time. But what I gain, I promise shall be yours, If that can save you from the Count of

Lara.

I,

slave;

who am fed worse than the kennelled hound;

I, who am clothed in rags, Beltran Cruzado,

Not poor!

Prec. Thou hast a stout heart and strong hands.

Thou canst supply thy wants; what wouldst thou more?

Cruz. The gold of the Busné! give me his gold!

Prec. Beltran Cruzado! hear me once for all.

I speak the truth. So long as I had gold,
I gave it to thee freely, at all times,
Never denied thee; never had a wish
But to fulfil thine own. Now go in
peace!

Be merciful, be patient, and erelong
Thou shalt have more.
Cruz.

And if I have it not, Thou shalt no longer dwell here in rich chambers,

Wear silken dresses, feed on dainty food,
And live in idleness; but go with me,
Dance the Romalis in the public streets,
And wander wild again o'er field and
fell;

For here we stay not long.
Prec.

I

What! march again? Cruz. Ay, with all speed. I hate the crowded town!

cannot breathe shut up within its gåtes!

The

I want air, and sunshine, and Blue sky,

feeling of the breeze upon my face, The feeling of the turf beneath my feet, And no walls but the far-off mountaintops.

Then I am free and strong, - once more myself,

Beltran Cruzado, Count of the Calés ! Prec. God speed thee on thy march! -I cannot go.

Cruz. Remember who I am, and who thou art!

Be silent and obey! Yet one thing

your eyes behold

In what angelic, yet voluptuous shape The Devil came to tempt Saint Anthony. (Enter PRECIOSA, with a mantle thrown over her head. She advances slowly, in modest half-timid attitude.)

Card. (aside). O, what a fair and ministering angel

Was lost to heaven when this sweet woman fell!

Prec. (kneeling before the ARCHBISHOP). I have obeyed the order of If I intrude upon your better hours, your Grace. I proffer this excuse, and here beseech Your holy benediction.

Arch.

May God bless thee, And lead thee to a better life. Arise. Card. (aside). Her acts are modest, and her words discreet!

I did not look for this! Come hither, child.

Is thy name Preciosa ?

Prec.
Thus I am called.
Card. That is a Gypsy name. Who
is thy father?

Prec. Beltran Cruzado, Count of the

Calés.

The march across the moor; the halt at noon;

The red fire of the evening camp, that lighted

The forest where we slept; and, further back,

As in a dream or in some former life,
Gardens and palace walls.

Arch. "T is the Alhambra, Under whose towers the Gypsy camp was pitched.

But the time wears; and we would see thee dance.

Prec. Your Grace shall be obeyed. (She lays aside her mantilla. The music of the cachucha is played, and the dance begins. The ARCHBISHOP and the CARDINAL look on with gravity and an occasional frown; then make signs to each other; and, as the dance continues, become more and more pleased and excited; and at length rise from their seats, throy their caps in the air, and applaud vehemently as the scene closes.)

He is in love.

Don C.

And is it faring ill

In his case very ill.

To be in love?
Hyp.
Don C. Why so?
Hyp. For many reasons. First and
foremost,

Because he is in love with an ideal ;
A creature of his own imagination:
A child of air; an echo of his heart;
And, like a lily on a river floating,
She floats upon the river of his thoughts!
Don C. A common thing with poets.
But who is

This floating lily? For, in fine, some

Hyp. Did I say she was? The Roman Emperor Claudius had a wife Whose name was Messalina, as I think; Valeria Messalina was her name.

But hist! I see him yonder through the trees,

Walking as in a dream.
Don C.
He comes this way.
Hyp. It has been truly said by some
wise man,

That money, grief, and love cannot be hidden.

(Enter VICTORIAN in front.)

Vict. Where'er thy step has passed is holy ground!

These groves are sacred! I behold thee walking

Under these shadowy trees, where we have walked

At evening, and I feel thy presence now; Feel that the place has taken a charm from thee,

And is forever hallowed.

Hyp. Mark him well! See how he strides away with lordly air,

Like that odd guest of stone, that grim Commander

Who comes to sup with Juan in the play.

Don C. What ho! Victorian ! Hyp. Wilt thou sup with us? Vict. Holá! amigos! Faith, I did not see you. How fares Don Carlos?

This cannot be. You jest, indeed you jest.

Trifle with me no more. We are no longer friends. well!

For otherwise And so, fare[Exit.

Hyp. Now what a coil is here! The Avenging Child

Hunting the traitor Quadros to his death, And the great Moor Calaynos, when he rode

To Paris for the ears of Oliver,

Who hears the falling of the forest leaf? Or who takes note of every flower that dies?

Heigho! I wish Victorian would come. Dolores !

the COUNT.)

Ha!

Señora, pardon me !

Pardon me

Dolores !

Prec. How's this? Dolores !

Lara. Prec.

Lara. Be not alarmed; I found no

one in waiting.

If I have been too bold

Prec. (turning her back upon him). You are too bold!

Retire! retire, and leave me !

Lara. My dear lady, First hear me! I beseech you, let me speak!

'Tis for your good I come.

Prec. (turning toward him with indignation). Begone! begone! You are the Count of Lara, but your deeds

Would make the statues of your ancestors Blush on their tombs! Is it Castilian

honor,

Upon a friendless girl, to do her wrong? Is it Castilian pride, to steal in here

O'shame! shame! shame! that you, a nobleman,

As to send jewels here to win my love, Should be so little noble in your thoughts And think to buy my honor with your gold!

I have no words to tell you how I scorn you!

Begone! The sight of you is hateful to me!

Begone, I say!

Lara. Be calm; I will not harm you. Prec. Because you dare not. Lara. I dare anything! Therefore beware! You are deceived in

me.

In this false world, we do not always know

Who are our friends and who our enemies.

We all have enemies, and all need friends. Even you, fair Preciosa, here at court Have foes, who seek to wrong you.

Prec. If to this I owe the honor of the present visit,