Ang.

Angelica.

Prec.
That name
Was given you that you might be an angel
To her who bore you! When your infant smile
Made her home Paradise, you were her angel.
Oh, be an angel still! She needs that smile.
So long as you are innocent, fear nothing.
No one can harm you! I am a poor girl,
Whom chance has taken from the public streets,
I have no other shield than mine own virtue,
That is the charm which has protected me!
Amid a thousand perils I have worn it
Here on my heart! It is my guardian angel.
Ang. (rising.) I thank you for this counsel,
dearest lady.

Prec. Thank me by following it.
Ang.

Indeed I will. Prec. Pray do not go. I have much more to say.

Ang. My mother is alone. I dare not leave her.

Prec. Some other time, then, when we meet again.

You must not go away with words alone.
(Gwes her a purse.)
Take this.. Would it were more.
Ang.
I thank you, lady.

Prec. No thanks. To-morrow, come to me

again.

Ang. I will. And may the blessed virgin guard you. And all good angels! [Exit. Prec. May they guard thee too, And all the poor; for they have need of angels. Now bring me, dear Dolores, my basquina, My richest maja dress,-my dancing dress, And my most precious jewels! Make me look Fairer than night e'er saw me! I've a prize To win this day, worthy of Preciosa! Enter BELTRAN CRUZADO.

Cruz. Ave Maria! Prec.

O God! my evil genius!
What seekest thou here to-day?
Cruz.

Thyself,-my child.
Prec. What is thy will with me?
Cruz.
Gold! gold!

Prec. I gave thee yesterday; I have no more. Cruz. The gold of the Busné,-give me his gold!

Prec. I gave thee last in charity to-day.
Cruz. That is a foolish lie.
Prec.

It is the truth. Cruz. Curses upon thee! Thou art not my child!

Hast thou given gold away, and not to me?
Not to thy father? To whom then?

Prec.

Who needs it more.

Cruz.

To one

No one can need it more.

Prec. Thou art not poor. Cruz.

What! 1. who lurk about In dismal suburbs and unwholesome lanes; I, who am housed worse than the galley slave, I, who am fed worse than the kennelled hound, | I, who am clothed in rags,-Beltran Cruzado,— Not poor!

Prec. Thou hast a stout heart and strong

Prec. Beltran Cruzada! hear me once for all, I speak the truth. So long as I had gold,

I gave it to thee freely, at all times,
Never denied thee; never had a wish
But to fulfil thine own. Now go in peace!
Be merciful. be patient, and, cre long,
Thou shalt have more.

Cruz.
And if I have not,
Thou shalt no longer dwell here in rich cham-
bers,

Wear silken dresses, feed on dainty food,
And live in idleness; but go with me,
Dance the Romalis in the public streets,
And wander wild again o'er field and fell;
For here we stay not long.
Prec.
What! march again?
Cruz. Ay, with all speed. I hate the crowded
town!

I cannot breathe shut up within its gates!
Air, I want air, and sunshine, and blue sky,
The feeling of the breeze upon my face,
The feeling of the turf beneath my feet,
And no walls but the far-off mountain-tops.
Then I am free and strong, -once more myself,
Beltran Cruzado. Count of the Calés!

Prec. God speed thee on thy march!-I cannot go.

Cruz. Remember who I am, and who thou art!

Be silent and obey! Yet one thing more.
Bartolomé Román-

Prec. (with emotion.) Oh. I beseech thee;
If my obedience and blameless life,
If my humility and meek submission
In all things hitherto, can move in thee
One feeling of compassion; if thou art
Indeed my father, and canst trace in me
One look of her who bore me, or one tone
That doth remind thee of her, let it plead

In my behalf, who am a feeble girl,
Too feeble to resist and do not force me
To wed that man! I am afraid of him!

I do not love him! On my knees I beg thee
To use no violence, nor do in haste
What cannot be undone!

Cruz.
O child, child, child;
Thou hast betrayed thy secret, as a bird
Betrays her nest, by striving to conceal it.
I will not leave thee here in the great city
To be a grandee's mistress. Make thee ready
To go with us; and until then remember
A watchful eye is on thee.
Prec.
Woe is me
I have a strange misgiving in my heart!
But that one deed of charity I'll do,
Betall what may, they cannot take that from

me.

[Exit.

Your grace was pleased to order, wait without. Arch. Bid then come in. Now shall your eyes behold

In what angelic vet voluptuous shape The Devil came to tempt Saint Anthony. Enter PRECIOLA, with a mantle thrown over her head. She advances slowly, in modest, half-timid attitude.

Card. (aside.) Oh, what a fair and ministering angel

Was lost to heaven when this sweet woman fell!

Prec. (kneeling before the ARCHBISHOP.) I have obeyed the order of your grace. If I intrude upon your better hours. I proffer this excuse, and here beseech Your holy benediction.

Arch.

My God bless thee, And lead thee to a better life. Arise.

Card. (aside.) Her acts are modest, and her words discreet.

I did not look for this! Come hither, child.
Is thy name Preciosa?

