And he did grasp it in his death-pang! That beat'st thy black wings close above my head! [ORDONIO enters with the keys of the dungeon in his hand. Yes! yes! we recognize them I was benumb'd, and stagger'd up and down shine, And the blood dances freely through its channels! [Turns off abruptly; then to himself This is my virtuous, grateful Isidore! [Then mimicking ISIDORE's manner and voice. "A common trick of gratitude, my Lord!" Oh Gratitude! a dagger would dissect His "own full heart"-'t were good to see its color. VALDEZ. Off, false Demon, These magic sights! O that I ne'er had yielded, Hush! who comes here? The wizard Moor's em- [VALDEZ moves towards the back of the stage to Is Alvar dead? what then? The nuptial rites and funeral shall be one! wherefore? ORDONIO (in a slow voice, as reasoning to himself.) Love! Love! and then we hate! and what? and Hatred and Love! Fancies opposed by fancies! What, if one reptile sting another reptile! Where is the crime? The goodly face of Nature Hath one disfeaturing stain the less upon it. Are we not all predestined Transiency, And cold Dishonor? Grant it, that this hand Had given a morsel to the hungry worms Somewhat too early-Where's the crime of this? That this must needs bring on the idiocy Of moist-eyed Penitence-'tis like a dream! VALDEZ. ORDONIO (as he advances with VALDEZ). These are the dungeon keys. Monviedro knew not Wild talk, my son' But thy excess of feelingThat I too had received the wizard message, [Averting himself Almost, I fear, it hath unhinged his brain. ORDONIO (now in soliloquy, and now addressing ORDONIO. Is it so? his father and just after the speech has Yes! yes! even like a child, that, too abruptly Say, I had laid a body in the sun! In place of that one man.-Say, I had kill'd him! Yet who shall tell me, that each one and all VALDEZ. O mere madness! [TERESA moves hastily forwards, and places herself directly before ORDONIO. Starts up bewilder'd and talks idly. (Then mysteriously.) Father! What if the Moors that made my brother's grave, VALDEZ. Alvar ne'er fought against the Moors, -say rather, ORDONIO (checking the feeling of surprise, and Captured, yet, as forcing his tones into an expression of Teresa? or the Phantom of Teresa? ORDONIO. Unknown, perhaps, the son of Valdez, murder'd. Nay, whither, gentle Lady? VALDEZ. What seek you now? TERESA. A better, surer light To guide me Both VALDEZ and ORDOΝΙΟ. Whither? TERESA. To the only place Where life yet dwells for me, and ease of heart These walls seem threatening to fall in upon me! Detain me not! a dim Power drives me hence, And that will be my guide. VALDEZ. To find a lover! Suits that a high-born maiden's modesty ? TERESA. Hopeless, I fear no human being's rage. The hunt is up! and in the midnight wood, [Looks through the side window A rim of the sun lies yet upon the sea, [Exit. ACT IV. SCENE I. A cavern, dark, except where a gleam of moonlight is seen on one side at the further end of it; supposed to be cast on it from a crevice in a part of the cavern out of sight. ISIDORE alone, an extinguished torch in his hand. ISIDORE. Faith 't was a moving letter-very moving! Thanks to that little crevice, Which lets the moonlight in! I'll go and sit by it. [He goes out of sight, opposite to the patch of When a boy, my Lord! moonlight: returns after a minute's elapse, I could have sate whole hours beside that chasm, in an ecstasy of fear. Push'd in huge stones, and heard them strike and ORDONIO. Art thou more coward now! ISIDORE. Call him, that fears his fellow-man, a coward! ORDONIO (goes into the recess, then returns, and with It were too bad a prison-house for goblins. [Lights his torch at ORDONIO's, and while lighting it. Is no unpleasant object here one's breath My torch extinguish'd by these water drops, But scarcely had I measured twenty paces- Almost beyond recoil, on the dim brink Of a huge chasm I stept. The shadowy moonshine Beside (you'll smile, my Lord), but true it is, Had a strange power of breathing terror round me! ORDONIO. Well? ISIDORE I was in the act Of falling down that chasm, when Alhadra Never, my Lord! ORDONIO (stands lost in thought, then after a pause.) What is, my Lord? ORDONIO. Abhorrent from our nature, To kill a man ISIDORE. Except in self-defence. ORDONIO. Why, that's my case; and yet the soul recoils from it Have sterner feelings? ISIDORE. Something troubles you. How shall I serve you? By the life you gave me, [ORDONIO darkly, and in the feeling of self-justifica- ORDONIO. What boots it, who or when? Hang up thy torch-I'll tell his tale to thee. He proved a traitor [They hang up their torches on some ridge in To hunt him down to infamy and death. the cavern. He was a man different from other men, And he despised them, yet revered himself. ISIDORE (aside). He? He despised? Thou'rt speaking of thyself! What! he was mad? ORDONIO. What did the Valdez? I am proud of the name, [ORDONIO grasps his sword, and turns off f Our links burn dimly. ISIDORE. [Then to ORDONIO. A dark tale darkly finish'd! Nay, my Lord! Tell what he did. ORDONIO. That which his wisdom prompted All men seem'd mad to him! He made that Traitor meet him in this cavern, Now this is excellent, and warms the blood! Why didst thou look round? My heart was drawing back, drawing me back And claims that life, my pity robb'd her of VALDEZ. Hush, thoughtless woman! TERESA. Nay, it wakes within me Now will I kill thee, thankless slave! and count it More than a woman's spirit. Among my comfortable thoughts hereafter. alone. ORDONIO. VALDEZ. No more of this What if Monviedro or his creatures hear us! TERESA My honor'd Lord, VALDEZ. We have mourn'd for Alvar. I have hurl'd him down the chasm! Treason for trea- Of his sad fate there now remains no doubt. Heart-chilling Superstition! thou canst glaze But my resolve is fix'd! myself will rescue him, Enter VALDEZ. VALDEZ. Still sad?and gazing at the massive door Of that fell Dungeon which thou ne'er hadst sight of, [With a sneer. Who then need wonder if a lady sighs Even at the thought of what these stern Dominicans- The horror of their ghastly punishments • Vide Appendix, Note 2. Have I no other son? TERESA. Speak not of him! VALDEZ. Is this well? TERESA. Yes, it is truth: saw you his countenance? O my father! Recall that morning when we knelt together, VALDEZ. Ungrateful woman! I have tried to stifle A comfortless old man! TERESA. O Grief! to hear |