 | Ximenes |  |
SCENE III.
Torquemada.What, dare you, then, profane this holy ground
With warm emotions of unhallowed love?
It would befit thee more, thou infidel,
To teach thy stubborn heart to meet salvation,
Than thus to be amused with amorous tales!
And can the daughter of Medina's duke,
Spurn filial duty, reverence to the church;
Steal meanly from her home; pollute her soul,
With this Mahometan, this wretched Moor;
And thus desert the sacred path of peace!
Leonora.
There is no peace, where Torquemada sways
His iron sceptre; but sighs, tears, and groans;
Distraction, and despair; outrageous passions,
That tear the finer ligaments of nature!
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Let not this caitiff discompose my fair-one;
Break not, for him, thy temper, nor thy promise.
I have not power to punish all thy guilt,
[To Torquemada.
As it deserves.—Thou art as weak, as worthless;
Therefore, unworthy of expostulation.
Whatever destiny I, yet, may feel;
Whether I'm on the rack, or on a bed
Of roses; I shall ever be the same,
To thee, thou fiend; and equally despise
The teacher, and the tyrant!
Torquemada.
Impious boaster!
Thou shalt repent the licence of thy tongue,
Great Emperour!—Thou insolent barbarian!
My guards, take off this poor, deluded woman;
And reconduct her safely to her father.
Zaigri.
Now, Leonora, keep thy sacred promise!
Give me one moment:—I insist to have it.
[To Torquemada.
Keep off, ye meanest slaves; ye slaves to priestcraft!
[To the Guards advancing towards Leonora.
Know, that betwixt this lady, and myself,
There is a vow recorded in the skies;
And from their court I learn, and from my spirit,
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It's rightful empire o'er inferiour souls;
That with presumptuous, and rude interference,
You dare not check one movement of my will;
Dare not repress, with ignominious hands,
The sacred ardour of this last farewell.
[He embraces Leonora.
First of thy sex! may happiness be thine!
Through fleeting time, and in eternity,
May all-sufficient Providence protect thee!
Remember me, and universal virtue!
Leonora,
while they press her off the Stage.
Oh! while distress permits my memory
To hold it's images, both I'll adore!
Oh! hard, intolerable separation!
I feel that my existence is divided!
I feel it torne to pieces! but my heart,
The test of constant love, I leave with Zaigri!
[Exit.
Zaigri,
after two or three turns.
The paroxysm of my soul is past.
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