ngs
Use every art; at least delay his purpose,
Till thou shalt hear this bugle sound; that signal
Shall speak Alfonso safe.--Farewell.

_Amel._ Oh! heaven!
Oh! dreadful hour!

_Orsi._ Take heart: if time allows me,
I'll save thy father: if too late----

_Amel._ Then, then,
What wilt thou do?

_Orsi._ What? Plunge into the flames,
And perish with my king!--Away! away!

[_Exeunt severally._

SCENE III.--A cavern.

_Enter_ Melchior _with a lamp, as from an inner cavern_.

_Mel._ Hush!--No, he comes not; sure 'tis near the time.
A light:--Who's there?--Henriquez.

_Enter_ Henriquez, _lighted by_ Lucio.

_Hen._ Ay, the same.

_Mel._ Now, Lucio, where's thy lord?

_Lucio._ He charged me tell you,
He would not fail at one.

_Mel._ The rest wait yonder.
Gomez, Sebastian, Marcos, none are wanting:
Our chief alone is absent.

_Hen._ He'll not tarry.
Lead to the inner vault, I'll wait him there.

[_Exeunt._

_Enter_ Amelrosa.

_Amel._ Those gleams of light: I must be near the place.
--Voices!--I'll on--Oh! heaven! I can no further.
--I faint!--I die! [_Catching at a fragment of
the cave, against which she leans as stupified.--A
pause.--The bell strikes one._]
Hark! the bell gives the signal.
Oh! for a moment's strength.--Hold, murderers hold! [_Rushes off._

SCENE IV.--[_The inner cavern, partially lighted with lamps. In the
middle, folding doors guarded with iron bars; on one side a rough hewn
staircase leading to a small door above._]

Gomez, Marcos, _and conspirators, discovered in listening attitudes_.

_Gom._ 'Tis strange, the time is past, and yet not here?

_Mar._ Henriquez too is absent.

_Gom._ Steps approach. [_Kneeling at the folding door._]
Who knocks?

_Hen._ (_without_) A friend.

_Mar._ The pass word.

_Hen._ Empire.

_Gom._ Open. [Marcos _unbars the door_.]

Henriquez, Melchior, _and_ Lucio, _enter through the folding doors,
which_ Marcos _again closes_.

_Gom._ Friends welcome. Melchior, is thy work complete?

_Mel._ Complete, and fit for springing. Nought is wanting.
The train is laid. One spark and all is done.
Our chief alone----

_Gom._ The private door unlocks.

_Hen._ Caesario only has the key.

_Mel._ 'Tis he.

Caesario _descends the staircase swiftly. His looks are wild; his hair
flows loose; and he grasps a bloody dagger_.

_All._ Welcome, Caesario, welcome!

_Caesa._ Ay, shout, shout,
And, kneeling greet your blood anointed king,
Th