LITMIR.BIZ

SCENE III. — The Prado. A long avenue of trees leading to the

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      gate of Atocha. On the right the dome and spires of a convent. A fountain. Evening, DON CARLOS and HYPOLITO meeting.

      Don C. Hola! good evening, Don Hypolito.

       Hyp. And a good evening to my friend, Don Carlos.

      Some lucky star has led my steps this way.

      I was in search of you.

       Don. C. Command me always.

       Hyp. Do you remember, in Quevedo's Dreams,

      The miser, who, upon the Day of Judgment,

      Asks if his money-bags would rise?

       Don C. I do;

      But what of that?

       Hyp. I am that wretched man.

       Don C. You mean to tell me yours have risen empty?

       Hyp. And amen! said my Cid the Campeador.

       Don C. Pray, how much need you?

       Hyp. Some half-dozen ounces,

      Which, with due interest—

       Don C. (giving his purse). What, am I a Jew

      To put my moneys out at usury?

      Here is my purse.

       Hyp. Thank you. A pretty purse.

      Made by the hand of some fair Madrilena;

      Perhaps a keepsake.

       Don C. No, 't is at your service.

       Hyp. Thank you again. Lie there, good Chrysostom,

      And with thy golden mouth remind me often,

      I am the debtor of my friend.

       Don C. But tell me,

      Come you to-day from Alcala?

       Hyp. This moment.

       Don C. And pray, how fares the brave Victorian?

       Hyp. Indifferent well; that is to say, not well.

      A damsel has ensnared him with the glances

      Of her dark, roving eyes, as herdsmen catch

      A steer of Andalusia with a lazo.

      He is in love.

       Don C. And is it faring ill

      To be in love?

       Hyp. In his case very ill.

       Don C. Why so?

       Hyp. For many reasons. First and foremost,

      Because he is in love with an ideal;

      A creature of his own imagination;

      A child of air; an echo of his heart;

      And, like a lily on a river floating,

      She floats upon the river of his thoughts!

       Don C. A common thing with poets. But who is

      This floating lily? For, in fine, some woman,

      Some living woman—not a mere ideal—

      Must wear the outward semblance of his thought.

      Who is it? Tell me.

       Hyp. Well, it is a woman!

      But, look you, from the coffer of his heart

      He brings forth precious jewels to adorn her,

      As pious priests adorn some favorite saint

      With gems and gold, until at length she gleams

      One blaze of glory. Without these, you know,

      And the priest's benediction, 't is a doll.

       Don C. Well, well! who is this doll?

       Hyp. Why, who do you think?

       Don C. His cousin Violante.

       Hyp. Guess again.

      To ease his laboring heart, in the last storm

      He threw her overboard, with all her ingots.

       Don C. I cannot guess; so tell me who it is.

       Hyp. Not I.

       Don. C. Why not?

       Hyp. (mysteriously). Why? Because Mari Franca

      Was married four leagues out of Salamanca!

       Don C. Jesting aside, who is it?

       Hyp. Preciosa.

       Don C. Impossible! The Count of Lara tells me

      She is not virtuous.

       Hyp. Did I say she was?

      The Roman Emperor Claudius had a wife

      Whose name was Messalina, as I think;

      Valeria Messalina was her name.

      But hist! I see him yonder through the trees,

      Walking as in a dream.

       Don C. He comes this way.

       Hyp. It has been truly said by some wise man,

      That money, grief, and love cannot be hidden.

      (Enter VICTORIAN in front.)

      Vict. Where'er thy step has passed is holy ground!

      These groves are sacred! I behold thee walking

      Under these shadowy trees, where we have walked

      At evening, and I feel thy presence now;

      Feel that the place has taken a charm from thee,

      And is forever hallowed.

       Hyp. Mark him well!

      See how he strides away with lordly air,

      Like that odd guest of stone, that grim Commander

      Who

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