ACT I
SCENE I
The court of the Convent of San Miguel: its floor is diapered with brightly-coloured tiles; in its centre is a fountain, round which are set painted pots of sweet basil, myrtle, etc., its walls are decorated with arabesques and mottoes in Arabic characters; against one wall is a little shrine containing a wooden virgin. Sister Assumcion is reading aloud from “Amadis de Gaul” to four nuns who are sitting round on rugs embroidering. A Moorish slave is keeping the flies from them with a large fan.
Sister Assumcion (reads): The hand then drew her in, and she was as joyful as though the whole world had been given her, not so much for the prize of beauty, which had been won, as that she had thus proved herself the worthy mate of Amadis, having, like him, entered the forbidden chamber, and deprived all others of the hope of that glory.
(Lays down the book): Well, and so that is the end of the fair Lady Oriana.
First Nun (with a giggle): Has any one yet put this reading of Amadis into their confession?
Sister Assumcion: More fool they then if they have; we may confess it now that we have reached the colophon. Better absolution for a sheep than a lamb. (They laugh).
Second Nun: Ah, well, ’tis but a venial sin, and when one thinks....
Third Nun: Ay, praise be to heaven for the humours that swell old abbesses’ legs and make them keep a-bed!
First Nun: Truly, since she took to her bed, there have been fine doings in this house—it was but yesterday that we were reckoning that it must be close on five months since the Prioress has kept frater.