Scene V Enter Don Juan
Rolla. Welcome, Velasquez!—I have waited for you here!—I have occasion for your assistance.
Juan. In what way?
Rolla. Have you sufficient magnanimity to hazard your life for a friend?
Juan. Most certainly, if it can be of any avail!
Rolla. Then give me your hand.
Juan. Take it.
Rolla. Cora and Alonzo are lost.
Juan. Alas!
Rolla. We must save them.
Juan. If it be possible.
Rolla. Only strike a bold stroke.
Juan. With all my heart!—provided it be not a criminal one.
Rolla. Criminal!—Ha!—you have touched me indeed!—Yes, I am afraid it too nearly resembles a crime!
Juan. Then seek some other person to share in the attempt.
Rolla. Yet state the question thus.—Say, which is most criminal, to institute, or to abolish, an inhuman law?
Juan. To effect the latter is an act of virtue.
Rolla. Which we will practice.
Juan. That is not in our power. This virtue can be practised by the king alone.
Rolla. Let us then counsel the king.
Juan. To that I have no objection.
Rolla. But with arms in our hands.
Juan. Such counsel were rebellion.
Rolla. What signifies a name when good is to be effected?
Juan. I am moreover much indebted to Ataliba, he has received me with hospitality, has been my benefactor.
Rolla. Your friend is in danger.
Juan. I will not commit a crime even to save him.
Rolla. How, if I engage my honour, that not a hair of the king’s head, or of the heads of any of his servants, shall be injured,—that we will conquer by fear alone?—You know that I was once general of the army—by that army I am still beloved; for the brave fellows have not forgotten how often they triumphed under my command, nor that when we were in the field together the lowest among them was treated as my brother. To you also, Velasquez, the king has entrusted the conduct of a valiant band. On the least signal given, all who have borne arms under my standard, will assemble round me—we will ask nothing for ourselves,—sacred shall be the throne—sacred the life and property of every individual,—nothing shall be required but freedom for Cora and Alonzo.
Juan. Noble Rolla, you are blinded by love. Search your heart, you will there detect, probably for the first time, evil designs.
Rolla. I have no ears to listen to your morality. Virtue is but an empty name, if it has never been opposed by passion.
Juan. And then the stronger the opposition the more noble is the victory.
Rolla. It may be so, yet I can feel nothing but Cora’s danger,—hear nothing but Cora’s voice crying for help!—Look, here is Cora’s grave!—Icy-hearted man, behold Cora’s grave!—Yet why waste time thus ineffectually?—What interest have you in the fate of Cora?—Well then, (He seizes Juan’s hand in haste and agitation) come with me, I will lead you to the pile prepared for your friend!—If at the sight of so dreadful an object your heart can suffer your head to reason—if on that spot I cannot inspire you with rage and anguish, equal to my own?—then farewel, I must resign you wholly to your own apathy, and fly to my mother’s grave,—there as I behold the wind waving the blades of grass, and think whose form is mouldering beneath, all your precepts will in a moment be forgotten, and my soul be armed with new resolution. Come!—away! (Exit, drawing Juan after him)