Before144stage direction ends at 'follows'Remorse.
Before144stage direction ends at 'follows'Remorse.
[144]Stage-direction (her eye, &c.)om. Remorse.
Stage-direction (her eye, &c.)om. Remorse.
[151]Till that] UntilRemorse.
Till that] UntilRemorse.
Stage-direction before154om. Remorse.
Stage-direction before154om. Remorse.
[154]Ordonio (as they return to Valdez).Remorse.
Ordonio (as they return to Valdez).Remorse.
[157]Stage-directionom. Remorse.
Stage-directionom. Remorse.
[159]do] doRemorse.
do] doRemorse.
[161]I hope, my lord, your merely human pityMS. III,Remorse.
I hope, my lord, your merely human pityMS. III,Remorse.
[162-72]Nay, nay . . . Ferdinandom. Remorse.
Nay, nay . . . Ferdinandom. Remorse.
[173]was] wasRemorse.
was] wasRemorse.
[176]Myself I'll sift himRemorse.
Myself I'll sift himRemorse.
[178][Francesco's speech'My lord you have it'is thus expanded]:—Monviedro.Your zeal, my lord,And your late merits in this holy warfareWould authorize an ampler trust—you have it.Remorse.
[Francesco's speech'My lord you have it'is thus expanded]:—
Monviedro.Your zeal, my lord,And your late merits in this holy warfareWould authorize an ampler trust—you have it.
Monviedro.Your zeal, my lord,And your late merits in this holy warfareWould authorize an ampler trust—you have it.
Remorse.
[179]Stage-directionom. Remorse.
Stage-directionom. Remorse.
[180]Attributed to Valdez in Remorse.
Attributed to Valdez in Remorse.
[184]I'll loiter yet awhile t'enjoy the sea breeze.Remorse.
I'll loiter yet awhile t'enjoy the sea breeze.Remorse.
[186]The stage-direction,Alhadra had been, &c., was interpolated byS. T. C.in MS. III, and 'distrustful' is written 'mistrustful'. It is omitted inRemorse.
The stage-direction,Alhadra had been, &c., was interpolated byS. T. C.in MS. III, and 'distrustful' is written 'mistrustful'. It is omitted inRemorse.
[187]The line was originally written:—Nay, nay, not hate him. I try not to do it;and in this form it stands in thePoole MS.MSS. II, IIIhave the line as amended, but have also this stage-direction '(perceiving that Alhadra is conscious she has spoken imprudently)'; andMS. IIhas the wordmeunderlined.Oh fear not me! my heart is sad for youRemorse.
The line was originally written:—
Nay, nay, not hate him. I try not to do it;
Nay, nay, not hate him. I try not to do it;
and in this form it stands in thePoole MS.MSS. II, IIIhave the line as amended, but have also this stage-direction '(perceiving that Alhadra is conscious she has spoken imprudently)'; andMS. IIhas the wordmeunderlined.
Oh fear not me! my heart is sad for you
Oh fear not me! my heart is sad for you
Remorse.
[188]InPoole MS.this line was originally—These wolfish Priests! these lappers-up of Blood.
InPoole MS.this line was originally—
These wolfish Priests! these lappers-up of Blood.
These wolfish Priests! these lappers-up of Blood.
[192]stalk'd] walk'dRemorse.
stalk'd] walk'dRemorse.
[193]on] byRemorse.
on] byRemorse.
[195]Interpolated by S. T. C.That his vile Slaves, his pitiless officersHeld in their custody my babes and husband.MS. III.
Interpolated by S. T. C.
That his vile Slaves, his pitiless officersHeld in their custody my babes and husband.
That his vile Slaves, his pitiless officersHeld in their custody my babes and husband.
MS. III.
[195]foul officers] familiarsRemorse.
foul officers] familiarsRemorse.
[197]ragged] ruggedRemorse.
ragged] ruggedRemorse.
[201]'(ironically)' only inMS. II.
'(ironically)' only inMS. II.
[202]And they do] And ChristiansRemorse.
And they do] And ChristiansRemorse.
