ELMINA (throwing herself on the ground, and speaking
in a low hurried voice).
—I see their blood gush forth!—their graceful heads—
—Take the dark vision from me, oh, my God!
And such a death for them!—I was not there!
They were but mine in beauty and in joy,
Not in that mortal anguish!—All, all gone!
—Why should I struggle more?—What is this Power,
Against whose might, on all sides pressing us,
We strive with fierce impatience, which but lays
Our own frail spirits prostrate?
(After a long pause).
Thy hand, my God!—and they are soonest crush'd
That most withstand it!—I resist no more.
(She rises).—A light, a light springs up from grief and death,
Which with its solemn radiance doth reveal
Why we have thus been tried!
GONZALEZ.
Fix my last look on thee, in holy love,
Parting, but yet with hope!
