Chispa. Halloo! Don Fulano! Let us have horses, and quickly. Alas, poor Chispa! what a dog's life dost thou lead! I thought, when I left my old master, Victorian, the student, to serve my new master, Don Carlos, the gentleman, that I, too, should lead the life of a gentleman; should go to bed early, and get up late. For when the abbot plays cards, what can you expect of the friars? But, in running away from the thunder, I have run into the lightning. Here I am in hot chase after my master and his Gipsy girl. And a good beginning of the week it is, as he said who was hanged on Monday morning. (Enter DON Carlos.) Don C. Are not the horses ready yet? Chispa. I should think not, for the hostler seems to be asleep. Ho! within there! Horses! horses! horses! (He knocks at the gate with his whip, and enter MOSQUITO, putting on his jacket.) Mosq. Pray have a little patience. I'm not a musket. Chispa. Health and pistareens! I'm glad to see you come on dancing, padre! Pray, what's the news? Let (Strikes him round the legs.) Mosq. Oh! oh! you hurt me! Don C. Enough of this folly. us have horses. (Gives money to MosQUITO.) It is almost dark; and we are in haste. But tell me, has a band of Gipsies passed this way of late? Mosq. Yes; and they are still in the neighbourhood. Don C. And where? Mosq. Across the fields yonder, in the woods near Guadarrama. [Exit. Don C. Now this is lucky. We will visit the Gipsy camp. Chispa. Are you not afraid of the evil eye? (5) Have you a stag's horn with you? Don C. Fear not. We will pass the night at the village. Chispa. And sleep like the Squires of Hernan Daza, nine under one blanket. Don C. I hope we may find the Preciosa among them. Chispa. Among the Squires? Don C. No; among the Gipsies, blockhead! Chispa. I hope we may; for we are giving ourselves trouble enough on her account. Don't you think so! However, there is no catching trout without wetting one's trousers. Yonder come [Exeunt. SCENE V.-The Gipsy camp in the forest. Night. Gipsies working at a forge. Others playing cards by the fire-light. the horses. Gipsies (at the forge sing). * On the top of a mountain I stand, (6) With a crown of red gold in my hand, Wild Moors come trooping over the lea, O how from their fury shall I flee, flee, flee? O how from their fury shall I flee? First Gipsy playing). Down with your John-Dorados, my pigeon. Down with your John-Dorados, and let us make an end. Gipsies (at the forge sing). Loud sang the Spanish cavalier, First Gipsy (playing). There you are in your morocco. The Second Gipsy. One more game. Alcalde's doves against the Padre Cura's new moon. First Gipsy. Have at you, Chirelin. At midnight, when the moon began (Enter BELTRAN CRUZADO.) Cruz. Come hither, Murcigalleros and Rastilleros; leave work, leave play; listen to your orders for the night. (Speaking to the right.) You will get you to the village, mark you, by the stone cross. Gipsies. Ay! Cruz. (to the left.) And you, by the pole with the hermit's head upon it. Gipsies. Ay! Cruz. As soon as you see the planets are out, in with you, and be busy with the ten commandments, under the sly, and Saint Martin asleep. D'ye hear? Gipsies. Ay! Cruz. Keep your lanterns open, and, if you see a goblin or a papagayo, take to your trampers. "Vineyards and Dancing John" is the word. Am I comprehended? Gipsies. Ay! ay! Cruz. Away, then! (Exeunt severally. CRUZADO walks up the stage and disappears among the trees. Enter PRECIOSA.) Prec. How strangely gleams through the gigantic trees And fever! Like a wild wolf to the sheepfold Come I for thee, my lamb. Prec. O touch me not! The Count of Lara's blood is on thy hands! The Count of Lara's curse is on thy soul! Do not come near me! Pray begone from here Thou art in danger! They have set a price Upon thy head! Bart. Ay, and I've wandered long Among the mountains; and for many days Have seen no human face, save the rough swineherd's. The wind and rain have been my sole companions. I shouted to them from the rocks thy |