登陆注册
15729400000019

第19章

Trifle with me no more.For otherwise We are no longer friends.And so, fare well!

[Exit.

Hyp.Now what a coil is here! The Avenging Child Hunting the traitor Quadros to his death, And the Moor Calaynos, when he rode To Paris for the ears of Oliver, Were nothing to him! O hot-headed youth!

But come; we will not follow.Let us join The crowd that pours into the Prado.There We shall find merrier company; I see The Marialonzos and the Almavivas, And fifty fans, that beckon me already.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.-- PRECIOSA'S chamber.She is sitting, with a book in her hand, near a table, on which are flowers.A bird singing in its cage.The COUNT OF LARA enters behind unperceived.

Prec.(reads).

All are sleeping, weary heart!

Thou, thou only sleepless art!

Heigho! I wish Victorian were here.

I know not what it is makes me so restless!

(The bird sings.)

Thou little prisoner with thy motley coat, That from thy vaulted, wiry dungeon singest, Like thee I am a captive, and, like thee, I have a gentle jailer.Lack-a-day!

All are sleeping, weary heart!

Thou, thou only sleepless art!

All this throbbing, all this aching, Evermore shall keep thee waking, For a heart in sorrow breaking Thinketh ever of its smart!

Thou speakest truly, poet! and methinks More hearts are breaking in this world of ours Than one would say.In distant villages And solitudes remote, where winds have wafted The barbed seeds of love, or birds of passage Scattered them in their flight, do they take root, And grow in silence, and in silence perish.

Who hears the falling of the forest leaf?

Or who takes note of every flower that dies?

Heigho! I wish Victorian would come.

Dolores!

(Turns to lay down her boot and perceives the COUNT.)Ha!

Lara.Senora, pardon me.

Prec.How's this? Dolores!

Lara.Pardon me--

Prec.Dolores!

Lara.Be not alarmed; I found no one in waiting.

If I have been too bold--

Prec.(turning her back upon him).You are too bold!

Retire! retire, and leave me!

Lara.My dear lady, First hear me! I beseech you, let me speak!

'T is for your good I come.

Prec.(turning toward him with indignation).Begone! begone!

You are the Count of Lara, but your deeds Would make the statues of your ancestors Blush on their tombs! Is it Castilian honor, Is it Castilian pride, to steal in here Upon a friendless girl, to do her wrong?

O shame! shame ! shame! that you, a nobleman, Should be so little noble in your thoughts As to send jewels here to win my love, And think to buy my honor with your gold!

I have no words to tell you how I scorn you!

Begone! The sight of you is hateful to me!

Begone, I say!

Lara.Be calm; I will not harm you.

Prec.Because you dare not.

Lara.I dare anything!

Therefore beware! You are deceived in me.

In this false world, we do not always know Who are our friends and who our enemies.

We all have enemies, and all need friends.

Even you, fair Preciosa, here at court Have foes, who seek to wrong you.

Prec.If to this I owe the honor of the present visit, You might have spared the coming.Raving spoken, Once more I beg you, leave me to myself.

Lara.I thought it but a friendly part to tell you What strange reports are current here in town.

For my own self, I do not credit them;

But there are many who, not knowing you, Will lend a readier ear.

Prec.There was no need That you should take upon yourself the duty Of telling me these tales.

Lara.Malicious tongues Are ever busy with your name.

Prec.Alas!

I've no protectors.I am a poor girl, Exposed to insults and unfeeling jests.

They wound me, yet I cannot shield myself.

I give no cause for these reports.I live Retired; am visited by none.

Lara.By none?

O, then, indeed, you are much wronged!

Prec.How mean you?

Lara.Nay, nay; I will not wound your gentle soul By the report of idle tales.

Prec.Speak out!

What are these idle tales? You need not spare me.

Lara.I will deal frankly with you.Pardon me This window, as I think, looks toward the street, And this into the Prado, does it not?

In yon high house, beyond the garden wall,--You see the roof there just above the trees,--There lives a friend, who told me yesterday, That on a certain night,--be not offended If I too plainly speak,--he saw a man Climb to your chamber window.You are silent!

I would not blame you, being young and fair--(He tries to embrace her.She starts back, and draws a dagger from her bosom.)Prec.Beware! beware! I am a Gypsy girl!

Lay not your hand upon me.One step nearer And I will strike!

Lara.Pray you, put up that dagger.

Fear not.

Prec.I do not fear.I have a heart In whose strength I can trust.

Lara.Listen to me I come here as your friend,--I am your friend,--And by a single word can put a stop To all those idle tales, and make your name Spotless as lilies are.Here on my knees, Fair Preciosa! on my knees I swear, I love you even to madness, and that love Has driven me to break the rules of custom, And force myself unasked into your presence.

(VICTORIAN enters behind.)

