_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.