[207]Solely my complexion] I was a MorescoRemorse.
Solely my complexion] I was a MorescoRemorse.
[210]There] WhereRemorse.
There] WhereRemorse.
[212-14]It was a toil to breathe it! When the door,Slow opening at the appointed hour, disclosedOne human countenance, the lamp's red flameCowered as it entered, and at once sank downRemorse.
It was a toil to breathe it! When the door,Slow opening at the appointed hour, disclosedOne human countenance, the lamp's red flameCowered as it entered, and at once sank down
It was a toil to breathe it! When the door,Slow opening at the appointed hour, disclosedOne human countenance, the lamp's red flameCowered as it entered, and at once sank down
Remorse.
[219]the dull bell countingRemorse.
the dull bell countingRemorse.
[220]blessed] all-cheering.Remorse.
blessed] all-cheering.Remorse.
[221]my] ourRemorse.
my] ourRemorse.
[222]dreams] slumbersRemorse.
dreams] slumbersRemorse.
[227]God] HeavenRemorse.
God] HeavenRemorse.
[233]deliver'd] releasedCorr. in MS. III, Remorse.
deliver'd] releasedCorr. in MS. III, Remorse.
[237]fit] tranceRemorse.
fit] tranceRemorse.
[243]Fearless in act, but feeble in enduranceCorr. in MS. III, Remorse.
Fearless in act, but feeble in enduranceCorr. in MS. III, Remorse.
[247-9]MS. III erased: om. Remorse.
MS. III erased: om. Remorse.
Between249-50Teresa. (starting).This sure must be the man(toAlhadra)Know you that man?Corr. in MS. III.
Between249-50
Teresa. (starting).This sure must be the man(toAlhadra)Know you that man?
Teresa. (starting).This sure must be the man(toAlhadra)Know you that man?
Corr. in MS. III.
Between250and 263Ter.Know you that stately Moor?Alhad.I know him not:But doubt not he is some Moresco chieftain,Who hides himself among the Alpujarras.Ter.The Alpujarras? Does he know his danger,So near this seat?Alhad.He wears the Moorish robes too,As in defiance of the royal edict.[Alhadraadvances toAlvar, who has walked to the back of the stage near the rocks.Teresadrops her veil.Alhad.Gallant Moresco! An inquisitor,Monviedro, of known hatred to our race—Remorse.
Between250and 263
Ter.Know you that stately Moor?Alhad.I know him not:But doubt not he is some Moresco chieftain,Who hides himself among the Alpujarras.Ter.The Alpujarras? Does he know his danger,So near this seat?Alhad.He wears the Moorish robes too,As in defiance of the royal edict.
Ter.Know you that stately Moor?
Alhad.I know him not:But doubt not he is some Moresco chieftain,Who hides himself among the Alpujarras.
Ter.The Alpujarras? Does he know his danger,So near this seat?
Alhad.He wears the Moorish robes too,As in defiance of the royal edict.
[Alhadraadvances toAlvar, who has walked to the back of the stage near the rocks.Teresadrops her veil.
Alhad.Gallant Moresco! An inquisitor,Monviedro, of known hatred to our race—
Alhad.Gallant Moresco! An inquisitor,Monviedro, of known hatred to our race—
Remorse.
[254-7]His ends, his motives, why he shrinks from noticeAnd spurns all commune with the Moorish chieftain,Baffles conjecture—Corr. in MS. III.
His ends, his motives, why he shrinks from noticeAnd spurns all commune with the Moorish chieftain,Baffles conjecture—
His ends, his motives, why he shrinks from noticeAnd spurns all commune with the Moorish chieftain,Baffles conjecture—
Corr. in MS. III.
Before stage-direction affixed to259.Teresa.Ask of him whence he came? if he bear tidingsOf any Christian Captive—if he knows—Corr. in MS. III.
Before stage-direction affixed to259.
Teresa.Ask of him whence he came? if he bear tidingsOf any Christian Captive—if he knows—
Teresa.Ask of him whence he came? if he bear tidingsOf any Christian Captive—if he knows—
Corr. in MS. III.
