Page:The Fall of the Alamo.djvu/92

 Which shall be his, beside a cash endowment. And as they tell me that he loves thy daughter, And she returns his love, I have no doubt Thou wilt award thy fatherly consent To the fulfilment of thy daughter's wish, Thus heightening self my offer's gracious terms. 'Tis not the choice that meets with my approval, Yet my antipathy shall not debar The welfare of the State, when for its good This marriage is essentially required. I knew too well thy patriotism, or else Should have been loath to forestall thy decision, Yet should thy offer even not avail Against the rebel's pride, there still remains His brother's fate as means of thy persuasion; This card, reserved till last and well applied, Must make thy mission a complete success. So hasten to prepare thee for thy way, And when returned, report immediately Thy errand's and thy skill's result to me. [Exit Bradburn.] Can it be thy intention,—speak!—to grant Such terms of favor to a rebel-hord Who took from us, through stealth and stratagem,