ACT III - SCENE III

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ACT III: SCENE III

SCENE: A room in the PADRE CURA'S house. Enter the PADRE
and HYPOLITO.

PADRE CURA. So then, Senor, you come from Alcala.
I am glad to hear it. It was there I studied.

HYPOLITO. And left behind an honored name, no doubt.
How may I call your Grace?

PADRE CURA. Geronimo
De Santillana, at your Honor's service.

HYPOLITO. Descended from the Marquis Santillana?
From the distinguished poet?

PADRE CURA. From the Marquis,
Not from the poet.

HYPOLITO. Why, they were the same.
Let me embrace you! O some lucky star
Has brought me hither! Yet once more!--once more!
Your name is ever green in Alcala,
And our professor, when we are unruly,
Will shake his hoary head, and say, "Alas!
It was not so in Santillana's time!"

PADRE CURA. I did not think my name remembered there.

HYPOLITO. More than remembered; it is idolized.

PADRE CURA. Of what professor speak you?

HYPOLITO. Timoneda.

PADRE CURA. I don't remember any Timoneda.

HYPOLITO. A grave and sombre man, whose beetling brow
O'erhangs the rushing current of his speech
As rocks o'er rivers hang. Have you forgotten?

PADRE CURA. Indeed, I have. O, those were pleasant days,
Those college days! I ne'er shall see the like!
I had not buried then so many hopes!
I had not buried then so many friends!
I've turned my back on what was then before me;
And the bright faces of my young companions
Are wrinkled like my own, or are no more.
Do you remember Cueva?

HYPOLITO. Cueva? Cueva?

PADRE CURA. Fool that I am! He was before your time.
You're a mere boy, and I am an old man.

HYPOLITO. I should not like to try my strength with you.

PADRE CURA. Well, well. But I forget; you must be hungry.
Martina! ho! Martina! 'T is my niece.

(Enter MARTINA.)

HYPOLITO. You may be proud of such a niece as that.
I wish I had a niece. Emollit mores.
(Aside.)
He was a very great man, was Cicero!
Your servant, fair Martina.

MARTINA. Servant, sir.

PADRE CURA. This gentleman is hungry. See thou to it.
Let us have supper.

MARTINA. 'T will be ready soon.

PADRE CURA. And bring a bottle of my Val-de-Penas
Out of the cellar. Stay; I'll go myself.
Pray you. Senor, excuse me. [Exit.

HYPOLITO. Hist! Martina!
One word with you. Bless me I what handsome eyes!
To-day there have been Gypsies in the village.
Is it not so?

MARTINA. There have been Gypsies here.

HYPOLITO. Yes, and have told your fortune.

MARTINA. (embarrassed). Told my fortune?

HYPOLITO. Yes, yes; I know they did. Give me your hand.
I'11 tell you what they said. They said,--they said,
The shepherd boy that loved you was a clown,
And him you should not marry. Was it not?

MARTINA. (surprised). How know you that?

HYPOLITO. O, I know more than that,
What a soft, little hand! And then they said,
A cavalier from court, handsome, and tall
And rich, should come one day to marry you,
And you should be a lady. Was it not!
He has arrived, the handsome cavalier.

(Tries to kiss her. She runs off. Enter VICTORIAN, with a
letter.)

VICTORIAN. The muleteer has come.

HYPOLITO. So soon?

VICTORIAN. I found him
Sitting at supper by the tavern door,
And, from a pitcher that he held aloft
His whole arm's length, drinking the blood-red wine.

HYPOLITO. What news from Court?

VICTORIAN. He brought this letter only.

(Reads.)

O cursed perfidy! Why did I let
That lying tongue deceive me! Preciosa,
Sweet Preciosa! how art thou avenged!

HYPOLITO. What news is this, that makes thy cheek turn pale,
And thy hand tremble?

VICTORIAN. O, most infamous!
The Count of Lara is a worthless villain!

HYPOLITO. That is no news, forsooth.

VICTORIAN. He strove in vain
To steal from me the jewel of my soul,
The love of Preciosa. Not succeeding,
He swore to be revenged; and set on foot
A plot to ruin her, which has succeeded.
She has been hissed and hooted from the stage,
Her reputation stained by slanderous lies
Too foul to speak of; and, once more a beggar,
She roams a wanderer over God's green earth
Housing with Gypsies!

HYPOLITO. To renew again
The Age of Gold, and make the shepherd swains
Desperate with love, like Gasper Gil's Diana.
Redit et Virgo!

VICTORIAN. Dear Hypolito,
How have I wronged that meek, confiding heart!
I will go seek for her; and with my tears
Wash out the wrong I've done her!

HYPOLITO. O beware!
Act not that folly o'er again.

VICTORIAN. Ay, folly,
Delusion, madness, call it what thou wilt,
I will confess my weakness,--I still love her!
Still fondly love her!

(Enter the PADRE CURA.)

HYPOLITO. Tell us, Padre Cura,
Who are these Gypsies in the neighborhood?

PADRE CURA. Beltran Cruzado and his crew.

VICTORIAN. Kind Heaven,
I thank thee! She is found! is found again!

HYPOLITO. And have they with them a pale, beautiful girl,
Called Preciosa?

PADRE CURA. Ay, a pretty girl.
The gentleman seems moved.

HYPOLITO. Yes, moved with hunger,
He is half famished with this long day's journey.

PADRE CURA. Then, pray you, come this way. The supper waits.

[Exeunt.]

Content of ACT III: SCENE III [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's play/drama: The Spanish Student]

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