And thee alone from out the anchored host I trust to honest voice conditions here. _Carpen:_ Sire! dost thou seek a true, unvarnished tale, Or rather wouldst a colored picture please? _Francos:_ Truth is so hidden in her various garbs That nakedness alone presents her fair; Hence ornament and furbelow disdain, And Hebe-like unbedecked let her stand forth. _Carpen:_ It were indeed a most stupendous mind Which, as the argonaut with mining pan Doth sift pure gold from ever present dross, Can Truth unmesh from Error's well spread net. Conditions intricate with taunting smile Of Fate's stern irony, have faced us here; But now the seething problem must be solved And vague uncertainty be swept aside. Shall the mestizos, as the ruling class, Be firm entrenched by our assisting hand, Or must we in the well marked path still tread And longer bear our burden which will bring No gratitude to recompense our pains? _Quezox:_ Sire! Carpen well hath voiced mine ev'ry thought, We, who Caucasian blood boast in our veins Are numerous, and can uphold the state. The pure-blood Filipinos to us look For guidance and our ev'ry counsel take. To wait until the tao fills his skull With book lore were to see us in our graves And millions burden on thy native land. But Sire, I feel that time enow has flown To proper impress make on waiting minds. Hence it were well to bid them entrance speed That they may grave obeisance to thee make. _(Exit Quezox)_ _Second Scene: Outer Room, where the deputation waits._