_Maria._ Nature will be my friend and fit companion.
[_Turns off from them._
O Albert! Albert! that they could return, Those blessed days, that imitated heaven!
When we two wont to walk at evening-tide; When we saw nought but beauty; when we heard 290 The voice of that Almighty One, who lov"d us, In every gale that breath"d, and wave that murmur"d!
O we have listen"d, even till high-wrought pleasure Hath half-a.s.sumed the countenance of grief, And the deep sigh seem"d to heave up a weight 295 Of bliss, that press"d too heavy on the heart.
_Francesco._ But in the convent, lady, you would have Such aids as might preserve you from perdition.
There you might dwell.
_Maria._ With tame and credulous faith, Mad melancholy, antic merriment, 300 Leanness, disquietude, and secret pangs!
O G.o.d! it is a horrid thing to know That each pale wretch, who sits and drops her beads Had once a mind, which might have given her wings Such as the angels wear!
_Francesco (stifling his rage)._ Where is your son, my lord? 305
_Velez._ I have not seen him, father, since he left you.
_Francesco._ His lordship"s generous nature hath deceiv"d him!
_That_ Ferdinand (or if not he his wife) I have fresh evidence--are infidels.
We are not safe until they are rooted out. 310
_Maria._ Thou man, who call"st thyself the minister Of Him whose law was love unutterable!
Why is thy soul so parch"d with cruelty, That still thou thirstest for thy brother"s blood?
_Velez (rapidly)._ Father! I have long suspected it--her brain-- 315 Heed it not, father!
_Francesco._ Nay--but I _must_ heed it.
_Maria._ Thou miserable man! I fear thee not, Nor prize a life which soon may weary me.
Bear witness, Heav"n! I neither scorn nor hate him-- 320 But O! "tis wearisome to mourn for evils, Still mourn, and have no power to remedy! [_Exit MARIA._
_Francesco._ My lord! I shall presume to wait on you To-morrow early.
_Velez._ Be it so, good father! [_Exit FRANCESCO._
_Velez (alone)._ I do want solace, but not such as thine! 325 The moon is high in heaven, and my eyes ache, But not with sleep. Well--it is ever so.
A child, a child is born! and the fond heart Dances! and yet the childless are most happy.
[_SCENE changes to the mountains by moonlight. ALHADRA alone in a Moorish dress, her eyes fixed on the earth. Then drop in one after another, from different parts of the stage, a considerable number of_ Morescoes, _all in their Moorish garments. They form a circle at a distance round ALHADRA. After a pause one of the_ Morescoes _to the man who stands next to him._
_First Moresco._ The law which forced these Christian dresses on us, 330 "Twere pleasant to cleave down the wretch who framed it.
_Second._ Yet "tis not well to trample on it idly.
_First._ Our country robes are dear.
_Second._ And like dear friends, May chance to prove most perilous informers.
[_A third Moresco, NAOMI, advances from out the circle._
_Naomi._ Woman! may Alla and the prophet bless thee! 335 We have obey"d thy call. Where is our chief?
And why didst thou enjoin the Moorish garments?
_Alhadra (lifting up_ [_raising_ Remorse] _her eyes, and looking round on the circle)._ Warriors of Mahomet, faithful in the battle, My countrymen! Come ye prepared to work An honourable deed? And would ye work it 340 In the slave"s garb? Curse on those Christian robes!
They are _spell_-blasted; and whoever wears them, His arm shrinks wither"d, his heart melts away, And his bones soften!
_Naomi._ Where is Ferdinand?
_Alhadra (in a deep low voice)._ This night I went from forth my house, and left 345 His children all asleep; and he was living!
And I return"d, and found them still asleep-- But he had perish"d.
_All._ Perished?
_Alhadra._ He had perish"d!
Sleep on, poor babes! not one of you doth know That he is fatherless, a desolate orphan! 350 Why should we wake them? Can an infant"s arm Revenge his murder?
_One to Another._ Did she say his murder?
_Naomi._ Murder"d? Not murder"d?
_Alhadra._ Murder"d by a Christian!
[_They all, at once, draw their sabres._
_Alhadra (to Naomi, who on being addressed again advances from the circle)._ Brother of Zagri! fling away thy sword: This is thy chieftain"s! [_He steps forward to take it._ Dost thou dare receive it? 355 For I have sworn by Alia and the prophet, No tear shall dim these eyes, this woman"s heart Shall heave no groan, till I have seen that sword Wet with the blood of all the house of Velez!
_Enter MAURICE._
_All._ A spy! a spy! [_They seize him._
_Maurice._ Off! off! unhand me, slaves! 360
[_After much struggling he disengages himself and draws his sword._
_Naomi (to Alhadra)._ Speak! shall we kill him?
_Maurice._ Yes! ye can kill a man, Some twenty of you! But ye are Spanish slaves!
And slaves are always cruel, always cowards.
_Alhadra._ That man has spoken truth. Whence and who art thou?
_Maurice._ I seek a dear friend, whom for aught I know 365 The son of Velez hath hired one of you To murder! Say, do ye know aught of Albert?
_Alhadra (starting)._ Albert?--three years ago I heard that name Murmur"d in sleep! High-minded foreigner!
Mix thy revenge with mine, and stand among us. 370
[_MAURICE stands among the_ Morescoes.