(Voice without.) Die! (Second voice without.) Ay, die, Traitor, who thus insult'st us! (Enter LORENZO, followed by the Servant, and ROBERTO at a distance.) Lorenzo. Many lives For mine shall pay ! Flerida. Forbear! Say, what is this? Roberto. It is what Fortune has in store for us. Both on your own behalf, and on Prince Carlo's. That way avoid your fate. I will protect you. Lorenzo. Bear witness, Heav'n, amidst all these disasters, And not as fearing them. Flerida. Follow him, friend. Roberto. An order I most willingly obey. Flerida. And you, observe 'tis somewhat premature, Somewhat officious in you to adopt Prince Carlo's quarrels. (Exit.) (Exit.) Fabio. Come, friends, come away. (Exeunt FABIO and Servants.) He 'scapes not thus; Prince Carlo guards the postern. Flerida. Now, Lisida, proceed. Our common country, did this gentleman Woo me; and having plighted hands and faith (Clashing of swords without.) Prince, (without.) Now, shall thine arrogant temerity Learn against two who fights! Lorenzo, (without.) He does, who singly Is against two sufficient! Flerida. What is this? (Enter PRINCE CARLO and LISARDO fighting with LORENZO, and followed by ROBERTO.) Roberto. Lady, what Fortune has for us in store. Lisardo. Die then, although 'twere even in the palace! Fails me. Lorenzo. The earth, but not the valour in my breast, Flerida. Take notice, at my feet he lies. Prince. Lady, that sanctuary once again Avails him, and a thousand times must do so. Again he is your debtor for his life. Lisardo. But therefore let him not presume to hope He shall have always angels for his guard. Flerida. Stay, listen to me! Prince. Lady, pardon me. Suffice it, that for your sake I forbear Flerida. Stay, Prince Carlo! Remain and listen!-Follow, Lisida, (He falls.) (Exit.) (Exit.) Forbid their going hence till they have heard me. Lisida obeys; and a short scene, of the usual love-making upon Lorenzo's part, and contempt upon Flerida's, fills up the time of her absence. At last the Princess orders Lorenzo to await her return where he is, withdraws, and conceals herself, as before, to witness, unseen, the interview between Lorenzo and Lisida. The former, however, has observed her manœuvre, and the latter arrives, saying, They hasten'd hence so fast, they heard not even Lisida. At length then, traitor, may my anguish Lorenzo, (aside.) Unhappy me, If Lisida should now speak of her love, Lisida. In lamentation o'er my wrongs. Ingrate, Lorenzo. Woman, what speak you of? Of whom do you complain ? I know you not. Lisida. Would'st thou repay, ingrate, my forced dissembling, Lorenzo. If such be your idea, think so still; Retire in silence. Lisida. I will now declare, For I may never find more fitting season, Lorenzo. Lady, no, I cannot listen. Lisida. Wherefore not? Lorenzo, (aside.) 'Tis strange She cannot comprehend a single sign Lisida. Thou canst not possibly Be so inhuman! Would'st thou ev'n deny The sorrows I endure for thee? Lorenzo. What say you? Lisida. Because in days long past 'twas thy desire. Lisida. Since you interrupt My just complaints, insult me, and refuse To listen, instantly avoid this garden. Lorenzo. That I will not. The Princess bade me stay. Flerida. Yes, such Enter FLERIDA. Was my command, and is. You, Lisida, Lorenzo. Was ever man like me unfortunate! (Exit.) (Exit.) (Exit.) i What more can Fortune have in store for us? That, in the face of my divinity, He dares his senseless hopes so high advance, Next we have here a beauteous lady, who, The youth abhors her sight, whilst she adores him. When a lady can stoop to complain, Whilst of this couple's secret I was yet How strange if the peace of my breast A passion like this could destroy ! Îf that, which annoyed me possessed, But let us quit this lover and this lady, That an atom of hope he should buy. But this is not the most important question, Proceed we to the principal, that Carlo Here finding his chief enemy, despite Th' asylum which my presence should afford him, With obstinate stupidity persists In following a revenge- -to me offensive. For of honour's nice laws if we treat, It were one of a whimsical strain, Should the suppliant laid at my feet By the hands of another be slain. That shall not be! My house's sanctuary And my anger with kindness so blend, However the other offend. This gallant must not die! But how preserve him? Those who seek his life have ascertain'd That he remains