thou hate him!O heaven! how he would fall upon thy neck,
And weep forgiveness!
Ordonio. Spirit of the dead! 190
Methinks I know thee! ha! my brain turns wild
At its own dreams! — off — off, fantastic shadow!
Alvar. I fain would tell thee what I am, but dare not!
Ordonio. Cheat! villain! traitor! whatsoever thou be —
I fear thee, man!
Teresa (rushing out and falling on Alvar’s neck). Ordonio! ‘tis
thy brother! 195
[ORDONIO runs upon ALVAR with his sword. TERESA flings
herself on ORDONIO and arrests his arm.
Stop, madman, stop!
Alvar. Does then this thin disguise impenetrably
Hide Alvar from thee? Toil and painful wounds
And long imprisonment in unwholesome dungeons,
Have marred perhaps all trait and lineament 200
Of what I was! But chiefly, chiefly, brother,
My anguish for thy guilt!
Ordonio — Brother!
Nay, nay, thou shalt embrace me.
Ordonio (drawing back, and gazing at Alvar). Touch me not!
Touch not pollution, Alvar! I will die.
[He attempts to fall on his sword, ALVAR and TERESA
prevent him.
Alvar. We will find means to save your honour. Live, 205
Oh live, Ordonio! for our father’s sake!
Spare his grey hairs!
Teresa. And you may yet be happy.
Ordonio. O horror! not a thousand years in heaven
Could recompose this miserable heart,
Or make it capable of one brief joy! 210
Live! live! Why yes! ‘Twere well to live with you:
For is it fit a villain should be proud?
My brother! I will kneel to you, my brother! [Kneeling.
Forgive me, Alvar! —— Curse me with forgiveness!
Alvar. Call back thy soul, Ordonio, and look round thee! 215
Now is the time for greatness! Think that heaven —
Teresa. O mark his eye! he hears not what you say.
Ordonio. Yes, mark his eye! there’s fascination in it!
Thou said’st thou did’st not know him — That is he!
He comes upon me!
Alvar. Heal, O heal him, heaven! 220
Ordonio. Nearer and nearer! and I can not stir!
Will no one hear these stifled groans, and wake me?
He would have died to save me, and I killed him —
A husband and a father! —
Teresa. Some secret poison
Drinks up his spirits!
Ordonio. Let the eternal justice 225
Prepare my punishment in the obscure world —
I will not bear to live — to live — O agony!
And be myself alone my own sore torment!
[The doors of the dungeon are broken open, and in rush
ALHADRA, and the band of Morescoes.
Alhadra. Seize first that man!
[ALVAR presses onward to defend ORDONIO.
Ordonio. Off, ruffians! I have flung away my sword. 230
Woman, my life is thine! to thee I give it!
Off! he that touches me with his hand of flesh,
I’ll rend his limbs asunder! I have strength
With this bare arm to scatter you like ashes.
Alhadra. My husband —
Ordonio. Yes, I murdered him most foully. 235
Alvar and Teresa. O horrible!
Alhadra. Why did’st thou leave his children?
Demon, thou should’st have sent thy dogs of hell
To lap their blood. Then, then I might have hardened
My soul in misery, and have had comfort.
I would have stood far off, quiet though dark, 240
And bade the race of men raise up a mourning
For a deep horror of desolation,
Too great to be one soul’s particular lot!
Brother of Zagri! let me lean upon thee.
The time is not yet come for woman’s anguish, 245
I have not seen his blood — Within an hour
Those little ones will crowd around and ask me,
Where is our father? I shall curse thee then!
Wert thou in heaven, my curse would pluck thee thence!
Teresa. He doth repent! See, see, I kneel to thee! 250
O let him live! That agéd man, his father ——
Alhadra. Why had he such a son?
[Shouts from the distance of Rescue! Rescue! Alvar!
Alvar! and the voice of VALDEZ heard.
Rescue? — and Isidore’s spirit unavenged? —
The deed be mine! [Suddenly stabs ORDONIO.
Now take my life!
Ordonio (staggering from the wound). Atonement!
Alvar
