Category: Historical Novels

The Sorceress: A Drama in Five Acts

Scene.--On the heights overlooking the left bank of the River Tagus. In the foreground is a road. Flinty rocks, plants and shrubs rise from right to left towards higher rocks above which they disappear in a gap. From the gap to the foreground a stony pathway descends in a curv...

Chapters

5. Scene Four

[Farez disappears at right, Enrique and Arias going to the left, where, screened by rocks and bushes from Zoraya's view, they watch her. Zoraya appears near the gap, coming slow...

10. Scene Four

ENRIQUE. Not one person! (He places on the stool his mantle, his hat and his sword.) I did not come by way of the bridge, but by the path up the hillside after crossing the rive...

20. Scene Five

ENRIQUE. (Stopping at the foot of the stairway on seeing Zoraya veiled) Who are you, woman, and why do you not leave with the others? (Zoraya is silent.) Do you not hear me?--Wh...

29. Scene Seven

ZORAYA. Ah! her confessions!--made under the threats of your tortures! (Movements among the members of the Tribunal) You can find whatever pleases you with the aid of him, there...

34. Scene Four

PADILLA. (Coming quickly out of the church with Enrique) Stop! (The organ ceases to play. Songs of young girls are heard in the church.) Is it you, sorceress, who have plunged m...

21. Scene Six

CARDENOS. (Coldly) Neither one nor the other!--I am here by order of the Holy-Office to arrest this woman (movement by Enrique to rejoin and protect Zoraya) who practises sorcery.

13. Scene Seven

ZORAYA. And also that of the Koran--In that our religions are the same!--Seat yourself, my daughter (she sits upon the cushions at her side)--and tell me your trouble.

18. Scene Three

[While dance music is being played, the great double door of the chamber is thrown open--the guests crowd to the windows. The women arrange themselves at the left of the patio,...

32. Scene Two

RAMIRO. (Turning and quickly going to him) Ah! my lord! What a relief your deliverance is to those who love you! (He kisses his hand.) And what joy you, yourself, must feel!

4. Scene Three

THE GOATHERD. Certainly, my lord. I have often seen her at night wandering on the heights and making conjurations to the moon, so I was not surprised to see her up there at dayb...

16. Scene One

DOÑA RUFINA. (Seating herself in a chair which Ramiro places at the left) No!--I have just arrived from Aranjuez, bringing the Queen's gift to the bride--a very costly girdle-bu...

9. Scene Three

ZORAYA. (Reëntering the scene) After waiting for him all night I finally fell asleep. They awakened me and I heard your voice. I believed he was there, and I nearly betrayed mys...

23. Scene One

[The Members of the Tribunal, Fray Eugenio Calabazas, and Fray Teofilo Ibarra, Dominicans, later Cleofas, Oliveira, Fray Miguel Molina and Fray Hernando Albornos, Franciscans. A...

27. Scene Five

[Gil Andrès makes both women enter at the left at the same time. The younger one remains at the foot of the stage between the two aides, while Gil Andrès pushes before him old A...

28. Scene Six

XIMÉNÈS. An insult is not a reply!--She affirms; you deny. The accusation stands. And the Tribunal judges. (To Gil Andrès) Bring the other. (They make come forward Manuela, who...

31. Scene One

[There are few persons in the scene, with the exception of some men conversing near the doors. A group of gentlemen, among them Cristobol, Velasco and Rioubos, enter from the al...

7. Scene One

ZAGUIR. Here!--last night at sunset, I saw sitting and conversing near the path which leads down toward the bridge of San Martino, perhaps a hundred paces or more from this hous...

25. Scene Three

[The same persons, Ximénès, Gil Andrès, Keeper of the Jail, two monks, two aides to Gil Andrès stand at the entrance of the iron door at the left. Two Franciscan monks watch at...

26. Scene Four

CLEOFAS. With the permission of Your Eminence, before the accused is questioned, I should like to inform the Tribunal that, contrary to the royal edict, she has persisted in con...

3. Scene Two

ENRIQUE. Be considerate, Ramiro. They have the right to speak in their own defence. (He is assisted in stepping upon a piece of rock at the right of the scene. He seats himself...

12. Scene Six

FATOUM. They know little or nothing. I have come to you because your father--on him rested Allah's benediction--was their master in everything and taught you the secrets of his...

19. Scene Four

[Don Enrique, accompanied by Lopez de Padilla and other cavaliers and gentlemen, descends from the banquet chamber in the midst of an uproar of congratulations and salutations,...

11. Scene Five

AISHA. I have again given Al Mansour's wife that black liquor which lessens her husband's sufferings. I also gave a purse of gold to Farizade. Poor Saada is here again. She is d...

15. ACT THREE

Scene--Evening in a Spanish patio in the governor's palace. It is seen obliquely. In the foreground and on the three other sides a portico of columns surrounds the central space...

2. Scene One

[Arias and the Archers are clutching and dragging towards the right peasant men and women, whom they have come to arrest. All of the prisoners are loudly protesting, except Fare...

24. Scene Two

D'AGUILAR. With the assistance of a woman!--Both were fleeing towards the river when stopped by pedestrians, who heard shouts in the distance. The fugitives were flung to the ea...

6. ACT TWO

Scene--A Moorish chamber with three arches. Beyond is seen a garden similar to that of the Generalife of Granada, with a fountain and a narrow canal bordered with trimmed yew tr...

17. Scene Two

[Zoraya, veiled, cautiously enters unnoticed from the street and goes to the middle of the foreground. While getting her bearings, she sees Fatoum on the landing-place and goes...

33. Scene Three

CALABAZAS. (Standing at the head of the steps) Woman, the Inquisition has delivered you over for punishment to Toledo. Before you are purified by fire, make a public penance on...

22. ACT FOUR

Scene.--The meeting place of the Tribunal of the Inquisition. It is a low-vaulted chamber with ogive arches, lighted with candles. On the walls are religious paintings. At the f...

30. ACT FIVE

Scene--Before the Door of the Lions of the Cathedral of Toledo. At the right, the portal in front of which are a number of steps. In the foreground, an alley. There are two othe...

1. ACT ONE

Scene.--On the heights overlooking the left bank of the River Tagus. In the foreground is a road. Flinty rocks, plants and shrubs rise from right to left towards higher rocks ab...

8. Scene Two

AISHA. Zaguir, who has no right to be here!--but he has a good excuse--since yesterday he has seen men prowling round the house. (She points to the right, Zoraya crosses the sce...

14. Scene Eight

ZAGUIR. Yes, mistress!--Far into the city, but I lost them in the crowd. All of the world seems to be in the streets, for there is a great fête.