Scene VII Enter the High-Priest
Xaira. We have expected you impatiently.
High-Priest. I was summoned away to the Inca.
Xaira. Is the object of the interview a secret?
High-Priest. By no means. Ataliba requires of the judges of Cora and Alonzo, that they strictly examine whether both be equally guilty, and whether the one might not have seduced the other—might not have thrown out improper lures to lead astray the imagination.
Xaira. Well, and supposing this should appear to be the case.
High-Priest. Then he orders that the seducer only shall suffer, and that the seduced shall be released.
Xaira. Do I hear rightly?—Could the king say this, and dare the High-Priest of the Sun repeat it after him?
High-Priest. Why should he not?
Xaira. “The transgressors of the laws shall die.”—Thus spake our god himself.
High-Priest. Did you hear the god say this?—or was it not rather spoken by the first Inca, as the ordinance of our god?
Xaira. ’Tis the same.
High-Priest. That I readily allow.—The Inca is the image of god upon earth, and the interpreter of his will; but the last Inca is equally so with the first. The severe laws, therefore, which his ancestor might find necessary to institute among a wild and uncivilized people, the descendant may be allowed to meliorate when the necessity for their enforcement no longer exists.
Xaira. (Sarcastically) Why then not abolish them entirely?
High-Priest. To this the king was strongly inclined. Yet he still thinks that he owes an example to the repose of his people.
Xaira. One example only?—And what is that to be?—He says that the guilty only shall die; but what earthly wisdom is competent to decide this question?—Will not both assert their innocence?—and will not each endeavour to throw the blame of seduction upon the other?
High-Priest. ’Tis possible.
Xaira. What then is to direct our judgment?
High-Priest. Of that hereafter. At present, duty requires that we obey the Inca’s mandate. Let Cora and Alonzo be brought hither! (Exit one of the Priests.)
Xaira. No, I will not violate my principles, even to gratify the Inca?—Both are guilty; and whether seducing, or seduced, is a matter of total indifference. To his own face I will tell the king the same,—I will sound it in the ears of the people—and if Ataliba no longer trembles before the gods, he shall at least tremble before his own subjects.
High-Priest. Conscience is his law, and it ought equally to be ours. We are to judge Cora and Alonzo, but let us not forget that we ourselves are one day to be judged by a superior power. Now take your places.
SCENE VIII.—The High-Priest stands in the centre, with Xaira at his right hand, and the rest of the Priests ranged in a semi-circle round the stage. Cora, and Alonzo, both in chains, are brought in on different sides.—Cora no longer bears the image of the sun upon her breast, nor her flame-coloured girdle.
Cora. My Alonzo!
Alonzo. Oh God!—you also in chains!
Cora. Mourn not my fate!—I shall die with you!
Alonzo. With your murderer.
Xaira. Silence!
High-Priest. (With mild solemnity) We, the servants of the gods, appointed to execute their holy will, are here assembled to pass judgment upon Cora the daughter of Telasco, and Alonzo the stranger.—Oh thou, our Father above, who surveyest the whole world with one glance, diffuse thy light into our hearts!—thou hast appointed us judges over honour and shame, over life and death!—let thy wisdom then enlighten our minds that no partiality may bias them, that they may alike be free from weakness and revenge. (He kneels, accompanied by all the other Priests.) We swear, oh sun, to judge according to thy laws communicated by Manco-Capac!—We swear to shew mercy, if the profanation of thy temple will permit mercy to be shewn—or if strict justice be required, to exact strict justice!—We swear, finally, so to conduct ourselves, that should we be called into thy presence to-morrow, we may not be ashamed of rendering a faithful account of this awful hour!
All the Priests. We swear this, oh sun! (They rise.)
High-Priest. Cora, have you broken your vow?
Cora. I have.
High-Priest. Do you know this young man?
Cora. He is my husband.
High-Priest. Alonzo, do you know this woman?
Alonzo. She is my wife.
Xaira. You are both guilty—both must die.
High-Priest. Before we proceed to pass sentence upon you, an important duty remains to be discharged. In the name of our king, I am to announce favour to the party, who was solely the victim of seduction. Ataliba, the first-born of the sun, under whose dominion the kingdom of Quito flourishes, requires a free and ingenuous confession, which of you was the seducer, and which the seduced.
| Cora. It was I seduced him. | } | (Both speaking together.) |
| Alonzo. It was I seduced her. | } |
Cora. Do not believe him, he speaks falsely.
