The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-11-06

TOT me NauonaI Era.
Scene from the new American Tragedy of
CORTEZ, THE CoNQUEROR.
RY LEWIS f. THOMAS,


Author Of" Irda," and other Poems &c
Montezumas garden bowers of vines rich foliage aox,
ers IN vases, &c; a lake, with mountains in bacL
ground, and nvulet flowing into the lake Coyt.z >,
ters, with scroll i'll his hand, attended by his sav
HaSsdn. ~ ~
CoTt Upon this scroll are writ the names of all
VINO league against me in this hsllsh plot,
Has All, your Excellency, that could learn
In frequent conferences, had Of late
With Don De Old.
Don't. By my conscience
II is lengthy list. Here are some names
Ofmen of note and noble ancestry,
Whose honorable bearing heretofore
Had stamped thee ever a vile slanderer.
Ihey seemd so high above suspicious reach,
But that the facts which thou has made appear
And circumstances which attest these facts,
Make certainty too Z"
Hass I've told but truth.
Cor SO Old, as thou sayst, hath often,tred
To win thee DER, me to assassina,e?
Haas He hath, most noble sir, by many means
BY specious arguments adroitly put
BY promises Of safety, rioh rewards,
And Freedom
Con-. Thou layest stress on FrsedoD-
Deemst thou, then, freedom greatest Of rewards {?
HasS. o! hat assured had well-ngh made me false
To thee, myself and holy Allah, too
Cort 1t may be had more easy than thou think'st
i all thou knowest of their secret plans
Related here2
Haas. All is set down. my lord
Cort. o. ingraies base! worse than Iscariot.
Men on whose heads have heap'd honors high
Riches and places of the greatest trust,
Who, while betrayng me " it'll shows OF love,
With disafected wretches thus combine,
To fouliy murder me, and share my spoils
will their schemes Of villany out-scheme
On some subordnstes I'll seize al first
And wiring confession from them; next the chief
| will attsint of treason, and the rest
know not what-many they are and strong
They'd see me safely stow'd away in earth
And then this mighty empiSe parcel out,
And my authority and robes Of place
They'd gamble for like the vile heretics
Who cast their lots for clothes on Calvary.
The mantle fmy power ne'er shall be
At chance for traitors, tricksters, and their tools
Hassan! thy warning gives me time % ;hYaa
These schemes i. ,eFaai, ana elude tho wiles
Ny which these traitors compass me about
owe thee favor for thy faithfulness
By which I'm saved-how can thee reouite,
Has My soul requtes me for my duty done.
Cor Forgive, o Hassan. Gny wong whateer
In hagty mood, may have done to thee
by temper quick of hercely lashe. forth
Like gunpowder ignited by spark,
But once discharged, it bears after i'll.
Thy magnanimity must repay
No longer art thou slave any one
HeHeSfo,th be free! and o, be still NV friend,
Embraces him
Haas Thy noble gift of Liberty prize
As doubly dear joind with thy friendship, too.
COrt. Well do,t thou merit both. must speed,
This hydra-headed treason to arrest
Ere its quick growth attain a monstrous strength,
That might defy a Hercules
We will anon confer on thy affairs
Still, for short time seem TO be my klav.
Farewell, my friend! Err
Haas. Ny gen'rous lord, farewell,
Solus, s1iahiagly
Once more I'm free ~ ssnas unstain'd with blood
My soul unsoid. I'm free, / live anew.
Ny beings changd. The very air seems chang d
il greets my nosirs with purer breath.
The sky looks brighter and ise earth mare fair
The lake appears deep blushing to the sun,
Like a meek maiden at a rake's rude gaze;
The mountain stream laughing wanton seems
In am'rous sporting with her bushy banks.
Valley and hill in gayest guise, look clad
As fto join gen'ral holyday;
Flowers a richer perfume seem yield
And birds 10 carol more meodiousy
All things appear more gladstone than their wont,