[259]Philip the Second had forbidden under pain of death the Moorish RobesMS. II:Phillip (sic) the Second had prohibited under pain of death all the Moorish customs and garmentsMS. III.
Philip the Second had forbidden under pain of death the Moorish RobesMS. II:Phillip (sic) the Second had prohibited under pain of death all the Moorish customs and garmentsMS. III.
[262]the creature] a brotherCorr. in MS. III.
the creature] a brotherCorr. in MS. III.
[263]Albert (retiring)]advancing as if to pass themCorr. in MS. III.Stage-directionom. Remorse.
Albert (retiring)]advancing as if to pass themCorr. in MS. III.Stage-directionom. Remorse.
[264]Stage-directionom. Remorse.
Stage-directionom. Remorse.
[266]Stage-directionom. Remorse.
Stage-directionom. Remorse.
[275-6]om. Remorse.
om. Remorse.
[277]Stage-directionThey advance . . . followed by AlvarCorr. in MS. III: om. Remorse.
Stage-directionThey advance . . . followed by AlvarCorr. in MS. III: om. Remorse.
[277]Alhadra (with bitter scorn).Corr. in MS. III.
Alhadra (with bitter scorn).Corr. in MS. III.
[278-80]om. Remorse.
om. Remorse.
Prefixed to279.Alhadra walks away to the back of the stage, to the part where Alvar had first placed himself, stoops in the act of taking up a small Picture, looks at it and in dumb show appears as talking to herself.Corr. in MS. III.
Prefixed to279.Alhadra walks away to the back of the stage, to the part where Alvar had first placed himself, stoops in the act of taking up a small Picture, looks at it and in dumb show appears as talking to herself.Corr. in MS. III.
[279-80]Maria.This cannot be the Moor the Peasant spoke ofNor face, nor stature squares with his description.Alhadra.A painted tablet which he held and por'd onCaught my eye strangely, and as I disturb'd himHe hid it hastily within his sash,Yet when he started up (if my sight err'd not)It slipt unnotic'd by him on the Sand.Corr. in MS. III.
Maria.This cannot be the Moor the Peasant spoke ofNor face, nor stature squares with his description.Alhadra.A painted tablet which he held and por'd onCaught my eye strangely, and as I disturb'd himHe hid it hastily within his sash,Yet when he started up (if my sight err'd not)It slipt unnotic'd by him on the Sand.
Maria.This cannot be the Moor the Peasant spoke ofNor face, nor stature squares with his description.
Alhadra.A painted tablet which he held and por'd onCaught my eye strangely, and as I disturb'd himHe hid it hastily within his sash,Yet when he started up (if my sight err'd not)It slipt unnotic'd by him on the Sand.
Corr. in MS. III.
[281]She deems me dead yet wears no mourning garmentsRemorse.
She deems me dead yet wears no mourning garmentsRemorse.
[283]om. Remorse.
om. Remorse.
[284]gentle maid] noble dameRemorse.
gentle maid] noble dameRemorse.
[286-7]om. Remorse.
om. Remorse.
Between285and288Ter.Dreams tell but of the past, and yet, 'tis saidThey prophesy—Alv.The Past lives o'er againIn its effects, and to the guilty spirit,The ever frowning [guiltyMS. III] Present is its image.Ter.Traitress! [guiltyMS. III] (then aside)What sudden spell o'er-masters me?Why seeks he me, shunning the Moorish woman.Corr. in MS. III: Remorse.
Between285and288
Ter.Dreams tell but of the past, and yet, 'tis saidThey prophesy—Alv.The Past lives o'er againIn its effects, and to the guilty spirit,The ever frowning [guiltyMS. III] Present is its image.Ter.Traitress! [guiltyMS. III] (then aside)What sudden spell o'er-masters me?Why seeks he me, shunning the Moorish woman.
Ter.Dreams tell but of the past, and yet, 'tis saidThey prophesy—
Alv.The Past lives o'er againIn its effects, and to the guilty spirit,The ever frowning [guiltyMS. III] Present is its image.
