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sake

       Press me no more! I have no power to love him. 80

       His proud forbidding eye, and his dark brow,

       Chill me like dew-damps of the unwholesome night:

       My love, a timorous and tender flower,

       Closes beneath his touch.

      Valdez. You wrong him, maiden!

       You wrong him, by my soul! Nor was it well 85

       To character by such unkindly phrases

       The stir and workings of that love for you

       Which he has toiled to smother. ‘Twas not well,

       Nor is it grateful in you to forget

       His wounds and perilous voyages, and how 90

       With an heroic fearlessness of danger

       He roam’d the coast of Afric for your Alvar.

       It was not well — You have moved me even to tears.

      Teresa. Oh pardon me, Lord Valdez! pardon me!

       It was a foolish and ungrateful speech, 95

       A most ungrateful speech! But I am hurried

       Beyond myself, if I but hear of one

       Who aims to rival Alvar. Were we not

       Born in one day, like twins of the same parent?

       Nursed in one cradle? Pardon me, my father! 100

       A six years’ absence is a heavy thing,

       Yet still the hope survives ——

      Valdez (looking forward). Hush! ‘tis Monviedro.

      Teresa. The Inquisitor! on what new scent of blood?

      Enter MONVIEDRO with ALHADRA.

      Monviedro. Peace and the truth be with you! Good my Lord, 105

       My present need is with your son.

       We have hit the time. Here comes he! Yes, ‘tis he.

      [Enter from the opposite side DON ORDONIO.

      My Lord Ordonio, this Moresco woman

       (Alhadra is her name) asks audience of you.

      Ordonio. Hail, reverend father! what may be the business? 110

      Monviedro. My lord, on strong suspicion of relapse

       To his false creed, so recently abjured,

       The secret servants of the Inquisition

       Have seized her husband, and at my command

       To the supreme tribunal would have led him, 115

       But that he made appeal to you, my lord,

       As surety for his soundness in the faith.

       Though lessoned by experience what small trust

       The asseverations of these Moors deserve,

       Yet still the deference to Ordonio’s name, 120

       Nor less the wish to prove, with what high honour

       The Holy Church regards her faithful soldiers,

       Thus far prevailed with me that ——

      Ordonio. Reverend father,

       I am much beholden to your high opinion,

       Which so o’erprizes my light services. [Then to ALHADRA. 125

       I would that I could serve you; but in truth

       Your face is new to me.

      Monviedro. My mind foretold me

       That such would be the event. In truth, Lord Valdez,

       ‘Twas little probable, that Don Ordonio,

       That your illustrious son, who fought so bravely 130

       Some four years since to quell these rebel Moors,

       Should prove the patron of this infidel!

       The warranter of a Moresco’s faith!

       Now I return.

      Alhadra. My Lord, my husband’s name 135

       Is Isidore. (ORDONIO starts.) You may remember it:

       Three years ago, three years this very week,

       You left him at Almeria.

      Monviedro. Palpably false!

       This very week, three years ago, my lord,

       (You needs must recollect it by your wound) 140

       You were at sea, and there engaged the pirates,

       The murderers doubtless of your brother Alvar!

       What, is he ill, my Lord? how strange he looks!

      Valdez. You pressed upon him too abruptly, father!

       The fate of one, on whom, you know, he doted. 145

      Ordonio. O Heavens! I? — I doted?

       Yes! I doted on him.

      [ORDONIO walks to the end of the stage, VALDEZ follows.

      Teresa. I do not, can not, love him. Is my heart hard?

       Is my heart hard? that even now the thought

       Should force itself upon me? — Yet I feel it! 150

      Monviedro. The drops did start and stand upon his forehead!

       I will return. In very truth, I grieve

       To have been the occasion. Ho! attend me, woman!

      Alhadra (to Teresa). O gentle lady! make the father stay,

       Until my lord recover. I am sure, 155

       That he will say he is my husband’s friend.

      Teresa. Stay, father! stay! my lord will soon recover.

      Ordonio (as they return, to Valdez). Strange, that this Monviedro

       Should have the power so to distemper me!

      Valdez. Nay, ‘twas an amiable weakness, son! 160

      Monviedro. My lord, I truly grieve ——

      Ordonio. 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.

      Monviedro. I hope, my lord, your merely human pity 165

       Doth not prevail ——

      Ordonio. ‘Tis certain that he was a catholic;

       What changes may have happened in three years,

       I can not say; but grant me this, good father:

       Myself I’ll sift him: if I find him sound, 170

       You’ll grant me your authority and name

       To liberate his house.

      Monviedro. Your zeal, my lord,

       And your late merits in this holy warfare

       Would authorize an ampler trust — you have it.

      Ordonio. I will attend you home within an hour. 175

      Valdez. Meantime return with us and take refreshment.

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

       I will stay here.

      Teresa (aside). Who is this Isidore?

      Valdez. Daughter!

      Teresa. With your permission, my dear lord, 180

       I’ll loiter yet awhile t’ enjoy the sea breeze.

      [Exeunt

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