• (Reenter Behechxo and Anacaona.)
/ anacaona.
Thy tyrant 's gone.
ALANA.
He has.
ANACAONA.
Thy tears attest
The harshness of his words.
BEHECHIO.
Poor, trembling maid.
268 THE NEWWORLD.
Would I could save thee from the woes that bang
O'er our devoted race !

ALANA.
I 'm doomed to be
The foremost victim.
ANACAONA.
Say not so, my child !
The Alcalde's wooing 's harsh, yet by his threats
He means but to afFright thee.
ALANA.
O mother, you are strangely blind !

BEHECHIO.
You 're right.
And you, Anacaona, wrong. Alas !
Will naught remove the film that from yoiar eyes
Shrouds every danger i Caonabo's death
You can excuse, can see your daughter wronged.
And vainly judge his enemies and hers
By your own purity of heart. 'T is woe
That thy own virtues must be made the snares
To entrap thee ! Yes, Alana, much I doubt
If aught but death can save thee from Roldan,
And should rejoice if thou couldst school thy heart
To hear his wooing patientty.
ALANA.
I 've gained
Some short delay, and promised, when the time
He 's granted at my suit shall have expired,
To answer, ay or no, his urgent suit.
THENEWWORLD. 269



BEHECHIO.
And if you answer, No ?

ALAIfA.
He threats with fire
And swift-avenging sword to desolate
The province,

BEHBCHIO.
Doubt not he '11 perform his threat.
ANACAONA,

Why shouldst thou think so ? He has proved our iriend.