Ter.Traitress! [guiltyMS. III] (then aside)What sudden spell o'er-masters me?Why seeks he me, shunning the Moorish woman.
Corr. in MS. III: Remorse.
[293]Polluted] Dishonour'dMS. III,Remorse. [InMS. IIIS. T. C. substituted 'Polluted' for 'Dishonoured.'
Polluted] Dishonour'dMS. III,Remorse. [InMS. IIIS. T. C. substituted 'Polluted' for 'Dishonoured.'
[294-5]Fear, following guilt, tempted to blacker guilt,And murderers were suborned against my lifeRemorse.
Fear, following guilt, tempted to blacker guilt,And murderers were suborned against my life
Fear, following guilt, tempted to blacker guilt,And murderers were suborned against my life
Remorse.
Affixed to296During this speech Alhadra returns, and unobserved by Alvar and Teresa scans the picture, and in dumb show compares it with the countenance of Alvar. Then conceals it in her robe.MS. III.
Affixed to296During this speech Alhadra returns, and unobserved by Alvar and Teresa scans the picture, and in dumb show compares it with the countenance of Alvar. Then conceals it in her robe.MS. III.
[300]Stage-directionom. Remorse.
Stage-directionom. Remorse.
[305]threaddy] threadyRemorse.
threaddy] threadyRemorse.
[322]him] themRemorse.
him] themRemorse.
[323]Stage-directionom. Remorse.
Stage-directionom. Remorse.
[324]sins] guiltRemorse.
sins] guiltRemorse.
[330]all is] all asMS. III,Remorse.
all is] all asMS. III,Remorse.
[332]MS. III erased.
MS. III erased.
[332]foll.Alhadra(aside).I must reserve all knowledge of this TableTill I can pierce the mystery of the slander—Form, Look, Features,—the scar below the TempleAll, all are Isidore's—and the whole Picture— (then toAlvar.)On matter of concerning Import . . .. . . I would discourse with you:Thou hast ta'en up thy sojourn in the Dell,Where Zagri liv'd—who dar'd avow the Prophet,And died like one of the Faithful—there expect me.Addition on margin of MS. III.
foll.
Alhadra(aside).I must reserve all knowledge of this TableTill I can pierce the mystery of the slander—Form, Look, Features,—the scar below the TempleAll, all are Isidore's—and the whole Picture— (then toAlvar.)On matter of concerning Import . . .. . . I would discourse with you:Thou hast ta'en up thy sojourn in the Dell,Where Zagri liv'd—who dar'd avow the Prophet,And died like one of the Faithful—there expect me.
Alhadra(aside).
I must reserve all knowledge of this TableTill I can pierce the mystery of the slander—Form, Look, Features,—the scar below the TempleAll, all are Isidore's—and the whole Picture— (then toAlvar.)On matter of concerning Import . . .. . . I would discourse with you:Thou hast ta'en up thy sojourn in the Dell,Where Zagri liv'd—who dar'd avow the Prophet,And died like one of the Faithful—there expect me.
Addition on margin of MS. III.
[332]om. Remorse.
om. Remorse.
[340]While] WhilstRemorse.
While] WhilstRemorse.
[359]Interpolated by S. T. C. MS. III.
Interpolated by S. T. C. MS. III.
[363]Could she walk here, if she had been a traitressRemorse.
Could she walk here, if she had been a traitressRemorse.
Scene the First.—A wild and mountainous country.OsorioandFerdinandare discovered at a little distance from a house, which stands under the brow of a slate rock, the rock covered with vines.
FerdinandandOsorio.
