—Ximena!—speak to me!—Oh! yet a tone
From that sweet voice, that I may gather in
One more remembrance of its lovely sound,
Ere the deep silence fall!—What! is all hush'd?
—No, no!—it cannot be!—How should we bear
The dark misgivings of our souls, if Heaven
Left not such beings with us?— But is this
Her wonted look?—too sad a quiet lies
On its dim fearful beauty!—Speak, Ximena!
Speak!—my heart dies within me!—She is gone,
With all her blessed smiles!—My child! my child!
Where art thou?—Where is that which answer'd me,
From thy soft-shining eyes?—Hush! doth she move?
—One light lock seem'd to tremble on her brow,
As a pulse throbb'd beneath;—'twas but the voice
Of my despair that stirr'd it!—She is gone!
[She throws herself on the body. Gonzalez
enters, alone, and wounded.
ELMINA (rising as he approaches).
I must not now be scorn'd!—No, not a look,
A whisper of reproach!—Behold my woe!
—Thou canst not scorn me now!
GONZALEZ.
