_Amel._ No, no, Princess; 'tis a daughter, Fierce through despair, frantic with fear, and anguish. Hear me ye dread unknown: Yon flinty man Ne'er knew a father's care, and knows not now What 'tis to _love_, what 'tis to _lose_ a father. But ye, (if e'er a parent's hand hath dried Your infant tears; if e'er your eyes have streamed To see him weep, knowing your hand but scarred Gave him more pain, than his own heart torn piece meal) Oh! spare my father! Bid those hours revive Which filial love once bless'd; recall youth's feelings, And by those feelings learn to pity mine. Spare, spare my father! _Caesa._ [_Struggling to conceal his confusion._] Spare him? Sure thou rav'st: What fears my gentle love? _Amel._ I'm not thy love; Not gentle: Strange despair has changed my nature; Steeled my soft bosom, braced my woman's nerves, And brought me here, prepared and proud to perish, If my heart's blood may save my sire's from streaming. The savage tigress guards her new-born young With tenderest, fiercest care; the timorous swallow, If robber-hands approach her brood; defends it With eagle-fury; and what brutes will do To guard their offspring, born perhaps that day, Shall I not do for one, to whom I owe Full twenty years of love? Caesario, mark me, For by heaven's host, no power shall move my purpose: Or thou must save my sire, or murder me. _Hen._ What must be done? _Mel._ Time presses. _Caesa._ [_Recovering from his stupor._] Fire the train. _Amel._ [_Interposing between the inner vault and_ Henriquez.] He shall not. _Caesa._ Amelrosa. _Amel._ No, he shall not! Back, ruffian, back! and throw that torch away, Which burns to light my father's funeral pile: Here I'll defy thy rage, thus check thy malice, Thus bar thy road, and, if thou needs wilt pass, Make thee a way by trampling on my corse, I stir not else. _Caesa._ Nay, then I'll use my power, And, as thy husband now command thee---- _Amel._ Thou? Man, thou canst not command me. _Caesa._ Art thou not My wife? _Amel._ I am; but ere I was a wife, I was a daughter, was a subject; nay, Am still a princess, and as such command Thee, traitor, thee! and bid thee turn from evil. [_To_ Henriquez,]--Away! you pass not. _Caesa._ Force her from the door! _Amel._ [_Clinging to a column._] Oh! for the Hebrew's strength to shake yon vaults, And crush these traitors and myself. _Mel._ In vain You struggle. _Amel._ Cut my hands off! stab me! kill me! [_They force her away._] _Caesa._ Henriquez, to your work. [Henriquez _enters the vault_.] _Amel._ Oh! barbarous men, Where shall I turn--Caesario, dear Caesario! Once thou wert kind--Aid, aid my prayers, ye angels, And force this cruel man to save at once My husband's honour, and my father's life. Turn not away! look on me! see my tears, And pity me: Friend, husband, lover, all That makes life dear, I charge you! I implore you---- _Hen._ [_Returning from the vault._] The train is fired.