The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 30

[108] Stage-direction om. Remorse.

[120] some] same Remorse.

[121-2]

He proved a traitor, Betrayed the mystery to a brother traitor

Remorse.

[125-7] om. Remorse.

[131] Stage-direction om. Remorse.

[Between 143 and 145.]

With weak and womanish scruples. Now my vengeance Beckons me onwards with a warrior's mien, And claims that life, my pity robb'd her of-- Now will I kill thee, thankless slave, and count it

Remorse.

[Affixed to 147.] _Ferdinand on hearing the threat of Osorio feels a momentary horror at the consequences of his being killed, and in tones of mingled fear and sorrow_--

And all my little ones fatherless!

_then bursting into indignation_ 'Die thou first',

MS. III.

[After 147]

[_They fight. ORDONIO disarms ISIDORE, and in disarming him throws his sword up that recess opposite to which they were standing. ISIDORE hurries into the recess with his torch, ORDONIO follows him; a loud cry of 'Traitor! Monster!' is heard from the cavern, and in a moment ORDONIO returns alone._

_Ordonio._ I have hurl'd him down the chasm! treason for treason.

He dreamt of it, henceforward let him sleep, A dreamless sleep, from which no wife can wake him.

His dream too is made out--Now for his friend. [_Exit. ORDONIO._

Remorse.

[148-51] om. Remorse.

[150] Now] So MS. III.

[Affixed to 150.] 'Ferdinand's death is not sufficiently explained to the Audience. There should be a struggling behind the scene, as if Osorio had taken him unawares, and was hurrying him down the Precipice.

An exclamation or even groans would add still more to the interest of the scene.' MS. III erased.

[152-234] om. Remorse. vide _ante_ The Foster-Mother's Tale: a Dramatic Fragment, pp. 182-4.

[Between 152 and 246:]

SCENE II

_The interior Court of a Saracenic or Gothic Castle with the iron gate of a dungeon visible._

_Teresa._ Heart-chilling Superst.i.tion! thou canst glaze Ev'n Pity's eye with her own frozen tear.

In vain I urge the tortures that await him: Even Selma, reverend guardian of my childhood, My second mother, shuts her heart against me!

Well, I have won from her what most imports The present need, this secret of the dungeon Known only to herself.--A Moor! a Sorcerer!

No, I have faith, that nature ne'er permitted Baseness to wear a form so n.o.ble. True, I doubt not, that Ordonio had suborned him To act some part in some unholy fraud; As little doubt, that for some unknown purpose He hath baffled his suborner, terror-struck him, And that Ordonio meditates revenge!

But my resolve is fixed! myself will rescue him, And learn if haply he knew aught of Alvar.

_Enter VALDEZ._

_Valdez._ Still sad?--and gazing at the ma.s.sive door Of that fell dungeon which thou ne'er had'st sight of, Save what, perchance, thy infant fancy shap'd it When the nurse still'd thy cries with unmeant threats.

Now by my faith, girl! this same wizard haunts thee!

A stately man, and eloquent and tender-- Who then need wonder if a lady sighs Even at the thought of what these stern Dominicans--

_Teresa._ The horror of their ghastly punishments Doth so o'ertop the height of all compa.s.sion, That I should feel too little for mine enemy, If it were possible I could feel more, Even though the dearest inmates of our household Were doom'd to suffer them. That such things are--

Remorse.

[155] _Maria._ 'Tis strange] _Teresa._ 'Tis said MS. III.

[157] _Foster-Mother_] _Selma_ Corr. in MS. III.

[165-6]

O honor'd Selma! this strange man has left me Wilder'd with stranger fancies than yon moon

Corr. in MS. III.

[169]

She gazes idly!

_Ter._ But that entrance, Selma

Corr. in MS. III.

[170] _Foster-Mother_] _Selma_ Corr. in MS. III.

[171] _Maria_] _Teresa._ _Foster-Mother_] _Selma_ Corr. in MS. III.

[172] Leoni] Sesina Corr. in MS. III.

[180] Velez] Valdez Corr. in MS. III.

[201] Velez] Valdez Corr. in MS. III.

[212] And once as he was working near this dungeon Corr. in MS. III.

[221] _Maria_] _Teresa_ Corr. in MS. III.