Count Alarcos; a Tragedy Part 31

Cheer up, sweet lady, for the G.o.d of all Will guard the innocent.

V:1:3 COUN.

Think you he'll come To visit us? Methinks he'll never come.

V:1:4 ORAN.

He's but four leagues away. This vicinage Argues a frequent presence.

V:1:5 COUN.

But three nights-- Have only three nights past? It is an epoch Distant and dim with pa.s.sion. There are seasons Feelings crowd on so, time not flies but staggers; And memory poises on her burthened plumes To gloat upon her prey. Spoke he of coming?

V:1:6 ORAN.

His words were scant and wild, and yet he murmured That I should see him.

V:1:7 COUN.

I've not seen him since That fatal night, yet even that glance of terror-- I'd hail it now. O, Oran, Oran, think you He ever more will love me? Can I do Aught to regain his love? They say your people Are learned in these questions. Once I thought There was no spell like duty--that devotion Would bulwark love for ever. Now, I'd distil Philtres, converse with moonlit hags, defile My soul with talismans, bow down to spirits, And frequent accursed places, all, yea all-- I'd forfeit all--but to regain his love.

V:1:8 ORAN.

There is a cloud now rising in the west, In shape a hand, and scarcely would its grasp Exceed mine own, it is so small; a spot, A speck; see now again its colour flits!

A lurid tint; they call it on our coast 'The hand of G.o.d;' I for when its finger rises From out the horizon, there are storms abroad And awful judgments.

V:1:9 COUN.

Ah! it beckons me.

V:1:10 ORAN.

Lady!

V:1:11 COUN.

Yes, yes, see now the finger moves And points to me. I feel it on my spirit.

V:1:12 ORAN.

Methinks it points to me--

V:1:13 COUN.

To both of us.

It may be so. And what would it portend?

My heart's grown strangely calm. If there be chance Of storms, my children should be safe. Let's home.

SCENE 2

An illuminated Hall in the Royal Palace at Burgos; in the background Dancers.

Groups of GUESTS pa.s.sing.

V:2:1 1ST GUEST.

Radiant!

V:2:2 2ND GUEST.

Recalls old days.

V:2:3 3RD GUEST.

The Queen herself Ne'er revelled it so high!

V:2:4 4TH GUEST.

The Infanta beams Like some bright star!

V:2:5 5TH GUEST.

And brighter for the cloud A moment screened her.

V:2:6 6TH GUEST.

Is it true 'tis over Between the Count Sidonia and the Lara?

V:2:7 1ST GUEST.

A musty tale. The fair Alarcos wins him.

Where's she to-night?

V:2:8 2ND GUEST.

All on the watch to view Her entrance to our world.

V:2:9 3RD GUEST.

The Count is here.

V:2:10 4TH GUEST.

Where?

V:2:11 3RD GUEST.

With the King; at least a moment since.

V:2:12 2ND GUEST.

They say she's ravis.h.i.+ng.

V:2:13 4TH GUEST.

Beyond belief!

V:2:14 3RD GUEST.

The King affects him much.

V:2:15 5TH GUEST.

He's all in all.

V:2:16 6TH GUEST.

Yon Knight of Calatrava, who is he?

V:2:17 1ST GUEST.

Young Mendola.