The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 129

[_All rush out in tumult._

LINENOTES:

[16] _Alvar (aside)._ Stage-direction om. Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[33] stranger's] _Stranger's_ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[35] Doubt, but decide not! Stand from off the altar. Edition 1.

[After 49] [_Music expressive of the movements and images that follow._ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[54] upbuild] build up Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[62] Stage-direction [_Here behind, &c._ om. Edition 1.

[75] chaunter] Chaunters Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[80] quiet] yellow Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[95] _Ordonio (struggling with his feelings)._ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[122] bend] kneel Edition 1.

[125] _Alvar (to Teresa anxiously)._ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[129] a human eye] an eye of flesh Edition 1.

[134] demons] demon Edition 1.

[136] _Ordonio (starting in great agitation)._ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[141] this] the Edition 1.

SCENE II

_Interior of a Chapel, with painted Windows._

_Enter TERESA._

_Teresa._ When first I entered this pure spot, forebodings Press'd heavy on my heart: but as I knelt, Such calm unwonted bliss possess'd my spirit, A trance so cloudless, that those sounds, hard by, Of trampling uproar fell upon mine ear 5 As alien and unnoticed as the rain-storm Beats on the roof of some fair banquet-room, While sweetest melodies are warbling----

_Enter VALDEZ._

_Valdez._ Ye pitying saints, forgive a father's blindness, And extricate us from this net of peril! 10

_Teresa._ Who wakes anew my fears, and speaks of peril?

_Valdez._ O best Teresa, wisely wert thou prompted!

This was no feat of mortal agency!

That picture--Oh, that picture tells me all!

With a flash of light it came, in flames it vanished, 15 Self-kindled, self-consum'd: bright as thy life, Sudden and unexpected as thy fate, Alvar! My son! My son!--The Inquisitor--

_Teresa._ Torture me not! But Alvar--Oh of Alvar?

_Valdez._ How often would he plead for these Morescoes! 20 The brood accurst! remorseless, coward murderers!

_Teresa._ So? so?--I comprehend you--He is----

_Valdez._ He is no more!

_Teresa._ O sorrow! that a father's voice should say this, A Father's Heart believe it!

_Valdez._ A worse sorrow Are fancy's wild hopes to a heart despairing! 25

_Teresa._ These rays that slant in through those gorgeous windows, From yon bright orb--though coloured as they pa.s.s, Are they not light?--Even so that voice, Lord Valdez!

Which whispers to my soul, though haply varied By many a fancy, many a wishful hope, 30 Speaks yet the truth: and Alvar lives for me!

_Valdez._ Yes, for three wasting years, thus and no other, He has lived for thee--a spirit for thy spirit!

My child, we must not give religious faith To every voice which makes the heart a listener 35 To its own wish.

_Teresa._ I breath'd to the Unerring Permitted prayers. Must those remain unanswer'd, Yet impious sorcery, that holds no commune Save with the lying spirit, claim belief?

_Valdez._ O not to-day, not now for the first time 40 Was Alvar lost to thee-- Accurst a.s.sa.s.sins!

Disarmed, o'erpowered, despairing of defence, At his bared breast he seem'd to grasp some relique More dear than was his life----

_Teresa._ O Heavens! my portrait!

And he did grasp it in his death pang!

Off, false demon, 45 That beat'st thy black wings close above my head![853:1]

[_ORDONIO enters with the keys of the dungeon in his hand._

Hus.h.!.+ who comes here? The wizard Moor's employer!

Moors were his murderers, you say? Saints s.h.i.+eld us From wicked thoughts----

[_VALDEZ moves towards the back of the stage to meet ORDONIO, and during the concluding lines of TERESA'S speech appears as eagerly conversing with him._

Is Alvar dead? what then?

The nuptial rites and funeral shall be one! 50 Here's no abiding-place for thee, Teresa.-- Away! they see me not--Thou seest me, Alvar!

To thee I bend my course.--But first one question, One question to Ordonio.--My limbs tremble-- There I may sit unmark'd--a moment will restore me. 55

[_Retires out of sight._

_Ordonio (as he advances with Valdez)._ These are the dungeon keys.

Monviedro knew not, That I too had received the wizard's message, 'He that can bring the dead to life again.'

But now he is satisfied, I plann'd this scheme To work a full conviction on the culprit, 60 And he entrusts him wholly to my keeping.

_Valdez._ 'Tis well, my son! But have you yet discovered (Where is Teresa?) what those speeches meant-- Pride, and hypocrisy, and guilt, and cunning?