But tell me, has a band of Gypsies passed this way of late?

 

Mosq.  Yes; and they are still in the neighborhood.

 

Don C.  And where?

 

Mosq.  Across the fields yonder, in the woods near Guadarrama.    [Exit.    1485

 

Don C.  Now this is lucky. We will visit the Gypsy camp.

 

Chispa.  Are you not afraid of the evil eye? Have you a stag’s horn with you?

 

Don C.  Fear not. We will pass the night at the village.

 

Chispa.  And sleep like the Squires of Hernan Daza, nine under one blanket.

 

Don C.  I hope we may find the Preciosa among them.    1490

 

Chispa.  Among the Squires?

 

Don C.  No; among the Gypsies, block-head!

 

Chispa.  I hope we may; for we are giving ourselves trouble enough on her account. Don’t you think so? However, there is no catching trout without wetting one’s trousers. Yonder come the horses.    [Exeunt.

 

SCENE V. — The Gypsy camp in the forest. Night. Gypsies working at a forge. Others playing cards by the firelight.

 

  Gypsies (at the forge sing).
On the top of a mountain I stand,
With a crown of red gold in my hand,    1495
Wild Moors come trooping over the lea,
Oh how from their fury shall I flee, flee, flee?
Oh how from their fury shall I flee?

 

  First Gypsy (playing).  Down with your John-Dorados, my pigeon. Down with your John-Dorados, and let us make an end.

 

Gypsies (at the forge sing).

 

  Loud sang the Spanish cavalier,    1500

 

    And thus his ditty ran;

 

  God send the Gypsy lassie here,

 

    And not the Gypsy man.

 

  First Gypsy (playing).  There you are in your morocco!

 

Second Gypsy.  One more game. The Alcalde’s doves against the Padre Cura’s new moon.    1505

 

First Gypsy.  Have at you, Chirelin.

 

Gypsies (at the forge sing).

 

  At midnight, when the moon began

 

    To show her silver flame,

 

  There came to him no Gypsy man,

 

    The Gypsy lassie came.
(Enter BELTRAN CRUZADO.)    1510

 

Cruz.  Come hither, Murcigalleros and Rastilleros; leave work, leave play; listen to your orders for the night.  (Speaking to the right.)  You will get you to the village, mark you, by the stone cross.

 

Gypsies.  Ay!

 

Cruz. (to the left).  And you, by the pole with the hermit’s head upon it.

 

Gypsies.  Ay!

 

Cruz.  As soon as you see the planets are out, in with you, and be busy with the ten commandments, under the sly, and Saint Martin asleep. D’ ye hear?    1515

 

Gypsies.  Ay!

 

Cruz.  Keep your lanterns open, and, if you see a goblin or a papagayo, take to your trampers. Vineyards and Dancing John is the word. Am I comprehended?

 

Gypsies.  Ay! ay!

 

Cruz.  Away, then!
(Exeunt severally. CRUZADO walks up the stage, and disappears among the trees. Enter PRECIOSA.)

 

Prec.  How strangely gleams through the gigantic trees,    1520
The red light of the forge! Wild, beckoning shadows
Stalk through the forest, ever and anon
Rising and bending with the flickering flame,
Then flitting into darkness! So within me
Strange hopes and fears do beckon to each other,    1525
My brightest hopes giving dark fears a being
As the light does the shadow. Woe is me!
How still it is about me, and how lonely!
(BARTOLOMÉ rushes in.)

 

Bart.  Ho! Preciosa!

 

Prec.                    O Bartolomé!
Thou here?

 

Bart.        Lo! I am here.

 

Prec.                    Whence comest thou?

 

Bart.  From the rough ridges of the wild Sierra,    1530
From caverns in the rocks, from hunger thirst,
And fever! Like a wild wolf to the sheep-fold
Come I for thee my lamb.

 

Prec.                Oh, touch me not!
The Count of Lara’s blood is on thy hands!
The Count of Lara’s curse is on thy soul!    1535
Do not come near me! Pray, begone from here!
Thou art in danger! They have set a price
Upon thy head!

