SIEGE OF VALENCIA.
119
GONZALEZ.
—A terrible sacrifice thou claim'st, O God!
From creatures in whose agonizing hearts
Nature is strong as death!
ELMINA.
Away!—what time is given thee to resolve
On?—what I cannot utter!—Speak! thou know'st
Too well what I would say.
GONZALEZ.
The time is brief.
ELMINA.
GONZALEZ.
ELMINA.
Wherewith the thrilling chords of life are twined;
And, for this task's fulfilment, can it be
That man, in his cold heartlessness, hath dared
To number and to mete us forth the sands
Of hours, nay, moments?—Why, the sentenced wretch,
