Six One-Act Plays Part 7

CAFOUR--Thou saidst "brave." Send down and see if he lives.

GENERAL--He could not live.

CAFOUR--He could not die. He is young, strong, happy,--he could not die.

GENERAL--If he lives, I will have him shot for trying to escape.

CAFOUR--Thou saidst "brave," thou wouldst not kill him?

GENERAL--As I would kill all infidels who fight against Spain and our holy religion.

CAFOUR--I do not fight against thy country, or thy G.o.d. I beg for the life of my boy. He is not dead. I know he is not dead. Perhaps he fell into a tree, and is only hurt. Send down the soldiers and see.

GENERAL--(_To Cafour._) Go!

CAFOUR--Send down the soldiers and see, Allah will put a blessing on thy house. He will give thy son his delight. He will make his children to rule over men.

GENERAL--Infidel! I care not for thy blessing. (_To Pedro._) Take her.

CAFOUR--Oh, heart that is dead to pity! As my child is lost to me, so thy child shall be lost to thee! Allah will make it so.

GENERAL--Take her away!

(_Cafour is led out by a soldier._)

GENERAL--(_To Hafiz._) A boy to capture thee! Surely Allah slept while thou didst pray in the Mosque, Hafiz!

HAFIZ--He will not sleep forever.

GENERAL--Ye serve a G.o.d who betrays. Renounce thy false Mohammed, thy futile faith--

HAFIZ--Is faith so lightly changed?

GENERAL--Believe in the holy church.

HAFIZ--Is there but one road to Paradise, but one G.o.d who points the way?

GENERAL--There is the true G.o.d of the Christians.

HAFIZ--(_Bitterly._) Shall I measure the depth of his mercy by--thine?

GENERAL--Beware lest thy tongue cut thy throat.

HAFIZ--I shall give it fair chance.

GENERAL--Thou art too wise to throw thy life away. A man of thy cunning could be of value to the King.

HAFIZ--The King! A weakling whose brain's befogged with the ignorance and bigotry of women and priests. Hafiz has not fallen so low he can serve such a one.

GENERAL--The King will give thee freedom and safe pa.s.sage to Africa if thou wilt but place in his hands the plans of those Moriscoes who head this uprising.

HAFIZ--Yea, turn traitor to serve a traitor, and after I betray my people, be traitorously killed.

GENERAL--Philip does not forget those who work for the welfare of the crown.

HAFIZ--Am I a miserable animal that experience has not taught me how short is the memory of Kings? Have I not heard of that Italian who found land beyond the farthest seas, and gave Spain a greater glory than she had ever known? Unhappy voyager, he sailed to a death of obscurity and neglect! Thy Kings are destroyers, and we who build, fear the jackals who tear down.

GENERAL--I warn thee, Hafiz, tolerance will not stretch much further.

HAFIZ--Tolerance! Spain does not know the word. Thou hast banished the Jews, thou hast given the rack, the gibbet and the stake to the Christian heretics, thou wilt kill and exile the Moors. But beware, we are the growers of rice and sugar, of cotton and silk, how will Spain live when these fail?

GENERAL--Enough! Cool thy Moorish spleen in the dungeon. When fasting brings discretion, thou mayest talk more soberly.

HAFIZ--Glut thy pious hatred as the priests and fanatic Kings dictate.

Spain's life is the price! Her glory will go with the going of the Moor.

GENERAL--Away with him.

(_The guards march the Moors off the stage._)

PEDRO--He hath an evil tongue.

GENERAL--The honor of Spain is not to be attacked. (_To Pedro._) He must have no food until I give thee word.

(_Exit Pedro. Enter Rodriguez._)

RODRIGUEZ--Father, I tried to see thee last night, and thy door was closed to me. I craved but thy blessing.

GENERAL--I know of thy bravery. All Spain will praise thee.

RODRIGUEZ--I want no praise.

GENERAL--Thou hast chosen thy way. Is it bitter so soon?

RODRIGUEZ--Can it be aught but bitter when thou hast turned against me?

Am I not of thy blood, flesh of thy flesh?

GENERAL--Why dost thou come back to me?

RODRIGUEZ--Last night when I faced the Moor, Death stood grinning at my side, and I was afraid. Suddenly I thought of thee and my childhood. I forgot everything that success or failure might bring, I fought only to win thy love. My arm grew strong, and the grim spectre at my side faded, for Love was stronger than Death!

GENERAL--Hast thou given up this girl?

RODRIGUEZ--(_Slowly._) No!

GENERAL--(_Coldly._) It shall be my duty to report to the King and ask for thy promotion. Thou art a brave soldier, and Spain will not be slow to honor thee.

RODRIGUEZ--I seek no honor from my country-men. I beg only for thy love.