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 thee? and will not my sweet boy, if thou’lt but restore him to me, one day fight thy battles too?

Alon. Oh! my suffering love—my poor heart-broken Cora!—thou but wound’st our sovereign’s feeling soul, and not reliev’st 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.

Soldiers. [Without.] Rolla! Rolla! Rolla!

Enter Rolla, bleeding, with the Child, followed by Peruvian Soldiers.

Rol. Thy child! [Gives the Child into Cora’s arms, and falls.

Cora. Oh, God! there’s blood upon him!

Rol. ’Tis my blood, Cora!

Alon. Rolla, thou diest!

Rol. For thee, and Cora.

[Dies.

Enter Orano.

Ora. Treachery has revealed our asylum in the rocks. Even now the foe assails the peaceful band retired for protection there.

Alon. Lose not a moment! Soldiers, be quick! Your wives and children cry to you. Bear our loved hero’s body in the van: ’twill raise the fury of our men to madness. Now, fell Pizarro! the death of one of us is near! Away! Be the word of assault, Revenge and Rolla!

[Exeunt. Charge.

Scene IV.—A Recess among the Rocks.

Enter Pizarro, Almagro, Valverde, and Spanish Soldiers.

Piz. Well! if surrounded, we must perish in the centre of them. Where do Rolla and Alonzo hide their heads?

Enter Alonzo, Orano, and Peruvian Warriors.