Scene III
The same apartment in Don Carlos' palace.
Enter Leoni meeting Alvino.
Alvino
Leoni!
Leoni
(Embracing him.)
Oh, Alvino!
Alvino
Speak again!
I love to see thee shed such anxious tears.
They speak the language of thy virgin soul,
Shed lofty fervour round expectant joy,
And make the pathway of my purpose bright.
Leoni
(Weeping.)
Alvino!
Alvino
Speak, my love, tell me thy grief!
Leoni
There have been strange vicissitudes to damp
The ardor of my spirit, since we met.
I have no resting place beneath the sun.
Alvino
What, cannot he who loved thee in thy youth,
Find recompense enough for thee? Say, love!
Leoni
Alas, Alvino!
Alvino
Carlos told me all!
I would not have you name it for the world!
I only want the whispers of revenge!
Leoni
Revenge? The sweetest music to my soul
That ever calmed the discord of my heart!
Then you have sworn—
Alvino
Destruction to his soul!
Leoni
And thou wilt keep that promise to the last?
Alvino
The latest moment of my life, if thou
Wilt only promise to be mine!
Leoni
Not thine,
Nor to bestow this hand on mortal man,
Until my woes are baptized in his blood,
And this poor life redeemed by loss of his!
Alvino
The mighty Gods have registered that oath
Upon the shining Adamant of Heaven!
Leoni
And thou wilt dip thy dagger in his blood,
And send him with the legacy to Hell!
Alvino
As sure as yonder sun will ever set!
Leoni
Let not reluctance weigh upon thy purpose,
Be buoyant as the Turtle on the wing!
Take thou this Dove into thy bosom's Ark,
Who brings the Olive-leaf of peace to thee—
And let her sorrows make thee more than bold!
Alvino
But will the crystal mirror of the lake,
Enbosomed in the forest-girdled vale,
Be wreathed the less by the tempestuous wind,
Because the rosy-scented breath of morn
Has settled on its pinions? No, my love!
Leoni
And lest one breath should blow him back his soul,
And kindle life again, be sure to tramp
The embers into ashes. Be not rash—
The thing should be well done. Tonight! tonight!
Alvino
This night shall be his soul's eternity!
Leoni
When it is done, return to me again.
I'll wash thy bloody hands with tears of joy.
Swear now before we part, that he shall die!
Alvino
(Kneeling.)
Ye silver lamps, which hang tonight in Heaven,
Ye auditors to God, whose beauty lights
The glorious dome that canopies the world,
I call upon ye from the dim abodes
Of everlasting ether, to behold me now!
In reverential awe, upon my knees,
I offer up to you the holy vow
That ever shall as sacrifice ascend
From off the altar of my soul to Heaven!
And now in the allotted duty which
I owe myself, to nature and the world;
I do devote the remnant of my days
But to the shedding of that villain's blood! (Rising.)
And now that his suspicion may not prompt
Him to the coming of that dread hour;
I must mature the purpose of my plans
Amid the grandeur of the mighty hills,
Whereon the thunders of the roaring winds
Shall make dolorous music to my soul!
(Exeunt omnes.)
