Cora. Pressed my lips, my breast, to his.
High-Priestess. Your lips—your breast!
Cora. And our god smiled upon us.
High-Priestess. No more, unhappy girl!—Go and conceal yourself before I repent that I made you a promise of secrecy. It is not your honour alone that is concerned in this affair, it is the honour of our whole order.—Go, and settle as well as you can with your heart, whether it may find the extinction of your passion pleasing, or displeasing; only of this be allured, that you must see Alonzo no more.
Cora. (Resolutely) I will no longer remain a priestess of the sun.
High-Priestess. Vain resolution!—Death only can release you from his service.
Cora. But you say that I am criminal.—Well, then, I am no longer worthy to serve the sun. If however I devote to him in my place, an innocent creature, pure and free from sin, will not this be pleasing to him, shall I not then have discharged my duty, and be released from my oath.
High-Priestess. I do not understand you.
Cora. The innocent creature which I bear within me shall be devoted to the sun. (The High-Priestess starts back, attempts to speak, but is unable; she totters and is obliged to support herself against a chair) What is the matter?—Have you misunderstood me?—The innocent creature which I bear within me shall be devoted to the sun.
High-Priestess. (Running about in a phrenzy) Idali!—Amazili!—Runa!—Ye daughters of the Sun, hasten hither!—Ah!—I cannot support myself!—(She sinks down upon a chair)