The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 31

[226] Leoni's] Sesina's Corr. in MS. III.

[228] Leoni] Sesina Corr. in MS. III.

[Between 248 and 255:]

What if Monviedro or his creatures hear us!

I dare not listen to you.

_Teresa._ My honoured lord, These were my Alvar's lessons, and whene'er I bend me o'er his portrait, I repeat them, As if to give a voice to the mute image.

_Valdez._ ----We have mourned for Alvar.

Of his sad fate there now remains no doubt.

Have I no other son?

Remorse.

[256] That low imposture! That mysterious picture! Remorse. it] this Remorse.

[Between 262 and 268:]

O that I had indeed the sorcerer's power.-- I would call up before thine eyes the image Of my betrothed Alvar, of thy first-born!

His own fair countenance, his kingly forehead, His tender smiles, love's day-dawn on his lips!

That spiritual and almost heavenly light In his commanding eye--his mien heroic, Virtue's own native heraldry! to man Genial, and pleasant to his guardian angel.

Whene'er he gladden'd, how the gladness spread Wide round him! and when oft with swelling tears, Flash'd through by indignation, he bewail'd The wrongs of Belgium's martyr'd patriots, Oh, what a grief was there--for joy to envy, Or gaze upon enamour'd!

O my father!

Recall that morning when we knelt together, And thou didst bless our loves! O even now, Even now, my sire! to thy mind's eye present him, As at that moment he rose up before thee, Stately, with beaming look! Place, place beside him Ordonio's dark perturbed countenance!

Then bid me (Oh thou could'st not) bid me turn From him, the joy, the triumph of our kind!

To take in exchange that brooding man, who never Lifts up his eye from the earth, unless to scowl.

Remorse.

[274-86] (Thou shalt not stay . . . companion) om. Remorse.

[Between 274-87:]

_Teresa._ O grief! to hear Hateful intreaties from a voice we love!

_Enter a PEASANT and presents a letter to VALDEZ._

_Valdez (reading it)._ 'He dares not venture hither!' Why what can this mean?

'Lest the Familiars of the Inquisition, That watch around my gates, should intercept him; But he conjures me, that without delay I hasten to him--for my own sake entreats me To guard from danger him I hold imprison'd-- He will reveal a secret, the joy of which Will even outweigh the sorrow.'--Why what can this be?

Perchance it is some Moorish stratagem, To have in me a hostage for his safety.

Nay, that they dare not! Ho! collect my servants!

I will go thither--let them arm themselves. [_Exit VALDEZ._

_Teresa (alone)._ The moon is high in heaven, and all is hush'd.

Yet anxious listener! I have seem'd to hear A low dead thunder mutter thro' the night, As 'twere a giant angry in his sleep.

O Alvar! Alvar! &c.

Remorse.

[After 276] And all his wealth perhaps come to the Church MS. III.

erased.

[289] evening-tide] eventide Remorse.

[296-334] om. Remorse.

[After 296]

[_A pause._

And this majestic Moor, seems he not one Who oft and long communing with my Alvar, Hath drunk in kindred l.u.s.tre from his presence, And guides me to him with reflected light?

What if in yon dark dungeon coward treachery Be groping for him with envenomed poniard-- Hence womanish fears, traitors to love and duty-- I'll free him. [_Exit TERESA._

SCENE III

_The mountains by moonlight. ALHADRA alone in a Moorish dress._

_Alhadra._ Yon hanging woods, that touch'd by autumn seem As they were blossoming hues of fire and gold; { The hanging Act V, l. 41.

{ The flower-like woods, most lovely in decay, The many clouds, the sea, the rock, the sands, Lie in the silent moons.h.i.+ne: and the owl, (Strange! very strange!) the scritch-owl only wakes!

Sole voice, sole eye of all this world of beauty!

Unless, perhaps, she sing her screeching song To a herd of wolves, that skulk athirst for blood.

Why such a thing am I?--Where are these men?

I need the sympathy of human faces, To beat away this deep contempt for all things, Which quenches my revenge. O! would to Alla, The raven, or the sea-mew, were appointed To bring me food! or rather that my soul Could drink in life from the universal air!

It were a lot divine in some small skiff Along some Ocean's boundless solitude, To float for ever with a careless course, And think myself the only being alive.

[_Vide post Osorio_, Act V, ll. 39-56.]

My children!--Isidore's children!--Son of Valdez, This hath new strung mine arm. Thou coward tyrant!

To stupify a woman's heart with anguish, Till she forgot--even that she was a mother!

[_She fixes her eye on the earth. Then drop in one after another, from different parts of the stage, a considerable number of Morescoes, all in Moorish garments and Moorish armour. They form a circle at a distance round ALHADRA, and remain silent till NAOMI enters._

Remorse.

[337] the] these Remorse.

[342] _spell_-blasted] spell-blasted Remorse.

[345] Stage-direction om. Remorse.

[348] _All_] _All Morescoes._ Remorse.

[352] _One to Another_] _One Morescoe (to another)._ Remorse.

[353] Murder? Not murder'd? Remorse.