My best beloved, retire awhile. (to SUITE) All follow me, To arm my vassals and secure my gates.

(Exit DUKE and ATTENDANTS, C.-DONNA ZANTHE seems to follow her waiting women, who go off, R., then stops and turns. HERNANI gazes on her steadfastly, but with strong emotion.)

HERN. I give you joy, fair Duchess. On my life Thou'rt furnished splendidly. A casket too.

(taking it from the table.)

Gems in reserve, most brilliant and complete ;
Diamonds and pearls! Rings, chains, and coronet!
No bauble left to sigh for. Precious store,

And well bestowed on love so pure, so lofty. (X's R.) ZANTH. (taking a dagger from the casket) You have not searched it through

HERN. (starting, then throwing himself at her feet) Forgive me!

ZANTH. This

I snatched from Carlos, when he would have had me
Partake his throne, which I refused for one

Who thus requites me!

HERN. Strike it to his heart!

From thy hand merited, from thy hand welcome.

ZANTH. That hand can only raise thee from thy penitence. The worst of wrongs, from thee, my heart can pardonMuch more the wild and frantic thoughts that drive thee, For my sake, to despair.

HERN. Oh! ever merciful,

Devoted, measureless in love and truth!

'Tis time this untamed savage should resign thee

To that benign and gentle peace he found

The native inmate of thy bosom.

ZANTH. No-For thy woes it bleeds,

But not thy cruelty. I should have died-
HERN. For me!

ZANTH. For whom, if not for thee? (in a flood of tears.
HERN. Still tears,

And I the cause! and none will punish me,

Not e'en my much abused and noble host.
I cannot shun, yet wherefore do I haunt thee?
I know not how to love, yet love to madness.
My friends are dead, or in their dungeons. I
Am left to be indeed a scourge-a ruffian !

ZANTH. (with ardent abandonment) No, thou art good and generous, and with all

My heart I love thee. (falls on his neck.

HERN. Carlos, strike! for earth

Can yield no more. (they are linked in each other's arms, absorbed in looks of love and tenderness.)

Enter DON LEO, C., he stands amazed and motionless.

LEO. And this is then the world

I live in! this is now the recompense

Of hospitality! and this the man

Who, in the name of Christian brotherhood,
Demands our shelter! Thou besotted host,
Unbar thy gates, and let thy heart be opened
To give the stranger welcome in his need;
Arouse thy pride, and string thy sinews up,
To champion him, at sixty years—
frird on thy trustiest weapon, man thy towers
To fence him in his danger; venture all
For him, and thus much will he do for you!
Bandits and murderers have I seen, who died
Scoffers, impenitent and unconfessed,
But never man betraying thus his host
Who had not trembled. Flower of old Castilians!
(addressing the portraits.
What man is he who thus profanes your presence?

HERN. One who devoutly bends in veneration
For them and thee. The outrage I have done you
Defies alike or patience or redress-

But I have blood, a hot ungoverned tide,

O'erswelling bound and barrier-let it gush!
Cleanse thy polluted sanctuary, and be

The rest forgotten!

ZANTH. Nay! strike rather here!

Hence was the sin, hence flow the expiation.
This heart, defiled with pity for the brave,
Be the peace-offering to thine anger.

LEO. Neither.

It is not thus the sacrifice is made

To my insulted honour. Leave us.

ZANTH. Wherefore?

That look I know; it 'bodes some fatal purpose,

Death or a living sepulchre! Forbear,

For he is as noble as thyself; deserving

Thy love as mine.

LEO. (roused) Thine?

ZANTH. No, no!

LEO. 'Tis enough. (a trumpet sounds. LEO draws his

sword.)

What sound is that?

Enter ISADORE, C.

ISAD. My lord, the king in person, Attended by a troop of archers, claims Admittance by his herald's trumpet.

LEO. (calmly) Claims!

ZANTH. The king! 'tis fatal.

ISAD. Our delay offends him; but your command-
LEO. Well, for the King we'll waive it;

Admit him.

ZANTH. He is lost!

(Exit ISADORE, c.

(DON LEO goes to a large picture, L. of himself, which is the last on the left, and presses a spring, when the picture opens like a door, and discovers a recess in the wall.) HERN. (not observing him) He triumphs!

LEO. No. (points to the recess L.)

HERN. Ah!

LEO. Enter.

HERN. Gladly.

Rescued from him, dispose me as you will.

(enters the recess L., it closes on him.)

ZANTH. (exultingly) Does he relent! protect him still!

