_Otti._ [_Alone._] 'Tis plain! 'tis plain! traitor, thou lov'st her still! Am I forsaken then? Oh shame, shame, shame! Forsaken too by one, for whom last night I dared a deed which----Ha! the palace opens, And lo! Estella with the princess comes. I'll hence, but soon returning make my rival Feel what I suffer now. Thus fell Megaera; Tears from her heart one of those snakes which gnaw it, To throw upon some wretch; and when it stings him, Wild laughs the fiend to see his pangs, well knowing How keen those pangs are, since she feels the same. [_Exit._ Amelrosa, Estella, Inis, _and ladies, appear on the terrace of the palace._ _Amel._ Forth, forth my friends! the morn will blush to hear Our tardy greeting [_descending._] Gently, winds, I pray ye, Breathe through this grove; and thou, all-radiant sun, Woo not these bowers beloved with kiss too fierce. Oh! look, my ladies, how yon beauteous rose, O'er charged with dew, bends its fair head to earth, Emblem of sorrowing virtue! [_to Inis_] would'st thou break it? See'st not its silken leaves are stain'd with tears? Ever, my Inis, where thou find'st these traces, Show thou most kindness, most respect. I'll raise it, And bind it gently to its neighbour rose; So shall it live, and still its blushing bosom Yield the wild bee, its little love, repose. _Inis._ Its love? Can flowers then love? _Amel._ Oh! what cannot? There's nothing lives, in air, on earth, in ocean, But lives to love! for when the Great Unknown Parted the elements, and out of chaos Formed this fair world with one blest blessing word, That word was Love? Angels, with golden clarions, Prolonged in heavenly strain the heavenly sound: The mountain-echoes caught it: the four winds Spread it, rejoicing o'er the world of waters; And since that hour, in forest, or by fountain, On hill or moor, whate'er be Nature's song, Love is her theme, Love! universal Love! _Est._ See, lady where the king---- _Amel._ I haste to meet him. _Enter_ Alfonso, _and attendants._ _Amel._ [_Kneeling._] My father! my dear father! _Alfon._ Heaven's best dews Fall on thy beauteous head, my Amelrosa, And be each drop a blessing!--Cheered by morning Fair smile the skies; but nothing smiles on me, Till I have seen thee well, and know thee happy. _Amel._ And I _were_ happy, if my eyes perceived not Tears clouding thine. Oh! what has power to grieve thee On this proud day, when rich in spoils and glory Caesario brings thee back thy conquering troops, That brave young warrior? Spite of Moorish hosts, And all their new-found engines of destruction, Sulphureous mines and mouths of iron thunder, He forced their gates! He leap'd their flaming gulphs! Pale as their banner'd crescent fled the Moors, And proudly streamed our flag o'er Algesiras! _Alfon._ And with them fled--Oh! have I words to speak it? Thy brother, Amelrosa! _Amel._ How! my brother?