Trifle with me no more.For otherwise We are no longer friends.And so, fare well!
[Exit.
Hyp.Now what a coil is here! The Avenging Child Hunting the traitor Quadros to his death, And the Moor Calaynos, when he rode To Paris for the ears of Oliver, Were nothing to him! O hot-headed youth!
But come; we will not follow.Let us join The crowd that pours into the Prado.There We shall find merrier company; I see The Marialonzos and the Almavivas, And fifty fans, that beckon me already.
[Exeunt.
SCENE IV.-- PRECIOSA'S chamber.She is sitting, with a book in her hand, near a table, on which are flowers.A bird singing in its cage.The COUNT OF LARA enters behind unperceived.
Prec.(reads).
All are sleeping, weary heart!
Thou, thou only sleepless art!
Heigho! I wish Victorian were here.
I know not what it is makes me so restless!
(The bird sings.)
Thou little prisoner with thy motley coat, That from thy vaulted, wiry dungeon singest, Like thee I am a captive, and, like thee, I have a gentle jailer.Lack-a-day!
All are sleeping, weary heart!
Thou, thou only sleepless art!
All this throbbing, all this aching, Evermore shall keep thee waking, For a heart in sorrow breaking Thinketh ever of its smart!
Thou speakest truly, poet! and methinks More hearts are breaking in this world of ours Than one would say.In distant villages And solitudes remote, where winds have wafted The barbed seeds of love, or birds of passage Scattered them in their flight, do they take root, And grow in silence, and in silence perish.
Who hears the falling of the forest leaf?
Or who takes note of every flower that dies?
Heigho! I wish Victorian would come.
Dolores!
(Turns to lay down her boot and perceives the COUNT.)Ha!
Lara.Senora, pardon me.
Prec.How's this? Dolores!
Lara.Pardon me--
Prec.Dolores!
Lara.Be not alarmed; I found no one in waiting.
If I have been too bold--
Prec.(turning her back upon him).You are too bold!
Retire! retire, and leave me!
Lara.My dear lady, First hear me! I beseech you, let me speak!
'T is for your good I come.
Prec.(turning toward him with indignation).Begone! begone!
You are the Count of Lara, but your deeds Would make the statues of your ancestors Blush on their tombs! Is it Castilian honor, Is it Castilian pride, to steal in here Upon a friendless girl, to do her wrong?
O shame! shame ! shame! that you, a nobleman, Should be so little noble in your thoughts As to send jewels here to win my love, And think to buy my honor with your gold!
I have no words to tell you how I scorn you!
Begone! The sight of you is hateful to me!
Begone, I say!
Lara.Be calm; I will not harm you.
Prec.Because you dare not.
Lara.I dare anything!
Therefore beware! You are deceived in me.
In this false world, we do not always know Who are our friends and who our enemies.
We all have enemies, and all need friends.
Even you, fair Preciosa, here at court Have foes, who seek to wrong you.
Prec.If to this I owe the honor of the present visit, You might have spared the coming.Raving spoken, Once more I beg you, leave me to myself.
Lara.I thought it but a friendly part to tell you What strange reports are current here in town.
For my own self, I do not credit them;
But there are many who, not knowing you, Will lend a readier ear.
Prec.There was no need That you should take upon yourself the duty Of telling me these tales.
Lara.Malicious tongues Are ever busy with your name.
Prec.Alas!
I've no protectors.I am a poor girl, Exposed to insults and unfeeling jests.
They wound me, yet I cannot shield myself.
I give no cause for these reports.I live Retired; am visited by none.
Lara.By none?
O, then, indeed, you are much wronged!
Prec.How mean you?
Lara.Nay, nay; I will not wound your gentle soul By the report of idle tales.
Prec.Speak out!
What are these idle tales? You need not spare me.
Lara.I will deal frankly with you.Pardon me This window, as I think, looks toward the street, And this into the Prado, does it not?
In yon high house, beyond the garden wall,--You see the roof there just above the trees,--There lives a friend, who told me yesterday, That on a certain night,--be not offended If I too plainly speak,--he saw a man Climb to your chamber window.You are silent!
I would not blame you, being young and fair--(He tries to embrace her.She starts back, and draws a dagger from her bosom.)Prec.Beware! beware! I am a Gypsy girl!
Lay not your hand upon me.One step nearer And I will strike!
Lara.Pray you, put up that dagger.
Fear not.
Prec.I do not fear.I have a heart In whose strength I can trust.
Lara.Listen to me I come here as your friend,--I am your friend,--And by a single word can put a stop To all those idle tales, and make your name Spotless as lilies are.Here on my knees, Fair Preciosa! on my knees I swear, I love you even to madness, and that love Has driven me to break the rules of custom, And force myself unasked into your presence.
(VICTORIAN enters behind.)
Prec.Rise, Count of Lara! That is not the place For such as you are.It becomes you not To kneel before me.I am strangely moved To see one of your rank thus low and humbled;For your sake I will put aside all anger, All unkind feeling, all dislike, and speak In gentleness, as most becomes a woman, And as my heart now prompts me.I no more Will hate you, for all hate is painful to me.
But if, without offending modesty And that reserve which is a woman's glory, I may speak freely, I will teach my heart To love you.
Lara.O sweet angel!
Prec.Ay, in truth, Far better than you love yourself or me.
Lara.Give me some sign of this,--the slightest token.
Let me but kiss your hand!
Prec.Nay, come no nearer.
The words I utter are its sign and token.
Misunderstand me not! Be not deceived!
The love wherewith I love you is not such As you would offer me.For you come here To take from me the only thing I have, My honor.You are wealthy, you have friends And kindred, and a thousand pleasant hopes That fill your heart with happiness; but IAm poor, and friendless, having but one treasure, And you would take that from me, and for what?