And words of true love pass from tongue to tongue, As singing birds from one bough to another. PRECIOSA. That were a life indeed to make time envious! I knew that thou wouldst visit me to-night. VICTORIAN. Sweet child of air! Never did I behold thee so attired And garmented in beauty, as to-night! What hast thou done to make thee look so fair? PRECIOSA. Am I not always fair? VICTORIAN. Ay, and so fair That I am jealous of all eyes that see thee, And wish that they were blind. PRECIOSA. I heed them not; When thou art present, I see none but thee! VICTORIAN.-There's nothing fair nor beautiful, but takes Something from thee, that makes it beautiful. PRECIOSA. And yet thou leavest me for those dusty books. VICTORIAN. Thou comest between me and those books too often! I see thy face in everything I see! The paintings in the chapel wear thy looks, PRECIOSA. In good sooth, I dance with learned doctors of the schools To-morrow morning. VICTORIAN. And with whom, I pray? PRECIOSA. A grave and reverend Cardinal, and his Grace The Archbishop of Toledo. VICTORIAN.— Is this? What mad jest PRECIOSA. It is no jest; indeed it is not. PRECIOSA. Why, simply thus. Thou knowest the Pope has sent here into Spain To put a stop to dances on the stage. VICTORIAN.-I have heard it whispered. Now the Cardinal, PRECIOSA. Who for this purpose comes, would fain behold With his own eyes these dances; and the Archbishop Has sent for me VICTORIAN. them! That thou may'st dance before Now viva la cachucha! It will breathe PRECIOSA. Saving one. And yet I fear these dances will be stopped, And Preciosa be once more a beggar. VICTORIAN.-The sweetest beggar that e'er asked for alms; With such beseeching eyes, that when I saw thee I gave my heart away! PRECIOSA. When first we met? VICTORIAN. Dost thou remember It was at Córdova, In the cathedral garden. Thou wast sitting Under the orange trees beside a fountain. PRECIOSA.-'Twas Easter Sunday. The full-blossomed trees Filled all the air with fragrance and with joy. The priests were singing, and the organ sounded, And then anon the great cathedral bell. It was the elevation of the Host. We both of us fell down upon our knees, Under the orange boughs, and prayed together. I never had been happy till that moment. VICTORIAN.-Thou blessed angel! PRECIOSA. And when thou wast gone I felt an aching here. I did not speak To any one that day. But from that day Come between thee and me. Let not Sweet Preciosa! I loved thee even then, though I was silent! PRECIOSA. I thought I ne'er should see thy face again. Thy farewell had a sound of sorrow in it. VICTORIAN.-That was the first sound in the song of love! Scarce more than silence is, and yet a sound. Hands of invisible spirits touch the strings Of that mysterious instrument, the soul, And play the prelude of our fate. We hear The voice prophetic, and are not alone. PRECIOSA. That is my faith. Dost thou believe these warnings? VICTORIAN.-So far as this. Our feelings and our thoughts Tend ever on, and rest not in the Present. And from below comes a scarce audible sound, PRECIOSA. I have felt it so, but found no words to say it! I cannot reason; I can only feel! But thou hast language for all thoughts and Thou art a scholar; and sometimes I think VICTORIAN. Thou little sceptic! Dost thou still doubt? What I most prize in woman Is her affection, not her intellect: The intellect is finite; but the affections Are infinite, and cannot be exhausted. Is pure. It cannot change nor hide its nature, As in a palace hall. Art thou convinced? PRECIOSA. Yes, that I love thee, as the good love heaven, But not that I am worthy of that heaven. VICTORIAN. Loving more. PRECIOSA. I cannot love thee more; my heart is full. VICTORIAN.-Then let it overflow, and I will drink it, As in the summer-time the thirsty sands Ave Maria Drink the swift waters of a mountain torrent, And still do thirst for more. A WATCHMAN (in the street).— Purissima! 'Tis milnight, and serene! VICTORIAN.-Hearst thou that cry? PRECIOSA. To scare thee from me! VICTORIAN. It is a hateful sound, As the hunter's horn Doth scare the timid stag, or bark of hounds PRECIOSA. Pray, do not go! Fear not! VICTORIAN.-I must away to Alcalá to-night. PRECIOSA. I have no thoughts that do not think of thee. VICTORIAN (giving her a ring).—And to remind thee of my love, take this; A serpent, emblem of Eternity; A ruby, say, a drop of my heart's blood. PRECIOSA. It is an ancient saying, that the ruby Taught thee so much theology? PRECIOSA (laying her hand upon his mouth).-Hush! Hush! Good-night! and may all holy angels guard thee! VICTORIAN.-Good-night! good-night! Thou art my guardian angel! I have no other saint than thou to pray to! (He descends by the balcony.) PRECIOSA. Take care, and do not hurt thee. Art thou safe? VICTORIAN (from the garden).-Safe as my love for thee! But art thou safe? Others can climb a balcony by moonlight As well as I. Pray, shut thy window close; I am jealous of the perfumed air of night That from this garden climbs to kiss thy lips. PRECIOSA (throwing down her handkerchief).—Thou silly child! Take this to blind thine eyes. It is my benison ! VICTORIAN. And brings to me Sweet fragrance from thy lips, as the soft wind Wafts to the outbound mariner the breath Of the beloved land he leaves behind. PRECIOSA.-Make not thy voyage long. VICTORIAN. To-morrow night Good-night! Shall see me safe returned. Thou art the star night! PRECIOSA.-Good-night! of love, good WATCHMAN (at a distance).—Ave Maria Purissima! |