The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 125

[108] I] _I_ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[109] its] his Edition 1.

[120] He was the image of the Deity. Edition 1.

[After 120] [_A pause._ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[After 122] [_A pause._ _Editions 2, 3, 1829_.

[127]

This sickness of the heart [_A pause._

Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829, &c.

[After 129] [_A pause._ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[Before 134] _Ordonio (starts, looking at him wildly; then, after a pause, during which his features are forced into a smile)._ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[145] Stole] Stoln Editions 1, 2, 3.

[161] your] _your_ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.

[After 181]

Some three yards up the hill a mountain ash Stretches its lower boughs and scarlet cl.u.s.ters O'er the old thatch.

_Ord._ I shall not fail to find it. [_Exit ORDONIO. ISIDORE goes into his Cottage._

Edition 1.

[182-95] om. Edition 1.

SCENE II

_The inside of a Cottage, around which flowers and plants of various kinds are seen. Discovers ALVAR, ZULIMEZ and ALHADRA, as on the point of leaving._

_Alhadra (addressing Alvar)._ Farewell then! and though many thoughts perplex me, Aught evil or ign.o.ble never can I Suspect of thee! If what thou seem'st thou art, The oppressed brethren of thy blood have need Of such a leader.

_Alvar._ n.o.bly-minded woman! 5 Long time against oppression have I fought, And for the native liberty of faith Have bled and suffered bonds. Of this be certain: Time, as he courses onward, still unrolls The volume of concealment. In the future, 10 As in the optician's gla.s.sy cylinder, The indistinguishable blots and colours Of the dim past collect and shape themselves, Upstarting in their own completed image To scare or to reward.

I sought the guilty, 15 And what I sought I found: but ere the spear Flew from my hand, there rose an angel form Betwixt me and my aim. With baffled purpose To the Avenger I leave vengeance, and depart!

Whate'er betide, if aught my arm may aid, 20 Or power protect, my word is pledged to thee: For many are thy wrongs, and thy soul n.o.ble.

Once more, farewell. [_Exit ALHADRA._ Yes, to the Belgic states We will return. These robes, this stained complexion, Akin to falsehood, weigh upon my spirit. 25 Whate'er befall us, the heroic Maurice Will grant us an asylum, in remembrance Of our past services.

_Zulimez._ And all the wealth, power, influence which is yours, You let a murderer hold?

_Alvar._ O faithful Zulimez! 30 That my return involved Ordonio's death, I trust, would give me an unmingled pang, Yet bearable: but when I see my father Strewing his scant grey hairs, e'en on the ground, Which soon must be his grave, and my Teresa-- 35 Her husband proved a murderer, and her infants His infants--poor Teresa!--all would perish, All perish--all! and I (nay bear with me) Could not survive the complicated ruin!

_Zulimez._ Nay now! I have distress'd you--you well know, 40 I ne'er will quit your fortunes. True,'tis tiresome!

You are a painter,[842:1] one of many fancies!

You can call up past deeds, and make them live On the blank canvas! and each little herb, That grows on mountain bleak, or tangled forest, 45 You have learnt to name---- Hark! heard you not some footsteps?

_Alvar._ What if it were my brother coming onwards?

I sent a most mysterious message to him.

_Enter ORDONIO_

_Alvar._ It is he!

_Ordonio (to himself as he enters)._ If I distinguish'd right her gait and stature, 50 It was the Moorish woman, Isidore's wife, That pa.s.sed me as I entered. A lit taper, In the night air, doth not more naturally Attract the night-flies round it, than a conjuror Draws round him the whole female neighbourhood. 55

[_Addressing ALVAR._

You know my name, I guess, if not my person.

I am Ordonio, son of the Lord Valdez.

_Alvar._ The Son of Valdez!

[_ORDONIO walks leisurely round the room, and looks attentively at the plants._

_Zulimez (to Alvar)._ Why, what ails you now?

How your hand trembles! Alvar, speak! what wish you?

_Alvar._ To fall upon his neck and weep forgiveness! 60

_Ordonio (returning, and aloud)._ Plucked in the moonlight from a ruined abbey-- Those only, which the pale rays visited!

O the unintelligible power of weeds, When a few odd prayers have been muttered o'er them: Then they work miracles! I warrant you, 65 There's not a leaf, but underneath it lurks Some serviceable imp.

There's one of you Hath sent me a strange message.

_Alvar._ I am he.

_Ordonio._ With you, then, I am to speak:

[_Haughtily waving his hand to ZULIMEZ._

And mark you, alone. [_Exit ZULIMEZ._ 70 'He that can bring the dead to life again!'-- Such was your message, Sir! You are no dullard, But one that strips the outward rind of things!

_Alvar._ 'Tis fabled there are fruits with tempting rinds, That are all dust and rottenness within. 75 Would'st thou I should strip such?

_Ordonio._ Thou quibbling fool, What dost thou mean? Think'st thou I journeyed hither To sport with thee?

_Alvar._ O no, my lord! to sport Best suits the gaiety of innocence.

_Ordonio (aside)._ O what a thing is man! the wisest heart 80 A fool! a fool that laughs at its own folly, Yet still a fool! [_Looks round the cottage._ You are poor!

_Alvar._ What follows thence?