To see one of your rank thus low and humbled; For your sake I will put aside all anger,
All unkind feeling, all dislike, and speak
In gentleness, as most becomes a woman, And as my heart now prompts me. I no more Will hate you, for all hate is painful to me.
But if, without offending modesty
And that reserve which is a woman's glory, I may speak freely, I will teach my heart
To love you.
Lara. O sweet angel!
Prec. Ay, in truth,
Far better than you love yourself or me.
Lara. Give me some sign of this,--the slightest token.
63
Let me but kiss your hand! Prec. Nay, come no nearer.
The words I utter are its sign and token. Misunderstand me not! Be not deceived! The love wherewith I love you is not such As you would offer me. For you come here To take from me the only thing I have,
My honor. You are wealthy, you have friends And kindred, and a thousand pleasant hopes That fill your heart with happiness; but I
Am poor, and friendless, having but one treasure, And you would take that from me, and for what? To flatter your own vanity, and make me
What you would most despise. O sir, such love, That seeks to harm me, cannot be true love. Indeed it cannot. But my love for you
Is of a different kind. It seeks your good. It is a holier feeling. It rebukes
Your earthly passion, your unchaste desires, And bids you look into your heart, and see How you do wrong that better nature in you, And grieve your soul with sin.
Lara. I swear to you,
I would not harm you; I would only love you. I would not take your honor, but restore it, And in return I ask but some slight mark
Of your affection. If indeed you love me, As you confess you do, O let me thus With this embrace--
Vict. (rushing forward). Hold! hold! This is too much.
What means this outrage?
Lara. First, what right have you
To question thus a nobleman of Spain?
Vict. I too am noble, and you are no more! Out of my sight!
Lara. Are you the master here?
Vict. Ay, here and elsewhere, when the wrong of others
Gives me the right!
Prec. (to LARA). Go! I beseech you, go!
Vict. I shall have business with you, Count, anon! Lara. You cannot come too soon!
[Exit. Prec. Victorian!
O, we have been betrayed! Vict. Ha! ha! betrayed!
'T is I have been betrayed, not we!--not we! Prec. Dost thou imagine--
Vict. I imagine nothing;
I see how 't is thou whilest the time away
When I am gone!
Prec. O speak not in that tone! It wounds me deeply.
Vict. 'T was not meant to flatter.
64
Prec. Too well thou knowest the presence of that man
Is hateful to me!
Vict. Yet I saw thee stand
And listen to him, when he told his love. Prec. I did not heed his words.
Vict. Indeed thou didst,
And answeredst them with love. Prec. Hadst thou heard all--
Vict. I heard enough.
Prec. Be not so angry with me.
Vict. I am not angry; I am very calm. Prec. If thou wilt let me speak-- Vict. Nay, say no more.
I know too much already. Thou art false! I do not like these Gypsy marriages! Where is the ring I gave thee?
Prec. In my casket.
Vict. There let it rest! I would not have thee wear it: I thought thee spotless, and thou art polluted!
Prec. I call the Heavens to witness--
Vict. Nay, nay, nay!
Take not the name of Heaven upon thy lips! They are forsworn!
Prec. Victorian! dear Victorian!
Vict. I gave up all for thee; myself, my fame, My hopes of fortune, ay, my very soul!
And thou hast been my ruin! Now, go on! Laugh at my folly with thy paramour,
And, sitting on the Count of Lara's knee, Say what a poor, fond fool Victorian was! (He casts her from him and rushes out.)
Prec. And this from thee!
(Scene closes.)
SCENE V. -- The COUNT OF LARA'S rooms. Enter the COUNT. Lara. There's nothing in this world so sweet as love,
And next to love the sweetest thing is hate!
I've learned to hate, and therefore am revenged. A silly girl to play the prude with me!
The fire that I have kindled-- (Enter FRANCISCO.)
Well, Francisco, What tidings from Don Juan? Fran. Good, my lord;
He will be present.
65
Lara. And the Duke of Lermos? Fran. Was not at home.
Lara. How with the rest?
Fran. I've found
The men you wanted. They will all be there, And at the given signal raise a whirlwind
Of such discordant noises, that the dance
Must cease for lack of music. Lara. Bravely done.
Ah! little dost thou dream, sweet Preciosa, What lies in wait for thee. Sleep shall not close
Thine eyes this night! Give me my cloak and sword. [Exeunt.
SCENE VI. -- A retired spot beyond the city gates. Enter VICTORIAN and HYPOLITO.
Vict. O shame! O shame! Why do I walk abroad By daylight, when the very sunshine mocks me, And voices, and familiar sights and sounds
Cry, "Hide thyself !" O what a thin partition
Doth shut out from the curious world the knowledge Of evil deeds that have been done in darkness! Disgrace has many tongues. My fears are windows, Through which all eyes seem gazing. Every face Expresses some suspicion of my shame,
And in derision seems to smile at me!
Hyp. Did I not caution thee? Did I not tell thee
I was but half persuaded of her virtue?
Vict. And yet, Hypolito, we may be wrong, We may be over-hasty in condemning!
The Count of Lara is a cursed villain.
Hyp. And therefore is she cursed, loving him.
Vid. She does not love him! 'T is for gold! for gold! Hyp. Ay, but remember, in the public streets
He shows a golden ring the Gypsy gave him, A serpent with a ruby in its mouth.
Vict. She had that ring from me! God! she is false! But I will be revenged! The hour is passed.
Where stays the coward? Hyp. Nay, he is no coward;
A villain, if thou wilt, but not a coward.
I've seen him play with swords; it is his pastime.
And therefore be not over-confident,
He'll task thy skill anon. Look, here he comes.
(Enter LARA followed by FRNANCISCO)
Lara. Good evening, gentlemen. Hyp. Good evening, Count.
Lara. I trust I have not kept you long in waiting.