you not that you return’d and kill’d him?Dreamt you of no revenge?
Albert (his voice trembling, and in tones of deep distress). She
would have died,
Died in her sins — perchance, by her own hands!
And bending o’er her self-inflicted wounds 325
I might have met the evil glance of frenzy
And leapt myself into an unblest grave!
I pray’d for the punishment that cleanses hearts,
For still I loved her!
Alhadra. And you dreamt all this?
Maria. My soul is full of visions, all is wild! 330
Alhadra. There is no room in this heart for puling love-tales.
Lady! your servants there seem seeking us.
Maria (lifts up her veil and advances to Albert). Stranger,
farewell! I guess not who you are,
Nor why you so address’d your tale to me.
Your mien is noble, and, I own, perplex’d me 335
With obscure memory of something past,
Which still escap’d my efforts, or presented
Tricks of a fancy pamper’d with long-wishing.
If (as it sometimes happens) our rude startling,
While your full heart was shaping out its dream, 340
Drove you to this, your not ungentle wildness,
You have my sympathy, and so farewell!
But if some undiscover’d wrongs oppress you,
And you need strength to drag them into light,
The generous Velez, and my Lord Osorio 345
Have arm and will to aid a noble sufferer,
Nor shall you want my favourable pleading.
[Exeunt MARIA and ALHADRA.
Albert (alone). ‘Tis strange! it cannot be! my Lord Osorio!
Her Lord Osorio! Nay, I will not do it.
I curs’d him once, and one curse is enough. 350
How sad she look’d and pale! but not like guilt,
And her calm tones — sweet as a song of mercy!
If the bad spirit retain’d his angel’s voice,
Hell scarce were hell. And why not innocent?
Who meant to murder me might well cheat her. 355
But ere she married him, he had stain’d her honour.
Ah! there I am hamper’d. What if this were a lie
Fram’d by the assassin? who should tell it him
If it were truth? Osorio would not tell him.
Yet why one lie? All else, I know, was truth. 360
No start! no jealousy of stirring conscience!
And she referr’d to me — fondly, methought!
Could she walk here, if that she were a traitress?
Here where we play’d together in our childhood?
Here where we plighted vows? Where her cold cheek 365
Received my last kiss, when with suppress’d feelings
She had fainted in my arms? It cannot be!
‘Tis not in nature! I will die, believing
That I shall meet her where no evil is,
No treachery, no cup dash’d from the lips! 370
I’ll haunt this scene no more — live she in peace!
Her husband — ay, her husband! May this Angel
New-mould his canker’d heart! Assist me, Heaven!
That I may pray for my poor guilty brother!
END OF ACT THE FIRST.
ALHADRA (aside).
I must reserve all knowledge of this Table
Till I can pierce the mystery of the slander —
Form, Look, Features, — the scar below the Temple
All, all are Isidore’s — and the whole Picture — (then to ALVAR.)
On matter of concerning Import . .
… I would discourse with you:
Thou hast ta’en up thy sojourn in the Dell,
Where Zagri liv’d — who dar’d avow the Prophet,
And died like one of the Faithful — there expect me.
Addition on margin of MS. III.
ACT THE SECOND
SCENE THE FIRST. — A wild and mountainous country. OSORIO and FERDINAND
are discovered at a little distance from a house, which stands under the
brow of a slate rock, the rock covered with vines.
FERDINAND and OSORIO.
Ferdinand. Thrice you have sav’d my life. Once in the battle
You gave it me, next rescued me from suicide,
When for my follies I was made to wander
With mouths to feed, and not a morsel for them.
Now, but for you, a dungeon’s slimy stones 5
Had pillow’d my snapt joints.
Osorio. Good Ferdinand!
Why this to me? It is enough you know it.
Ferdinand. A common trick of gratitude, my lord!
Seeking to ease her own full heart.
Osorio.