within my garden walls The Prince and all my servants watch the gates, But wherefore do I thus torment myself? As unconstrained alike by love or vengeance And ev'n while condemning to death, We have given this long scene with little curtailment, because we think it offers a favourable specimen of both the bustle, and the laughable distress resulting from a perplexed situation, which characterize Spanish Comedy; whilst the concluding monologue, which we have abridged, and whose number of lines our readers have by this time, we trust, learned to consider as very moderate, exhibits, together with that sort of subtle refinement upon whimsical points of honour indispensable in high-born and high-bred Damas and Caballeros, a new example of capricious intermixture of metres.We must now hurry to the denouement. In the next scene the Prince and Lisardo are joined by Fabio, whom the Prince thanks for his assistance, justifying his acceptance of it upon the plea that he has already fought with Lorenzo, and that, when a duel is interrupted, the aggrieved party has a right to take his revenge as he best can. A pistol-shot and a cry of distress from Lorenzo are now heard. Fabio says somebody must have killed Lorenzo, and they hurry off to inquire further. Flora then leads on Lorenzo and Roberto, rejoicing that the pistol-shot and the cry have enabled her to execute the Princess's orders, and conduct the objects of such bitter enmity from the garden to an apartment in the palace. In utter darkness, and without quitting the stage, they reach this apartment, VOL. XVII. into which Flora locks them and departs. Lorenzo exults in Flerida's evident favour, and the Gracioso spends the night in ecstasies, describing all the splendour with which his imagination furnishes the room. The moruing's dawn discovers their lodging to be a dark and desolate turret-chamber, and their despondency equals their previous triumph, when a letter falls at Lorenzo's feet, containing the words, "This treatment springs from COURTESY NOT LOVE." Whilst they are striving to unriddle its meaning, Flora, unseen, directs them to follow certain passages and staircases, to conceal themselves at the entrance of a gallery, and thence observe what passes. Upon reaching their post, they see the Prince and his party entering at one door, and Flerida with her ladies at another. Flerida bids Lisida hide herself, listen to, and not interrupt, the conversation about to be held. She then breaks in upon the Prince's compliments, tells him that she forgives his curiosity and disguise, satisfied with having outwitted him, and deceived the deceiver; but severely reproaches him for having turned her palace into a theatre of tragedies. She says that she has that morning found Lorenzo murdered,-when Lisida rushes in, and we will conclude this article by giving the last scene. After many lines of vague exclamations and demands of justice, Lisida proceeds, 4 R "Tis on Lisardo I demand it, who Alone, sir, caused your princely brother's death. A treachery so villainous, an action Such conduct, murder'd him, since he exposed But let Lisardo. Proceed not, for though 'tis esteemed The amplest in my power, my hand- Proceed not! Rather would I slay myself, Than give consent, or e'er accept a hand This very hour dyed in Lorenzo's blood. Prince. What other satisfaction would you, lady? Since there exists no possibility Of calling your Lorenzo back to life Could that be done, by heav'n, rather than see My Flerida offended, and yourself Unhappy, I would share my life with him! Flerida. Will you to this engage your promise? Pledging my hand for its exact observance. Flerida. Promise and hand, I with my hand accept. And now that you are pledged-Come forth, Lorenzo, If I refused you love, your life instead. Enter LORENZO. Lorenzo. I have no off'ring save this ribbon, lady, To speak my thankfulness, and now 'tis fitting I at the Prince's feet should yield myself Flerida. Stay; first 'tis fitting, lest the world believe My house a shelter for unlawful love, That you present your hand to Lisida. Lorenzo. With my whole soul, acknowledging your goodness, My jealousy being cured, I joyfully Perform your highness' pleasure. Lisida. Recompensed Are all my sufferings ! Lorenzo. Sir, at your feet Permit me, Prince. I require no explanation. In your deportment I have seen display'd I am contented to forgive the past. |