The march across the moor; the halt at noon, The red fire of the evening camp, that lighted The forest where we slept; and, farther back, As in a dream, or in some former life, Gardens and palace walls. Arch. 'Tis the Alhambra, Under whose towers the gipsy camp was pitched. But time wears; and we would see the dance. Prec. Your grace shall be obeyed. (She lays aside her mantula The music of the cachucha is played, and the dance begins ARCHBISHOP and the CRDINAL 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 )

The

I am that wretched man.

Don Car. You mean to tell me yours have risen empty?

Hyp. And amen! said the Cid Campeador.
Don Car. Pray how much need you?
Hyp.
Which with due interest-

Some half-dozen ounces.

Don Car. (giving his purse.) What, am I a Jew, To put my money out at usury? Here is my purse.

Hup Thank you. A pretty purse.
Made by the hand of some fair Madrilene;
Perhaps a keepsake.
Don Car.
No, tis at your service.
Hyp. Thank you again. Lie there good Saint
Chrysostom,

And with thy golden mouth remind me often
I am the debtor of my friend.
Don Car.
But tell me,
Come you to-day from Alcalá?
Hup.
Don Car. And pray, how fares the brave Vic-

torian?

This moment.

Hyp. 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. He is in love.

Don Car.

To be in love? Hyp.

And is it faring ill

In this case very ill.

Don Car. Why so?
Hyp. For many reasons. First and foremost,
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!

who is

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.

Hyp.
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 Car. Well, well! who is this doll?
Hyp.

Guess again.

Why, who do you think? Don Car. His cousin Violante. Hyp. To ease his labouring heart, in the last storm He threw her overboard, with all her ingots. Don Car. I cannot guess: so tell me who it is. Hyp. Not 1.

Don Car.

Why not?

Hyp. (mysteriously.) Why? Because Mari
Franca

Was married four leagues out of Salamanca !
Don Car. Jesting aside, who is it?
Hyp.

Prêciosa.

Don Car. Impossible! The Count of Lara tells

Therefore thou shouldst be.

Vict.
Marry, is that all?
Farewell: I am in haste. Farewell, Don Carlos.
Thou sayest I should be jealous?
Hyp.
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.
Vict.

Indeed!

Then he will have his labour for his pains. Hyp. He does not think so, and Don Carles tells me

He boasts of his success.

Vict.

How's this, Don Carlos?

Don C. 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.
Vict.

Death and damnation!
I' cut his lying tongue out of his mouth,
And throw it to my dog! But no, no, no!
| This cannot be. You jest, indeed you jest.
Trifle with me no more. For otherwise
We are no longer friends. And so, farewell!

[Erit. Hyp. Now what a coil is here! The Avenging Child

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! Oh, 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.

SCENE IV.-PRECIOSA'S Chamber. She is sitting, with a book in her hand, near a table, on which are flowers. A bird singing in its cage. The COUNT OF LARA enters behind unperceived. Prec. (reads).

All are sleeping, weary heart! Thou, thou only sleepless art! Heigho! I wish Victorian were here.

I know not what it is that makes me so restless!

(The bird sings.)

Thou little prisoner with thy motley coat,
That from thy vaulted, wiry dungeon singest,
Like thee I am a captive, and, like thee,
I have a gentle gaoler. Lack-a-day!

All are sleeping, weary heart;
Thou, thou, only sleepless art!
All this throbbing, all this aching,
Evermore shall keep thee waking
For a heart in sorrow breaking
Thinketh ever of its smart!

Thou speakest truly, poet! and methinks
More hearts are breaking in this world of ours
Than one would say. In distant villages
And solitudes remote, where winds have wafted
The barbed seeds of love, or birds of passage
Scattered them in their flight, do they take

root,

And grow in silence, and in silence perish.
Who hears the falling of the forest leaf?
Or who takes note of every flower that dies?
Heigho! I wish Victorian would come.
Dolores!

(Turns to lay down her book, and perceives the COUNT)

Vict. Hyp

For thou art jealous.

Vict.

No, I am not jealous.

Hyp. Thou shouldst be.

Vict. Hyp

Why?

Lara.

Because thou art in love;

Prec.

Ha!

Lara. Senora, pardon me! Prec. How's this? Dolores!"

Pardon me -Dolores!

Lara. Be not alarmed; I found no one in waiting.

If I have been too bold.

Prec. (turning her back upon him.) You are too bold!

Retire retire, and leave me!
Lara.
My dear lady.
First hear me! I beseech you, let me speak!
"Tis for your good I come.

Prec. (turning towards him with indignation.)
You are the Count of Lara, but your deeds
Would make the statues of your ancestors
Blush on their tombs! Is it Castilian honour,-
Is it Castilian pride, to steal in here
Upon a friendless girl, to do her wrong?
O`shame! shame! shame! that you, a noble-

I come here as your friend,-I am your friend,--
And by a single word can put a stop

To all those idle tales, and make your name
Spotless as lilies are. Here on my knees,
Fair Preciosa! on my knees I swear,

I love you even to madness, and that love
Has driven me to break the rules of custom.
And force myself unasked into your presence.
VICTORIAN enters behind.

