the Prado, does it not?In yon high house, beyond the garden wall,-- You see the roof there just above the trees,-- There lives a friend, who told me yesterday, That on a certain night,--be not offended
If I too plainly speak,--he saw a man
Climb to your chamber window. You are silent! I would not blame you, being young and fair--
(He tries to embrace her. She starts back, and draws a dagger from her bosom.)
Prec. Beware! beware! I am a Gypsy girl!
Lay not your hand upon me. One step nearer
And I will strike!
Lara. Pray you, put up that dagger. Fear not.
Prec. I do not fear. I have a heart
In whose strength I can trust. Lara. Listen to me
I come here as your friend,--I am your friend,-- And by a single word can put a stop
To all those idle tales, and make your name
Spotless as lilies are. Here on my knees, Fair Preciosa! on my knees I swear,
I love you even to madness, and that love Has driven me to break the rules of custom, And force myself unasked into your presence. (VICTORIAN enters behind.)
Prec. Rise, Count of Lara! That is not the place
For such as you are. It becomes you not
To kneel before me. I am strangely moved
To see one of your rank thus low and humbled; For your sake I will put aside all anger,
All unkind feeling, all dislike, and speak
In gentleness, as most becomes a woman, And as my heart now prompts me. I no more Will hate you, for all hate is painful to me.
But if, without offending modesty
And that reserve which is a woman's glory, I may speak freely, I will teach my heart
To love you.
Lara. O sweet angel!
Prec. Ay, in truth,
Far better than you love yourself or me.
Lara. Give me some sign of this,--the slightest token.
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Let me but kiss your hand! Prec. Nay, come no nearer.
The words I utter are its sign and token. Misunderstand me not! Be not deceived! The love wherewith I love you is not such As you would offer me. For you come here To take from me the only thing I have,
My honor. You are wealthy, you have friends And kindred, and a thousand pleasant hopes That fill your heart with happiness; but I
Am poor, and friendless, having but one treasure, And you would take that from me, and for what? To flatter your own vanity, and make me
What you would most despise. O sir, such love, That seeks to harm me, cannot be true love. Indeed it cannot. But my love for you
Is of a different kind. It seeks your good. It is a holier feeling. It rebukes
Your earthly passion, your unchaste desires, And bids you look into your heart, and see How you do wrong that better nature in you, And grieve your soul with sin.
Lara. I swear to you,
I would not harm you; I would only love you. I would not take your honor, but restore it, And in return I ask but some slight mark
Of your affection. If indeed you love me, As you confess you do, O let me thus With this embrace--
Vict. (rushing forward). Hold! hold! This is too much.
What means this outrage?
Lara. First, what right have you
To question thus a nobleman of Spain?
Vict. I too am noble, and you are no more! Out of my sight!
Lara. Are you the master here?
Vict. Ay, here and elsewhere, when the wrong of others
Gives me the right!
Prec. (to LARA). Go! I beseech you, go!
Vict. I shall have business with you, Count, anon! Lara. You cannot come too soon!
[Exit. Prec. Victorian!
O, we have been betrayed! Vict. Ha! ha! betrayed!
'T is I have been betrayed, not we!--not we! Prec. Dost thou imagine--
Vict. I imagine nothing;
I see how 't is thou whilest the time away
When I am gone!
Prec. O speak not in that tone! It wounds me deeply.
Vict. 'T was not meant to flatter.
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Prec. Too well thou knowest the presence of that man
Is hateful to me!
Vict. Yet I saw thee stand
And listen to him, when he told his love. Prec. I did not heed his words.
Vict. Indeed thou didst,
And answeredst them with love. Prec. Hadst thou heard all--
Vict. I heard enough.
Prec. Be not so angry with me.
Vict. I am not angry; I am very calm. Prec. If thou wilt let me speak-- Vict. Nay, say no more.
I know too much already. Thou art false! I do not like these Gypsy marriages! Where is the ring I gave thee?
Prec. In my casket.
Vict. There let it rest! I would not have thee wear it: I thought thee spotless, and thou art polluted!
Prec. I call the Heavens to witness--
Vict. Nay, nay, nay!
Take not the name of Heaven upon thy lips! They are forsworn!
Prec. Victorian! dear Victorian!
Vict. I gave up all for thee; myself, my fame, My hopes of fortune, ay, my very soul!
And thou hast been my ruin! Now, go on! Laugh at my folly with thy paramour,
And, sitting on the Count of Lara's knee, Say what a poor, fond fool Victorian was! (He casts her from him and rushes out.)
Prec. And this from thee!
(Scene closes.)
SCENE
