Scene Five
The same persons, Manuela, Afrida
Gil Andrès makes both women enter at the left at the same time. The younger one remains at the foot of the stage between the two aides, while Gil Andrès pushes before him old Afrida, whom Zoraya regards with surprise and disgust.
Ximénès. (To Afrida) Come forward! (Gil Andrès, with a blow, forces Afrida to go forward. To D’Aguilar) Write: “Afrida.” (To Afrida) You confessed the other day—(Afrida, without looking at him, makes a sign to him with her left hand to keep silent; with her right hand she makes a trumpet to her ear for listening) What is this?—Are you mocking us?
Gil Andrès. With your permission. Your Eminence, she is thus frequently seen holding her ear to listen to her favorite demon, whom she calls Verdelet.
Ximénès. That demon there is very bold to face us in our home! Hello there! woman, dismiss this bad gallant and answer this Tribunal, which was not called for his attendance.
Afrida smiles like an idiot and makes a sign with her hand.
Afrida. Patience!—patience!—There he goes!
She laughs stupidly.
Ximénès. What are you laughing at, old ribald?
Afrida. (Looking the same) At the face he made when he went out.
Ximénès. Take care that you are not seated on a wooden horse! (She attempts to speak) Enough of those mummeries. You confessed the other day of practising evil acts upon your neighbors, causing their children and fowls to die, of setting fire to their roofs and sending hail upon their fields.
Afrida. To avenge myself upon those who were happier than I.
Ximénès. You confessed to being at a nocturnal revelry attended by witches, did you not?
Afrida. Oh! I have often been (counting on her fingers) more than thirty times.
Ximénès. By what power do you go?
Afrida. The black sheep or the large red cat, which come to take me from my bed while I sleep—And then. Gee-up! gee-up! across the fields, accompanied by the sound of bells to where they are assembling. There the great devil Astaroth, on seeing me, says: “Ah! here is my little Afrida! Come, mignon, come here that I may pet you!” For she loves me above all and always says: “Go, fear nothing, my little chicken. If they want to burn you, I shall drag away the wood before all the world. And we shall laugh then. Oh! we shall laugh well! Ah! how we shall laugh then!”
She writhes and chokes with laughter, after being seated on a step at the foot of Ximénès.
Ximénès. Yes, yes! we laugh! That is admitted!—And those whom you accuse of having been at the revel with you—will Astaroth also save them from the fire?
Afrida. (Hatefully) Oh! those who have treated me like an old fool, those who are young and togged out, I shall surely let them burn on your fire, while Astaroth carries me away!
Ximénès. Turn your eyes a little to that side (indicating to her Zoraya) and look at that woman. (She rises, pointing to Zoraya) Yes, she there!—Does she not remind you of something?
Afrida. (Approaching Zoraya and leaning over her) Yes!—I have seen that nose there somewhere! Raise your eyes a little, beautiful! What makes you dislike to see me—(Suddenly) Yes! yes! I remember her!—Here is one of them!——
Ximénès. One of whom?
Afrida. One of those from below, there!—One of those who danced at the witches’ revel!
Zoraya. (Indignant, rising) Me? Me?
Afrida. Yes, you! Do not now become a straight-laced prude; I have seen you as clearly as I see you now—carousing with us!——
Zoraya. But, you lie, you wretch!—You lie!—Do not believe such execrable foolishness!
Afrida. (Furious) Foolishness!—Ah! you treat me as a fool, also!—Yes, my lords, yes, I have seen her, I tell you; I have seen her enraptured in the arms of a goat-headed devil!
Zoraya. Oh! it is false! It is false!
Afrida. (Following her in the scene and walking round her) Go! go! You were given by the Evil One to be rich and beautiful! You will be roasted, my girl! (Laughing) Roasted, those beautiful eyes so fiery!—roasted your skin so white, which all the men want to cling to—roasted all that, roasted, roasted!
At a motion from Ximénès, she goes out, crying, following by Gil Andrès.