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?

Valdez. O not to-day, not now for the first time [40]
Was Alvar lost to thee—
Accurst assassins!
Disarmed, o'erpowered, despairing of defence,
At his bared breast he seem'd to grasp some relique
More dear than was his life——

Teresa. O Heavens! my portrait!
And he did grasp it in his death pang!
Off, false demon, [45]
That beat'st thy black wings close above my head![853:1]
[Ordonio enters with the keys of the dungeon in his hand.
Hush! who comes here? The wizard Moor's employer!
Moors were his murderers, you say? Saints shield us
From wicked thoughts——

[Valdez moves towards the back of the stage to meet Ordonio, and during the concluding lines of Teresa's speech appears as eagerly conversing with him.

Is Alvar dead? what then?
The nuptial rites and funeral shall be one! [50]
Here's no abiding-place for thee, Teresa.—
Away! they see me not—Thou seest me, Alvar!
To thee I bend my course.—But first one question,
One question to Ordonio.—My limbs tremble—
There I may sit unmark'd—a moment will restore me. [55]
[Retires out of sight.