A retired spot in the Gardens of the Palace.
[Enter the COUNTESS.]
IV:3:1 COUN.
Is’t guilt, that I thus tremble? Why should I
Feel like a sinner? I’ll not dare to meet
His flashing eye. O, with what scorn, what hate
His lightning glance will wither me. Away,
I will away. I care not whom he meets.
What if he love me not, he shall not loathe
The form he once embraced. I’ll be content
To live upon the past, and dream again
It may return. Alas! were I the false one,
I could not feel more humbled. Ah, he comes!
I’ll lie, I’ll vow I’m vile, that I came here
To meet another, anything but that
I dared to doubt him. What, my Lord Sidonia!
[Enter SIDONIA.]
IV:3:2 SIDO.
Thy servant and thy friend. Ah! gentle lady,
I deemed this unused scene and ill-timed hour
might render solace welcome. He’ll not come;
Ho crossed the mountains, ere the set of sun,
Towards Briviesca.
IV:3:3 COUN.
Holy Virgin, thanks!
Home, home!
IV:3:4 SIDO.
And can a hearth neglected cause
Such raptures?
IV:3:5 COUN.
I, and only I, neglect it;
My cheek is fire, that I should ever dare
To do this stealthy deed.
IV:3:6 SIDO.
And yet I feel
I could do one as secret and more bold.
A moment, lady; do not turn away
With that cold look.
IV:3:7 COUN.
My children wait me, sir;
Yet I would thank you, for you meant me kindness.
IV:3:8 SIDO.
And mean it yet. Ah! beauteous Florimonde,
It is the twilight hour, when hearts are soft,
And mine is like the quivering light of eve;
I love thee!
IV:3:9 COUN.
And for this I’m here, and he,
He is not false! O happiness!
IV:3:10 SIDO.
Sweet lady—
IV:3:11 COUN.
My Lord Sidonia, I can pardon thee,
I am so joyful.
IV:3:12 SIDO.
Nay, then.
IV:3:13 COUN.
Unhand me, Sir!
IV:3:14 SIDO.
But to embrace this delicate waist. Thou art mine:
I’ve sighed and thou hast spurned. What is not yielded
In war we capture. Ere a flying hour,
Thy hated Burgos vanishes. That voice;
What, must I stifle it, who fain would listen
For ever to its song? In vain thy cry,
For none are here but mine.
[Enter ORAN.]
IV:3:15 ORAN.
Turn, robber, turn—
IV:3:16 SIDO.
Ah! treason in the camp! Thus to thy heart.
[They fight. ORAN beats off SIDONIA, they leave the scene fighting;
the COUNTESS swoons.]
[Enter a procession with lighted torches, attending the Infanta SOLISA
from Mass.]
IV:3:17 1ST USH.
A woman!
IV:3:18 2ND USH.
Does she live
IV:3:19 SOL.
What stops our course?
[The Train ranging themselves on each side, the Infanta approaches
the COUNTESS.]
IV:3:20 SOL.
Most strange and lovely vision! Does she breathe?
I’ll not believe ‘tis death. Her hand is cold,
And her brow damp; Griselda, Julia, maidens
Hither, and yet stand off; give her free air.
How shall we bear her home? Now, good Lorenzo,
You, and Sir Miguel, raise her; gently, gently.
Still gently, sirs. By heavens, the fairest face
I yet did gaze on! Some one here should know her.
‘Tis one that must be known. That’s well; relieve
That kerchief from her neck; mind not our state;
I’ll by her side; a swoon, methinks; no more,
Let’s hope and pray!
[They raise the body of the COUNTESS, and bear her away.]
[Enter Count of LEON.]
IV:3:21 LEON.
I’ll fathom this same mystery,
If there be wit in Burgos. I have heard,
Before I knew the Court, old Nunez Leon
Whisper strange things—and what if they prove true?
It is not exile twice would cure that scar.
I’ll reach him yet. ‘Tis likely he may pass
This way; ‘tis lonely, and well suits a step
Would not be noticed. Ha! a man approaches;
I’ll stand awhile aside.
[Re-enter ORAN.]
IV:3:22 ORAN.
Gone, is she gone!
Yet safe I feel. O Allah! thou art great!
The arm she bound, and tended with that glance
Of sweet solicitude, has saved her life,
And more than life. The dark and reckless villains!
O! I could curse them, but my heart is soft
With holy triumph. I’m no more an outcast.
And when she calls me, I’d not change my lot
To be an Emir. In their hall to-night
There will be joy, and Oran will have smiles.
This house has knit me to their fate by ties
Stronger than gyves of iron.
IV:3:23 LEON.
Do I see
The man I seek? Oran!
[ORAN turns, and recognising Leon, rushes and seizes him.]
IV:3:24 ORAN.
Incarnate fiend,
Give her me, give her me!
IV:3:25 LEON.
Off, ruffian, off!
IV:3:26 ORAN.
I have thee and I’ll hold thee. If I spare
Thy damned life, and do not dash thee down,
And trample on thee, fiend, it is because
Thou art the gaoler of a pearl of price
I cannot gain without thee. Now, where is she?
Now by thy life!
IV:3:27 LEON.
Why, thou outrageous Moor,
Hast broken thy false prophet’s rule, and so
Fell into unused drink, that thus thou darest
To flout me with thy cloudy menaces?
What mean’st thou, sir? And what have I withheld
From thy vile touch? By heavens, I pass my days
In seeking thy dusk corpse, I deemed well drilled
Ere this, but it awaits my vengeance.
IV:3:28 ORAN.
Boy!
Licentious boy! Where is she? Now, by Allah!
