How closely darkening
The shadows favour us ... and there are rumours
The wind takes from the ground of horses’ hoofs....
[A trumpet is lightly blown.
Fortune, my war-cry once again!
[Juanito rushes for the rope.] Aut Cesar,
Aut nihil! But to-day I take the plunge,
I dare the pit, the downfall.
[To Juanito.] Knot it here more firmly,
Round this crenelle—steady! It must not jag....
Now my light ball, I throw you to the breezes,
Ding-dangle—thus!
[He lets Juanito down.] Your odds, Juanito,
Against the wheel of Fortune!
... He keeps hold—
O boy! the rope is taut. It holds....
This cumbers me. [Throwing off his cloak.
Our Lord God, in His infinite clemency,
And for His greater glory against Fate’s
Vicissitudes....
A jerk!—the final die is cast!
Cesar—or nothing!
[He climbs down the rope into the ravine, as voices are heard on the stairs. The door opens and Don Pedro rushes in with soldiers.
DON PEDRO.
What horn-call was that?
Gone, gone! Our peril,
Our loss! I reel ... He shall not so escape.
Death, or our re-possession of him!
Down,
Traitor, blasphemer, down! Down!
[He cuts the rope, motioning some of the soldiers to descend.
[After awhile.
Guards, are you there?