There's wine in the general's tent! Rafael!
My love, my love, look up!... O Mexico,
With all thy veins of gold thou art not worth
One dear drop of his blood!

(Enter General Trevino)

Trev. What's this new grief?
Not Rafael!... He faints. 'Tis hunger ... hunger.
Miguel! Lerdo! Bear him to my tent.
Give him what food you find there. First the wine!

(Soldiers go out with Rafael. Aseffa follows. As she
passes the general she drops to her knees and kisses his
hands)

Trev. (Alone) Starvation now or plunder. We'll quarter where
We can.... A horseman! If 'tis Ignacio
We shall have news.

(Enter Ignacio, from riding)

Ig. Who's here?

Trev. Ignacio?

Ig. (Saluting) Your pardon, sir!

Trev. You're from the capital?

Ig. Three days ago I left the city. I've slept
On horseback since.

Trev. Your news!

Ig. We fight an empire.
The Austrian is crowned.

Trev. Impossible!
Where are our people? Salas? and LeVal?

Ig. They shouted at his welcome. At Vera Cruz
Began the unholy pageantry, that showed
As Christ had come again and all men knew him!
Each province drained its beauty by the way;
The mules that drew him caught the vanity
And picked their steps on flowers.

Trev. Tell me no more.
O Gratitude, thou hast no home on earth!
Twelve months did Juarez rule, and in twelve months
Did what no man can do but God is with him!
He healed contention's wounds, set up new schools,
Released the land from priestcraft's ancient grip,
Rebuilt our credit, destroyed by Miramon,
The robber president, who bonded the land
To France, then set the sword of Europe 'gainst us
Because we could not pay the unjust debt
From treasuries that his own hands had emptied.
O, 'twas a crime too big for Heaven's eye,
And so God let it pass! France could not know--
But our own people knew--how Juarez toiled
To shap