Ordonio. Yes! yes! we recognize them.
I was benumb'd, and staggered up and down
Through darkness without light—dark—dark—dark! [80]
My flesh crept chill, my limbs felt manacled
As had a snake coil'd round them!—Now 'tis sunshine,
And the blood dances freely through its channels! [Then to himself.
This is my virtuous, grateful Isidore!
[Then mimicking Isidore's manner and voice.
'A common trick of gratitude, my lord!' 85
[[855]] Old Gratitude! a dagger would dissect
His 'own full heart'—'twere good to see its colour.

Valdez. These magic sights! O that I ne'er had yielded
To your entreaties! Neither had I yielded,
But that in spite of your own seeming faith [90]
I held it for some innocent stratagem,
Which love had prompted, to remove the doubts
Of wild Teresa—by fancies quelling fancies!

Ordonio. Love! love! and then we hate! and what? and wherefore?
Hatred and love! fancies opposed by fancies! 95
What? if one reptile sting another reptile?
Where is the crime? The goodly face of nature
Hath one disfeaturing stain the less upon it.
Are we not all predestined transiency,
And cold dishonour? Grant it, that this hand [100]
Had given a morsel to the hungry worms
Somewhat too early—Where's the crime of this?
That this must needs bring on the idiotcy
Of moist-eyed penitence—'tis like a dream!

Valdez. Wild talk, my son! But thy excess of feeling—— [105]
Almost I fear it hath unhinged his brain.

Ordonio (Teresa reappears and advances slowly). Say, I had laid a body in the sun!
Well! in a month there swarm forth from the corse
A thousand, nay, ten thousand sentient beings
In place of that one man.—Say, I had kill'd him! [110]
[Teresa stops listening.
Yet who shall tell me, that each one and all
Of these ten thousand lives is not as happy,
As that one life, which being push'd aside,
Made room for these unnumbered——

Valdez. O mere madness!

[Teresa moves hastily forwards, and places herself directly before Ordonio.

Ordonio. Teresa? or the phantom of Teresa? [115]

[[856]]Teresa. Alas! the phantom only, if in truth
The substance of her being, her life's life,
Have ta'en its flight through Alvar's death-wound— [A pause.
Where—
(Even coward murder grants the dead a grave)
O tell me, Valdez!—answer me, Ordonio! [120]
Where lies the corse of my betrothéd husband?

Ordonio. There, where Ordonio likewise would fain lie!
In the sleep-compelling earth, in unpierc'd darkness![856:1]
For while we live—
An inward day that never, never sets, [125]
Glares round the soul, and mocks the closing eyelids!