The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 134

The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 134

[51] brave] _brave_ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[60] battens] fattens Edition 1.

[68-73] om. Edition 1.

[71] afraid] _afraid_ Editions 2, 3, 1829.

[82] _Ordonio (stands lost in thought, then after a pause)._ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829. is] _is_ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[97]

It must be innocent. [_ORDONIO darkly, and in the feeling of self-justification, tells what he conceives of his own character and actions, speaking of himself in the third person._

Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[103] He? He] He? _He_ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[124] this] _his_ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[127]

Well it was done! [_Then very wildly._

Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[140] him . . . He] _him . . . He_, Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[155] thee] _thee_ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[After 167] [_They fight . . . standing._ (The rest of the stage-direction is here omitted.)

_Isid. (springing wildly towards Ordonio)._ Still I can strangle thee!

_Ord._ Nay fool, stand off!

I'll kill thee, but not so. Go fetch thy sword.

[_ISIDORE hurries into the recess with his torch, ORDONIO follows him . . . returns alone._

Edition 1.

[169] dreamt] _dreamt_ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[171] dream] _dream_ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

SCENE II

_The interior Court of a Saracenic or Gothic Castle, with the Iron Gate of a Dungeon visible._

_Teresa._ Heart-chilling superst.i.tion! thou canst glaze Ev'n pity's eye with her own frozen tear.

In vain I urge the tortures that await him; Even Selma, reverend guardian of my childhood, My second mother, shuts her heart against me! 5 Well, I have won from her what most imports The present need, this secret of the dungeon Known only to herself.--A Moor! a Sorcerer!

No, I have faith, that Nature ne'er permitted Baseness to wear a form so n.o.ble. True, 10 I doubt not that Ordonio had suborned him To act some part in some unholy fraud; As little doubt, that for some unknown purpose He hath baffled his suborner, terror-struck him, And that Ordonio meditates revenge! 15 But my resolve is fixed! myself will rescue him, And learn if haply he knew aught of Alvar.

_Enter VALDEZ._

_Valdez._ Still sad?--and gazing at the ma.s.sive door Of that fell dungeon which thou ne'er had'st sight of, Save what, perchance, thy infant fancy shap'd it 20 When the nurse still'd thy cries with unmeant threats.

Now by my faith, girl! this same wizard haunts thee!

A stately man, and eloquent and tender-- Who then need wonder if a lady sighs Even at the thought of what these stern Dominicans-- 25

_Teresa._ The horror of their ghastly punishments Doth so o'ertop the height of all compa.s.sion, That I should feel too little for mine enemy, If it were possible I could feel more, Even though the dearest inmates of our household 30 Were doom'd to suffer them. That such things are--

_Valdez._ Hush, thoughtless woman!

_Teresa._ Nay, it wakes within me More than a woman's spirit.

_Valdez._ No more of this-- What if Monviedro or his creatures hear us!

I dare not listen to you.

_Teresa._ My honoured lord, 35 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. 40 Have I no other son?

_Teresa._ Speak not of him!

That low imposture! That mysterious picture!

If this be madness, must I wed a madman?

And if not madness, there is mystery, And guilt doth lurk behind it.

_Valdez._ Is this well? 45

_Teresa._ Yes, it is truth: saw you his countenance?

How rage, remorse, and scorn, and stupid fear Displaced each other with swift interchanges?

O that I had indeed the sorcerer's power.---- I would call up before thine eyes the image 50 Of my betrothed Alvar, of thy first-born![866:1]

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, 55 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 60 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, 65 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 70 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.

_Valdez._ Ungrateful woman! I have tried to stifle An old man's pa.s.sion! was it not enough, 75 That thou hast made my son a restless man, Banish'd his health, and half unhing'd his reason; But that thou wilt insult him with suspicion?

And toil to blast his honour? I am old, A comfortless old man!

_Teresa._ O grief! to hear 80 Hateful entreaties 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?