Chapter 17
An illuminated Hall in the Royal Palace at Burgos; in the background Dancers.
Groups of GUESTS passing.
V:2:1 1ST GUEST. Radiant!
V:2:2 2ND GUEST. Recalls old days.
V:2:3 3RD GUEST. The Queen herself Ne’er revelled it so high!
V:2:4 4TH GUEST. The Infanta beams Like some bright star!
V:2:5 5TH GUEST. And brighter for the cloud A moment screened her.
V:2:6 6TH GUEST. Is it true ‘tis over Between the Count Sidonia and the Lara?
V:2:7 1ST GUEST. A musty tale. The fair Alarcos wins him. Where’s she to-night?
V:2:8 2ND GUEST. All on the watch to view Her entrance to our world.
V:2:9 3RD GUEST. The Count is here.
V:2:10 4TH GUEST. Where?
V:2:11 3RD GUEST. With the King; at least a moment since.
V:2:12 2ND GUEST. They say she’s ravishing.
V:2:13 4TH GUEST. Beyond belief!
V:2:14 3RD GUEST. The King affects him much.
V:2:15 5TH GUEST. He’s all in all.
V:2:16 6TH GUEST. Yon Knight of Calatrava, who is he?
V:2:17 1ST GUEST. Young Mendola.
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 Mastership?
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. Hush! 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 nobles 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 lustre 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 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.
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.
V:2:46 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?
V:2:47 ALAR. An hour.
V:2:48 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.
V:2:49 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.]