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Traitress! (Then aside.)

       What sudden spell o’ermasters me?

       Why seeks he me, shunning the Moorish woman?

      Alvar. I dreamt I had a friend, on whom I leant

       With blindest trust, and a betrothéd maid, 280

       Whom I was wont to call not mine, but me:

       For mine own self seem’d nothing, lacking her.

       This maid so idolized, that trusted friend

       Dishonoured in my absence, soul and body!

       Fear, following guilt, tempted to blacker guilt, 285

       And murderers were suborned against my life.

       But by my looks, and most impassioned words,

       I roused the virtues that are dead in no man,

       Even in the assassins’ hearts! they made their terms,

       And thanked me for redeeming them from murder. 290

      Alhadra. You are lost in thought: hear him no more, sweet Lady!

      Teresa. From morn to night I am myself a dreamer,

       And slight things bring on me the idle mood!

       Well sir, what happened then?

      Alvar. On a rude rock,

       A rock, methought, fast by a grove of firs, 295

       Whose thready leaves to the low-breathing gale

       Made a soft sound most like the distant ocean,

       I stayed, as though the hour of death were passed,

       And I were sitting in the world of spirits —

       For all things seemed unreal! There I sate — 300

       The dews fell clammy, and the night descended,

       Black, sultry, close! and ere the midnight hour

       A storm came on, mingling all sounds of fear,

       That woods, and sky, and mountains, seemed one havock.

       The second flash of lightning shewed a tree 305

       Hard by me, newly scathed. I rose tumultuous:

       My soul worked high, I bared my head to the storm,

       And with loud voice and clamorous agony,

       Kneeling I prayed to the great Spirit that made me,

       Prayed, that Remorse might fasten on their hearts, 310

       And cling with poisonous tooth, inextricable

       As the gored lion’s bite!

      Teresa. A fearful curse!

      Alhadra. But dreamt you not that you returned and killed them?

       Dreamt you of no revenge?

      Alvar. She would have died

       Died in her guilt — perchance by her own hands! 315

       And bending o’er her self-inflicted wounds,

       I might have met the evil glance of frenzy,

       And leapt myself into an unblest grave!

       I prayed for the punishment that cleanses hearts:

       For still I loved her!

      Alhadra. And you dreamt all this? 320

      Teresa. My soul is full of visions all as wild!

      Alhadra. There is no room in this heart for puling love-tales.

      Teresa (lifts up her veil, and advances to Alvar). Stranger,

       farewell! I guess not who you are,

       Nor why you so addressed your tale to me.

       Your mien is noble, and, I own, perplexed me, 325

       With obscure memory of something past,

       Which still escaped my efforts, or presented

       Tricks of a fancy pampered with long wishing.

       If, as it sometimes happens, our rude startling,

       Whilst your full heart was shaping out its dream, 330

       Drove you to this, your not ungentle, wildness —

       You have my sympathy, and so farewell!

       But if some undiscovered wrongs oppress you,

       And you need strength to drag them into light,

       The generous Valdez, and my Lord Ordonio, 335

       Have arm and will to aid a noble sufferer,

       Nor shall you want my favourable pleading.

      [Exeunt TERESA and ALHADRA.

      Alvar (alone). ‘Tis strange! It cannot be! my Lord Ordonio!

       Her Lord Ordonio! Nay, I will not do it!

       I cursed him once — and one curse is enough! 340

       How sad she looked, and pale! but not like guilt —

       And her calm tones — sweet as a song of mercy!

       If the bad spirit retain’d his angel’s voice,

       Hell scarce were Hell. And why not innocent?

       Who meant to murder me, might well cheat her? 345

       But ere she married him, he had stained her honour;

       Ah! there I am hampered. What if this were a lie

       Framed by the assassin? Who should tell it him,

       If it were truth? Ordonio would not tell him.

       Yet why one lie? all else, I know, was truth. 350

       No start, no jealousy of stirring conscience!

       And she referred to me — fondly, methought!

       Could she walk here if she had been a traitress?

       Here where we played together in our childhood?

       Here where we plighted vows? where her cold cheek 355

       Received my last kiss, when with suppressed feelings

       She had fainted in my arms? It cannot be!

       ‘Tis not in nature! I will die believing,

       That I shall meet her where no evil is,

       No treachery, no cup dashed from the lips. 360

       I’ll haunt this scene no more! live she in peace!

       Her husband — aye her husband! May this angel

       New mould his canker’d heart! Assist me, heaven,

       That I may pray for my poor guilty brother! [Exit.

      ORDONIO’S appearance to be collected from what follows.

      Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

       started on Edition 1.

       1829. I? — I] I? — I Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

      [After 146: [Then recovering himself. Editions 1, 2, 3.

      [After 147] … follows soothing him. Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

      A scathing curse! [Then, as if recollecting herself, and with

       a timid look.

      Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

      [After 184] Teresa (perceiving that Alhadra is conscious she has spoken

       imprudently). Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

       1829.

      In darkness I remained — counting the bell

       Which haply told me, that the blessed Sun

       Was rising on my garden.

      Edition 1.

      [After 267] [They advance to

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