AND.

Bless thee, my boy! O bless him, bless him, Heaven!
Render him worthy to support these babes!
So soon, perhaps, all fatherless--dependent.--

BLAND.

What mean'st thou, madam? Why these tears?

MRS. BLAND.

Thy father----

BLAND.

A prisoner of war--I long have known it--
But made so without blemish to his honour,
And soon exchang'd, returns unto his friends,
To guard these little ones, and point and lead,
To virtue and to glory.

MRS. BLAND.

Never, never!
His life, a sacrifice to Andre's _manes_,[7]
Must soon be offer'd. Even now, endungeon'd,
Like a vile felon, on the earth he lies,
His death expecting. Andre's execution
Gives signal for the murder of thy father--
Andre now dies!--

BLAND [_despairingly_].

My father and my friend!!

MRS. BLAND.

There is but one on earth can save my husband--
But one can pardon Andre.

BLAND.

Haste, my mother!
Thou wilt prevail. Take with thee in each hand
An unoffending child of him thou weep'st.
Save--save them both! This way--haste--lean on me.
[_Exeunt._

SCENE, _the GENERAL'S Quarters._

_Enter the GENERAL and M'DONALD._

GENERAL.

_Here_ have I intimation from the foe,
That still they deem the spy we have condemn'd,
Merely a captive; by the laws of arms
From death protected; and retaliation,
As they term it, threaten, if we our purpose hold.
Bland is the victim they have singled out,
Hoping his threaten'd death will Andre save.

M'DONALD.

If I were Bland I boldly might advise
My General how to act. Free, and in safety,
I will now suppose my counsel needless.

_Enter an AMERICAN OFFICER._

OFFICER.

Another flag hath from the foe arriv'd,
And craves admittance.

GENERAL.

Conduct it hither. [_Exit OFFICER._
Let us, unwearied hear, unbias'd judge,
Whate'er against our martial court's decision,
Our enemies can bring.

_Enter BRITISH OFFICER, conducted by the AMERICAN OFFICER._

GENERAL.

You are welcome, sir.
What further says Sir Henry?

BRITISH OFFICER.

This from him.
He calls on you to think what weighty woes
You now are busy bringing on your country.
He bids me say, that, if your sentence reach
The prisoner's life (prisoner of arms he deems him,
And no spy), on him alone it f