Velez (rapidly). Father! I have long suspected it—her brain— 315
Heed it not, father!
Francesco. Nay—but I must heed it.
Maria. Thou miserable man! I fear thee not,
Nor prize a life which soon may weary me.
Bear witness, Heav'n! I neither scorn nor hate him— 320
But O! 'tis wearisome to mourn for evils,
Still mourn, and have no power to remedy! [Exit Maria.
Francesco. My lord! I shall presume to wait on you
To-morrow early.
Velez. Be it so, good father! [Exit Francesco.
Velez (alone). I do want solace, but not such as thine! 325
The moon is high in heaven, and my eyes ache,
But not with sleep. Well—it is ever so.
A child, a child is born! and the fond heart
Dances! and yet the childless are most happy.
[Scene changes to the mountains by moonlight. Alhadra alone in a Moorish dress, her eyes fixed on the earth. Then drop in one after another, from different parts of the stage, a considerable number of Morescoes, all in their Moorish garments. They form a circle at a distance round Alhadra. After a pause one of the Morescoes to the man who stands next to him.
First Moresco. The law which forced these Christian dresses on us, 330
'Twere pleasant to cleave down the wretch who framed it.
Second. Yet 'tis not well to trample on it idly.