Yet when I hear it not I seem to loseThe substance of my being — my strongest grasp
Sends inwards but weak witness that I am.
I seek to cheat the echo. — How the half sounds 40
Blend with this strangled light! Is he not here —
[Looking round.
O for one human face here — but to see
One human face here to sustain me. — Courage!
It is but my own fear! The life within me,
It sinks and wavers like this cone of flame, 45
Beyond which I scarce dare look onward! Oh!
If I faint? If this inhuman den should be
At once my deathbed and my burial vault?
[Faintly screams as ALVAR emerges from the recess.
Alvar (rushes towards her, and catches her as she is falling).
O gracious heaven! it is, it is Teresa!
Shall I reveal myself? The sudden shock 50
Of rapture will blow out this spark of life,
And joy complete what terror has begun.
O ye impetuous beatings here, be still!
Teresa, best beloved! pale, pale, and cold!
Her pulse doth flutter! Teresa! my Teresa! 55
Teresa (recovering). I heard a voice; but often in my dreams
I hear that voice! and wake and try — and try —
To hear it waking! but I never could —
And ‘tis so now — even so! Well! he is dead —
Murdered perhaps! and I am faint, and feel 60
As if it were no painful thing to die!
Alvar. Believe it not, sweet maid! Believe it not,
Belovéd woman! ‘Twas a low imposture
Framed by a guilty wretch.
Teresa. Ha! Who art thou?
Alvar. Suborned by his brother —
Teresa. Didst thou murder him? 65
And dost thou now repent? Poor troubled man,
I do forgive thee, and may Heaven forgive thee!
Alvar. Ordonio — he —
Teresa. If thou didst murder him —
His spirit ever at the throne of God
Asks mercy for thee: prays for mercy for thee, 70
With tears in Heaven!
Alvar. Alvar was not murdered.
Be calm! Be calm, sweet maid!
Teresa. Nay, nay, but tell me! [A pause.
O ‘tis lost again!
This dull confuséd pain — [A pause.
Mysterious man!
Methinks I can not fear thee: for thine eye 75
Doth swim with love and pity — Well! Ordonio —
Oh my foreboding heart! And he suborned thee,
And thou didst spare his life? Blessings shower on thee,
As many as the drops twice counted o’er
In the fond faithful heart of his Teresa! 80
Alvar. I can endure no more. The Moorish sorcerer
Exists but in the stain upon his face.
That picture —
Teresa. Ha! speak on!
Alvar. Beloved Teresa!
It told but half the truth. O let this portrait
Tell all — that Alvar lives — that he is here! 85
Thy much deceived but ever faithful Alvar.
[Takes her portrait from his neck, and gives it her.
Teresa (receiving the portrait). The same — it is the same! Ah!
Who art thou?
Nay, I will call thee, Alvar! [She falls on his neck.
Alvar. O joy unutterable!
But hark! a sound as of removing bars
At the dungeon’s outer door. A brief, brief while 90
Conceal thyself, my love! It is Ordonio.
For the honour of our race, for our dear father;
O for himself too (he is still my brother)
Let me recall him to his nobler nature,
That he may wake as from a dream of murder! 95
O let me reconcile him to himself,
Open the sacred source of penitent tears,
And be once more his own beloved Alvar.
Teresa. O my all virtuous love! I fear to leave thee
With that obdurate man.
Alvar. Thou dost not leave me! 100
But a brief while retire into the darkness:
O that my joy could spread its sunshine round thee!
Teresa. The sound of thy voice shall be my music!
Alvar! my Alvar! am I sure I hold thee?
Is it no dream? thee in my arms, my Alvar! [Exit. 105
[A noise at the Dungeon door. It opens, and ORDONIO
enters, with a goblet in his hand.
Ordonio. Hail, potent wizard! in my gayer mood
I poured forth a libation to old Pluto,
And as I brimmed the bowl, I thought on thee.
Thou hast conspired against my life and honour,
