University of Virginia Library

Scene I

A magnificent apartment in the palace of Count Alvar. Enter Count Alvar and Leoni.
Count Alvar
You know what pains most people take to lie.
What said Elvira on thy quick return?

Leoni
She bade me keep the face of Virtue bright.

Count Alvar
That means that thou shalt shun my company?

Leoni
Nay! give me but one atom of thy love,
And like the healing medicine of old,
'Twill cure the heart that thou hast wounded so!
For there are priceless joys along our path—
They scatter now their rich perfumes to Heaven.

Count Alvar
I cannot swallow down Elvira's words. (Starting away.)


Leoni
Nay, stay but one sweet moment, that my life
May not be darkened longing for thy love!
The Dove will love but one fond mate through life,
And if the fowler's hand should lay that low,
Thou mayest at noontide in the sultry sun,
When wanton zephyrs play around her wings,
Stand auditor beneath the much loved pine,
And hear her plead the merits of his cause—
'Twould lend affection to the hardest heart!

Count Alvar
My soul must link itself with larger views
Than with Leoni's love.

Leoni
What! sayst thou so?
Would'st thou betray the trust reposed in thee,
For that poor paltry recompense called pride,
And drive me loathesome from myself and Heaven!

Count Alvar
(Aside.)
What if the link that bind me to the world,
Should break in nature's chain? 'Twould let me down
To dark nonentity with Devil's damned
To rise no more! But Gods! It must be done!
(Aloud.)
So now, Leoni, fare thee well!

Leoni
What! now?
And break the chain that binds me unto Heaven?

Count Alvar
If that will break it, it must break.

Leoni
And you,
Have sworn this from your heart?

Count Alvar
I have not sworn—
But it must be.

Leoni
So, you will leave me now,
And yield me for another's love.

Count Alvar
I must.

Leoni
Then, by the eternal Gods, there is no hope—
No recompense beneath the sun!

Count Alvar
There is—
Go, marry with your cousin now in Rome.

Leoni
I thank thee for that noble thought, my lord!
I thank thee for that thought! for after this,
Methinks the wretched lies that thou hast told,
Will make each second of thy dying life
A thousand years of misery! Hear me now!
(Dashing away her jewels.)
I would not wear another gift of thine,
If every hair upon thy head were gold!
But this fond heart—so full it fain would burst—
That would not harm the simplest thing on earth—
As both to scorn as fierce to insult given—
(Until despite is on its honor thrown!)
Shall turn an August for thy dying life,
And thirst for every drop that fills thy heart!
So now, farewell! (Weeping.)


Count Alvar
Leoni, fare the well!
(Exit Count Alvar.)

Enter Elvira.
Elvira
Leoni, why have you been shedding tears?

Leoni
My soul is full of sorrow and my heart
Is crushed beneath the mountain of my woes!

Elvira
Count Alvar has deceived you then!

Leoni
He has,
And bitterly shall he repent the deed!

Elvira
Perhaps he loves Theresa better then?

Leoni
An enemy to virtue, love? Tell me
That Heaven is Hell! that he will go to Heaven!
The mountains' heights are ascertained—the seas
Are fathomed, and the oceans' depths are known—
The Heavens are fettered by material space—
Revenge in woman hath no limitations!

Elvira
Revenge? Why talk you of revenge?

Leoni
'Tis sweet!
I tell you there is in my breaking heart,
A chronic sorrow most incurable!
A fell disease, unequalled by the worst
Of all contagions, striking to the soul!
Then mark me well! Keep this, my secret hate,
As silent as the grave confines the dead,
And go to Carlos—tell him that my soul
Desires that he should watch the perjured Count,
And then report to me what he may see
Between Count Rodolph's daughter and himself.

Elvira
I will. It shall be done this very night.
(Exit Elvira.)

Leoni
And now, by yon eternal sun that rolls
His chariot through the confines of the sky;
And every star that gems the arch of Heaven,
I swear that never shall my soul find rest,
Until the purple mirror of his blood
Reflect the deep damnation of his deeds
And make Seduction stare him in the face!

(Exit.)