This poniard to thy heart, unless thou tell’st me.
IV:3:29 LEON.
Whom dost thou mean?
IV:3:30 ORAN.
Thy comrade and thy crew
They all have fled. I left the Countess here.
She’s gone. Thou fill’st her place.
IV:3:31 LEON.
What Countess? Speak.
IV:3:32 ORAN.
The Count Alarcos’ wife.
IV:3:33 LEON.
The Count Alarcos!
I’d be right glad to see him; but his wife
Concerns the Lord Sidonia. If he have played
Some Pranks here ‘tis a fool, and he has marred
More than he’ll ever make. My time’s worth gems;
My knightly word, dusk Moor, I tell thee truth.
I will forget these jest, but we must meet
This night at my palace.
IV:3:34 ORAN.
I’ll see her first.
[Exit ORAN.]
IV:3:35 LEON.
Is it the Carnival? What mummery’s this?
What have I heard? One thing alone is clear.
We must be rid of Oran.
SCENE 4
A Chamber in the Palace.
The Countess ALARCOS lying on a Couch,
the Infanta kneeling at her side;
MAIDENS grouped around. A PHYSICIAN and the PAGE.
IV:4:1 SOL.
Didst ever see so fair a skin? Her bodice
Should still be loosened. Bring the Moorish water,
Griselda, you. They are the longest lashes!
They hang upon her cheek. Doctor, there’s warmth;
The blood returns?
IV:4:2 PHY.
But slowly.
IV:4:3 SOL.
Beauteous creature!
She seems an angel fallen from some star.
‘Twas well we passed. Untie that kerchief, Julia;
Teresa, wave the fan. There seems a glow
Upon her cheek, what but a moment since
Was like a sculptured saint’s.
IV:4:4 PHY.
She breathes.
IV:4:5 SOL.
Hush, hush!
IV:4:6 COUN.
And what is this? where am I?
IV:4:7 SOL.
With thy friends.
IV:4:8 COUN.
It is not home.
IV:4:9 SOL.
If kindness make a home,
Believe it such.
[The PHYSICIAN signifies silence.]
Nay lady, not a word,
Those lips must now be closed. I’ve seen such eyes
In pictures, girls.
IV:4:10 PHY.
Methinks she’ll sleep.
IV:4:11 SOL.
‘Tis well.
Maidens, away. I’ll be her nurse; and, doctor,
Remain within.
[Exeunt PHYSICIAN and MAIDENS.]
Know you this beauteous dame?
IV:4:12 PAGE.
I have heard minstrels tell that fays are found
In lonely places.
IV:4:13 SOL.
Well, she’s magical.
She draws me charm-like to her. Vanish, imp,
And see our chamber still.
[Exit PAGE.]
It is the hour
Alarcos should be here. Ah! happy hour,
That custom only makes more strangely sweet!
His brow has lost its cloud. The bar’s removed
To our felicity; time makes amends
To patient sufferers.
[Enter COUNT ALARCOS.]
Hush, my own love, hush!
[SOLISA takes his hand and leads him aside.]
So strange an incident! the fairest lady!
Found in our gardens; it would seem a swoon;
Myself then passing; hither we have brought her;
She is so beautiful, you’ll almost deem
She bears some charmed life. You know that fays
Are found in lonely places.
IV:4:14 ALAR.
In thy garden!
Indeed ‘tis strange! The Virgin guard thee, love.
I am right glad I’m here. Alone to tend her,
‘Tis scarcely wise.
IV:4:15 SOL.
I think when she recovers,
She’ll wave her wings and fly.
IV:4:16 ALAR.
Nay, for one glance!
In truth you paint her bright.
IV:4:17 SOL.
E’en now she sleeps.
Tread lightly, love; I’ll lead you.
[SOLISA cautiously leads ALARCOS to the couch;
as they approach it, the COUNTESS opens her eyes and shrieks.]
IV:4:18 COUN.
Ah! ‘tis true,
Alarcos
[relapses into a swoon.]
IV:4:19 ALAR.
Florimonde!
IV:4:20 SOL.
Who is this lady?
IV:4:21 ALAR.
It is my wife.
IV:4:22 SOL.
[flings away his arms and rushes forward.]
—Not mad!
Virgin and Saints be merciful; not mad!
O spare my brain one moment; ‘tis his wife.
I’m lost: she is too fair. The secret’s out
Of sick delays. He’s feigned; he has but feigned.
[Rushing to Alarcos.]
Is that thy wife? and I? and what am I?
A trifled toy, a humoured instrument?
To guide with glozing words, vilely cajole
With petty perjuries? Is that thy wife?
Thou said’st she was not fair, thou did’st not love her:
Thou lied’st. O, anguish, anguish!
IV:4:23 ALAR.
By the cross,
My soul is pure to thee. I’m wildered quite.
How came she here
IV:4:24 SOL.
As she shall ne’er return.
Now, Count Alarcos, by the cross thou swearest
Thy faith is true to me.
IV:4:25 ALAR.
Ay, by the cross,
IV:4:26 SOL.
Give me thy dagger.
IV:4:27 ALAR.
Not that hand or mine.
IV:4:28 SOL.
Is this thy passion!
[Takes his dagger.]
Thus I gain the heart
I should despise.
[Rushes to the couch.]
IV:4:29 COUN.
What’s this I see?
IV:4:30 ALAR.
[seizing the Infanta’s upraised arm]
A dream
A horrid dream, yet but a dream.
THE END OF THE FOURTH ACT.
ACT V
SCENE 1
Exterior of the Castle of Alarcos in the valley of Arlanzon.
[Enter the COUNTESS.]