Alonzo. Do not believe her, she would deceive you.
Cora. I alone am guilty.
Alonzo. On me must your sentence be pronounced.
Cora. Release him, he is innocent.
Alonzo. Shall the weakness of woman be punished?—No, let the man make atonement.
Cora. Oh no!—for the love of heaven! (The High-Priest turns aside to conceal his emotions.)
Xaira. Silence!—Who can extract the truth amid this confusion?—Let one only speak.
High-Priest. Cora begin!—Alonzo, do you remain silent.
Cora. The first time that I saw this young man was in the temple. I immediately employed every artifice to attract his attention,—I always made the longest pauses wherever he was standing, and contrived various means to continue near him—I drew aside my veil whenever I passed him, and endeavoured by expressive glances to excite his affections.
Alonzo. ’Tis false!—Her eyes were always cast downwards!
Xaira. Silence, stranger, it is not your turn to speak.
Cora. My advances inspired him with boldness—he sprang over the ruins of our sacred walls, yet scarcely was he within their circuit, when, affrighted at his own rashness, he was about to retreat without an interview. But his figure had caught my attention as I was walking at a distance—I called—I made signs to him when I ought to have fled,—intercourse with him was forbidden to me,—intercourse with me was not forbidden to him.—He stood trembling and irresolute, while I ran towards him, threw my arms round his neck, and pressed my lips to his. Still he was anxious to depart, but I detained him—he would not have returned, but I entreated him—he described to me the danger of my situation, but I refused to listen to him. On me, on me, pass sentence, ye reverend judges, it is I who have seduced.
Alonzo. Nature herself convicts you of falsehood.—Modesty is the sister of beauty—the man declares love, the woman only returns it. Who then can believe your story?—No, ye priests, it was I, who, when I saw her in the temple, first threw forbidden glances upon her, by which I disturbed her quiet, and ruffled the sweet serenity of her mind. It was I who disregarding the laws both of God and man, with thoughtless confidence overleaped the sacred walls, and when at sight of me she started back and would have fled, I cast myself at her feet, and holding her by her garments, forcibly detained her, to poison her mind with flattery and deceit. But why should I urge all this?—Ye judges, ye know the character of man, and must be assured, by the feelings of your own hearts, that I was the seducer. Pronounce your sentence then on me!
Cora. Recollect that he saved the Inca’s life!—Spare him!—he is guiltless!
Alonzo. She raves, she knows not what she says, I alone am guilty.
Cora. Can you have a more convincing proof that I only am the criminal, when you see me wholly unconcerned and unmoved by any emotions of repentance, while the stranger is bowed down with the weight of his remorse. I glory in my guilt, and here in the presence of the gods, in the presence of all these spectators, do I embrace my husband! (She rushes up to Alonzo, and clasps him in her arms.) Now observe his tremor—he breaks from me, while I would still hang about him!—Can you then doubt any longer?—’Tis I,—I only am guilty.
Alonzo. Cora! Cora! Think of what you are doing!
Cora. Hear him, how he reproves, how he admonishes me!—Thus has he ever done, yet I would not listen to him, but regardless of his admonitions drew him with me into this abyss of misery.
Xaira. Shameless woman?—Tear her from him!
Cora. (Returning to her former station) Now pronounce sentence.
Xaira. I shudder.
High-Priest. Lead her away.
Alonzo. (Spreading out his arms towards Cora) Farewel!
Cora. We shall soon meet again.
Xaira. In the hour of death.
Cora. When a mightier power begins to spin the web of a more blest existence!
Xaira. Lead her away.
Alonzo. Farewel.
Cora. We part on this side of the grave with bitter tears, to meet with smiles in the realms above. (Cora and Alonzo are guarded out on different sides.)
Xaira. Need we any farther proof?—my voice is for death!—death to both!
High-Priest. (Addressing the assembly with a mournful voice.) Follow me into the temple, and let us sacrifice to the gods. Meantime, weigh well in your hearts what you have seen and heard, and then as mortals, let us proceed to pass our judgment upon mortals. (Exeunt omnes.)
END OF THE FOURTH ACT.