Prec.Rise, Count of Lara! That is not the place For such as you are.It becomes you not To kneel before me.I am strangely moved To see one of your rank thus low and humbled;For your sake I will put aside all anger, All unkind feeling, all dislike, and speak In gentleness, as most becomes a woman, And as my heart now prompts me.I no more Will hate you, for all hate is painful to me.

But if, without offending modesty And that reserve which is a woman's glory, I may speak freely, I will teach my heart To love you.

Lara.O sweet angel!

Prec.Ay, in truth, Far better than you love yourself or me.

Lara.Give me some sign of this,--the slightest token.

Let me but kiss your hand!

Prec.Nay, come no nearer.

The words I utter are its sign and token.

Misunderstand me not! Be not deceived!

The love wherewith I love you is not such As you would offer me.For you come here To take from me the only thing I have, My honor.You are wealthy, you have friends And kindred, and a thousand pleasant hopes That fill your heart with happiness; but IAm poor, and friendless, having but one treasure, And you would take that from me, and for what?

同类推荐
  • 饵黄精

    饵黄精

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 寓简

    寓简

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 指头画说

    指头画说

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 青州百问

    青州百问

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 云仙杂记

    云仙杂记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 美腻驸马

    美腻驸马

    一届女神医居然穿再一个乞丐身上。不过这个乞丐好像来历不小呢。“啊!你不要追啊,我不喜欢你,我喜欢的是公主呢”看我虐追公主啊。
  • 狐王大大求不吃

    狐王大大求不吃

    某男一脸黑气“再哭爷就吃了你!”“……呜哇!!!!”“……”手里拎着某女,面色不善道“你再乱跑一次,爷让你分分钟下肚!”“不要!不要!爷你会消化不良滴!”某女眨巴着狡黠的大眼睛。“放心好了,爷对自己的胃很有自信!”阿勒?爷!你不是只钟爱于鸡腿么?!这副真的要分分钟想把她吃了的节奏是要闹哪样?!
  • 武道之星

    武道之星

    武星降世,天下大乱被穿越之后林凡握着咸菜馒头发誓,终有一日,我要在这大地上竖起属于我的丰碑,建起我的武城
  • 灵异祭坛

    灵异祭坛

    得到我师傅的真传,我却没有天赋学,只能学一点简单的道术和符咒,看我降妖除魔的经历,一步一步的爬上强者之路,与命运的抗争,一切精彩皆在灵异祭坛!
  • 我们是在为自己工作

    我们是在为自己工作

    本书内容包括:工作保障生存——工作就是为自己干的、工作奠基事业——没有职业何谈事业、工作磨砺人品——好人品助你打开成功大门、工作积累人脉——人脉为成功插上腾飞的翅膀、工作实现自我——在工作中展示自我挥洒自我等。
  • 君难托:中国古代知识分子的阴性书写

    君难托:中国古代知识分子的阴性书写

    讲述了综观中国古典诗词,由男性作者使用女性形象与女性语言来创作的现象就颇为普遍,《君难托:中国古代知识分子及其阴性书写》大量援引唐宋词来说明这一现象。若就美学的观点言之,很多唐宋小词确乎体现了一种“双性人格”的特质。当然,古之作者未必有意追求这种特质。这些男性的作者,竟然在剪红刻翠、无边风月的游戏之作中,无意间展示了一种深隐于男性心灵中的女性化情思。与其他言志载道的诗文大为不同的是,这种表达更加细微幽约,更显阴性势态。
  • 明知道没有结果

    明知道没有结果

    一见钟情浪漫邂逅班级风波重重谣言舆论满天飞
  • 没有生命可以重来

    没有生命可以重来

    本书是小小说集。本书主要以乡土小小说为主,试图通过细腻而厚重的笔触来描绘出作者内心深处的那个故乡,构建一种乡村精神的图腾。
  • 绿星同学

    绿星同学

    现代涉及外星人科幻作品汗牛充栋,套路是赋予外星人无所不能强悍本领:穿墙越壁、力大无穷、死而复生等等奇幻功能。然后就是为掠夺、为邪恶目标与地球人开展血腥的打斗、星球大战……本文摒弃虚幻和血腥、注重科学和逻辑、遵循科学常理,开创描写外星人文学的离经叛道的新思路。您将要看到的天外来客科学发达、技能超前,低调但是文明理性。阐述了外星文明暂时回避我们没有和地球人握手的原因。本文效法《海底两万里》,科学思维有点超前。用逻辑和理性剖析地球科学目前所误入的歧途,介绍了外星智慧巧妙地消除了雷电灾害、利用其能源。喜欢新思维、喜欢逻辑推理的朋友可以看到逻辑严谨的思辨,看到近代科学的困境,把读者引向更深入的思考。
  • 金刚经感应分类辑要

    金刚经感应分类辑要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。