Enter VALDEZ. VALDEZ. Ye pitying saints, forgive a father's blindness, And extricate us from this net of peril! TERESA. Who wakes anew my fears, and speaks of peril? VALDEZ. O best Teresa, wisely wert thou prompted! That picture-Oh, that picture tells me all! Alvar! My Son! My Son! - The Inquisitor- Torture me not! But Alvar-Oh of Alvar? VALDEZ. How often would He plead for these Morescoes ! The brood accurst! remorseless, coward murderers! TERESA. (wildly.) So? so? I comprehend you-He is VALDEZ. (with averted countenance.) TERESA. He is no more! 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! 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 Speaks yet the Truth: and Alvar lives for me! VALDEZ. Yes, for three wasting years, thus and no other, To every voice which makes the heart a listener 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 Was Alvar lost to thee [turning off, aloud, but yet as to himself. Accurst assassins! Disarmed, o'erpowered, dispairing of defence, More dear than was his life TERESA. (with faint shriek.) O Heavens! my portrait! And he did grasp it in his death pang! Off, false Demon, That beat'st thy black wings close above my head! [Ordonio enters with the keys of the dungeon in his hand. Hush! who comes here? The wizard Moor's em ployer! 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 af Teresa's speech appears as eagerly conversing with him. Is Alvar dead? what then? The nuptial rites and funeral shall be one! ORDONIO. (as he advances with Valdez.) These are the dungeon keys. Monviedro knew not, That I too had received the wizard's message, "He that can bring the dead to life again." But now he is satisfied, I plann'd this scheme VALDEZ. 'Tis well, my son! But have you yet discovered And you, I know not why, look'd pale and trembled- ORDONIO. (confused.) Me? what ails me? A pricking of the blood-It might have happen'd At any other time. Why scan you me? VALDEZ. His speech about the corse, and stabs and murderers, Bore reference to the assassins VALDEZ. (confused.) True-Sorcery Merits its doom; and this perchance may guide us To the discovery of the murderers. I have their statures and their several faces So present to me, that but once to meet them Would be to recognize. ORDONIO. Yes! yes! we recognize them. I was benumb'd, and staggered up and down As had a snake coil'd round them!-Now 'tis sun shine, And the blood dances freely through its channels! This is my virtuous, grateful Isidore ! [then mimicking Isidore's manner and voice. "A common trick of gratitude, my lord!" Old Gratitude! a dagger would dissect His "own full heart"-'twere good to see its colour. VALDEZ. These magic sights! O that I ne'er had yielded 1 |