THE SPANISH STUDENT. 163 With his own eyes these dances; and the Arch bishop Has sent for me Vict. That thou may'st dance before them! Now viva la cachucha! It will breathe The fire of youth into these gray old men ! "T will be thy proudest conquest! Pre. Saving one. And yet I fear these dances will be stopped, Vict. The sweetest beggar that e'er asked for alms; With such beseeching eyes, that when I saw thee I gave my heart away! Pre. Dost thou remember When first we met? Vict. It was at Córdova, In the cathedral garden. Thou wast sitting somed trees The full blos Filled all the air with fragrance and with joy. It was the elevation of the Host. Ve both of us fell down upon our knees, Inder the orange boughs, and prayed together. Pre. And when thou wast gone felt an aching here. I did not speak 'o any one that day. But from that day artolomé grew hateful unto me. Vict. Remember him no more. Let not his shadow ome between thee and me. Sweet Preciosa! loved thee even then, though I was silent! Pre. I thought I ne'er should see thy face again. hy farewell had a sound of sorrow in it. : Vict. That was the first sound in the song of love! Scarce more than silence is, and yet a sound. Pre. That is my faith. Dost thou believe these warnings? Vict. So far as this. thoughts Our feelings and our Tend ever on, and rest not in the Present. Pre. I have felt it so, but found no words to say it! I cannot reason; I can only feel! But thou hast language for all thoughts and feel ings. Thou art a scholar; and sometimes I think Vict. Thou little skeptic! Dost thou still doubt? What I most prize in woman Is her affections, not her intellect! The intellect is finite; but the affections Compare me with the great men of the earth; ! THE SPANISH STUDENT. Thou sittest by the fireside of the heart, As in a palace hall. Art thou convinced? 165 Pre. Yes, that I love thee, as the good love heaven, But not that I am worthy of that heaven. How shall I more deserve it? Vict. Loving more. Pre. I cannot love thee more; my heart is full. Vict. Then let it overflow, and I will drink it, As in the summer-time the thirsty sands Drink the swift waters of the Manzanares, And still do thirst for more. A Watch. [in the street.] Ave Maria Purissima! T is midnight and serene! Vict. Hear'st thou that Pre. To scare thee from me! Vict. cry ? It is a hateful sound, As the hunter's horn Doth scare the timid stag, or bark of hounds Pre. Vict. I must away to Alcalá to-night. Think of me when I am away. Pre. Pray, do not go! Fear not! I have no thoughts that do not think of thee. Vict. [giving her a ring.] And to remind thes of my love, take this; A serpent, emblem of Eternity; A ruby,—say, a drop of my heart's blood. Pre. It is an ancient saying, that the ruby Vict. What convent of barefooted Carmelites Taught thee so much theology? Pre. [laying her hand upon his mouth.] Hush Hush! Good night! and may all holy angels guard thee! Vict. Good night! good night! Thou art my guardian angel! I have no other saint than thou to pray to! [He descends by the balcony.] Pre. Take care, and do not hurt thee. Art thou safe? Vict. [from the garden.] Safe as my love for thee! But art thou safe? Others can climb a balcony by moonlight Vict. And brings to me Sweet fragrance from thy lips, as the soft wind Of the beloved land he leaves behind. To-morrow night Vict. Shall see me safe returned. Thou art the star To guide me to an anchorage. Good night! My beauteous star! My star of love, good night! Pre. Good night! Watch. [at a distance.] Ave Maria Purissima! SCENE IV. An inn on the road to Alcalá. asleep on a bench. Enter CHISPA. Chis. And here we are, half-way to Alcalá, between cocks and midnight. Body o' me! what an inn this is! The lights out, and the landlord asleep. Holá! ancient Baltasar ! Balt. [waking.] Here I am. Chis. Yes, there you are, like a one-eyed THE SPANISH STUDENT. 167 Alcalde in a town without inhabitants. Bring a light, and let me have supper. Balt. Where is your master Chis. Do not trouble yourself about him. We have stopped a moment to breathe our horses; and, if he chooses to walk up and down in the open air, looking into the sky as one who hears it rain, that does not satisfy my hunger, you know. But be quick, for I am in a hurry, and every man stretches his legs according to the length of his coverlet. What have we here? Balt. [setting a light on the table.] rabbit. Stewed Chis. [eating.] Conscience of Portalegre! Stewed kitten, you mean! Balt. And a pitcher of Pedro Ximenes, with a roasted pear in it. Chis. [drinking.] Ancient Baltasar, amigo! You know how to cry wine and sell vinegar. I tell you this is nothing but Vino Tinto of La Mancha, with a tang of the swine-skin. Balt. I swear to you by Saint Simon and Judas, it is all as I say. Chis. And I swear to you, by Saint Peter and Saint Paul, that it is no such thing. Moreover, your supper is like the hidalgo's dinner, very little meat, and a great deal of table-cloth. Balt. Ha ha! ha! Chis. And more noise than nuts. Balt. Ha! ha! ha! You must have your joke, Master Chispa. But shall I not ask Don Victorian in, to take a draught of the Pedro Ximenes? Chis. No; you might as well say, "Don't-youwant-some? to a dead man. Balt. Why does he go so often to Madrid? Chis. For the same reason that he eats no supper He is in love. Were you ever in love, Baltasar? Balt. I was never out of it, good Chispa. It has been the torment of my life. |