good Las-Casas-oh! he appeared to me just now something more than heavenly and you! ye all looked worse than earthly.

Piz. Compassion sometimes becomes a beauty. Elv. Humanity always becomes a conqueror. Alm. Well! Heaven be praised, we are rid of

the old moralist.

Gon. I hope he'll join his preaching pupil, Alonzo.

Piz. Now to prepare our muster and our march. At midday is the hour of the sacrifice. Consulting with our guides, the route of your divisions shall be given to each commander. If we surprise, we conquer; and if we conquer, the gates of Quito will be open to us.

Alm. And Pizarro then be monarch of Peru. Piz. Not so fast-ambition for a time must take counsel from discretion. Ataliba still must hold the shadow of a sceptre in his hand. Pizarro still appear dependent upon Spain: while the pledge of future peace, his daughter's hand, secures the proud succession to the crown I seek.

Alm. This is best. In Pizarro's plans observe the statesman's wisdom guides the warrior's valour. Val. [Aside to ELVIRA.] You mark, Elvira ? Elv. O yes-this is best-this is excellent! Piz. You seem offended. Elvira still retains my heart. Think-a sceptre waves me on.

Elv. Offended?-no! Thou knowest thy glory is my idol; and this will be most glorious, most just and honourable.

Piz. What mean you?

Elv. Oh, nothing!-mere woman's prattle-a jealous whim, perhaps : but let it not impede the royal hero's course.-[Trumpets without.] The call of arms invites you.-Away! away! you, his brave, his worthy fellow-warriors.

Piz. And go you not with me?

Elv. Undoubtedly! I needs must be the first to bail the future monarch of Peru.

Enter GOMEZ.

Alm. How, Gomez ! what bringest thou? Gom. On yonder hill among the palm trees we have surprised an old cacique: escape by flight he could not, and we seized him and his attendant unresisting; yet his lips breathe naught but bitterness and scorn.

Piz. Drag him before us.-[GOMEZ goes out and returns with OROZEMBO and Attendant, in chains, guarded.] What art thou, stranger?

Oro. First tell me which among you is the captain of this band of robbers.

Piz. Ha!
Alm. Madman !-Tear out his tongue, or else-
Oro. Thou'lt hear some truth.

Dav. [Showing his poniard.] Shall I not plunge this into his heart?

Oro. [To PIZARRO.] Does your army boast many such heroes as this?

Piz. Audacious! this insolence has sealed thy doom. Die thou shalt, grey-headed ruffian. But first confess what thou knowest.

Oro. I know that which thou hast just assured me of that I shall die.

Piz. Less audacity perhaps might have preserved thy life.

Oro. My life is as a withered tree; it is not worth preserving.

Piz. Hear me, old man. Even now we march against the Peruvian army. We know there is a secret path that leads to your stronghold among the rocks: guide us to that, and name thy reward. If wealth be thy wish

Oro. Ha ha! ha! ha!

Piz. Dost thou despise my offer?

Oro. Thee and thy offer!-Wealth!-I have the wealth of two dear gallant sons-I have stored in heaven the riches which repay good actions hereand still my chiefest treasure do I bear about me. Piz. What is that? inform me.

Oro. I will; for it never can be thine-the treasure of a pure unsullied conscience.

Piz. I believe there is no other Peruvian who dares speak as thou dost.

Oro. Would I could believe there is no other Spaniard who dares act as thou dost!

Gon. Obdurate Pagan !-How numerous is your army?

Oro. Count the leaves of yonder forest. Alm. Which is the weakest part of your camp? Oro. It has no weak part; on every side 'tis fortified by justice.

Piz. Where have you concealed your wives and your children?

Oro. In the hearts of their husbands and their fathers.

Piz. Knowest thou Alonzo ?

Oro. Know him! Alonzo! Know him! Our nation's benefactor! the guardian angel of Peru! Piz. By what has he merited that title? Oro. By not resembling thee.

Alm. Who is this Rolla, joined with Alonzo in command?

Oro. I will answer that; for I love to hear and to repeat the hero's name. Rolla, the kinsman of the king, is the idol of our army; in war a tiger, chafed by the hunter's spear; in peace more gentle than the unweaned lamb. Cora was once betrothed to him; but finding she preferred Alonzo, he resigned his claim, and, I fear, his peace, to friendship and to Cora's happiness; yet still he loves her with a pure and holy fire.

Piz. Romantic savage !-I shall meet this Rolla

soon.

Oro. Thou hadst better not! the terrors of his noble eye would strike thee dead.

Dav. Silence, or tremble!

Oro. Beardless robber! I never yet have trembled before God; why should I tremble before man? why before thee, thou less than man!

Dav. Another word, audacious heathen, and I strike!