GUZMAN. Thou sayest well. I am so wrapp'd in gloom I cannot see One ray of hope. I seem in some vast cave, The light of heaven shut out.-These marble pillars Thou cam'st not to confessional, this morn. My thoughts were all too black-I dared not come. ASELMO. Did'st thou do penance? On the flinty earth GUZMAN. I did, good father, ASELMO. And did'st not find relief? GUZMAN. I was more wretched. ASELMO, (severe.) Thou prayest wrong! When men do call on heaven They would foist in the ear of Deity Their vile abominations, and so make God a gross pander. They who go up there, (pointing up) Leave earth behind! Such men are good men, they Do hold the keys of heaven! GUZMAN. Father, pray for me. ASELMO, (not attending to him.) Good men do right-good men are honorable. Good men keep faith-never strike hands with ruffians→ Nor shudder at the horrid images That faithful memory doth conjure up Good men GUZMAN. No more, good father, spare me, spare me! Thy life, my son ASELMO. GUZMAN. Has been a stone, father, ASELMO, (sternly.) Dost thou keep thine oaths? GUZMAN. Think'st thou, holy father, That men should keep all oaths? ASELMO. Will Heaven be mocked? And think'st thou if men will mock Heaven, my son, GUZMAN. Wilt leave me, father, I would be alone. (Exit Aselmo, sneering.) SCENE II. The same. (Guzman sits lost in thought-Enter Inez, runs up to him as he sits, and kneels.) INEZ. Father, dear father, you're not well to day! You are not well. GUZMAN. Would I were in my grave. INEZ. And where were Inez then? GUZMAN. True, true, 'tis a bad world,— And oft it deals with such as thee most harshly. INEZ. But, father, why are you thus sad to-day? That dance and glance and glitter-there the birds Blossom, the bees are humming-earth sends up Then let me ever stay with you— Cling round your neck-be folded in your heart That you may always smile. GUZMAN, (laying his hand on her head.) Ye gracious Heavens! O! if within the storehouse of your joys, One gift there be than others the most perfect, Her geatle nature-be her life a stream Meandering through green vales bedeck'd with flowers Of summer sweetness-le. no pining sorrow Eat at her heart and cut its sympathies From what it loves-and when her sun goes down, Be it the star which sinks oeneath the wave, Only to rise again and bring the day! My more than father! INEZ. GUZMAN. Prithee, Inez, tell me, How many years hast seen? INEZ. Scarce fifteen yet. GUZMAN. Poor thing! flung out upon a heartless world To test its charities. Thy morn of life Was like a sail far off at sea descried, Come from we know not whither, which the winds INEZ. And to thee. What were I without thee? GUZMAN. I found a flower, A little one 'just sprouted on a bank,' With such a wealth of sweetness, that the world, INEZ. Inez. O, my more than father! She would not sacrifice-one thought, one wish, GUZMAN. Cheer thee, sweet, I shall not tax thy gentle nature hard; And gentlest minist'rings and deeds of charity; They would kill thee-nay, nay, I shall not tax thee; Yet take an old man's counsel. Be thou charier Of thy pure feelings. Love, in maidens' hearts, Is like some chemic property which absorbs All other passions, making love her life; Leadeth astray. Is there no secret in't, To chase the tell-tale blood up to thy cheeks, Love him, sweet Inez-he is worthy of you, Love him with your whole heart, and—villain, how now! (Enter Servant.) SERVANT. My lord, two strangers at the castle gate Ask for admittance. |