Ferdinand.Thrice you have sav'd my life. Once in the battleYou gave it me, next rescued me from suicide,When for my follies I was made to wanderWith mouths to feed, and not a morsel for them.Now, but for you, a dungeon's slimy stones5Had pillow'd my snapt joints.Osorio.Good Ferdinand!Why this to me? It is enough you know it.Ferdinand.A common trick of gratitude, my lord!Seeking to ease her own full heart.Osorio.Enough.A debt repay'd ceases to be a debt.10You have it in your power to serve me greatly.Ferdinand.As how, my lord? I pray you name the thing!I would climb up an ice-glaz'd precipiceTo pluck a weed you fancied.Osorio (with embarrassment and hesitation).Why—that—lady—Ferdinand.'Tis now three years, my lord! since last I saw you.15Have you a son, my lord?Osorio.O miserable![Aside.Ferdinand! you are a man, and know this world.[536]I told you what I wish'd—now for the truth!She lov'd the man you kill'd!Ferdinand (looking as suddenly alarmed).You jest, my lord?Osorio.And till his death is proved, she will not wed me.20Ferdinand.You sport with me, my lord?Osorio.Come, come, this fooleryLives only in thy looks—thy heart disowns it.Ferdinand.I can bear this, and anything more grievousFrom you, my lord!—but how can I serve you here?Osorio.Why, you can mouth set speeches solemnly,25Wear a quaint garment, make mysterious antics.[Ferdinand.I am dull, my lord! I do not comprehend you.Osorio.In blunt terms] you can play the sorcerer.She has no faith in Holy Church, 'tis true.Her lover school'd her in some newer nonsense:30Yet still a tale of spirits works on her.She is a lone enthusiast, sensitive,Shivers, and cannot keep the tears in her eye.Such ones do love the marvellous too wellNot to believe it. We will wind her up35With a strange music, that she knows not of,With fumes of frankincense, and mummery—Then leave, as one sure token of his death,That portrait, which from off the dead man's neckI bade thee take, the trophy of thy conquest.40
Ferdinand.Thrice you have sav'd my life. Once in the battleYou gave it me, next rescued me from suicide,When for my follies I was made to wanderWith mouths to feed, and not a morsel for them.Now, but for you, a dungeon's slimy stones5Had pillow'd my snapt joints.
Osorio.Good Ferdinand!Why this to me? It is enough you know it.
Ferdinand.A common trick of gratitude, my lord!Seeking to ease her own full heart.
Osorio.Enough.A debt repay'd ceases to be a debt.10You have it in your power to serve me greatly.
Ferdinand.As how, my lord? I pray you name the thing!I would climb up an ice-glaz'd precipiceTo pluck a weed you fancied.
Osorio (with embarrassment and hesitation).Why—that—lady—
Ferdinand.'Tis now three years, my lord! since last I saw you.15Have you a son, my lord?
Osorio.O miserable![Aside.Ferdinand! you are a man, and know this world.[536]I told you what I wish'd—now for the truth!She lov'd the man you kill'd!
Ferdinand (looking as suddenly alarmed).You jest, my lord?
Osorio.And till his death is proved, she will not wed me.20
Ferdinand.You sport with me, my lord?
Osorio.Come, come, this fooleryLives only in thy looks—thy heart disowns it.
Ferdinand.I can bear this, and anything more grievousFrom you, my lord!—but how can I serve you here?
Osorio.Why, you can mouth set speeches solemnly,25Wear a quaint garment, make mysterious antics.
[Ferdinand.I am dull, my lord! I do not comprehend you.
