Read Ebook: The virgin of the sun by Kotzebue August Von Plumptre Anne Translator

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Ebook has 14 lines and 20356 words, and 1 pages

ns.

END OF THE FIRST ACT.

ALONZO.

Will this night never come to an end?--The stars still twinkle in the heavens, the moon scarcely yet begins to lose her lustre, and a deep and solemn silence reigns around.--More grateful to the sinner's soul are noise and tumult, for they assist to deaden the voice of conscience.--What said the fool Diego lately?--that it is the same with conscience as with the stomach, the moment either compels us to feel its existence, we may be sure it is not in perfect health.--And the fool spoke truly.--Oh my excellent mother! thy golden instructions may one day conduct me into a better world--they have not taught me how to conduct myself in another hemisphere!--Perhaps at this very moment thou art upon thy knees, praying for a blessing upon thy fallen son!--Ah, pray for him! intercede for him!--he needs the intercession of a saint!--But away, away ye gloomy thoughts!--All may yet be well!--Night is followed by twilight--twilight by the first rays of the rising sun!-- And see there the precursor of returning joy!--Already the east begins to be streaked with purple, and the stars are disappearing.--Hist! I hear the chirping of a distant bird!--the moment draws near which is to bring Cora back to her Alonzo!--while I press her to my bosom, conscience is mute, and I can laugh at danger. I will awaken these sleepers. Diego, rise,--it is already day.

Is it so early!--The sun is scarcely risen!--Alas, thus he sets and rises again, yet ever finds me wakeful!--But let me arm myself with patience, and the time will shortly come when he will find me sleeping for ever!-- Who have we here?--two of the strangers who live among us--doubtless they have lost their way among these bushes, and have been overtaken by the night. I will awake them, and present them with refreshments;--yet first let me offer my morning prayers to thee, my Father!

Haste!--dig with eager hands a grave, Our guiltless heads from death to save! A grave, to turn from us aside The darts destruction's daemons guide! For hark!--both justice and compassion cry, "To save the guiltless, let the guilty die!"

Haste!--dig a grave t'avenge the gods! A grave, that in death's dark abodes, Lost Cora's crime, of deepest die, May soon for ever buried lie!

Brethren!--the grave's prepar'd!--away! Bring Cora hither!--hence!--obey!-- That perishing in earth's dark womb Which must her living form entomb, She a sin-offering may become, for sin; And by her sufferings heaven's compassion win.

The translator acknowledges her obligation to a friend, for the verification of these chorusses.

Oh, my father, you know not what thoughts are brooding here!--To your powers of eloquence alone, I dare not trust a matter of this importance!--force!--force!--that is the only effectual method of persuasion.--Where can Velasquez be?--I would fain clasp him in my arms, and endeavour to communicate to his breast, an ardour equal to that which glows in mine. Yes, I will save her!--I must save her!--My mother was a Virgin of the Sun, though I must not dare to pronounce her name, lest the echoes should learn to repeat it,--to rescue Cora is a sacrifice due to her memory. Thus it is that the gods wonderfully entwine together every link in the chain of fate!--Ye powers of heaven!--you cannot be arraigned if Rolla should die poor in deeds of heroism, since you have not withheld glorious opportunities for their performance!--To give freedom to her he loves, and to present a grateful offering to his mother's memory, are objects of such magnitude, that if they did not raise a flame within this bosom, it must have been moulded from the eternal snow on the summits of the Cordilleras.

END OF THE FOURTH ACT.

HIGH-PRIEST.

Yet one word more, Xaira, ere, by pronouncing a hasty sentence, we profane the sacred name we bear. Are we not ministers of the divine favour?

END OF THE PLAY.

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