DRAMATIS PERSONE. MARQUIS VALDEZ, father to the two brothers, and Doña TERESA's Guardian. DON ALVAR, the eldest son. DON ORDONIO, the youngest son. MONVIEDRO, a Dominican and inquisitor. ZULIMEZ, the faithful attendant on ALVAR. ISIDORE, a Moresco chieftain, ostensibly a Christian. Familiars of the Inquisition. NAOMI. Moors, Servants, &c. DONA TERESA, an orphan heiress. ALHADRA, wife of ISIDORE. Time-The reign of PHILIP II., just at the close of the civil wars against the Moors, and during the heat of the persecution which raged against them, shortly after the edict which forbade the wearing of Moresco apparel under pain of death. REMORSE. ACT I. SCENE I.-The sea-shore on the coast of Granada. Don Alvar, wrapt in a boat cloak, and Zulimez (a Moresco), both as just landed. Zul. No sound, no face of joy to welcome us! Zul. Then claim your rights in it! O, revered Don Alvar It is too hazardous ! reveal yourself, And let the guilty meet the doom of guilt! Alv. Remember, Zulimez! I am his brother, Injured indeed! O deeply injured! yet Ordonio's brother. Zul. Nobly minded Alvar! This sure but gives his guilt a blacker dye. Alv. The more behooves it, I should rouse within him Remorse! that I should save him from himself. Zul. Remorse is as the heart in which it grows: If that be gentle, it drops balmy dews Of true repentance; but if proud and gloomy, Alv. And of a brother, Dare I hold this, unproved? nor make one effort To save him?—Hear me, friend! I have yet to tell thee, And at the imminent hazard of his own. Add too my oath Zul. You have thrice told already The years of absence and of secrecy, To which a forced oath bound you: if in truth Left me no choice: the very wish too languished Zul. Heavy presumption ! Alv. It weighed not with me— -Hark! I will tell thee all ; As we passed by, I bade thee mark the base The morning of the day of my departure. Had'st thou seen How in each motion her most innocent soul Beamed forth and brightened, thou thyself would'st tell me, Guilt is a thing impossible in her! She must be innocent! Zul. Proceed, my lord! Alv. A portrait which she had procured by stealth, For even then it seems her heart foreboded Or knew Ordonio's moody rivalry) A portrait of herself with thrilling hand She tied around my neck, conjuring me, Knew that which none but she could have disclosed. Alv. My own life wearied me! And but for the imperative voice within, With mine own hand I had thrown off the burthen. That voice, which quelled me, calmed me and I sought The Belgic states: there joined the better cause; And there too fought as one that courted death! And still the more I mused, my soul became Zul. Be assured That it remains uninjured. Alv. Thus disguised I will first seek to meet Ordonio's-wife! If possible, alone too. This was her wonted walk, Zul. Will they not know you? Alv. With your aid, friend, I shall unfearingly Add too my youth ;-since last we saw each other, The bodily sense is slow to recognize. Zul. 'Tis yours, sir, to command, mine to obey. Alv. I know it well: it is the obscurest haunt [both stand listening.] Voices at a distance! Let us away! Exeunt SCENE II. Enter Teresa and Valdez Ter. I hold Ordonio dear; he is your son And Alvar's brother. Val. Love him for himself, Nor make the living wretched for the dead. Ter. I mourn that you should plead in vain, Lord Valdez; But heaven hath heard my vow, and I remain Faithful to Alvar, be he dead or living. Val. Heaven knows with what delight I saw your loves, And could my heart's blood give him back to thee |