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That Ferdinand (or if not he his wife)

       I have fresh evidence — are infidels.

       We are not safe until they are rooted out. 310

      Maria. Thou man, who call’st thyself the minister

       Of Him whose law was love unutterable!

       Why is thy soul so parch’d with cruelty,

       That still thou thirstest for thy brother’s blood?

      Velez (rapidly). Father! I have long suspected it — her brain — 315

       Heed it not, father!

      Francesco. Nay — but I must heed it.

      Maria. Thou miserable man! I fear thee not,

       Nor prize a life which soon may weary me.

       Bear witness, Heav’n! I neither scorn nor hate him — 320

       But O! ‘tis wearisome to mourn for evils,

       Still mourn, and have no power to remedy! [Exit MARIA.

      Francesco. My lord! I shall presume to wait on you

       Tomorrow early.

      Velez. Be it so, good father! [Exit FRANCESCO.

      Velez (alone). I do want solace, but not such as thine! 325

       The moon is high in heaven, and my eyes ache,

       But not with sleep. Well — it is ever so.

       A child, a child is born! and the fond heart

       Dances! and yet the childless are most happy.

      [SCENE changes to the mountains by moonlight. ALHADRA alone in a

       Moorish dress, her eyes fixed on the earth. Then drop in one after

       another, from different parts of the stage, a considerable number of

       Morescoes, all in their Moorish garments. They form a circle at a

       distance round ALHADRA. After a pause one of the Morescoes to the man

       who stands next to him.

      First Moresco. The law which forced these Christian dresses on

       us, 330

       ‘Twere pleasant to cleave down the wretch who framed it.

      Second. Yet ‘tis not well to trample on it idly.

      First. Our country robes are dear.

      Second. And like dear friends,

       May chance to prove most perilous informers.

      [A third Moresco, NAOMI, advances from out the circle.

      Naomi. Woman! may Alla and the prophet bless thee! 335

       We have obey’d thy call. Where is our chief?

       And why didst thou enjoin the Moorish garments?

      Alhadra (lifting up [raising Remorse] her eyes, and looking

       round on the circle).

       Warriors of Mahomet, faithful in the battle,

       My countrymen! Come ye prepared to work

       An honourable deed? And would ye work it 340

       In the slave’s garb? Curse on those Christian robes!

       They are spell-blasted; and whoever wears them,

       His arm shrinks wither’d, his heart melts away,

       And his bones soften!

      Naomi. Where is Ferdinand?

      Alhadra (in a deep low voice). This night I went from forth my

       house, and left 345

       His children all asleep; and he was living!

       And I return’d, and found them still asleep —

       But he had perish’d.

      All. Perished?

      Alhadra. He had perish’d!

       Sleep on, poor babes! not one of you doth know

       That he is fatherless, a desolate orphan! 350

       Why should we wake them? Can an infant’s arm

       Revenge his murder?

      One to Another. Did she say his murder?

      Naomi. Murder’d? Not murder’d?

      Alhadra. Murder’d by a Christian!

      [They all, at once, draw their sabres.

      Alhadra (to Naomi, who on being addressed again advances from

       the circle). Brother of Zagri! fling away thy sword:

       This is thy chieftain’s! [He steps forward to take it.

       Dost thou dare receive it? 355

       For I have sworn by Alia and the prophet,

       No tear shall dim these eyes, this woman’s heart

       Shall heave no groan, till I have seen that sword

       Wet with the blood of all the house of Velez!

      Enter MAURICE.

      All. A spy! a spy! [They seize him.

      Maurice. Off! off! unhand me, slaves! 360

      [After much struggling he disengages himself and draws

       his sword.

      Naomi (to Alhadra). Speak! shall we kill him?

      Maurice. Yes! ye can kill a

       man,

       Some twenty of you! But ye are Spanish slaves!

       And slaves are always cruel, always cowards.

      Alhadra. That man has spoken truth. Whence and who art thou?

      Maurice. I seek a dear friend, whom for aught I know 365

       The son of Velez hath hired one of you

       To murder! Say, do ye know aught of Albert?

      Alhadra (starting). Albert? — three years ago I heard that name

       Murmur’d in sleep! High-minded foreigner!

       Mix thy revenge with mine, and stand among us. 370

      [MAURICE stands among the Morescoes.

      Alhadra. Was not Osorio my husband’s friend?

      Old Man. He kill’d my son in battle; yet our chieftain

       Forced me to sheathe my dagger. See — the point

       Is bright, unrusted with the villain’s blood!

      Alhadra. He is your chieftain’s murderer!

      Naomi. He dies by Alla!

      All (dropping on one knee). By

       Alla! 375

      Alhadra. This night a reeking slave came with loud pant,

       Gave Ferdinand a letter, and departed,

       Swift as he came. Pale, with unquiet looks,

       He read the scroll.

      Maurice. Its purport?

      Alhadra. Yes, I ask’d it.

       He answer’d me, ‘Alhadra! thou art worthy 380

       A nobler secret; but I have been faithful

       To this bad man, and faithful I will be.’

       He said, and arm’d himself, and lit a torch;

       Then kiss’d his children, each one on its pillow,

       And hurried from me. But I follow’d him 385

       At distance, till I saw him enter there.

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