Have summon’d up my heart to ask one question,
Or stop one peasant passing on this way.
Maria. Know you that man?
Alhadra. His person, not his name. 250
I doubt not, he is some Moresco chieftain
Who hides himself among the Alpuxarras.
A week has scarcely pass’d since first I saw him;
He has new-roof’d the desolate old cottage
Where Zagri lived — who dared avow the prophet 255
And died like one of the faithful! There he lives,
And a friend with him.
Maria. Does he know his danger
So near this seat?
Alhadra. He wears the Moorish robes too,
As in defiance of the royal edict.
[ALHADRA advances to ALBERT, who has walked to the
back of the stage near the rocks. MARIA drops
her veil.
Alhadra. Gallant Moresco! you are near the castle 260
Of the Lord Velez, and hard by does dwell
A priest, the creature of the Inquisition.
Albert (retiring). You have mistaken me — I am a Christian.
Alhadra (to Maria). He deems that we are plotting to ensnare him.
Speak to him, lady! none can hear you speak 265
And not believe you innocent of guile.
[ALBERT, on hearing this, pauses and turns round.
Maria. If aught enforce you to concealment, sir!
Alhadra. He trembles strangely.
[ALBERT sinks down and hides his face in his garment
[robe Remorse].
Maria. See — we have disturb’d him.
[Approaches nearer to him.
I pray you, think us friends — uncowl your face,
For you seem faint, and the night-breeze blows healing. 270
I pray you, think us friends!
Albert (raising his head). Calm — very calm;
‘Tis all too tranquil for reality!
And she spoke to me with her innocent voice.
That voice! that innocent voice! She is no traitress!
It was a dream, a phantom of my sleep, 275
A lying dream. [He starts up, and abruptly addresses her.
Maria! you are not wedded?
Maria (haughtily to Alhadra). Let us retire.
[They advance to the front of the stage.
Alhadra. He is indeed a
Christian.
Some stray Sir Knight, that falls in love of a sudden.
Maria. What can this mean? How should he know my name?
It seems all shadowy.
Alhadra. Here he comes again. 280
Albert (aside). She deems me dead, and yet no mourning garment!
Why should my brother’s wife wear mourning garments?
God of all mercy, make me, make me quiet! [To MARIA.
Your pardon, gentle maid! that I disturb’d you.
I had just started from a frightful dream. 285
Alhadra. These renegado Moors — how soon they learn
The crimes and follies of their Christian tyrants!
Albert. I dreamt I had a friend, on whom I lean’d
With blindest trust, and a betrothéd maid
Whom I was wont to call not mine, but me, 290
For mine own self seem’d nothing, lacking her!
This maid so idoliz’d, that trusted friend,
Polluted in my absence soul and body!
And she with him and he with her conspired
To have me murder’d in a wood of the mountains: 295
But by my looks and most impassion’d words
I roused the virtues, that are dead in no man,
Even in the assassins’ hearts. They made their terms,
And thank’d me for redeeming them from murder.
Alhadra (to Maria). You are lost in thought. Hear him no more,
sweet lady! 300
Maria. From morn to night I am myself a dreamer,
And slight things bring on me the idle mood.
Well, sir, what happen’d then?
Albert. On a rude rock,
A rock, methought, fast by a grove of firs
Whose threaddy leaves to the low breathing gale 305
Made a soft sound most like the distant ocean,
I stay’d as tho’ the hour of death were past,
And I were sitting in the world of spirits,
For all things seem’d unreal! There I sate.
The dews fell clammy, and the night descended, 310
Black, sultry, close! and ere the midnight hour
A storm came on, mingling all sounds of fear
That woods and sky and mountains seem’d one havock!
The second flash of lightning show’d a tree
Hard by me, newly-scathed. I rose tumultuous: 315
My soul work’d high: I bared my head to the storm,
And with loud voice and clamorous agony
Kneeling I pray’d to the great Spirit that made me,
Pray’d that Remorse might fasten on their hearts,
And cling, with poisonous tooth, inextricable 320
As the gored lion’s bite!
Maria. A fearful curse!
Alhadra. But dreamt you not that you return’d and kill’d him?
Dreamt you of no revenge?
Albert (his voice trembling, and in tones of deep distress). She
would have died,
Died in her sins — perchance, by her own hands!
And bending o’er her self-inflicted wounds 325
I might have met the evil glance of frenzy
And leapt myself into an unblest grave!
I pray’d for the punishment that cleanses hearts,
For still I loved her!
Alhadra. And you dreamt all this?
Maria. My soul is full of visions, all is wild! 330
Alhadra. There is no room in this heart for puling love-tales.
Lady! your servants there seem seeking us.
Maria (lifts up her veil and advances to Albert). Stranger,
farewell! I guess not who you are,
Nor why you so address’d your tale to me.