Osorio.In blunt terms] you can play the sorcerer.She has no faith in Holy Church, 'tis true.Her lover school'd her in some newer nonsense:30Yet still a tale of spirits works on her.She is a lone enthusiast, sensitive,Shivers, and cannot keep the tears in her eye.Such ones do love the marvellous too wellNot to believe it. We will wind her up35With a strange music, that she knows not of,With fumes of frankincense, and mummery—Then leave, as one sure token of his death,That portrait, which from off the dead man's neckI bade thee take, the trophy of thy conquest.40
Ferdinand (with hesitation).Just now I should have cursed the man who told meYou could ask aught, my lord! and I refuse.But this I cannot do.Osorio.Where lies your scruple?Ferdinand.That shark Francesco.Osorio.O! an o'ersiz'd gudgeon!I baited, sir, my hook with a painted mitre,45And now I play with him at the end of the line.Well—and what next?Ferdinand (stammering).Next, next—my lord!You know you told me that the lady loved you,Had loved you with incautious tenderness.That if the young man, her betrothéd husband,50Return'd, yourself, and she, and an unborn babe,Must perish. Now, my lord! to be a man!Osorio (aloud, though to express his contempt he speaks in the third person).This fellow is a man! he kill'd for hireOne whom he knew not—yet has tender scruples.[Then turning toFerdinand.Thy hums and ha's, thy whine and stammering.55Pish—fool! thou blunder'st through the devil's book,Spelling thy villany!Ferdinand.My lord—my lord!I can bear much, yes, very much from you.But there's a point where sufferance is meanness!I am no villain, never kill'd for hire.60My gratitude——Osorio.O! aye, your gratitude!'Twas a well-sounding word—what have you done with it?Ferdinand.Who proffers his past favours for my virtueTries to o'erreach me, is a very sharper,[538]And should not speak of gratitude, my lord!65I knew not 'twas your brother!Osorio (evidently alarmed).And who told you?Ferdinand.He himself told me.Osorio.Ha! you talk'd with him?And those, the two Morescoes, that went with you?Ferdinand.Both fell in a night-brawl at Malaga.Osorio (in a low voice).My brother!Ferdinand.Yes, my lord! I could not tell you:70I thrust away the thought, it drove me wild.But listen to me now. I pray you, listen!Osorio.Villain! no more! I'll hear no more of it.Ferdinand.My lord! it much imports your future safetyThat you should hear it.Osorio (turning off from Ferdinand).Am I not a man?75'Tis as it should be! Tut—the deed itselfWas idle—and these after-pangs still idler!Ferdinand.We met him in the very place you mention'd,Hard by a grove of firs.Osorio.Enough! enough!Ferdinand.He fought us valiantly, and wounded all;80In fine, compell'd a parley!Osorio (sighing as if lost in thought).Albert! Brother!Ferdinand.He offer'd me his purse.Osorio.Yes?Ferdinand.Yes! I spurn'd it.He promis'd us I know not what—in vain!Then with a look and voice which overaw'd me,He said—What mean you, friends? My life is dear.85I have a brother and a promised wifeWho make life dear to me, and if I fallThat brother will roam earth and hell for vengeance.There was a likeness in his face to yours.I ask'd his brother's name; he said, Osorio,90Son of Lord Velez! I had well-nigh fainted!At length I said (if that indeed I said it,And that no spirit made my tongue his organ),That woman is now pregnant by that brother,And he the man who sent us to destroy you,95[539]He drove a thrust at me in rage. I told him,He wore her portrait round his neck—he look'dAs he had been made of the rock that propp'd him back;Ay, just as you look now—only less ghastly!At last recovering from his trance, he threw100His sword away, and bade us take his life—It was not worth his keeping.Osorio.And you kill'd him?O blood-hounds! may eternal wrath flame round you!He was the image of the Deity.[A pause.It seizes me—by Hell! I will go on!105What? would'st thou stop, man? thy pale looks won't save thee![Then suddenly pressing his forehead.Oh! cold, cold, cold—shot thro' with icy cold!Ferdinand (aside).Were he alive, he had return'd ere now.The consequence the same, dead thro' his plotting!Osorio.O this unutterable dying away here,110This sickness of the heart![A pause.What if I wentAnd liv'd in a hollow tomb, and fed on weeds?Ay! that's the road to heaven! O fool! fool! fool![A pause.What have I done but that which nature destin'dOr the blind elements stirr'd up within me?115If good were meant, why were we made these beings?And if not meant——Ferdinand.How feel you now, my lord?
Ferdinand (with hesitation).Just now I should have cursed the man who told meYou could ask aught, my lord! and I refuse.But this I cannot do.
Osorio.Where lies your scruple?
Ferdinand.That shark Francesco.
Osorio.O! an o'ersiz'd gudgeon!I baited, sir, my hook with a painted mitre,45And now I play with him at the end of the line.Well—and what next?
Ferdinand (stammering).Next, next—my lord!You know you told me that the lady loved you,Had loved you with incautious tenderness.That if the young man, her betrothéd husband,50Return'd, yourself, and she, and an unborn babe,Must perish. Now, my lord! to be a man!