 

Bart.        Ay, and I ‘ve wandered long
Among the mountains; and for many days
Have seen no human face, save the rough swineherd’s.    1540
The wind and rain have been my sole companions.
I shouted to them from the rocks thy name,
And the loud echo sent it back to me,
Till I grew mad. I could not stay from thee,
And I am here! Betray me, if thou wilt.    1545

 

Prec.  Betray thee? I betray thee?

 

Bart.                        Preciosa!
I come for thee! for thee I thus brave death!
Fly with me o’er the borders of this realm!
Fly with me!

 

Prec.  Speak of that no more. I cannot.    1550
I ‘m thine no longer.

 

Bart.                Oh, recall the time
When we were children! how we played together,
How we grew up together; how we plighted
Our hearts unto each other, even in childhood!
Fulfil thy promise, for the hour has come.    1555
I ‘m hunted from the kingdom, like a wolf!
Fulfil thy promise.

 

Prec.        ‘T was my father’s promise,
Not mine. I never gave my heart to thee,
Nor promised thee my hand!

 

Bart.            False tongue of woman!

 

And heart more false!

 

Prec.                Nay, listen unto me.    1560
I will speak frankly. I have never loved thee;
I cannot love thee. This is not my fault,
It is my destiny. Thou art a man
Restless and violent. What wouldst thou with me,
A feeble girl, who have not long to live,    1565
Whose heart is broken? Seek another wife,
Better than I, and fairer; and let not
Thy rash and headlong moods estrange her from thee.
Thou art unhappy in this hopeless passion.
I never sought thy love; never did aught    1570
To make thee love me. Yet I pity thee,
And most of all I pity thy wild heart,
That hurries thee to crimes and deeds of blood.
Beware, beware of that.

 

Bart.                For thy dear sake
I will be gentle. Thou shalt teach me patience.    1575

 

Prec.  Then take this farewell, and depart in peace.
Thou must not linger here.

 

Bart.                Come, come with me.

 

Prec.  Hark! I hear footsteps.

 

Bart.                I entreat thee, come!

 

Prec.  Away! It is in vain.

 

Bart.                Wilt thou not come?

 

Prec.  Never!    1580

 

Bart.  Then woe, eternal woe, upon thee!
Thou shalt not be another’s. Thou shalt die.    [Exit.

 

Prec.  All holy angels keep me in this hour!
Spirit of her who bore me, look upon me!
Mother of God, the glorified, protect me!    1585
Christ and the saints, be merciful unto me!
Yet why should I fear death? What is it to die?
To leave all disappointment, care, and sorrow,
To leave all falsehood, treachery, and unkindness,
All ignominy, suffering, and despair,    1590
And be at rest forever! O dull heart,
Be of good cheer! When thou shalt cease to beat,
Then shalt thou cease to suffer and complain!
(Enter VICTORIAN and HYPOLITO behind.)

 

Vict.  ‘T is she! Behold, how beautiful she stands
Under the tent-like trees!

 

Hyp.                A woodland nymph!    1595

 

Vict.  I pray thee, stand aside. Leave me.

 

Hyp.                        Be wary
Do not betray thyself too soon.

 

Vict. (disguising his voice).  Hist! Gypsy!

 

Prec. (aside, with emotion).  That voice! that voice from heaven! Oh, speak again!

 

Who is it calls?

 

Vict.            A friend.

 

Prec. (aside).        ‘T is he! ‘T is he!    1600
I thank thee, Heaven, that thou hast heard my prayer,
And sent me this protector! Now be strong,
Be strong, my heart! I must dissemble here.
False friend or true?

 

Vict.            A true friend to the true;
Fear not; come hither. So; can you tell fortunes?    1605

 

Prec.  Not in the dark. Come nearer to the fire.
Give me your hand. It is not crossed, I see.

 

Vict. (putting a piece of gold into her hand).  There is the cross.

 

Prec.                Is ‘t silver?

 

Vict.                    No, ‘t is gold.

 

Prec.  There ‘s a fair lady at the Court, who loves you,
And for yourself alone.

 

Vict.                Fie! the old story!    1610
Tell me a better fortune for my money;
Not this old woman’s tale!

 

Prec.                You are passionate;
And this same passionate humor in your blood
Has marred your fortune.