VICTORIAN. And we shall sit together unmolested, And words of true love pass from tongue to tongue, As singing birds from one bough to another. PRECIOSA. That were a life indeed to make time envious! VICTORIAN. Sweet child of air! Never did I behold thee so attired And garmented in beauty as to-night! What hast thou done to make thee look so fair? Am I not always fair? PRECIOSA. VICTORIAN. Ay, and so fair That I am jealous of all eyes that see thee, PRECIOSA. I heed them not; When thou art present, I see none but thee! VICTORIAN. There's nothing fair nor beautiful, but takes PRECIOSA. And yet thou leavest me for those dusty books. VICTORIAN. Thou comest between me and those books too often! I see thy face in every thing I see! The paintings in the chapel wear thy looks, PRECIOSA. In good sooth, I dance with learned doctors of the schools To-morrow morning. VICTORIAN. And with whom, I pray? PRECIOSA. A grave and reverend Cardinal, and his Grace Thou knowest the Pope has sent here into Spain I have heard it whispered. VICTORIAN. PRECIOSA. Now the Cardinal, Who for this purpose comes, would fain behold With his own eyes these dances; and the Archbishop VICTORIAN. That thou may'st dance before them! Now viva la cachucha! It will breathe The fire of youth into these gray old men! "T will be thy proudest conquest! PRECIOSA. Saving one And yet I fear these dances will be stopped, VICTORIAN. The sweetest beggar that e'er asked for alms; With such beseeching eyes, that when I saw thee I gave my heart away! 'T was Easter-Sunday. The full-blossomed trees It was the elevation of the Host. We both of us fell down upon our knees, Come between thee and me. Sweet Preciosa! PRECIOSA. I thought I ne'er should see thy face again. VICTORIAN. That was the first sound in the song of love! PRECIOSA. That is my faith. Dost thou believe these warnings? VICTORIAN. So far as this. Our feelings and our thoughts PRECIOSA. I have felt it so, but found no words to say it! I cannot reason; I can only feel! But thou hast language for all thoughts and feelings. Thou art a scholar; and sometimes I think We cannot walk together in this world! The distance that divides us is too great! Henceforth thy pathway lies among the stars; I must not hold thee back. VICTORIAN. Thou little skeptic! Dost thou still doubt? What I most prize in woman The intellect is finite; but the affections Not that of man's ambition. In that stillness Is pure. It cannot change nor hide its nature, As in a palace hall. Art thou convinced? PRECIOSA. Yes, that I love thee, as the good love heaven, How shall I more deserve it? VICTORIAN. Loving more. PRECIOSA. I cannot love thee more; my heart is full. VICTORIAN. Then let it overflow, and I will drink it, A WATCHMAN (in the street). Purissima! 'Tis midnight and serene! Doth scare the timid stag, or bark of hounds The moor-fowl from his mate. PRECIOSA. Pray, do not go! |