Tales of the Wonder Club Volume III Part 16

INEZ. Rodriguez, cease! I'll hear no more, I've said.

And let me tell you, nurse, now once for all, It ill becomes thy years and s.e.x, t'enact A part, of all parts most contemptible.

ROD. What part, my pretty child? Don't so misjudge Poor nurse Rodriguez as to think that she Could counsel you for aught but for your good Remember, you are young, my mistress dear, And have yet to unlearn your convent life, That so ill fits you for our merry world.

Your father, poor mistaken man----

INEZ. Hold there, And reverence my father as thy lord.

ROD. Ne'er doubt me, mistress mine, but e'en my lord Would counsel you as I would counsel you.

INEZ. Thou speak'st of counsel. How would'st counsel me?

ROD. Nay, then, nought 'gainst your interests; that's clear.

Had I your youth and beauty, and your chance, I'd have a care, nor throw such chance away.

Lend not the ear to ev'ry stripling, child, Because he's smooth of mien, but look behind The outer gloss, and seek for solid gold.

INEZ. Your counsel, nurse, is mercenary.

ROD. Tut, tut.

We've got to live; to live we've got to eat; Then comes our dress, our servants, and what else May appertain unto a lady born, As was your mother, Lady Dorothea,-- Of blessed mem'ry,--when this ancient hall Looked livelier than at the present day.

Now hark! my dear young mistress, and attend To these my words, as were they from the lips Of your own sainted mother, who looks down From her high post, and sees all that we do.

What, think you, would your fondest mother say, To see this castle go to rack and ruin, Her darling child descend in social scale, Because she would espouse some popinjay.

Whose wealth was all he carried on his back?

When she could get a chance to marry one (A goodly man, if more mature in years) A great hidalgo, and of wealth untold, By means of which she could redeem this hall, And make it worthy of its better days; Pay off her father's debts, and thus content Him and his household, and all else beside.

Why, marry, 'twere rank madness to let slip Such glorious chance, and such a chance have you.

INEZ. Enough.

ROD. Nay, I _will_ speak in duty bound, And tell you, w.i.l.l.y-nilly, that the man Who thus would lay his riches at the feet Of my poor master's daughter is none else Than n.o.ble Lord Don Diego.

INEZ. I have said I will not have thee mention that man's name; I did divine thy mission from the first, And doubt me not that thou wert amply paid To play the go-between; but learn for once, Base woman, that my heart must not be bought; The purest gift of Heaven was not made To be an article of merchandise.

My heart's in mine own keeping, and must ne'er Be given up save to the man I love.

Though this pile fall to ruins o'er our heads; Though hunger threaten; though my father's life And other lives at stake be; nay, e'en though This robe be turned to rags and I be sent Abroad to beg my bread, and from the cold Night storm or tempest ne'er a shelter find; Nay, come what will, nought 'gainst the will of Heaven Must e'er be done to suit the present hour.

ROD. Nay, speak not thus, young mistress, but be calm; Rodriguez, too, was once a girl and thought, E'en as you do now.

INEZ. More's the pity then That years, instead of bringing purer thoughts, Should cancel all the purity of youth.

ROD. Nay, mistress mine, what I would say is this: That being in youth, even as yourself, More swayed by my heart than my interests, I gave my heart unto the man I loved, Disdaining higher offer, but soon found Cause to repent for having thrown away A better chance; for Carlos, when he saw That I had nought, and he had nought, he 'gan To lose the love he had for me, and then He beat me, and we quarrelled. Soon he died.

And being left dest.i.tute, was fain t'accept The place of servant in your father's house.

INEZ. And by this tale of sorrows thou would'st prove That we in this life are in duty bound To sell our souls unto the highest bidder.

Away with such foul subtleties, with which The arch-fiend baits his hook to tempt G.o.d's own.

Give me the quiet of a convent cell, Rather than rank and splendour with disgrace.

ROD. Disgrace! Nay, honour. When the knot is tied You will be held in honour by the world.

It is not mere protection that is offered, But legal marriage. There's the difference.

INEZ. The marriage that 'fore Heaven legal is, Is that in which two souls are joined in one, And not the forced and bitter mockery Born of man's interest, by him approved.

Such match as thou would'st counsel were no match, But l.u.s.t and policy combined in one; Most foul adultery in Heaven's eyes, Ay, e'en despite the blessing of the church.

But, to cut short this most distasteful theme, Perhaps thou'lt tell me, as an after-clause Included in the pact, should I accept This offer that Don Diego deigns to make, 'Twere necessary that this match take place This night at midnight, without more delay.

ROD. Why, some such clause there is, I must confess, A mere caprice. What matters it? But then The offer is so splendid. Only think!

INEZ. In case of my refusing him. What then?

ROD. You surely would not think of such a thing, If you knew how he loved you.

INEZ. Still I ask, What's the alternative should I refuse?

ROD. I would not counsel you to brave his ire.

He loves you most devotedly, I know, And 'tis for that he'd hasten on the match, 'Tis over-eagerness and fear to lose His prize. A groundless fear, I do admit.

But he was ever an eccentric man: A good man though.

INEZ. So all I have to fear Is but his ire?

ROD. I know not though what form His ire might take. He's powerful and great, Accustomed to obedience, to command, Like all great military leaders who Hold up their heads above their fellow-men.

He _might_ use force. I would not you advise To thwart his will, but quietly to yield.

INEZ. And art thou woman, who would'st counsel me, Through fear of violence of mortal man, To so offend against all chast.i.ty As yield obedience to this man's l.u.s.t?

A veteran full four times mine own age, And that, in all hot haste this very night, When I have scarce had time to see his face!

Is't this that thou call'st love? Now fie! Now fie!

I did think better of thee, nurse Rodriguez, Than that thy tongue could have been bought for gold In such base cause. But since 'tis come to this-- Away from me! and tell the fiend who sent thee, Inez would rather die a thousand deaths Than barter her virtue for all his gold.

ROD. I dare not tell him so, my pretty bird.

INEZ. Then send him here, I'll tell him so myself.

I fear no man when G.o.d is on my side.

ROD. Nay, mistress, dear, forbear. You know him not.

INEZ. Yet thou would'st have me marry him. For shame!

ROD. I know not what to say. 'Twas urgency, Most dire necessity, that made me speak; Fear for your father's life, mine own, and Pedro's, And last, not least, yourself, my darling child.

I am bewildered and half gone mad.

What shall we do? Oh, Heaven grant us help.

INEZ. I trust as ever in the help of Heaven.

Sustain us, Lord, in our adversity, And let us lack not faith. [_A knock at the door._ Oh, holy saints!

PEDRO. (_Without._) Rodriguez! What ho! Donna Rodriguez!

My lord Don Diego awaiteth thee below.

ROD. I come, I come. (_Aside._) Ah me! what shall I say? [_Exit._

INEZ. Now, saints protect us! Holy Virgin, thou Be still my guide, nor let me pray in vain.

[_Inez throws herself half fainting on the prie-dieu, and the scene closes._