Valdez. O best Teresa, wisely wert thou prompted!
This was no feat of mortal agency!
That picture—Oh, that picture tells me all!
With a flash of light it came, in flames it vanished, 15
Self-kindled, self-consum'd: bright as thy life,
Sudden and unexpected as thy fate,
Alvar! My son! My son!—The Inquisitor—

Teresa. Torture me not! But Alvar—Oh of Alvar?

Valdez. How often would he plead for these Morescoes! [20]
The brood accurst! remorseless, coward murderers!

Teresa. So? so?—I comprehend you—He is——

Valdez. He is no more!

Teresa. O sorrow! that a father's voice should say this,
A Father's Heart believe it!

Valdez. A worse sorrow
Are fancy's wild hopes to a heart despairing! 25

Teresa. These rays that slant in through those gorgeous windows,
From yon bright orb—though coloured as they pass,
Are they not light?—Even so that voice, Lord Valdez!
Which whispers to my soul, though haply varied
By many a fancy, many a wishful hope, 30
[[853]] Speaks yet the truth: and Alvar lives for me!

Valdez. Yes, for three wasting years, thus and no other,
He has lived for thee—a spirit for thy spirit!
My child, we must not give religious faith
To every voice which makes the heart a listener 35
To its own wish.

Teresa. I breath'd to the Unerring
Permitted prayers. Must those remain unanswer'd,
Yet impious sorcery, that holds no commune
Save with the lying spirit, claim belief?