[A Crash and tumultuous Noise without; Banditti rush in, armed; Don Cæsar at their Head—Fernando draws, and stands before Victoria.
Band. This way!
Don Scipio. Oh, ruin! I'm a miserable old man! Where's now my son, Don Cæsar?—If I hadn't banished him, I should now have a protector in my child.
Don Cæsar. Then you shall.—Hold! [To Banditti.] My father!
[Kneels to Don Scipio.
Don Scipio. How! My son, Don Cæsar!
Don Cæsar. Yes, sir; drove to desperation by—my follies were my own—but my vices——
Don Scipio. Were the consequence of my rigour.—My child! let these tears wash away the remembrance.
Don Cæsar. My father! I am unworthy of this goodness.—I confess even now I entered this castle with an impious determination to extort by force—
Sang. Captain, we didn't come here to talk. Give the word for plunder.