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_ ACT V - SCENE II
An illuminated Hall in the Royal Palace at Burgos;
in the background Dancers.
Groups of GUESTS passing.
1ST GUEST.
Radiant!
2ND GUEST.
Recalls old days.
3RD GUEST.
The Queen herself
Ne'er revelled it so high!
4TH GUEST.
The Infanta beams
Like some bright star!
5TH GUEST.
And brighter for the cloud
A moment screened her.
6TH GUEST.
Is it true 'tis over
Between the Count Sidonia and the Lara?
1ST GUEST.
A musty tale. The fair Alarcos wins him.
Where's she to-night?
2ND GUEST.
All on the watch to view
Her entrance to our world.
3RD GUEST.
The Count is here.
4TH GUEST.
Where?
3RD GUEST.
With the King; at least a moment since.
2ND GUEST.
They say she's ravishing.
4TH GUEST.
Beyond belief!
3RD GUEST.
The King affects him much.
5TH GUEST.
He's all in all.
6TH GUEST.
Yon Knight of Calatrava, who is he?
1ST GUEST.
Young Mendola.
2ND GUEST.
What he so rich?
1ST GUEST.
The same.
2ND GUEST.
The Lara smiles on him.
1ST GUEST.
No worthier quarry
3RD GUEST.
Who has the vacant Mastership?
4TH GUEST.
I'll back
The Count of Leon.
3RD GUEST.
Likely; he stands well
With the Lord Admiral.
[They move away.]
[The Counts of SIDONIA and LEON come forward.]
LEON.
Doubt as you like,
Credulity will come, and in good season.
SIDO.
She is not here that would confirm your tale.
LEON.
'Tis history, my Sidonia. Strange events
Have happened, stranger come.
SIDO.
I'll not believe it.
And favoured by the King! What can it mean?
LEON.
What no one dares to say.
SIDO.
A clear divorce.
O that accursed garden! But for that--
LEON.
'Twas not my counsel. Now I'd give a purse
To wash good Oran in Arlanzon's wave;
The dusk dog needs a cleansing.
SIDO.
Hush! here comes
Alarcos and the King.
[They retire: the KING and COUNT ALARCOS advance.]
KING.
Solisa looks
A Queen.
ALAR.
The mirror of her earliest youth
Ne'er shadowed her so fair!
KING.
I am young again,
Myself to-night. It quickens my old blood
To see my nobles round me. This goes well.
'Tis Courts like these that make a King feel proud.
Thy future subjects, cousin.
ALAR.
Gracious Sire,
I would be one.
KING.
Our past seclusion lends
A lustre to this revel.
[The KING approaches the Count of LEON; SOLISA advances to ALARCOS.]
SOL.
Why art thou grave?
I came to bid thee smile. In truth, to-night
I feel a lightness of the heart to me
Hath long been strange.
ALAR.
'Tis passion makes me grave.
I muse upon thy beauty. Thus I'd read
My oppressed spirit, for in truth these sounds
Jar on my humour.
SOL.
Now my brain is vivid
With wild and blissful images. Canst guess
What laughing thought unbidden, but resistless,
Plays o'er my mind to-night? Thou canst not guess:
Meseems it is our bridal night.
ALAR.
Thy fancy
Outruns the truth but scantly.
SOL.
Not a breath.
Our long-vexed destinies--even now their streams
Blend in one tide. It is the hour, Alarcos:
There is a spirit whispering in my ear,
The hour is come. I would I were a man
But for a rapid hour. Should I rest here,
Prattling with gladsome revellers, when time,
Steered by my hand, might bring me to a port
I long had sighed to enter? But, alas!
These are a woman's thoughts.
ALAR.
And yet I share them.
SOL.
Why not to-night? Now, when our hearts are high,
Our fancies glowing, pulses fit for kings,
And the whole frame and spirit of the man
Prepared for daring deeds?
ALAR.
And were it done--
Why then 'twere not to do.
SOL.
The mind grows dull,
Dwelling on method of its deeds too long.
Our schemes should brood as gradual as the storm;
Their acting should be lightning. How far is't?
ALAR.
An hour.
SOL.
Why it wants two to midnight yet.
O could I see thee but re-enter here,
Ere yet the midnight clock strikes on my heart
The languish of new hours--I'd not ask thee
Why I had missed the mien, that draws to it ever
My constant glance. There'd need no speech between us;
For I should meet--my husband.
ALAR.
'Tis the burthen
Of this unfilled doom weighs on my spirit.
Why am I here? My heart and face but mar
This festive hall. To-night, why not to-night?
The night will soon have past: then 'twill be done.
We'll meet again to-night.
[Exit ALARCOS.] _
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