The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge - novelonlinefull.com
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[_All rush out in tumult._
LINENOTES:
[16] _Alvar (aside)._ Stage-direction om. Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.
[33] stranger's] _Stranger's_ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.
[35] Doubt, but decide not! Stand from off the altar. Edition 1.
[After 49] [_Music expressive of the movements and images that follow._ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.
[54] upbuild] build up Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.
[62] Stage-direction [_Here behind, &c._ om. Edition 1.
[75] chaunter] Chaunters Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.
[80] quiet] yellow Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.
[95] _Ordonio (struggling with his feelings)._ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.
[122] bend] kneel Edition 1.
[125] _Alvar (to Teresa anxiously)._ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.
[129] a human eye] an eye of flesh Edition 1.
[134] demons] demon Edition 1.
[136] _Ordonio (starting in great agitation)._ Editions 1, 2, 3, 1829.
[141] this] the Edition 1.
SCENE II
_Interior of a Chapel, with painted Windows._
_Enter TERESA._
_Teresa._ When first I entered this pure spot, forebodings Press'd heavy on my heart: but as I knelt, Such calm unwonted bliss possess'd my spirit, A trance so cloudless, that those sounds, hard by, Of trampling uproar fell upon mine ear 5 As alien and unnoticed as the rain-storm Beats on the roof of some fair banquet-room, While sweetest melodies are warbling----
_Enter VALDEZ._
_Valdez._ Ye pitying saints, forgive a father's blindness, And extricate us from this net of peril! 10
_Teresa._ Who wakes anew my fears, and speaks of peril?
_Valdez._ O best Teresa, wisely wert thou prompted!
This was no feat of mortal agency!
That picture--Oh, that picture tells me all!
With a flash of light it came, in flames it vanished, 15 Self-kindled, self-consum'd: bright as thy life, Sudden and unexpected as thy fate, Alvar! My son! My son!--The Inquisitor--
_Teresa._ Torture me not! But Alvar--Oh of Alvar?
_Valdez._ How often would he plead for these Morescoes! 20 The brood accurst! remorseless, coward murderers!
_Teresa._ So? so?--I comprehend you--He is----
_Valdez._ He is no more!
_Teresa._ O sorrow! that a father's voice should say this, A Father's Heart believe it!
_Valdez._ A worse sorrow Are fancy's wild hopes to a heart despairing! 25
_Teresa._ These rays that slant in through those gorgeous windows, From yon bright orb--though coloured as they pa.s.s, Are they not light?--Even so that voice, Lord Valdez!
Which whispers to my soul, though haply varied By many a fancy, many a wishful hope, 30 Speaks yet the truth: and Alvar lives for me!
_Valdez._ Yes, for three wasting years, thus and no other, He has lived for thee--a spirit for thy spirit!
My child, we must not give religious faith To every voice which makes the heart a listener 35 To its own wish.
_Teresa._ I breath'd to the Unerring Permitted prayers. Must those remain unanswer'd, Yet impious sorcery, that holds no commune Save with the lying spirit, claim belief?
_Valdez._ O not to-day, not now for the first time 40 Was Alvar lost to thee-- Accurst a.s.sa.s.sins!
Disarmed, o'erpowered, despairing of defence, At his bared breast he seem'd to grasp some relique More dear than was his life----
_Teresa._ O Heavens! my portrait!
And he did grasp it in his death pang!
Off, false demon, 45 That beat'st thy black wings close above my head![853:1]
[_ORDONIO enters with the keys of the dungeon in his hand._
Hush! who comes here? The wizard Moor's employer!
Moors were his murderers, you say? Saints shield us From wicked thoughts----
[_VALDEZ moves towards the back of the stage to meet ORDONIO, and during the concluding lines of TERESA'S speech appears as eagerly conversing with him._
Is Alvar dead? what then?
The nuptial rites and funeral shall be one! 50 Here's no abiding-place for thee, Teresa.-- Away! they see me not--Thou seest me, Alvar!
To thee I bend my course.--But first one question, One question to Ordonio.--My limbs tremble-- There I may sit unmark'd--a moment will restore me. 55
[_Retires out of sight._
_Ordonio (as he advances with Valdez)._ These are the dungeon keys.
Monviedro knew not, That I too had received the wizard's message, 'He that can bring the dead to life again.'
But now he is satisfied, I plann'd this scheme To work a full conviction on the culprit, 60 And he entrusts him wholly to my keeping.
_Valdez._ 'Tis well, my son! But have you yet discovered (Where is Teresa?) what those speeches meant-- Pride, and hypocrisy, and guilt, and cunning?
