Xochitl. Do you think Cortes ever----? Bernal. If he loves thee, good God----! Xochitl. Then, both of us must leave. Bernal. You will leave, with Gonzalo? Do you know to what you expose yourself? Do you know that, Hernando Cortes, If he sees himself mocked, is Than the panther fiercer, And that his rage would Dash you to pieces at his feet? Xochitl. And what signifies life to _me_? Bernal. But Gonzalo, also, he---- Xochitl. Hold! for God’s sake, do not speak That murderous word. Departure makes me tremble, And I tremble if I remain; Bernal! everything causes me terror; My uncertainty is frightful---- To remain is impossible---- Without Gonzalo, go, I cannot.” (She departs.) * * * * * Cortes communicates his plans for Marina--first to Gonzalo, then to Marina, herself. (Pause.) Cortes. “We are likely to have an uprising, And I do not wish you to be Involved in it; how good it is to die In actual battle And not fighting the vile rabble. For this reason you are, with Marina, To leave for Orizaba At dawn. Gonzalo. (Aside). And _she_ will remain here, without me! Cortes. I expect you at dawn, Gonzalo, A passport, for leaving the city, With a veiled lady, I shall give you. Gonzalo. Veiled? Cortes. So Will the passport read: I do not wish Them to know who it is. You ought To leave at dawn. Go To rest yourself. Gonzalo. May happy Dreams be yours. (Aside.) At dawn! Xochitl ... soon I’ll return for thee.” * * * * * Cortes. “To counteract the plotting Of so many enemies, I go to Spain. In thinking of your happiness---- Marina. You think of _my_ happiness, Don Hernando? Cortes. --Considering that your nobility Deserves a name, a grandeur, Worthy of you, Marina,---- Marina. I know not what vile treason my soul divines. Cortes. --Wealth, and state, And a husband--Don Juan de Jaramillo---- Marina. Cease! Hernando, cease! Cortes. You leave, tomorrow, for Orizaba. Marina. And, thus, you abandon me? And thus you crown my loyalty and love? Oh monster! Impious father! And thy son, Cortes? My son? No, the very panther Does not abandon its little ones: that beast, More human heart Has, than the grand Christian conqueror. Cortes. We must needs separate. And no power, you know it well, Can bend my fixed purpose.” * * * * * In 1882, General Riva Palacio, author and statesman, published a little book _Los Ceros_ (The Zeros), under the _nom-de-plume_ of Cero. It was a good natured criticism of contemporary authors, written in a satirical vein. We will close with some quotations from it regarding Chavero.