SCENE II.—_The Garden of DONNA ANNA’S House.

_DONNA ANNA and ELVIRA at a window. Dawn._

_Elv._ Yet once more to the window?

_Anna._ Oh Elvira, For the last time! now undeceived to know How much deceived I was! Alas, until I find myself despised, Methought I was desired, till hated, loved; Was ’t not enough to know himself beloved, Without insulting her who told him so? Was ’t not enough— Oh wonder not, Elvira, at my passion; Of all these men’s enchantments, none more potent Than what might seem unlikeliest—their disdain.

_Elv._ Indeed you have good cause for anger, madam: But yet one trial more.

_Anna._ And to what end? I’ll not play Tantalus again for him. Oh shameful insult! had I dream’d of it, Would I have written him so tenderly? Told my whole heart?—But, once in love, what woman Can trust herself, alas, with pen and ink?

_Elv._ Were he to come now after all, how then? Would you reproach, or turn your back on him, Or—

_Anna._ Nay, I know not. Is ’t not possible, He is detain’d, Elvira, by the Prince Upon state business?

_Elv._ You excuse him then!

_Anna._ Oh, any thing to soothe me!

_Elv._ Who excuses Will quickly pardon.

_Anna._ Ay, if he came now, Now, as you say, Elvira, And make excuses which I knew were false, I _would_ believe them still. Would he were come Only to try. Could I be so deceived!

_Enter CESAR and LAZARO, below._

_Laz._ See you not day has dawn’d, sir?

_Ces._ Mine, I doubt, Is set for ever. Yet, in sheer despair, I come to gaze upon the empty east! But look!

_Laz._ Well, sir?

_Ces._ See you not through the twilight?

_Laz._ Yea, sir; a woman: and when I say a woman, I mean two women.

_Ces._ Oh see if it be she.

_Laz._ ’Twould make Elvira jealous, sir.

_Ces._ Oh lady, Is it you?

_Anna._ Yes I, Don Cesar: who all night Have waited on your pleasure, unsuspecting What now too well I know. My foolish passion, sir, is well revenged By shamed repentance. Oh, you came at last, Thinking belike, sir, with the morning star Retrieve the waste of night; oh, you loved me, sir, Or seem’d to do, till having won from me Confession of a love I feel no more, You turn it to disdain. Oh think not, sir, That by one little deed in love, like law, You gain the full possession of my heart For ever; and for this idle interview, Do you so profit by it as to learn Courtesy to a lady; which when learn’d Come and repeat to me.

[_Retires from window._

_Ces._ And having now Arraign’d me of the crime, why do you leave me To plead my exculpation to the winds? O Donna Anna, I call Heav’n to witness ’Twas not my negligence, but my ill star That envied me such ill-deserved delight. If it be otherwise, Or even you _suspect_ it otherwise, Spurn me, not only now, but ever, from you. Since better were it with a conscience clear Rejected, than suspiciously received. The Prince has kept me all the night with him About the city streets: your brother, who Was with us, can bear witness. Yet if still You think me guilty, but come back to say so, And let me plead once more, and you once more Condemn, and yet once more, and all in vain, If you will only but come back again!

_Anna_ (_returning to the window_). And this is true?

_Ces._ So help me Heav’n, it is! Why, could you, Anna, in your heart believe I could forget you?

_Anna._ And, Don Cesar, you That, were it so, I could forget my love? But see, the sun above the mountain-tops Begins to peep, and morn to welcome him With all her smiles and tears. We must begone. I shall another quick occasion find, When I shall call, and you—not lag behind?

_Ces._ Oh once more taken to your heart again, My shame turns glory, and delight my pain. Yet tell me—

_Anna._ Well?

_Ces._ Of your suspicions _one_ Lingers within you?

_Anna._ Ay, a legion, That at your presence to their mistress’ pride Turn traitors, and all fight on Cesar’s side!

_Ces._ Farewell then, my divine implacable!

_Anna._ Victim and idol of my eyes, farewell!

[_Exeunt severally._

_Laz._ Well, and what has my mistress to say to me? Does she also play the scornful lady?

_Elv._ I? why?

_Laz._ Because my mistress’ mistress does so to my master whose love I follow in shadow.

_Elv._ Oh, I did not understand.

_Laz._ When he’s happy then I’m jolly; When he’s sad I’m melancholy: When he’s love-infected, I With the self-same fever fretted, Either am bound like him to fry, Or if he chooses to forget it, I must even take his cue, And, Elvira, forget you. Do you enact your lady. Now, Begin. Be angry first—

_Elv._ But how?

_Laz._ Hide up, no matter how or why, Behind the window-blind, while I Underneath it caterwaul;—

_Elv._ What are the odds I don’t reply?

_Laz._ Just the odds that I don’t call.

[_Exeunt._