University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

A chamber in Xavier's house, with a casement, overlooking the Ebro.
Enter Isabella and an attendant Jewess.
Isa.
Kind girl! thou cheer'st the sorrows of my prison;
And of a princess hast the affections won,
By delicate attentions—such as make
Happiest life swifter, and sad days less slow;
I'll think the better of thy race for this
Long as I live; or Jew, or Christian—
In the kind heart grows true fidelity;
And amiable virtue has no creed
And owns no sect. I thank thee, gentle girl.

Jew.
Madam, that service that rewards itself,
Takes thanks, for bounty too superfluous:
Would I could do your grace more benefit!

Isa.
And that thou may'st, perchance. Now, leave me, dear!
For I have many thoughts that should be lonely.
I'll call thee if I want thee: love me, girl.

Jew.
Tell me to love myself—there is like need.

[Exit.
Isa.
I might not think, with Rachel's hated name,
Form, voice and feature in my memory,
I e'er could love a Jewess; but this maiden
Hath so heart-dew'd my hours of solitude
With tears and smiles of kindness, that my nature
Turns answeringly to hers. O, much the need
I yet may have of her sweet charity!
The morn advances; and the Ebro glides
Beneath my casement, free and happily;
But, ah! not so the river of my life!
How is't I still am here? close prisoner
To the stern upstart of a race despised,
When that the honor of the king and nobles
Goes with my freedom? I imagine all things,
And knowing nothing, am bewildered.

Enter Xavier.
Xav.
Your pardon, madam; is your highness well?

Isa.
Impudent Hebrew! What's my health to thee?

Xav.
More than your grace would dream of, credit me;
And so I have come early to enquire:
Whene'er my daughter's safety ransoms thee,
Lord Garcia the redemption sanctions not,
If thou be sick: I pray your grace, keep well.

Isa.
Am I to be a base Jew's merriment?

Xav.
Madam, I once was yours; the wheel's gone round:
But, did you know what news of life, or death
Is moving toward me on the dial's hand,
You'd wonder at my mirth. You're very fair:
I marvel that Alphonso loves thee not;—
But then, my daughter's beauty is a flower
That outblows all Spain's garden. Yet, you're fair.

Isa.
How I despise thy vulgar triumph! Jew;
Thee and thy daughter utterly despise!
And the king's fault shows more unworthily
In loving her, than in rejecting me.
Take off thy rude glance from my person, Jew!
And tell me how thou dar'st with thy vile hands
Chain here a Christian princess!

Xav.
Indeed—'tis bold.

Enter Reuben.
Reu.
The messenger is back; and at his heels
Compliance with the mandate which he bore
(By the king's signet witness'd from the king)
Is moving rapidly.

Xav.
The passions'-plaything,
Expecting life, or death—receiving life,
As I do now, would laugh, weep, leap, fall down
And rend the welkin with his ecstacy!
But I will tarry till a silent hour;
And then kneel down, and lift my joy in praise
And prayer unto the king of Israel!
Madam, I've that will carry me abroad;
But this, my kinsman and my faithful servant,
Will render thee all dues of ceremony,
That may beseem your state.

Reu.
Madam, I will.

Isa.
I'd rather be attended by a bear,
Or the most hideous ape that screams i' the wild,
Than this thy vulgar, bearded infidel!
I'm prisoner at the peril of thy life;
And prayers for vengeance from a royal lip
Rise not in vain to Heaven! I'd be alone:
Thy death will free me—and my freedom's near.

[Exit.
Xav.
Death being freedom, dame, it may be near.
Reuben, be vigilant; she flatters thee—
Let thy attentions mark thy gratitude.
The city was most quiet thro' the night—
Was it not, Reuben?

Reu.
Nought of tumult stirring;
And not a Hebrew, nor a Hebrew's house
Did suffer molestation.

Xav.
The more safe,
Christians and Christian dwellings. Be thou watchful!

Reu.
If she escape from Reuben, I will forfeit
That Reuben's life—his monies! which is more.

[Exit.
Xav.
Now, I'll go haste my Rachel to the king:
Those lords, I know, have had conditions drawn
Of government, the which 'tis their intent
To force Alphonso sign: this shall work well,
And gall resentment; then my daughter comes—
And that's approaching which shall lend him power
To wreak his vengeance and his love to the height;—
Then, where's the cloud that dare shut out my light?

[Exit.