University of Virginia Library

SCENE VI.

—A CHAMBER IN DON PEDRO'S HOUSE. ESTRELLA DISCOVERED SITTING BEFORE HER GLASS—THE NURSE AND ISABEL ASSISTING TO DRESS HER.
ESTRELLA.
Come, hast thou done,—am I not perfect yet?
'Tis well enough—'tis well enough. I cannot
Sit patiently and quiet any longer. Isabel,
I know thou'rt longing to be hence—thy cousin,
When does she wed?

ISABEL.
I think her father said
On Wednesday, madam.

ESTRELLA.
May her lot be happy, wench,
As mine. Get thee a husband, Isabel—
I fear thou'rt over-nice—hast thou no sweetheart?
Come, thou shalt tell no falsehoods—hold thy tongue.
Here, thou shalt take thy pretty cousin these
For thy marriage present to her.

ISABEL.

Thank you, madam. O my dear lady, may your feet
still tread on the sunny, smooth and evenest path of life
—may love be immortal as he is sweet to you; and
sorrow touch nothing that you have looked on. Good
angels guard you as their sister, ever!

[Exit Isabel.

ESTRELLA.
O joy! O joy! O bright triumphant spirit
That in my bosom dost a revel keep!
Life, life and love, may one heart hold ye both,
And yet not faint with the surpassing bliss.
O that I were a bird to spread my wings
And soar, and soar, and pour my ecstasy
In a tumultuous stream of gushing song.
O that I had a universe to fill
With my exceeding happiness.

NURSE.
Keep it, keep it, girl, thy present stock
Won't last thee till for ever.

ESTRELLA.
It is in vain: like the exulting sun,
My light pursues thy wisdom's conquer'd shadows,
And chases them from off my land of hope.
See, thou false prophet—see where the bright morning
Stands laughing on the threshold of the east—
Where are the clouds thou saidst didst veil the dawn?
Look how the waters mirror back again
The blushing curtains of Aurora's bed.
O fresh and fragrant earth, and glorious skies
All strewn with rosy clouds—sweet dewy breath
Of earliest buds unfolded in the night—
And thou—thou winged spirit of melody,
Thou lark that mountest singing to the sun,
Fair children of the gold-eyed morn, I hail ye!
There dwells not one sad thought within my breast;
'Tis the broad noon-day there of light and love.
The earth rebounds beneath my joyous feet:
I am a spirit—a spirit of hope and joy!

NURSE.
I marvel that my lord has not returned.

ESTRELLA.
He has gone riding forth to meet my love,—
My love, O brighter than the dawning day,
And sweeter than the breath of evening violets,
Glorious as victory, and fair as truth,
Art thou, my love, my lord, my husband!

NURSE.
Hark!

ESTRELLA.
They cannot yet be here. O let me say it
Again and yet again, to keep my heart
From beating thus—as though he were at hand.
They cannot yet be come—

NURSE.

Hark, hark! I hear a noise at the gate, voices and
steps of men—dost thou not hear?

ESTRELLA.

'Tis they—'tis he! they come—Carlos—O God!

(She rushes to the door, and meets men bearing her brother's body—she shrieks and falls upon it.)