Azlea. O fear not Azlea can e'er be won
From her obedience; or ever bring
Her father's hoar head sorrowing to the tomb.
O no, no, no! She would not e'en forsake
For all earth's love, her father's dearer love,
Or leave him ever for another's smiles.
Maz. Did I not think this youth most virtuous,
Lofty, and good, I should indeed be curst;
But a few years, and this consuming frame
Shall have returned to earth, and thou wilt be
A lonely orphan, helpless on the sea
Of human toil and striving. It may be well,
And thou and I must pray that it be so.
Azlea. do not talk of dying; ere that time
May Azlea have slept her final sleep.[Curtain falls.
Scene II.—A recess in a forest.
Enter Hermon.
Her. I have wept, have prayed, have humbled my stern
soul
In most abject entreaty before Heaven;
Have vowed, and fasted, and done penances
Enough to save a soul already cursed;
But all is weak and vain before the power
Of this o'ermastering passion. And now
I give the struggle over! If I may
But win the love of Azlea, all earth,
All hell, shall strive in vain to fright me
From my fixed purpose. Heaven refuses
Longer to oppose my wishes, and the fear
Of earthly torments can not now restrain
The passions of my nature. How my soul,