Prec. Rise, Count of Lara: That is not the place,

For such as you are. It becomes you not
To kneel before me. I am strangely moved
To see one of your rank thus low and humbled;
For your sake I will put aside all anger,
All unkind feeling, all dislike, and speak
In gentleness, as most becomes a woman,
And as my heart now prompts me I no more
Will hate yon, for ail hate is painful to unc.
But if, without offending modesty

And that reserve which is a woman's glory,
I may speak freely, I will teach my heart
To love you.

Lara.

Prec.

O sweet angel!

Ay, in truth,

Far better than you love yourself or me.

Lara. Give me some sign of this, the slightest

token.

Let me but kiss your hand!
Prec.
Nay, come no nearer.
The words I utter are its sign and token.
Misunderstand me not! Be not deceived!
The love wherewith I love you is not such
As you would offer me. For you come here,
To take from me the only thing I have,
My honour. You are wealthy, you have friends
And kindred, and a thousand pleasant hopes
That fill your heart with happiness; but i
Am poor, and friendless, having but one trea-

love,

That seeks to harm me, cannot be true love.
Indeed it cannot. But my love for you
Is of a different kind. It seeks your good.
It is a holier feeling. It rebukes

Your earthly passion, your unchaste desires,
And bids you look into your heart, and see
How you do wrong that better nature in you,
And grieve your soul with sin.
Lara.
I swear to you,
I would not harm you, I would only love you.
I would not take your honour, but restore it,
And in return I ask but some slight mark
Of your affection. If indeed you love me,
As you confess you do, oh, let me thus
With this embrace-

Vict. (rushing forward.) Hold! hold! This is

too much.

First, what right have you To question thus a nobleman of Spain? Vict. I, too, am noble, and you are no more! Out of my sight!

Lara.

Are you the master here?

Vict. Ay, here and elsewhere, when the wrong

of others

Give me the right!

Prec (to Lara) Go! I beseech yon, go!

Vict. I shall have business with you, Count,

anon!

Oh, we have been betrayed!

that man

Is hateful to me!

Vict.

Yet I saw thee stand

In my casket.

Vict. There let it rest! I would not have thee wear it!

I thought thee spotless, and thou art polluted!
Prec. I call the Heavens to witness-

Vict.
Nay, nay, nay,
Take not the name of Heaven upon thy lips!
They are forsworn!
Prec.

Victorian! dear Victorian!

Vict. I gave up all for thee; myself, my fame, My hopes of fortune, ay, my very soul! And thou has been my ruin! Now, go on! Laugh at my folly with thy paramour, And, sitting on the Count of Lara's knee, Say what a poor, fond fool Victorian was! (Ile casts her from him and rushes out. closes.)

Prec. And this from thee!

Scene

Of evil deeds that have been done in darkness! Disgrace has many tongues, My fears are

windows

Through which all eyes seem gazing.

face

Every

Expresses some suspicion of my shame,
And in derision seems to smile at me!
Hyp. Did I not caution thee? Did I not tell

thee

I was but half persuaded of her virtue?
Vict. And yet, Hypolito, we may be wrong,
We may be over-hasty in condemning!
The Count of Lara is a cursed villain.

Hyp. And therefore is she cursed, loving him. Vict. She does not love him! 'Tis for gold! for gold!

Hyp. Ay, but remember, in the public streets He shows a golden ring the Gipsy gave him, A serpent with a ruby in its mouth.

Vict. She had that ring from me! God! she is false!

But I will be revenged! The hour is passed.
Where stays the coward?

Hyp.
Nay, he is no coward:
A villain, if thou wilt, but not a coward.
I've seen him play with swords; it is his pas-

time.

Between you, gentlemen. Is there no way
Left open to accord this difference,
But you must make one with your swords?
Vict.
No! none!

I do entreat thee, dear Hypolito,
Stand not between me and my foe. Too long
Our tongues have spoken. Let these tongues of
steel

End our debate. Upon your guard, Sir Count!
(They fight.). VICTORIAN disarms the COUNT.
Your life is mine; and what shall now withhold

me

From sending your vile soul to its account? Lara. Strike! strike!

Vict.

You are disarmed. I will not kill you. I will not murder you. Take up your sword. FRANCISCO hands the COUNT his sword, and HYPOLITO interposes.

Hyp. Enough! Let it end here! The Count of Lara

Has shown himself a brave man, and Victorian
A generous one, as ever. Now be friends.
Put up your swords; for, to speak frankly to you,
Your cause of quarrel is too slight a thing
To move you to extremes.

Lara.

I am content.
I sought no quarrel. A few hasty words.
Spoken in the heat of blood, have led to this.
Vict. Nay, something more than that.
Lara.
I understand you.
Therein I did not mean to cross your path.
To me the door stood open, as to others.
But, had I known the girl belonged to you,
Never would I have sought to win her from you.
The truth stands now revealed. She has been
false
To both of us.

Vict.
Ay, false as hell itself!
Lara. In truth I did not seek her; she sought

me;