(Pause.)
| Xochitl. | Do you think Cortes ever——? |
|---|---|
| Bernal. | If he loves thee, good God——! |
| Xochitl. | Then, both of us must leave. |
| Bernal. | You will leave, with Gonzalo? |
| Do you know to what you expose yourself? | |
| Do you know that, Hernando Cortes,70 | |
| If he sees himself mocked, is | |
| Than the panther fiercer, | |
| And that his rage would | |
| Dash you to pieces at his feet? | |
| Xochitl. | And what signifies life to me ? |
| Bernal. | But Gonzalo, also, he—— |
| Xochitl. | Hold! for God’s sake, do not speak |
| That murderous word. | |
| Departure makes me tremble, | |
| And I tremble if I remain; | |
| Bernal! everything causes me terror; | |
| My uncertainty is frightful—— | |
| To remain is impossible—— | |
| Without Gonzalo, go, I cannot.” |