Scene Three
Zoraya, Aisha
Zoraya. (At the window, constantly looking out) Why are those bells ringing on this beautiful morning?—Is there some Christian festival today?
Aisha. I know of none.
Zoraya. (Reëntering the scene) After waiting for him all night I finally fell asleep. They awakened me and I heard your voice. I believed he was there, and I nearly betrayed myself by calling his name in the boy’s presence.
Aisha. We must continue hoping that Don Enrique will come tonight.
Zoraya. Two nights without seeing him!—And no word from him—what torture! And those bad dreams! Give me the spotted cards.
Aisha brings a pack of cards which she lays out on the little table. The sound of the bells gradually dies out.
Aisha. He has probably been warned of the presence of those men.
Zoraya. Last night, yes—But the night before—did Zaguir see them then?
Aisha. No.
Zoraya. (Constantly occupied in arranging the cards) Then it was something else.
Aisha. Perhaps some sudden duty?
Zoraya. Doubtful! He is free! He has no father, no mother, no wife, no children!
Aisha. He commands the archers, the blunderbuss men and the cross-bowmen of the city. He may be detained by the service.
Zoraya. For two days?
Aisha. He is a member of the Council of Castile, which may have been summoned to Aranjuez where the king is sojourning.
Zoraya. Yes, possibly that is so!—Ah! if only we had some means of secretly writing to each other!
Aisha. Allah protect us! That would be a quicker way of losing ourselves!—we are threatened often enough, now!
Zoraya. Ah! (She raises a card.)
Aisha. What?
Zoraya. The Cavalier of the Sword—now I am beginning to detect the cause!
Aisha. You see!—I thought until this minute that we should not be left long in security! You had decided to do as the others advised and flee to the coast of Africa to escape the persecutions of the Nazarenes! Then, it was necessary to meet this man! Ah! misery upon us! Ever since the time when he unexpectedly appeared while we were breathing the evening breeze on the hill and when you so foolishly threw yourself into his arms, I have believed that I hear the black wings of Azrael, the angel of death, brushing the roof of our house!
Zoraya. “Our Destiny,” says the Prophet, “is suspended from our necks”—If it is written that I shall die for Enrique, then I may likewise wish that it should be in his arms!
Aisha. Oh! my daughter, you who were so chaste in your widowhood, why are you enamored with this infidel, this enemy of the true God?
Zoraya. Do you know how and why I love him? I was at his mercy! A word, and he could have thrown me into the dungeons of the Inquisition. It was good of him to save my honor, a price which they always extort from our other women. I will risk anything for him. Those men were there to act as my safeguards during the night. I shall wait for an opportune time and flee to Toledo before evening!
Aisha. Rain of Heaven!
Zoraya. But what weakness is ours! He is young, he is generous in his love, his gaze is tender!—when he liberated me, I could dream no more of fleeing.
Aisha. Alas!
Zoraya. (Returning to the cards) Ah! “The King!”—A powerful enemy!
Aisha. You see! You see!
Zoraya. Sh——.
Aisha. What?
Zoraya. I believe I hear him.
Aisha. No!
Zoraya. Besides, he would not come before night!
Aisha. Ah! I hope he will not come this evening—and never again!
Zoraya. Silence! You wretch! Do you want me to die of sorrow?
Aisha. That would be better than being buried alive in an oubliette as poor Kalem’s accomplice and for a crime similar to his!
Zoraya. I should die first!
Aisha. Allah! Allah! listen to her—Where is there a love that has made any one reasonable! All these nights I have been there, I, cowering on my couch waiting and listening and trembling at the least noise. And you can be happy—you—with such a menace hanging over you!—What folly!
Zoraya. (Rising and putting away the cards) You do not understand anything, poor Aisha! To love without peril is beautiful—it is the common kind of love. But the kind that is outlawed, accursed and condemned at its beginning—the love that braves all perils, that defies death, that brings the bitter-sweet of forbidden kisses and maddening embraces during which it is said, “This may be the last!”—that is love!—that is love!
Aisha. (Groaning) Ah!
Zoraya. Be silent! This time it is his step. (She runs to the door at the left and opens it) It is he!—Ah! it is he!—It is he!
Enrique appears on the threshold of the little door.
Zoraya. Finally—Ah! God!—At last! at last! (To Aisha as she passes Enrique to fasten the little door) Watch carefully. (After fastening the draperies, Aisha goes into the garden.)