The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 139

She hath avenged the blood of Isidore!

I stood in silence like a slave before her 260 That I might taste the wormwood and the gall, And satiate this self-accusing heart With bitterer agonies than death can give.

Forgive me, Alvar!

Oh!--could'st thou forget me! [_Dies._

[_ALVAR and TERESA bend over the body of ORDONIO._

_Alhadra (to the Moors)._ I thank thee, Heaven! thou hast ordained it wisely, 265 That still extremes bring their own cure. That point In misery, which makes the oppressed Man Regardless of his own life, makes him too Lord of the Oppressor's--Knew I a hundred men Despairing, but not palsied by despair, 270 This arm should shake the kingdoms of the world; The deep foundations of iniquity Should sink away, earth groaning from beneath them; The strongholds of the cruel men should fall, Their temples and their mountainous towers should fall; 275 Till desolation seemed a beautiful thing, And all that were and had the spirit of life, Sang a new song to her who had gone forth, Conquering and still to conquer!

[_ALHADRA hurries off with the_ Moors; _the stage fills with armed_ Peasants, _and_ Servants, _ZULIMEZ and VALDEZ at their head. VALDEZ rushes into ALVAR'S arms._

_Alvar._ Turn not thy face that way, my father! hide, 280 Oh hide it from his eye! Oh let thy joy Flow in unmingled stream through thy first blessing.

[_Both kneel to VALDEZ._

_Valdez._ My Son! My Alvar! bless, Oh bless him, heaven!

_Teresa._ Me too, my Father?

_Valdez._ Bless, Oh bless my children!

[_Both rise._

_Alvar._ Delights so full, if unalloyed with grief, 285 Were ominous. In these strange dread events Just Heaven instructs us with an awful voice, That Conscience rules us e'en against our choice.

Our inward Monitress to guide or warn, If listened to; but if repelled with scorn, 290 At length as dire Remorse, she reappears, Works in our guilty hopes, and selfish fears!

Still bids, Remember! and still cries, Too late!

And while she scares us, goads us to our fate.

LINENOTES:

[30] touch] torch Edition 1.

[36] life] life-blood Edition 1.

[After 41] As in a dream I ask; if it be a dream Edition 1.

[46] Beyond which I scarce dare to look! (_shudders_) Edition 1.

[After 46] [_Shuddering._ Editions 2, 3, 1829.

[After 48] [_Faintly . . . recess, and moves hastily towards her._ Edition 1.

[After 55] _Teresa (recovering, looks round wildly)._ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[62] _Alvar (eagerly)._ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[64]

_Teresa (retires from him, and feebly supports herself against a pillar of the dungeon)._ Ha! who art thou?

_Alvar (exceedingly affected)._ Suborned, &c.

Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[65] _thou_ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[72]

_Teresa (wildly)._ Nay, nay, but tell me!

[_A pause, then presses her forehead._

O 'tis lost again!

This dull confused pain. [_A pause, she gazes at ALVAR._

Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[77] _he_ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[83] _Teresa (advances towards him)._ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[98] own om. Edition 1.

[After 103] [_Retiring, she returns hastily and embracing ALVAR._ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[Before 106] _Ordonio (with affected gravity)._ Edition 1 (c) (?).

[107] old Pluto] oblivion Edition 1.

[After 115] [_Waving his hand to ALVAR._ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[150] [_ALVAR . . . and throws it to the ground with stern contempt._ Edition 1. [_ALVAR . . . and throwing it to the ground, &c._ Editions 2, 3, 1829.

[166] _Ordonio (vacantly repeating the words)._ Saved? Saved? Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[177] _Alvar (almost overcome by his feelings)._ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[193] _Alvar (seizing his hand)._ Edition 1.

[After 195] [_ORDONIO with frantic wildness runs, &c._ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[203] _Ordonio (drawing back and gazing at Alvar with a countenance of at once awe and terror)._ Touch me not! Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[207] And] Oh Edition 1.

[214] _Curse_ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[218] _Ordonio (pointing at vacancy)._ Edition 1. (_pointing at the vacancy_). Editions 2, 3, 1829.