Count Alarcos; a Tragedy - LightNovelsOnl.com
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V:2:18 2ND GUEST.
What he so rich?
V:2:19 1ST GUEST.
The same.
V:2:20 2ND GUEST.
The Lara smiles on him.
V:2:21 1ST GUEST.
No worthier quarry
V:2:22 3RD GUEST.
Who has the vacant Masters.h.i.+p?
V:2:23 4TH GUEST.
I'll back The Count of Leon.
V:2:24 3RD GUEST.
Likely; he stands well With the Lord Admiral.
[They move away.]
[The Counts of SIDONIA and LEON come forward.]
V:2:25 LEON.
Doubt as you like, Credulity will come, and in good season.
V:2:26 SIDO.
She is not here that would confirm your tale.
V:2:27 LEON.
'Tis history, my Sidonia. Strange events Have happened, stranger come.
V:2:28 SIDO.
I'll not believe it.
And favoured by the King! What can it mean?
V:2:29 LEON.
What no one dares to say.
V:2:30 SIDO.
A clear divorce.
O that accursed garden! But for that--
V:2:31 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.
V:2:32 SIDO.
Hus.h.!.+ here comes Alarcos and the King.
[They retire: the KING and COUNT ALARCOS advance.]
V:2:33 KING.
Solisa looks A Queen.
V:2:34 ALAR.
The mirror of her earliest youth Ne'er shadowed her so fair!
V:2:35 KING.
I am young again, Myself to-night. It quickens my old blood To see my n.o.bles round me. This goes well.
'Tis Courts like these that make a King feel proud.
Thy future subjects, cousin.
V:2:36 ALAR.
Gracious Sire, I would be one.
V:2:37 KING.
Our past seclusion lends A l.u.s.tre to this revel.
[The KING approaches the Count of LEON; SOLISA advances to ALARCOS.]
V:2:38 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.
V:2:39 ALAR.
'Tis pa.s.sion makes me grave.
I muse upon thy beauty. Thus I'd read My oppressed spirit, for in truth these sounds Jar on my humour.
V:2:40 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.
V:2:41 ALAR.
Thy fancy Outruns the truth but scantly.
V:2:42 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.
V:2:43 ALAR.
And yet I share them.
V:2:44 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?
V:2:45 ALAR.
And were it done-- Why then 'twere not to do.
