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      Osorio. Tut! name it

       not.

       A sudden seizure, father! think not of it.

       As to this woman’s husband, I do know him:

       I know him well, and that he is a Christian. 160

      Francesco. I hope, my lord, your sensibility

       Doth not prevail.

      Osorio. Nay, nay — you know me better.

       You hear what I have said. But ‘tis a trifle.

       I had something here of more importance.

      [Touching his forehead as if in the act of recollection.

      Hah!

       The Count Mondejar, our great general, 165

       Writes, that the bishop we were talking of

       Has sicken’d dangerously.

      Francesco. Even so.

      Osorio. I must return my answer.

      Francesco. When, my lord?

      Osorio. Tomorrow morning, and shall not forget

       How bright and strong your zeal for the Catholic faith. 170

      Francesco. You are too kind, my lord! You overwhelm me.

      Osorio. Nay, say not so. As for this Ferdinand,

       ‘Tis certain that he was a Catholic.

       What changes may have happen’d in three years,

       I cannot say, but grant me this, good father! 175

       I’ll go and sift him: if I find him sound,

       You’ll grant me your authority and name

       To liberate his house.

      Francesco. My lord you have it.

      Osorio (to Alhadra). I will attend you home within an hour.

       Meantime return with us, and take refreshment. 180

      Alhadra. Not till my husband’s free, I may not do it.

       I will stay here.

      Maria (aside). Who is this Ferdinand?

      Velez. Daughter!

      Maria. With your permission, my dear lord,

       I’ll loiter a few minutes, and then join you.

      [Exeunt VELEZ, FRANCESCO, and OSORIO.

      Alhadra. Hah! there he goes. A bitter curse go with him. 185

       A scathing curse! [ALHADRA had been betrayed by the warmth

       of her feelings into an imprudence.

       She checks herself, yet recollecting

       MARIA’S manner towards FRANCESCO,

       says in a shy and distrustful

       manner

       You hate him, don’t you, lady!

      Maria. Nay, fear me not! my heart is sad for you.

      Alhadra. These fell Inquisitors, these sons of blood!

       As I came on, his face so madden’d me

       That ever and anon I clutch’d my dagger 190

       And half unsheathed it.

      Maria. Be more calm, I pray you.

      Alhadra. And as he stalk’d along the narrow path

       Close on the mountain’s edge, my soul grew eager.

       ‘Twas with hard toil I made myself remember

       That his foul officers held my babes and husband. 195

       To have leapt upon him with a Tyger’s plunge

       And hurl’d him down the ragged precipice,

       O — it had been most sweet!

      Maria. Hush, hush! for shame.

       Where is your woman’s heart?

      Alhadra. O gentle lady!

       You have no skill to guess my many wrongs, 200

       Many and strange. Besides I am a Christian,

       And they do never pardon, ‘tis their faith!

      Maria. Shame fall on those who so have shown it to thee!

      Alhadra. I know that man; ‘tis well he knows not me!

       Five years ago, and he was the prime agent. 205

       Five years ago the Holy Brethren seized me.

      Maria. What might your crime be?

      Alhadra. Solely my complexion.

       They cast me, then a young and nursing mother,

       Into a dungeon of their prison house.

       There was no bed, no fire, no ray of light, 210

       No touch, no sound of comfort! The black air,

       It was a toil to breathe it! I have seen

       The gaoler’s lamp, the moment that he enter’d,

       How the flame sunk at once down to the socket.

       O miserable, by that lamp to see 215

       My infant quarrelling with the coarse hard bread

       Brought daily: for the little wretch was sickly —

       My rage had dry’d away its natural food!

       In darkness I remain’d, counting the clocks

       Which haply told me that the blessed sun 220

       Was rising on my garden. When I dozed,

       My infant’s moanings mingled with my dreams

       And wak’d me. If you were a mother, Lady,

       I should scarce dare to tell you, that its noises

       And peevish cries so fretted on my brain 225

       That I have struck the innocent babe in anger!

      Maria. O God! it is too horrible to hear!

      Alhadra. What was it then to suffer? ‘Tis most right

       That such as you should hear it. Know you not

       What Nature makes you mourn, she bids you heal? 230

       Great evils ask great passions to redress them,

       And whirlwinds fitliest scatter pestilence.

      Maria. You were at length deliver’d?

      Alhadra. Yes, at length

       I saw the blessed arch of the whole heaven.

       ‘Twas the first time my infant smiled! No more. 235

       For if I dwell upon that moment, lady,

       A fit comes on, which makes me o’er again

       All I then was, my knees hang loose and drag,

       And my lip falls with such an ideot laugh

       That you would start and shudder!

      Maria. But your husband? 240

      Alhadra. A month’s imprisonment would kill him, lady!

      Maria. Alas, poor man!

      Alhadra. He hath a lion’s courage,

       But is not stern enough for fortitude.

       Unfit for boisterous times, with gentle heart

       He worships Nature in the hill and valley, 245

       Not knowing what he loves, but loves it all!

      [Enter ALBERT disguised as a Moresco, and in

       Moorish garments.

      Albert

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