savage tigress guards her new-born young
With tenderest, fiercest care; the timorous swallow,
If robber-hands approach her brood; defends it
With eagle-fury; and what brutes will do
To guard their offspring, born perhaps that day,
Shall I not do for one, to whom I owe
Full twenty years of love? Caesario, mark me,
For by heaven's host, no power shall move my purpose:
Or thou must save my sire, or murder me.

_Hen._ What must be done?

_Mel._ Time presses.

_Caesa._ [_Recovering from his stupor._] Fire the train.

_Amel._ [_Interposing between the inner vault and_ Henriquez.]
He shall not.

_Caesa._ Amelrosa.

_Amel._ No, he shall not!
Back, ruffian, back! and throw that torch away,
Which burns to light my father's funeral pile:
Here I'll defy thy rage, thus check thy malice,
Thus bar thy road, and, if thou needs wilt pass,
Make thee a way by trampling on my corse,
I stir not else.

_Caesa._ Nay, then I'll use my power,
And, as thy husband now command thee----

_Amel._ Thou?
Man, thou canst not command me.

_Caesa._ Art thou not
My wife?

_Amel._ I am; but ere I was a wife,
I was a daughter, was a subject; nay,
Am still a princess, and as such command
Thee, traitor, thee! and bid thee turn from evil.
[_To_ Henriquez,]--Away! you pass not.

_Caesa._ Force her from the door!

_Amel._ [_Clinging to a column._] Oh! for the Hebrew's strength
to shake yon vaults,
And crush these traitors and myself.

_Mel._ In vain
You struggle.

_Amel._ Cut my hands off! stab me! kill me!

[_They force her away._]

_Caesa._ Henriquez, to your work.

[Henriquez _enters the vault_.]

_Amel._ Oh! barbarous men,
Where shall I turn--Caesario, dear Caesario!
Once thou wert kind--Aid, aid my prayers, ye angels,
And force this cruel man to save at once
My husband's honour, and my father's life.
Turn not away! look on me! see my tears,
And pity me: Friend, husband, lover, all
That makes life dear, I charge you! I implore you----

_Hen._ [_Returning from the vault._] The train is fired.

_Amel._ [_Dashing herself on the earth._] Barbarians! fiends, distraction!
Fall, fall, ye vaults and crush me.

[_A bugle horn sounds_, Amelrosa _starts from the ground_.]

Hark the signal----
He lives, he lives! [_Kneeling and clasping her hands._]
Oh, Heaven, my thanks!

_Caesa._ 'Tis done.

[_The mine blows up with a loud explosion, and the back part of the
vault bursts into flames._]

_End of Act IV._

ACT