Osorio (aloud, though to express his contempt he speaks in the third person).This fellow is a man! he kill'd for hireOne whom he knew not—yet has tender scruples.[Then turning toFerdinand.Thy hums and ha's, thy whine and stammering.55Pish—fool! thou blunder'st through the devil's book,Spelling thy villany!
Ferdinand.My lord—my lord!I can bear much, yes, very much from you.But there's a point where sufferance is meanness!I am no villain, never kill'd for hire.60My gratitude——
Osorio.O! aye, your gratitude!'Twas a well-sounding word—what have you done with it?
Ferdinand.Who proffers his past favours for my virtueTries to o'erreach me, is a very sharper,[538]And should not speak of gratitude, my lord!65I knew not 'twas your brother!
Osorio (evidently alarmed).And who told you?
Ferdinand.He himself told me.
Osorio.Ha! you talk'd with him?And those, the two Morescoes, that went with you?
Ferdinand.Both fell in a night-brawl at Malaga.
Osorio (in a low voice).My brother!
Ferdinand.Yes, my lord! I could not tell you:70I thrust away the thought, it drove me wild.But listen to me now. I pray you, listen!
Osorio.Villain! no more! I'll hear no more of it.
Ferdinand.My lord! it much imports your future safetyThat you should hear it.
Osorio (turning off from Ferdinand).Am I not a man?75'Tis as it should be! Tut—the deed itselfWas idle—and these after-pangs still idler!
Ferdinand.We met him in the very place you mention'd,Hard by a grove of firs.
Osorio.Enough! enough!
Ferdinand.He fought us valiantly, and wounded all;80In fine, compell'd a parley!
Osorio (sighing as if lost in thought).Albert! Brother!
Ferdinand.He offer'd me his purse.
Osorio.Yes?
Ferdinand.Yes! I spurn'd it.He promis'd us I know not what—in vain!Then with a look and voice which overaw'd me,He said—What mean you, friends? My life is dear.85I have a brother and a promised wifeWho make life dear to me, and if I fallThat brother will roam earth and hell for vengeance.There was a likeness in his face to yours.I ask'd his brother's name; he said, Osorio,90Son of Lord Velez! I had well-nigh fainted!At length I said (if that indeed I said it,And that no spirit made my tongue his organ),That woman is now pregnant by that brother,And he the man who sent us to destroy you,95[539]He drove a thrust at me in rage. I told him,He wore her portrait round his neck—he look'dAs he had been made of the rock that propp'd him back;Ay, just as you look now—only less ghastly!At last recovering from his trance, he threw100His sword away, and bade us take his life—It was not worth his keeping.
Osorio.And you kill'd him?O blood-hounds! may eternal wrath flame round you!He was the image of the Deity.[A pause.It seizes me—by Hell! I will go on!105What? would'st thou stop, man? thy pale looks won't save thee![Then suddenly pressing his forehead.Oh! cold, cold, cold—shot thro' with icy cold!
Ferdinand (aside).Were he alive, he had return'd ere now.The consequence the same, dead thro' his plotting!
Osorio.O this unutterable dying away here,110This sickness of the heart![A pause.What if I wentAnd liv'd in a hollow tomb, and fed on weeds?Ay! that's the road to heaven! O fool! fool! fool![A pause.What have I done but that which nature destin'dOr the blind elements stirr'd up within me?115If good were meant, why were we made these beings?And if not meant——
Ferdinand.How feel you now, my lord?
[Osoriostarts, looks at him wildly, then, after a pause, during which his features are forced into a smile.
Osorio.A gust of the soul! i'faith, it overset me.O 'twas all folly—all! idle as laughter!Now, Ferdinand, I swear that thou shalt aid me.120Ferdinand (in a low voice).I'll perish first! Shame on my coward heart,That I must slink away from wickednessLike a cow'd dog!Osorio.What dost thou mutter of?
