Scene II
A magnificent apartment in Count Alvar's palace.
Enter Count Alvar and Don Pedro.
Count Alvar
Then answer me, who was the greatest friend
That ever helped thee in the hour of need?
Don Pedro
I swear, my lord, Count Alvar, is the man.
Count Alvar
Do you believe this from your very heart?
Don Pedro
I do, if ever words came from my heart.
Count Alvar
Knowing that all thy words come from thy heart,
I would divulge to thee the secretest thing
That ever came from out the soul of man,
And have thee keep it secret as thy own.
Don Pedro
I will, my lord.
Count Alvar
Then listen to me now.
I have been taunted by the vilest foe,
That ever mocked the royalty of pride,
And I would have thee whisper in his ear
The loudest vengeance that the voice of man
Hath ever uttered to the soul. Be firm!
I would not have thee suffer in thy heart
A single sympathy to dwell. His blood—
Don Pedro
His blood, my lord? Whose blood?
Count Alvar
Thy face is pale.
Now promise me before the Gods, whose frown
Is darker than clouds above Olympus,
That Carlos shall not live!
Don Pedro
What, must he die?
Count Alvar
And by thy hand!
Don Pedro
What, murdered by my hand?
Count Alvar
Thy hand!
Don Pedro
What for, my lord?
Count Alvar
The foulest blot
That ever stained the dignity of man
Will then be wiped away!
Don Pedro
Then he must die!
Count Alvar
Yes, plunge thy dagger in his cursed heart,
And send him to the river of the dead!
Be thou thyself revenged!
Don Pedro
Revenged, my lord?
Count Alvar
Ay, who has kept thee from Elvira's arms?
Don Pedro
Elvira? Carlos!—damned as he is—
I cannot slay Elvira's friend.
Count Alvar
Her friend?
What, cannot take the life of him who robbed
Thee of the sweetest joys on earth? Oh, fool!
Don Pedro
The sweetest spirit ever sent from Heaven,
But will the death of Carlos make her mine?
Count Alvar
It will. She would be with thee even tonight,
If it were not for him.
Don Pedro
Then he must die!
Count Alvar
Swear, then, that thou wilt take his life!
Don Pedro
I swear!
Count Alvar
Remember that his destiny is death!
Don Pedro
It shall be done, my lord, farewell!
Count Alvar
Adieu!
(Exit Don Pedro.)
Now, if he is the soldier that he seems,
And loves Elvira as he says he does,
And only serves the wishes of his heart,
And he has served the prompter of its ire;
The savage that has prowled along my path,
Will find the depths of my revenge so deep,
He will not seek to lavish out his own!
(Exit.)
