Tales of the Wonder Club Volume III Part 6

SEVERAL GIPSIES. Queen, thou shalt be obeyed.

_Enter_ DONNA INEZ _and_ PEDRO, _on mules_.

PED. Cheer up, fair mistress. Banish idle fears.

Already we've accomplished half our journey.

Ere sundown we'll have reached your father's castle.

So follow me. Fear not. And as for dreams, They are all vain, and bred of convent fare-- Sickly disease engendered in the mind By monkish legends and low superst.i.tion, Unworthy ladies of your rank. Look ye!

I, Pedro, now am old, and yet I never Have known a dream of mine that did come true.

No, my young mistress, take Pedro's word for't, All dreaming is unhealthy--a bad sign.

Live well, sleep soundly, and you'll dream no more.

Dreams proceed but from impaired digestion.

Take my advice and give no heed to them.

[_Gipsies advance suddenly and seize the bridles._

FIRST GIPSY. Hola! there, good people. Halt and dismount!

[_Inez screams and falls against Pedro._

INEZ. Pedro, protect me. Oh, holy Virgin!

Oh, blessed saints and souls in purgatory!

Have mercy on us, or we're lost, O G.o.d!

Pedro, dost hear? a.s.sist me. Fly! Call. Help!

PED. Help, help! To the rescue, I say. What ho!

SECOND GIPSY. Any attempt at flight or cry for help Is vain, and may prove fatal. Come, dismount.

INEZ. Oh, saints! The very faces, I declare, That I saw in my dream--and dreams are false.

Holy Virgin, protect us. Help, I say!

THIRD GIPSY. Ay, call upon your saints. Call on, call on!

And see if they'll come to your a.s.sistance.

FIRST GIPSY. An you cease not your screaming, you'll be gagged.

[_Pedro and Inez dismount._

GIP. Q. Come, no rough treatment to this young lady, Or it will be the worse for some of you.

Tie up the mules and bind the serving man, That he escape not, and so call for help.

As to this damsel, leave her all to me.

(_To Inez_) Young lady, have no fear, for I am one Who can command th' entire gipsy band, Who are my serfs and tremble at my frown.

An you be docile, they shall do no harm.

Raise but your voice, and I will have you bound.

But I, the gipsy queen, would be your friend; And soon you shall acknowledge me as such; But not just now. (_To the gipsies_) Bind not the young lady Unless she call for help or attempt to escape.

(_To Inez_) And you, young lady, courage. Tremble not.

Think not I crave your pelf or trinkets rare.

I have no need. Thyself 'tis I'ld detain.

INEZ. And why, O strange, O dread, mysterious queen, All powerful amongst thy dusky band, If, as thou sayst, thou hast no need of pelf, And canst and wilt protect me from the hands Of thy half-savage subjects, wherefore then Detain a poor and simple maiden bound For her paternal castle, having left The Convent of St. Ursula this morn?

GIP. Q. Oh, of your story I am well informed.

Better, perchance, than what you are yourself.

For am I not a gipsy? Know we not By the aspect of the heavenly bodies All events that are about to happen?

As to my object in detaining you Let it suffice you I have an object, Which you shall know hereafter. (_To gipsies_) Guard her close.

Methought I did hear footsteps, but 'tis nought.

_Enter hastily_ PASCUAL _with a drawn sword_.

PAS. This way I heard the cries. How now! What's this?

h.e.l.l and furies! A chaste and lovely maid Attacked by dusky ruffians! Halt! Forbear!

For, by my soul, I swear I will not leave One black hide whole among ye, an ye dare To touch a single hair of her fair head.

GIP. Q. Disarm that vain and too hot-headed youth.

[_Gipsies surround Pascual, who defends himself desperately, killing and wounding some of the nearest. Gipsies back a few paces. Pascual follows, and cuts through them._

Unto him, cowards! Seize the presumptuous fool.

Hear ye not, slaves? What! Is a single arm, And that, too, of a pampered gentleman, Too much for ye? Shame on ye, cowards, slaves!

FIRST GIPSY. Yield, fellow! and put up thy silly skewer, An thou be not a-weary of thy life.

PAS. Never! Whilst yet a drop of my heart's blood Flows freely in my veins. By heaven, I swear I will release yon damsel ere I die!

SECOND GIPSY. Why, who is this, though clad in costly gear, Doth fight as desperately as one of us?

THIRD GIPSY. Beware, young man! We do not seek thy life; Yield up thyself. Ask pardon of our queen, And we will let thee live.

PAS. (_Still fighting._) Base curs, avaunt!

My life is nothing. Take it an ye list, Though ye shall buy it dearly. 'Twill console My parting spirit somewhat but to know That it hath rid the surface of the earth Of even a few of such vile sc.u.m as ye.

FIRST GIPSY. Such words to us! Have at thee then, proud youth.

[_Wounds Pascual on the head, whilst others attempt to bind him, but he liberates himself and continues fighting._

INEZ. He bleeds! he bleeds! Saints, help the n.o.ble youth Who, at the cost of his young precious life, Would save us both. I fear he's killed. Oh, help!

[_Screams and faints._

GIP. Q. Hus.h.!.+ minion, or that cry will be thy last.

A WOUNDED GIPSY. Look, she faints!

ANOTHER GIPSY. Bah! 'tis but a trick to 'scape The easier in the confusion.

Look well to her.

GIP. Q. Make room for me, ye slaves.

I fear no mortal man. Leave him to me.

Sirrah! put down your sword.

PAS. Never, vile crone.