Enter ISADORE C.

ISAD. His highness the King.

(A flourish of drums and trumpets. ZANTHE throws on her veil. The folding doors open and the KING enters in warlike attire, followed by ARQUEBUSIERS, ARCHERS, GENTLEMEN-AT-ARMS, &c.; he advances deliberately, C., and fixes on DON LEO R., a look of anger and distrust. The DUKE meets and salutes him with profound respect. The KING on approaching, raises his head abruptly, and as in rebuke.)

CARL. How comes it, cousin, that to-day

Your bolts and bars are so tenacious? Why

This watch and ward, question, and hostile parley ?
Your falchion, too, still glittering in your grasp!

I thought it rusty. (The DUKE goes to speak; the KIN stops him by an imperial gesture.)

Put it up. Are we

Encountered like a troop of turban'd foes?
Am I a Saib, a Mahomet, or Carlos,

That your portcullis falls at my approach?

LEO. My liege

CARL. (to his ATTENDANTS) Secure the keys. Let every

door

Be guarded strongly. Is it here I find
Expiring treason nourished and restored?
Of that devouring fire that long has blazed
Even in our faces, yet a spark remains,

Where is it smouldering, to be fann'd and foster'd ?
'Tis here. The outlaw chief is in the castle.

LEO. My liege, 'tis true.

CARL. Surrender him, or wear

His chains thyself. Choose.

LEO. My election's easy.

To take me fettered or to leave me free,

Is the sole choice I can accord your Highness.
CARL. Defer your pleasantry. I trifle not.

Bring forth your prisoner; I must have him; think on't. The DUKE crosses his arms and pauses in brief deliberation; then raises his head and leads the KING to the most ancient of the portraits, L. U. E. DONNA ZANTHE watching him with great agitation.)

LEO. Sire! by your gracious leave-Behold the first,
The founder, of our race, Don Silvias,

The father of its glory. Thrice in Rome,
Still great, was he elected consul, and recalled
'The days when she was greatest. Next to him
Stands Ruy Gomez, worthy to succeed him,—
Grand master of St. James and Calatrava.
Three hundred standards,

In thirty battles fought and won, he made
His trophies and memorial. For the king
He conquered Moril, Suez, Antiquera,

And died in poverty. Salute him, sire.

(He himself uncovers and bends in salutation; the KING exhibits constant impatience; DON LEO passes to another.) His son, Don Gaspar, follows-the reproachless;

Amidst corruption, incorruptible;

Whose hand to touch had sanctified an oath.

Your patience-for I will not multiply

An echo of renown still equal, still

The highest! Here's my father,-undegenerate!

Friendship's proud champion! with six hundred spears His friend Don Alvar Giron he redeemed

From hostile thousands.

CARL. I demand my prisoner.

LEO. Show me, sire, but one of these

Had soiled his honour and betrayed his guest.

CARL Hernani !

LEO. Here is another yet. His son, myself, (pointing to his own portrait.)

Has dared take place beside him, and must not
Disgrace him.

CARL. The rebel's head or your's.

LEO. For surety, sire,

Take that within your reach.

CARL. Beware of both; (to his SUITE.)

From topmost tower to deepest dungeon, search

The castle through.

LEO. My castle, like its lord,

Is firm and faithful, and will keep our secret.

CARL. This, to thy king!

LEO. This, and a brief addition. (with firm resolution.) From base to battlement, till stone from stone

Be sundered, and their master limb from limb,

Master he will be, and his guest secure.

CARL. Is't resolved ?

LEO. It is.

CARL. Arrest him. (GUARDS disarm him-ZANTHE throws up her veil.)

ZANTH. (R.) Hold! Carlos, the brave, the great!

You are a wicked king.

Nor have a true and noble Spanish heart,

Like him you seek, or him you would oppress.

CARL. Judgment so harsh ne'er uttered voice so gentle.

(approaches her and lowers his tone.

I am what you have made me, will be still.
If you would teach me mercy, let me learn it
From your example, not your precepts, Donna.
Still to be cruel, where you look for kindness,
Flatters the saucy satirist alone,

Who calls your sex unreasonable.
ZANTH. Šire,

Kings are no traffickers in grace and bounty,
But deal it unconditioned, or 'tis none.

CARL. Be it so ;

You shall prevail. Release him. Brave De Sylva,

My long esteem, and a soft influence here,

Still shake our stern resolve. We cannot see you
In Spanish hands a captive; well assured

Your loyalty will suffer brief suspense.