Blan. Francisca, heard you that? had ever man
So ready a wit in such an exigent? [Aside.
So ready a wit in such an exigent? [Aside.
Don J. [to Elvira.] What say you, madam?
Fran. We're surer lost than ever, unless she
Have wit and heart to take the thing upon her. [Aside.
Madam, make signs to her, and earnestly. [To Blanca.
Have wit and heart to take the thing upon her. [Aside.
Madam, make signs to her, and earnestly. [To Blanca.
[Blanca makes earnest signs to Elvira.
Fran. [aside to Blanca.] She looks this way, as if she comprehended
Your meaning.
Your meaning.
Elv. I understand her, and I know as well
What mischief I may bring upon myself;
But let Elvira still do generously,
And leave the rest to fate. [Aside.] Sir, since you press me,
What mischief I may bring upon myself;
But let Elvira still do generously,
And leave the rest to fate. [Aside.] Sir, since you press me,
[To Don Julio.
My humour ne'er could disavow a truth:
Don Zancho's passion and transportments for me,
Beyond all rules of temper and discretion,
Have been the cause of all my sad misfortunes,
And still I see must be the cause of more.
Don Zancho's passion and transportments for me,
Beyond all rules of temper and discretion,
Have been the cause of all my sad misfortunes,
And still I see must be the cause of more.
Don J. Unhappy creature! how thou hast deceiv'd
My prone persuasion of thy innocence!
My prone persuasion of thy innocence!
Don Z. If that suffice not, sir, you have this ready
To give you satisfaction. [Holding out his sword.
To give you satisfaction. [Holding out his sword.
Don F. Hell and furies!—but I will yet contain
Myself, and see how far my friend will drive it. [Aside.
Myself, and see how far my friend will drive it. [Aside.
Don J. Stay, Don Zancho,
And answer me one question. Is this night
The first of your presuming thus to enter
My house by stealth?
And answer me one question. Is this night
The first of your presuming thus to enter
My house by stealth?
Don Z. The query is malicious;
But I must thorough, as I have begun. [Aside.
But I must thorough, as I have begun. [Aside.
Blan. [Aside to Francisca.] There was a question makes me tremble still.
Don Z. No, sir, it is not: I'll keep nothing from you.
Last night upon the same occasion——
Last night upon the same occasion——
Don J. Hold! it suffices.
Fran. [Aside hastily to Blanca.] All's safe, you see: for God's sake, let's away
Ere Julio perceive us.
Your presence here can serve for nothing, madam,
But to beget new chances and suspicions.
Ere Julio perceive us.
Your presence here can serve for nothing, madam,
But to beget new chances and suspicions.
[Exeunt Blanca and Francisca. Don Fernando rushes out, drawing his sword.
Don F. Yes, it suffices, Julio, to make
This hand strike surer than it did before.
This hand strike surer than it did before.
Elvira. Nothing was wanting to my misery,
But his being here to overhear; but yet
I must not suffer the same hand to kill him
A second time, upon a greater error
Than was the first.
But his being here to overhear; but yet
I must not suffer the same hand to kill him
A second time, upon a greater error
Than was the first.
[Aside. Don Fernando making at Don Zancho; Elvira steps between, and Julia also offers to stay him.
Don F. [Striving to come at Don Zancho.]
Strive to protect your gallant from me, do!
Strive, but in vain: the gods themselves cannot!
What, you, Don Julio, too?
Strive to protect your gallant from me, do!
Strive, but in vain: the gods themselves cannot!
What, you, Don Julio, too?
[Chichon, running out from the place where he lurked, strikes out both the lights with his hat.
Chi. I have lov'd to see fighting; but at present
I love to hinder seeing how to fight.
Knights, brandish your blades, 'twill make fine work
Among the gallipots! [Aloud.
You have me by your side, sir, let them come;
They are but two to two. [As to his master.
Sir, follow me, I'll bring you to the door.
I love to hinder seeing how to fight.
Knights, brandish your blades, 'twill make fine work
Among the gallipots! [Aloud.
You have me by your side, sir, let them come;
They are but two to two. [As to his master.
Sir, follow me, I'll bring you to the door.
[Aside to his master, and pulling him.
Don Z. There's no dishonour in a wise retreat
From disadvantages, to meet again
One's enemy upon a fairer score.
From disadvantages, to meet again
One's enemy upon a fairer score.
[Chichon pushing his master before him out of door.
Chi. [Aside to his master.] There 'tis; advance, sir, I'll make good the rear.
[Exit Don Zancho and Chichon.
Don J. Ho! who's without? bring lights. [He stamps.] They cannot hear us,
The room is so remote from all the rest.—
What a confusion's this! Recall, Fernando,
Your usual temper, and let's leave this place,
And that unhappy maid unto its darkness,
To hide her blushes, since her shame it cannot.
The room is so remote from all the rest.—
What a confusion's this! Recall, Fernando,
Your usual temper, and let's leave this place,
And that unhappy maid unto its darkness,
To hide her blushes, since her shame it cannot.
[Exit Don Julio groping, and drawing Don Fernando with him.
Elv. [Alone.] Darkness and horror welcome, since the gods
Live in the dark themselves; for had they light
Of what's done here below, they would afford
Some ray to shine on injur'd innocence,
And not, instead thereof, thus multiply
Obscuring clouds upon it, such as the sun,
Should he with all his beams illuminate
Men's understandings, scarce could dissipate.
I now begin to pardon thee, Fernando,
Since what thou hast heard in this enchanted place
Carries conviction in 't against my firmness,
Above the pow'r of nature to suspend
My condemnation: unless wrong'd virtue might
Expect in thee a justice so refin'd,
As ne'er was found in man to womankind.
'Tis now, I must confess, the lost Elvira
Fit only for a cloister, where, secure
In her own spotless mind, she may defy
All censures, and without impiety
Reproach her fate even to the deity. [Exit, groping her way.
Live in the dark themselves; for had they light
Of what's done here below, they would afford
Some ray to shine on injur'd innocence,
And not, instead thereof, thus multiply
Obscuring clouds upon it, such as the sun,
Should he with all his beams illuminate
Men's understandings, scarce could dissipate.
I now begin to pardon thee, Fernando,
Since what thou hast heard in this enchanted place
Carries conviction in 't against my firmness,
Above the pow'r of nature to suspend
My condemnation: unless wrong'd virtue might
Expect in thee a justice so refin'd,
As ne'er was found in man to womankind.
'Tis now, I must confess, the lost Elvira
Fit only for a cloister, where, secure
In her own spotless mind, she may defy
All censures, and without impiety
Reproach her fate even to the deity. [Exit, groping her way.