Osorio.A gust of the soul! i'faith, it overset me.O 'twas all folly—all! idle as laughter!Now, Ferdinand, I swear that thou shalt aid me.120
Ferdinand (in a low voice).I'll perish first! Shame on my coward heart,That I must slink away from wickednessLike a cow'd dog!
Osorio.What dost thou mutter of?
Ferdinand.Some of your servants know me, I am certain.Osorio.There's some sense in that scruple; but we'll mask you.125Ferdinand.They'll know my gait. But stay! of late I have watch'dA stranger that lives nigh, still picking weeds,Now in the swamp, now on the walls of the ruin,Now clamb'ring, like a runaway lunatic,Up to the summit of our highest mount.130I have watch'd him at it morning-tide and noon,Once in the moonlight. Then I stood so near,I heard him mutt'ring o'er the plant. A wizard!Some gaunt slave, prowling out for dark employments.Osorio.What may his name be?Ferdinand.That I cannot tell you.135Only Francesco bade an officerSpeak in your name, as lord of this domain.So he was question'd, who and what he was.This was his answer: Say to the Lord Osorio,'He that can bring the dead to life again.'140Osorio.A strange reply!Ferdinand.Aye—all of him is strange.[541]He call'd himself a Christian—yet he wearsThe Moorish robe, as if he courted death.Osorio.Where does this wizard live?Ferdinand (pointing to a distance).You see that brooklet?Trace its course backward thro' a narrow opening145It leads you to the place.Osorio.How shall I know it?Ferdinand.You can't mistake. It is a small green daleBuilt all around with high off-sloping hills,And from its shape our peasants aptly call itThe Giant's Cradle. There's a lake in the midst,150And round its banks tall wood, that branches overAnd makes a kind of faery forest growDown in the water. At the further endA puny cataract falls on the lake;And there (a curious sight) you see its shadow155For ever curling, like a wreath of smoke,Up through the foliage of those faery trees.His cot stands opposite—you cannot miss it.[542]Some three yards up the hill a mountain ashStretches its lower boughs and scarlet clusters160[543]O'er the new thatch.Osorio.I shall not fail to find it.
Ferdinand.Some of your servants know me, I am certain.
Osorio.There's some sense in that scruple; but we'll mask you.125
Ferdinand.They'll know my gait. But stay! of late I have watch'dA stranger that lives nigh, still picking weeds,Now in the swamp, now on the walls of the ruin,Now clamb'ring, like a runaway lunatic,Up to the summit of our highest mount.130I have watch'd him at it morning-tide and noon,Once in the moonlight. Then I stood so near,I heard him mutt'ring o'er the plant. A wizard!Some gaunt slave, prowling out for dark employments.
Osorio.What may his name be?
Ferdinand.That I cannot tell you.135Only Francesco bade an officerSpeak in your name, as lord of this domain.So he was question'd, who and what he was.This was his answer: Say to the Lord Osorio,'He that can bring the dead to life again.'140
Osorio.A strange reply!
Ferdinand.Aye—all of him is strange.[541]He call'd himself a Christian—yet he wearsThe Moorish robe, as if he courted death.
Osorio.Where does this wizard live?
Ferdinand (pointing to a distance).You see that brooklet?Trace its course backward thro' a narrow opening145It leads you to the place.
Osorio.How shall I know it?
Ferdinand.You can't mistake. It is a small green daleBuilt all around with high off-sloping hills,And from its shape our peasants aptly call itThe Giant's Cradle. There's a lake in the midst,150And round its banks tall wood, that branches overAnd makes a kind of faery forest growDown in the water. At the further endA puny cataract falls on the lake;And there (a curious sight) you see its shadow155For ever curling, like a wreath of smoke,Up through the foliage of those faery trees.His cot stands opposite—you cannot miss it.[542]Some three yards up the hill a mountain ashStretches its lower boughs and scarlet clusters160[543]O'er the new thatch.
Osorio.I shall not fail to find it.
[ExitOsorio.Ferdinandgoes into his house.
Scene changes.
The inside of a cottage, around which flowers and plants of various kinds are seen.
AlbertandMaurice.