MOSQUITO.

Yes; and they are still in the neighbourhood.

And where?

DON CARLOS.

MOSQUITO.

Across the fields yonder, in the woods near Guadarrama.

DON CARLOS.

Now this is lucky. We will visit the Gipsy camp.

CHISPA.

[Exit.

Are you not afraid of the evil eye? Have you a stag's horn with you?

DON CARLOS.

Fear not. We will pass the night at the village.

CHISPA.

And sleep like the Squires of Hernan Daza, nine under one blanket.

DON CARLOS.

I hope we may find the Preciosa among them.

Among the Squires?

CHISPA.

DON CARLOS.

No; among the Gipsies, blockhead!

CHISPA.

I hope we may; for we are giving ourselves trouble enough on her account. Don't you think so? However, there is no catching trout without wetting one's trowsers. Yonder come the horses. [Exeunt.

SCENE V.

The Gipsy camp in the forest. Night. Gipsies working at a forge. Others playing cards by the fire-light.

GIPSIES (at the forge sing).

On the top of a mountain I stand,
With a crown of red gold in my hand,

Wild Moors come trooping over the lea,

O how from their fury shall I flce, flee, flee?

O how from their fury shall I flee?

FIRST GIPSY (playing).

Down with your John-Dorados, my pigeon. Down with your John-Dorados, and let us make an end.

GIPSIES (at the forge sing).

Loud sang the Spanish cavalier,
And thus his ditty ran;
God send the Gipsy lassie here,
And not the Gipsy man.

FIRST GIPSY (playing).

There you are in your morocco.

SECOND GIPSY.

One more game. The Alcalde's doves against the Padre Cura's new moon.

FIRST GIPSY.

Have at you, Chirelin.

GIPSIES (at the forge sing.)

At midnight, when the moon began
To show her silver flame,
There came to him no Gipsy man,
The Gipsy lassie came.

(Enter BELTRAN Cruzado.)

CRUZADO.

Come hither, Murcigalleros and Rastilleros; leave work, leave play; listen to your orders for the night. (Speaking to the right.) You will get you to the village, mark you, by the

stone cross.

Ay!

GIPSIES.

CRUZADO (to the left).

And you, by the pole with the hermit's heads upon it.

Ay!

GIPSIES.

CRUZADO.

As soon as you see the planets are out, in with you, and be busy with the ten commandments, under the sly, and Saint Martin asleep. D'ye hear?

Ay!

GIPSIES.

CRUZADO.

Keep your lanterns open, and, if you see a goblin or a papagayo, take to your trampers. "Vineyards and Dancing John' is the word. Am I comprehended?

(Exeunt severally. CRUZADO walks up the stage, and disappears among the trees. Enter PRECIOSA.)

PRECIOSA.

How strangely gleams through the gigantic trees
The red light of the forge! Wild, beckoning shadows
Stalk through the forest, ever and anon

Rising and bending with the flickering flame,
Then flitting into darkness! So within me

Strange hopes and fears do beckon to each other,
My brightest hopes giving dark fears a being
As the light does the shadow. Woe is me!
How still it is about me, and how lonely!

(BARTOLOMÉ rushes in.)

BARTOLOMÉ.

Ho! Preciosa!

PRECIOSA.

O, Bartolomé!

Thou here?

BARTOLOMÉ.

Lo! I am here.

PRECIOSA.

Whence comest thou?

BARTOLOMÉ.

From the rough ridges of the wild Sierra,

From caverns in the rocks, from hunger, thirst,
And fever! Like a wild wolf to the sheepfold
Come I for thee, my lamb.

PRECIOSA.

O touch me not!

The Count of Lara's blood is on thy hands!
The Count of Lara's curse is on thy soul!
Do not come near me! Pray, begone from here!
They have set a price

Thou art in danger!

Upon thy head!

BARTOLOMÉ.

Ay, and I've wandered long

Among the mountains; and for many days

Have seen no human face, save the rough swineherd's. The wind and rain have been my sole companions.

I shouted to them from the rocks thy name,

And the loud echo sent it back to me,

Till I grew mad. I could not stay from thee,
And I am here! Betray me, if thou wilt.

PRECIOSA.

Betray thee? I betray thee?

BARTOLOMÉ.

Preciosa!

I come for thee! for thee I thus brave death!

Fly with me o'er the borders of this realm!

When we were children! how we played together,
How we grew up together; how we plighted
Our hearts unto each other, even in childhood!
Fulfil thy promise, for the hour has come.
I am hunted from the kingdom, like a wolf!
Fulfil thy promise.

PRECIOSA.

"T was my father's promise,

Not mine. I never gave my heart to thee,

Nor promised thee my

And heart more false !

I will speak frankly.

I cannot love thee.

hand!

BARTOLOMÉ.

False tongue of woman!

PRECIOSA.

Nay, listen unto me.
I have never loved thee;
This is not my fault,

It is my destiny. Thou art a man

Restless and violent.

What wouldst thou with me,

A feeble girl, who have not long to live,

Whose heart is broken? Seek another wife,

Better than I, and fairer; and let not

Thy rash and headlong moods estrange her from thee.
Thou art unhappy in this hopeless passion.

I never sought thy love; never did aught
To make thee love me. Yet I pity thee,
And most of all I pity thy wild heart,

That hurries thee to crimes and deeds of blood.
Beware, beware of that.

BARTOLOMÉ.

For thy dear sake,

I will be gentle. Thou shalt teach me patience.

PRECIOSA.

Then take this farewell, and depart in peace.

Thou must not linger here.

Hark! I hear footsteps.

BARTOLOMÉ.

Come, come with me.

PRECIOSA.

BARTOLOMÉ.

I entreat thee, come!