Osorio. Yes! I murder'd him most foully.

Albert (throws himself on the earth). O horrible!

Alhadra. Why didst thou leave his children? [275]
Demon! thou shouldst have sent thy dogs of hell
To lap their blood. Then, then, I might have harden'd
My soul in misery, and have had comfort.
I would have stood far off, quiet tho' dark,
And bade the race of men raise up a mourning [280]
For the deep horror of a desolation
Too great to be one soul's particular lot!
Brother of Zagri! let me lean upon thee. [Struggling to suppress her anguish.
The time is not yet come for woman's anguish—
I have not seen his blood. Within an hour [285]
Those little ones will crowd around and ask me,
Where is our father? [Looks at Osorio.
I shall curse thee then!
Wert thou in heaven, my curse would pluck thee thence!

Maria. See—see! he doth repent. I kneel to thee.
Be merciful! [Maria kneels to her. Alhadra regards her face wistfully.

Alhadra. Thou art young and innocent; [290]
'Twere merciful to kill thee! Yet I will not.
And for thy sake none of this house shall perish,
[[596]] Save only he.

Maria. That aged man, his father!

Alhadra (sternly). Why had he such a son?

[The Moors press on.

Maria (still kneeling, and wild with affright). Yet spare his life!
They must not murder him!

Alhadra. And is it then 295
An enviable lot to waste away
With inward wounds, and like the spirit of chaos
To wander on disquietly thro' the earth,
Cursing all lovely things? to let him live—
It were a deep revenge!