I proffer this excuse, and here beseech
Your holy benediction. Arch. May God bless thee,
And lead thee to a better life. Arise.
Card. (aside). Her acts are modest, and her words discreet!
I did not look for this! Come hither, child. Is thy name Preciosa?
Prec. Thus I am called.
Card. That is a Gypsy name. Who is thy father? Prec. Beltran Cruzado, Count of the Cales.
Arch. I have a dim remembrance of that man: He was a bold and reckless character,
A sun-burnt Ishmael!
Card. Dost thou remember
Thy earlier days?
Prec. Yes; by the Darro's side
My childhood passed. I can remember still
The river, and the mountains capped with snow
The village, where, yet a little child,
I told the traveller's fortune in the street;
The smuggler's horse, the brigand and the shepherd;
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The march across the moor; the halt at noon; The red fire of the evening camp, that lighted The forest where we slept; and, further back, As in a dream or in some former life,
Gardens and palace walls. Arch. 'T is the Alhambra,
Under whose towers the Gypsy camp was pitched. But the time wears; and we would see thee dance. Prec. Your Grace shall be obeyed.
(She lays aside her mantilla. The music of the cachucha is played, and the dance begins. The ARCHBISHOP and the CARDINAL look on with gravity and an occasional frown; then make signs to each other; and, as the dance continues, become more and more pleased and excited; and at length rise from their seats, throw their caps in the air, and applaud vehemently as the scene closes.)
SCENE III. -- The Prado. A long avenue of trees leading to the gate of Atocha. On the right the dome and spires of a convent. A
fountain. Evening, DON CARLOS and HYPOLITO meeting. Don C. Hola! good evening, Don Hypolito.
Hyp. And a good evening to my friend, Don Carlos. Some lucky star has led my steps this way.
I was in search of you.
Don. C. Command me always.
Hyp. Do you remember, in Quevedo's Dreams, The miser, who, upon the Day of Judgment, Asks if his money-bags would rise?
Don C. I do;
But what of that?
Hyp. I am that wretched man.
Don C. You mean to tell me yours have risen empty? Hyp. And amen! said my Cid the Campeador.
Don C. Pray, how much need you?
Hyp. Some half-dozen ounces, Which, with due interest--
Don C. (giving his purse). What, am I a Jew
To put my moneys out at usury? Here is my purse.
Hyp. Thank you. A pretty purse.
Made by the hand of some fair Madrilena; Perhaps a keepsake.
Don C. No, 't is at your service.
Hyp. Thank you again. Lie there, good Chrysostom, And with thy golden mouth remind me often,
I am the debtor of my friend. Don C. But tell me,
Come you to-day from Alcala? Hyp. This moment.
Don C. And pray, how fares the brave Victorian?
Hyp. Indifferent well; that is to say, not well. A damsel has ensnared him with the glances
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Of her dark, roving eyes, as herdsmen catch
A steer of Andalusia with a lazo. He is in love.
Don C. And is it faring ill
To be in love?
Hyp. In his case very ill. Don C. Why so?
Hyp. For many reasons. First and foremost, Because he is in love with an ideal;
A creature of his own imagination; A child of air; an echo of his heart; And, like a lily on a river floating,
She floats upon the river of his thoughts!
Don C. A common thing with poets. But who is
This floating lily? For, in fine, some woman,
Some living woman,--not a mere ideal,--
Must wear the outward semblance of his thought. Who is it? Tell me.
Hyp. Well, it is a woman!
But, look you, from the coffer of his heart He brings forth precious jewels to adorn her, As pious priests adorn some favorite saint
With gems and gold, until at length she gleams One blaze of glory. Without these, you know, And the priest's benediction, 't is a doll.
Don C. Well, well! who is this doll? Hyp. Why, who do you think?
Don C. His cousin Violante.
Hyp. Guess again.
To ease his laboring heart, in the last storm He threw her overboard, with all her ingots. Don C. I cannot guess; so tell me who it is.
Hyp. Not I.
Don. C. Why not?
Hyp. (mysteriously). Why? Because Mari Franca
Was married four leagues out of Salamanca! Don C. Jesting aside, who is it?
Hyp. Preciosa.
Don C. Impossible! The Count of Lara tells me
She is not virtuous.
Hyp. Did I say she was?
The Roman Emperor Claudius had a wife Whose name was Messalina, as I think; Valeria Messalina was her name.
But hist! I see him yonder through the trees, Walking as in a dream.
Don C. He comes this way.
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Hyp. It has been truly said by some wise man, That money, grief, and love cannot be hidden. (Enter VICTORIAN in front.)
Vict. Where'er thy step has passed is holy ground! These groves are sacred! I behold thee walking Under these shadowy trees, where we have walked At evening, and I feel thy presence now;
Feel that the place has taken a charm from thee, And is forever hallowed.
Hyp. Mark him well!
See how he strides away with lordly air,
Like that odd guest of stone, that grim Commander
Who comes to sup with Juan in the play. Don C. What ho! Victorian!
Hyp. Wilt thou sup with us?
Vict. Hola! amigos! Faith, I did not see you. How fares Don Carlos?
Don C. At your service ever.
Vict. How is that young and green-eyed Gaditana
That you both wot of ?
Don C. Ay, soft, emerald eyes! She has gone back to Cadiz. Hyp. Ay de mi!
Vict. You are much to blame for letting her go back. A pretty girl; and in her tender eyes
Just that soft shade of green we sometimes see
In evening skies.
Hyp. But, speaking of green eyes, Are thine green?
Vict. Not a whit. Why so?
Hyp. I think
The slightest shade of green would be becoming, For thou art jealous.
Vid. No, I am not jealous. Hyp. Thou shouldst be.
Vict. Why?