SCENE I. THE SPANISH STUDENT. ACT I. The COUNT OF LARA'S chambers. Night. The COUNT in his dressing-gown, smoking and conversing with DON Carlos. Lara. You were not at the play to-night, Don Carlos; How happened it? Carlos. I had engagements elsewhere. Pray who was there? And Doña Serafina, and her cousins. Lara. It was a dull affair; One of those comedies in which you see, As Lope says, the history of the world Brought down from Genesis to the Day of Judg. ment. There were three duels fought in the first act, Three gentlemen receiving deadly wounds, Laying their hands upon their hearts, and saying, "O, I am dead!" a lover in a closet, An old hidalgo, and a gay Don Juan, Lara. And never better. Every footstep fell As lightly as a sunbeam on the water. I think the girl extremely beautiful. Carlos. Almost beyond the privilege of woman! I saw her in the Prado yesterday. Her step was royal,-queen-like,—and her face Lara. May not a saint fall from her Paradise, And be no more a saint ? Carlos. Why do you ask? Lara. Because I have heard it said this angel fell, And, though she is a virgin outwardly, Carlos. You do her wrong; indeed, you do her wrong! She is as virtuous as she is fair. Lara. How credulous you are! Why look you, friend, There's not a virtuous woman in Madrid, Carlos. THE SPANISH STUDENT. Nay, not to be won at all! The only virtue that a Gipsy prizes Is chastity. That is her only virtue. Lara. 157 And does that prove That Preciosa is above suspicion? Carlos. It proves a nobleman may be repulsed When he thinks conquest easy. I believe That woman, in her deepest degradation, Holds something sacred, something undefiled, Some pledge and keepsake of her higher nature, And, like the diamond in the dark, retains Some quenchless gleam of the celestial light! Lara. Yet Preciosa would have taken the gold Carlos [rising]. I do not think so. I am sure of it. Lara. Carlos. "T is late. I must begone, for if I stay You will not be persuaded. Lara. Yes; persuade me. Carlos. No one so deaf as he who will not hear Lara. No one so blind as he who will not see! Carlos. And so good night. I wish you pleas ant dreams, And greater faith in woman. Lara. Greater faith ! I have the greatest faith; for I believe That I shall be to-morrow; and thereafter [Exit. |