Vict. You are disarmed. I will not kill you. I will not murder you. Take up your sword. (FRANCISCO hands the COUNT his sword, and HYPOLITO interposes.) Hyp. Enough! Let it end here! The Count of Lara Has shown himself a brave man, and Victorian A generous one, as ever. Now be friends. Put up your swords; for, to speak frankly to you, To move you to extremes. Lara. I am content. I understand you. Lara. Vict. Ay, false as hell itself! Lara. In truth I did not seek her; she sought me ; The hours when she was oftenest left alone. Vict. Say, can you prove this to me? Oh, pluck out Let me know all! all! all! If further proof Is needful, I have here a ring she gave me. Vict. Pray let me see that ring! It is the same! I now can see the folly I have done, Though 'tis, alas! too late. So fare you well! Regard me as your friend. Once more, farewell! [Exeunt VICTORIAN and HYPOLITO. Lara. The citadel is stormed, the victory won! [Exit with FRANCISCO. SCENE VII.-A lane in the suburbs. Night. Enter CRUZADO and BARTOLOME. Cruz. And so, Bartolomé, the expedition failed. But where wast thou for the most part? Bart. In the Guadarrama mountains, near San Ildefonso. Cruz. And thou bringest nothing back with thee? Didst thou rob no one? Bart. There was no one to rob, save a party of students from Segovia, who looked as if they would rob us; and a jolly little friar, who had nothing in his pockets but a missal and a loaf of bread. Cruz. Pray, then, what brings thee back to Madrid? Bart. First tell me what keeps thee here? Cruz. Preciosa. Bart. And she brings me back. Hast thou forgotten thy promise? Cruz. The two years are not passed yet. girl shall be thine. Bart. I hear she has a Busné lover. Cruz. That is nothing. Wait patiently. The Bart. I do not like it. I hate him, the son of a Busné harlot. He goes in and out, and speaks with her alone, and I must stand aside and wait his pleasure. Cruz. Be patient, I say. Thou shalt have thy revenge. When the time comes, thou shalt waylay him. Bart. Meanwhile, show me her house. Cruz. Come this way. But thou wilt not find her. She dances at the play to-night. Bart. No matter. Show me the house. [Exeunt. SCENE VIII.-The Theatre. The orchestra plays the cachucha. Sound of castanets behind the scenes. The curtain rises and discovers PRECIOSA in the attitude of commencing the dance. cachucha. Tumult; hisses; cries of "Brava!" and "Afuera!” The She falters and pauses. The music stops. General confusion: PRECIOSA faints. SCENE IX.-The COUNT OF LARA's chambers. LARA and his friends at supper. Lara. So, Caballeros, once more many thanks! You have stood by me bravely in this matter. Pray fill your glasses. Don Juan. Did you mark, Don Luis, How pale she looked, when first the noise began, Don Luis. I pitied her. Lara. Her pride is humbled; and this very night She now is in. Music would madden her. Don J. Try golden cymbais. Don L. Yes, try Don Dinero; A mighty wooer is your Don Dinero. Lara. To tell the truth, then, I have bribed her maid. A bumper and away; for the night wears. All. (They rise and drink.) Preciosa! Thou bright and flaming Lara (holding up his glass). minister of Love! Thou wonderful magician! who hast stolen Don J. (Drinks and dashes the goblet down.) (Scene closes.) SCENE X.-Street and garden wall. Night. Enter CRUZADO and BARTOLOME. Cruz. This is the garden wall, and above it, yonder, is her house. The window in which thou seest the light is her window. But we will not go in now. Bart. Why not? Cruz. Because she is not at home. Bart. No matter; we can wait. But how is this? The gate is bolted. (Sound of guitars and voices in a neighbouring street.) Hark! There comes her lover with his infernal serenade! Good night! Good night, beloved! SONG.* Cruz. They are not coming this Hark! Thine eyes are stars of morning, SONG (coming nearer). Ah! thou moon that shinest All night long enlighten All night long enlighten! From the Spanish as are likewise the songs immediately following, and that which commences the first scene of Act III. Bart. Woe be to him, if he comes this way! SONG (dying away). The nuns in the cloister Sang to each other; For so many sisters Is there not one brother! Ay, for the partridge, mother! The cat has run away with the partridge! Puss! puss! puss! Bart. Follow that! follow that! Come with me. Puss! puss! (Exeunt. On the opposite side enter the COUNT OF LARA and gentlemen, with FRANCISCO.) Lara. The gate is fast. Over the wall, Francisco, Yon balcony. How now? Her light still burns. (Exeunt. Reenter CRUZADO and BARTOLOME.) Bart. They went in at the gate. Hark! I hear them in the garden. (Tries the gate.) Bolted again! Vive Cristo! Follow me over the wall. (They climb the wall.) SCENE XI.-PRECIOSA's bed-chamber. Midnight. She is sleeping in an arm-chair, in an undress. DOLORES watching her. Dol. She sleeps at last! (Opens the window and listens.) All silent in the street, And in the garden. Hark! Prec. (in her sleep). I must go hence! Give me my cloak! Dol. He comes! I hear his footsteps. Prec. Go tell them that I cannot dance to-night; I am too ill! Look at me! That burns upon my cheek! See the fever I must go hence. (Signal from the garden.) Dol. (from the window). Dol. I will undo the door. A friend. Wait till I come. Prec. I must go hence. I pray you do not harm me! Shame! shame! to treat a feeble woman thus! Be you but kind, I will do all things for you. I'm ready now,-give me my castanets. I cannot stay. Hark! how they mock at me! They hiss at me like serpents! Save me! save me! How late is it, Dolores? Dol. It is midnight. Prec. We must be patient. Smooth this pillow for me. (She sleeps again. Noise from the garden, and voices.) Another Voice. O villains! villains! SCENE I.-A cross-road through a wood. In the background a distant village spire. VICTORIAN and HYPOLITO, as travelling students, with guitars, sitting under the trees. HYPOLITO plays and sings. SONG. Ah, Love! Perjured, false, treacherous Love! Of all that mankind may not rue! To him who keeps most faith with thee. The falcon has the eyes of the dove. Perjured, false, treacherous Love! Vict. Yes, Love is ever busy with his shuttle, Bright, gorgeous flowers and scenes Arcadian ; With tapestries, that make its walls dilate In never-ending vistas of delight. Hyp. Thinking to walk in those Arcadian pastures, SONG (continued). Thy deceits Give us clearly to comprehend, All thy pleasures, all thy sweets! Thorns below and flowers above. Perjured, false, treacherous Love! Vict. A very pretty song. What wise man wrote it? Нур. I thank thee for it. Indeed, I think it does. Lopez Maldonado. With much truth in it. Vict. In truth, a pretty song. I hope thou wilt profit by it; and in earnest Vict. I will forget her! All dear recollections |