Shoot them! Shoot them! Miramon and Dupin!
The butchers! The dogs!

Raf. Hold! You are soldiers! Not murderers!

Dup. (To soldiers) You rags and bones! Go wash and eat before
you touch a gentleman!

Sol. You'll not be so nice to-morrow when the worms are at you!

Asef. Raphael! (Flies to him)

Raf. You here! O blessed fortune! My love! my love!

Asef. O, is it true? You are alive! Alive!
I too am resurrected, for I was dead,
Slain with the news that you were murdered!

Raf. I've news too bitter for so sweet a moment.
Ignacio bribed my guard--stood in my place--
And died.

Asef. (Recoiling) You let him die for you?

Raf. No, no!
He carefully deceived me. I thought he planned
His own escape with mine.

Asef. O noble friend!...
Juarez! He knows?

Raf. Not yet.

Asef. What grief for that
Great heart!... But you are here--my Rafael!

Raf. By all these kisses--yes!

Asef. These are your lips--
Your eyes--your hands--alive! I hear your heart!
Your arms are round me, yet this is the earth!
My country and my husband safe!

Raf. God gives
Some moments out of Heaven, and this is one!

(Enter a soldier)

Sol. The Emperor is captured by Escobedo!

Princess S.
Not killed! not killed! Thank Heaven for that!

Sol. 'Twas strange
To see him stand like this (folds his arms) among the shells!

Asef. Now I could pity him, for he must die.

Princess S.
Die, woman! Die? You know not who he is!
Why all the outraged world would rise and raze
This devil's country from the face of earth
Were Maximilian slain! Let Juarez dare
To harm this son of kings and he will learn
His beggar's power is but an infant's breath!

Asef. Good madam, you have been my noble friend.
I would not wound you, but would have you know
That better men than Maximilian
Have died for lesser crimes.

(Enter Juarez with soldiers. Dawn has gradually opened and
i