But the time wears; and we would see thee dance.

PRECIOSA. Your grace shall be obeyed.

(She lays aside her mantilla. The music of the cachucha is played, and the dance begins. The ARCHBISHOP and the CARDINAL look on with gravity and an occasional frown; then make signs to each other; and, as the dance continues, become more and more pleased and excited; and at length rise from their seats, throw their caps in the air, and applaud vehemently as the scene closes.)

SCENE III

The Prado. A long avenue of trees leading to the gate of Atocha. On the right the dome and spires of a convent. A fountain. Evening. DON CARLOS and HYPOLITO meeting.

DON CARLOS.-Holá! good-evening, Don Hypo

lito.

HYTOLITO.-And a good-evening to my friend
Don Carlos.

Some lucky star has led my steps this way.
I was in search of you.

DON CARLOS.

Command me always. HYPOLITO. Do you remember, in Quevedo's

Dreams,

The miser, who, upon the Day of Judgment,
Asks if his money-bags would rise? 22

DON CARLOS.

But what of that?

HYPOLITO.

I do.

I am that wretched man.

DON CARLOS.-You mean to tell me yours have

risen empty?

HYPOLITO.-And Amen! said the Cid Campeador. 28

DON CARLOS.-Pray, how much need you?

HYPOLITO.

Which, with due interest

Some half-dozen ounces.

DON CARLOS (giving his purse).

Jew,

To put my moneys out at usury?

Here is my purse.

HYPOLITO.

Thank you. A pretty purse,

Made by the hand of some fair Madrilene;
Perhaps a keepsake?

DON CARLOS.

No; 'tis at your service.

llYPOLITO. Thank you again. Lie there, good Saint Chrysostom,

And with thy golden mouth remind me often
I am the debtor of my friend.

DON CARLOS.

Come you to-day from Alcalá?

HYPOLITO.

But tell me,

This moment.

DON CARLOS.-And pray, how fares the brave

Victorian?

HYPOLITO.-Indifferent well; that is to say, not well.

A damsel has ensnared him with the glances
Of her dark roving eyes, as herdsmen catch
A steer of Andalusia with a lazo.

Because he is in love with an ideal; A creature of his own imagination; A child of air; an echo of his heart; And, like a lily on a river floating, She floats upon the river of his thoughts! DON CARLOS.-A common thing with poets. But who is

24

This floating lily? For, in fine, some woman,
Some living woman,-not a mere ideal,-
Must wear the outward semblance of his

thought.

Who is it? Tell me.

HYPOLITO.

Well, it is a woman!

But, look you, from the coffer of his heart He brings forth precious jewels to adorn her; As pious priests adorn some favourite saint With gems and gold, until at length she gleams One blaze of glory. Without these, you know, And the priest's benediction, 'tis a doll! DON CARLOS.-Well, well! who is this doll? HYPOLITO.

Why, who do you think?

DON CARLOS.-His cousin Violante.
HYPOLITO.-

Guess again. To ease his labouring heart, in the last storm He threw her overboard, with all her ingots. DON CARLOS.-I cannot guess; so tell me who it is. HYPOLITO.-Not I.

DON CARLOS.-
HYPOLITO (mysteriously).—

Why not?

Why? Because

Mari Franca 25

Was married four leagues out of Salamanca ! DON CARLOS.-Jesting aside, who is it?

The Roman Emperor Claudius had a wife
Whose name was Messalina, as I think;
Valeria Messalina was her name.

But hist! I see him yonder through the trees,
Walking as in a dream.

DON CARLOS.

He comes this way.

HYPOLITO. It has been truly said by some wise

man,

That money, grief, and love, cannot be hidden.

(Enter VICTORIAN in front.)

VICTORIAN.-Where'er thy step has passed is holy

ground!

These groves are sacred! I behold thee walking

Under these shadowy trees, where we have

walked

At evening, and I feel thy presence now;

Feel that the place has taken a charm from

thee,

And is for ever hallowed.

HYPOLITO.

Mark him well!
See how he strides away with lordly air,
Like that odd guest of stone, that grim Com-
mander

Who comes to sup with Juan in the play.
DON CARLOS.-What ho! Victorian!

HYPOLITO.

Wilt thou sup with us? VICTORIAN.-Holá! amigos! Faith I did not see

you.

How fares Don Carlos?

DON CARLOS.—

At your service ever.

VICTORIAN.-How is that young and green-eyed

Gaditana

That you both wot of?

She has gone back to Cadiz.

DON CARLOS.

Ay, soft, emerald eyes!26

Ay de mi!

HYPOLITO.

VICTORIAN.-You are much to blame for letting

her go back.

A pretty girl; and in her tender eyes

Just that soft shade of green we sometimes see
In evening skies.

HYPOLITO.

Are thine green ?

But, speaking of green eyes,

VICTORIAN.

HYPOLITO.

And they who are in love are always jealous,

Therefore thou shouldst be.

VICTORIAN.

Marry, is that all? Farewell; I am in haste. Farewell, Don

Carlos.

Thou sayest I should be jealous?
HYPOLITO.

Ay, in truth
I fear there is reason. Be upon thy guard.
I hear it whispered that the Count of Lara
Lays siege to the same citadel.

VICTORIAN.

Indeed! Then he will have his labour for his pains. HYPOLITO.-He does not think so, and Don Carlos

tells me

He boasts of his success.

VICTORIAN.

How's this, Don Carlos?

DON CARLOS.-Some hints of it I heard from his

own lips.

He spoke but lightly of the lady's virtue.
As a gay man might speak.

VICTORIAN.

Death and damnation !

I'll cut his lying tongue out of his mouth,
And throw it to my dog!
This cannot be. You jest,
Trifle with me no more.
We are no longer friends.

But no, no, no!
indeed you jest.
For otherwise
And so farewell!
[Exit.

HYPOLITO.-Now what a coil is here! The Aveng ing Child 27

Hunting the traitor Quadros to his death,
And the great Moor Calaynos, when he rode
To Paris for the ears of Oliver,

Were nothing to him! O hot-headed youth!
But come; we will not follow. Let us join
The crowd that pours into the Prado. There
We shall find merrier company; I see
The Marialonzos and the Almavivas,
And fifty fans that beckon me already.

[Exeunt.