Tales of the Wonder Club Volume III Part 15

This is a trial, and we must have faith.

D. SIL. (_Desperate._) My child! Will nothing move thee? On thy head Will be thy father's blood. My life's at stake.

INEZ. Think of thy soul, old man, and trust in G.o.d.

Thou, who didst teach mine infant lips to pray, Canst thou not pray, or wilt thou learn of me Now thou art old? Hast thou no faith, father?

D. SIL. Alas! alas! 'Tis many years these knees Have bowed no more in prayer. When I was young, And yet had faith, 'twas then I used to pray.

INEZ. But now; Oh, father! Heaven! What can have caused This falling off of piety in age?

For years not bent the knee unto thy G.o.d!

I wonder not He hath abandoned thee.

Come, learn of me. Look here. Gaze on this form,

[_s.n.a.t.c.hes a crucifix from the wall, and thrusts it into Don Silvio's unwilling hands._

This bleeding image. See this crown of thorns, These nails, that side thrust; and then learn how He Suffered and died for us. Canst thou not bear One little pang an 't be the will of Heaven?

What is thy grief to His, who suffered more Than mortal man e'er suffered? Father, pray G.o.d will not desert those who trust in Him.

D. SIL. Nay, thou art young and hopeful. I am old.

INEZ. Kneel, father, kneel; and look not so downcast.

Behold the blessed Virgin Mary, pierced And sorrowing for our sins. Come, father, kneel.

Do as I do, and throw thyself before This blessed image, and repeat these words.

[_Throws herself on the prie-dieu, and clasps her hands together in front of the picture of our Lady of Pain. Don Silvio still standing._

Oh! Holy Virgin, Mother of our Lord; Chosen of G.o.d, immaculate, Divine; Thou, who hast promised aye to intercede With thy dear Son, the living G.o.d of Heaven For us poor mortals when oppressed with woe, From that high heaven where thou sittest enthroned 'Midst glorious angels, mercifully look down Upon thy humble votaries, who groan 'Neath the oppression of a tyrant world.

Oh! thou who never turnest a deaf ear Unto a suppliant's prayer, send down thy grace, And succour her from evil men's designs Who puts her trust in thee. Thwart thou their schemes, And, for the glory of thy holy name, Avenge thy handmaid's wrongs, and punish those Who, strong in the abuse of worldly power, Would fain defile the virgin chast.i.ty Of her who seeks thy aid; rain down thy grace.

Oh! Holy Mother, who canst never see The wrong to triumph and the right to fall, Soften my father's heart, and let him kneel To thee, and join with me in heartfelt prayer And supplication, that the evils which Do threaten us alike may be withdrawn.

[_Don Silvio drops crucifix, and exit slowly and moodily._

Oh, Holy Saints! Oh, Holy Virgin Mother!

Look down in pity on this suppliant pair, Who all unworthy are to raise our eyes To that high Heaven, whence thou art, and seek Thy aid and guidance, strengthen us, O Lord!

Strengthen our faith, and let our trust in Thee Never abate, e'en in temptation's hour.

[_Draws forth a rosary, and remains for some time counting her beads. Then rises._

I thank thee, Holy Virgin. Thou hast heard The prayer of faith, and----(_looking round her_) What! my father gone!

Too proud to pray, alas! Oh, Heaven grant My doting father more humility, More faith, more hope; and aye within this breast Keep thou _my_ faith alive, lest Satan send Some emissary forth to thwart thy will.

_Enter_ RODRIGUEZ, _smiling towards_ INEZ, _who starts, looks suspiciously at her, and shudders_.

ROD. What! my young mistress taken by surprise, And scared at poor Rodriguez! I've no doubt Some transient fever, brought on by the shock You late have suffered, made you s.h.i.+ver so.

Come to old Rodriguez, my pretty bird, Pour forth into old nurse's willing ear All its past troubles. Did the gipsy gang Run off with pretty darling, and insult Her and old Pedro! Sweetest, grieve no more Now all is over, but take courage from Old nurse Rodriguez, who was ever wont To smooth its pillow, and to share its griefs.

INEZ. Good nurse, Rodriguez, 'tis not, as you think, The gipsy tribe that causes me this dread.

I have another and a secret grief I daren't divulge to thee. Nay, leave me, pray.

ROD. What! my young mistress has a secret grief; And I, poor old Rodriguez, am debarred From sharing it. Leave you alone, forsooth!

Leave my young mistress Inez all alone, To brood and mope over her secret grief!

Never! You ill know nurse Rodriguez, child.

INEZ. (_Aside._) This is intolerable.

ROD. As you say, It cannot be about the gipsy tribe My darling frets. The danger's gone and past, Thanks to the n.o.ble conduct of my lord, The brave and gallant Don Diego, who At risk of his own life, with sword in hand, Did rescue you from the dark gipsy gang.

'Twas bravely done. And how he wears his years!

Just like a stripling--and how fine a man; How courteous, too, and what a merry eye He has for all his favourites. I'm sure That you yourself are one, judging from how [_Inez draws back scornfully._ He looks at you askance, then turns away And sighs so deeply, little thinking that Rodriguez guesses what he bears within.

INEZ. Rodriguez, silence! Of this trash no more.

ROD. Nay, Mistress Inez; pray not angered be With poor old nurse. She loves a jest at times.

INEZ. I'm in no jesting mood, I promise you.

I pray you, leave me.

ROD. There you are again, Wis.h.i.+ng me to leave you alone to mope; But, dear, Rodriguez better knows than leave Her little mistress all uncomforted.

Away with nasty grief, and courage take From kind old nurse, and, like her, merry be.

INEZ. Your consolation, nurse, is, perhaps, well meant.

Albeit, at present, 'tis superfluous.

ROD. What! Hoity, toity! child; would'st have me see My little Inez pining and downcast, E'en though it be for nought at all; and ne'er Say word to cheer her? Nay, 'tis my duty To my mistress. So here I mean to stick Until I've made you laugh. Come now, madam.

INEZ. (_Aside._) She's insupportable.

ROD. Were I a maid once more, I'd show you how I'd laugh and enjoy the world. Not as you, Pent up these years within a convent cell, Till you've grown musty. A pest on convents all!

Keep them for cripples and incurables.

For those who from birth so ill-favoured are, They find not husbands. These may chant and sing, And moan and fast, an't please them; but, for you, A maid of Lady Inez's beauty, jammed Within these walls--'tis sacrilege, I ween.

INEZ. Rodriguez, now you must not lightly talk Against those holy women, who have fled All worldly joys to win the peace of Heaven.

ROD. Each to their taste. For me, I love the world.

INEZ. I know it, nurse; but at your age 'twere fit You'd higher thoughts.

ROD. At _my_ age! Pooh! tut, tut!

Those with a merry heart are never old.

Look at Don Diego, how he bears himself, And all because he has a merry heart.

Had he been priest or monk, he had been old At thirty. But just look how proud his step, How clear his eye, how red his manly cheek.

Were I a maid once more, just of your age, I straight should lose my heart, and that's a fact.

Heigh ho!

INEZ. A truce to this unseemly banter.

Nor dare to name that man to me again.

ROD. That man! What, poor Don Diego? In what way Hath he offended, that you treat him thus?

I'm sure he is not conscious of his fault, Or he would die with grief; the dear, good man, Fond of you as he is, as all can see.