Mercy Otis Warren

“ Donna Louisa
Was I the price, for which at Villabar, That perjur'd wight, betray'd and sold his friends! Go, minion! traitor! hide thy guilty head, Thy country blushes that she gave thee birth. Don Velasco
Respect becomes thy lip---he is thy lord.------ Donna Louisa
As much as does my soul abhor his name, If possible, I more despise than hate, The infamous---the cowardly Don Pedro. Don Velasco
Pedro, retire---I'll bend her to thy will--- She shall be thine---thou art my son--- By all the saints and angels I adore, This eve shall solemnize the nuptial rights ”

“ But how did'st thou escape thy gloomy cell?--- Or by what means elude the watchful guard?--- Don Francis
In sables clad, my face bedew'd with tears, The guards suppos'd I was thy noble sire, Who had permission to embrace his son, Ere death had seal'd an heirless father's woe. But on parole, I have De Haro's leave To fly to Charles, and in Velasco's name, To sue for pardon from the emperor's hand, And claim my bride by his Zelinda's ring:--- He gave me both his signet and command, And bade me on the moment haste away; The next he said perhaps betray'd to death. ”

“ Death is the certain doom of all mankind--- To learn to die is an heroic work:--- But thus to die an ignominious death--- Without a trial, or the forms of law, Pronounc'd a traitor---hurry'd from the stage--- Torn from existence as an useless worm, By a base, vile, assassinating hand, Fires all my soul with fury and revenge. ”

“ Think not to melt my rigid purpose down; Forbear to practise hackney'd female arts, Thy sex's tears have ruin'd half mankind. My heart near bursts whene'er I bend my eye On such a worthless fragment of my house: But for Zelinda's image on thy brow I'd spurn at once from my indignant soul The lying semblance of so fair a form. Donna Louisa
By the dear mem'ry of that sainted name Forgive her daughter's agony of soul. Zelinda, oh!---compassionate my woes--- Look down, bless'd saint, from thy divine abode, And teach my sire to pity thy Louisa. ”

“ Friend of my early youth---my brave Don Francis--- Unlike the world---a friend in fortune's wane; Thou hast a soul that dares to mix with grief, And kindly seek'st thy wretched sister out To sooth the anguish of extreme distress. ”

“ Though in the field, the king commands my sword, My heart I give to virtue in distress. Though warmly urg'd thy pardon or reprieve, Velasco's will, inexorably stern, Has fix'd the moment that completes thy date. What can I more---to sooth thy wounded mind? Say---dost thou wish to see thy lov'd Maria?--- Or pour a blessing on the infant head Of thy young son, and bid a last adieu?--- But if this tender scene's too big with grief, Then write whate'er conjugal love inspires, Or the paternal heart would wish to say:--- De haro's honour is the pledge of truth ”

“ While his bright eyeballs swim in filial tears, To hear the accents of his dying sire, Tenfold enhanc'd by thy descriptive tongue. Donna Maria
Maternal softness weakens my resolve, And wakes new fears---thou dearst, best of men, Torn from thy side, I'm levell'd with my sex. The wife---the mother---make me less than woman. (Maria opens an adjacent apartment, and shews the infant in the arms of his nurse)
Don Juan De Padilla
Let angel innocence lie soft and still, Nor call the dew drops to the infant eye By sympathetic, fond, parental tears. ”

“ ACT IV Scene I (Don Juan and Don Francis in Chains, led by the Guards across the Stage.---Pass off)
(Don Velasco and Conde Haro)
Conde Haro
To see my country bleed, distracts my soul; But suffering virtue moves the gods themselves. I must implore my father's lenient hand To hold suspended yet the prisoner's fate, Until the emperor himself arrives:--- His clemency may fix his royal power, And make him worthy of the crown he wears, A pardon granted to the good and brave Will bind their faith by gratitude and grace. ”

“ True dignity may acquiess in ills, None can foresee, nor value can repel; Meekness becomes the Christian and the man, Not less the hero, when his God decrees, The palm of victory to a stronger hand. Here mimic justice rears his scaffold high--- I feel the knife already at my throat ”

“ What int'rest hast thou in a rebel life, That thus in tears---in agonies of grief--- In weeds of woe, thou pleadest for Don Francis? Donna Louisa
The first impression of my early youth, Thine own injunction, and my insant heart, Taught me to love---whate'er Maria lov'd--- Her brother.------------ Don Velasco
------------------dies, as her husband shall; Nor will thy tears retard the blow Due to a traitor's crimes.------------ Donna Louisa
Oh! grant an audience ere his fate is seal'd. ”