Ortiz. Guilty he needs must be. Ortiz. Then why, My sovereign liege, in secret should he die? If public law demands the culprit's head, In public let the culprit's blood be shed. Shall Justice's sword, which strikes in face of day, The world will think, who kills by means unknown If slight his fault, I dare for mercy pray. King. Sancho, attend;--you came not here to-day But to perform my will, to execute my laws, Ortiz. Oh, yes! a thousand times. King. Then strike without remorse: these are the wretch's crimes. Ortiz. So let him die; for sentence Ortiz pleads: Were he my brother, by this arm he bleeds. King. Give me thy hand. Ortiz. With that my heart I pledge. King. So, while he heeds not, shall thy rapier's edge Reach his proud heart. Ortiz. My liege! my sovereign lord! Sancho's my name, I wear a soldier's sword. Would you with treacherous acts, and deeds of shame, Taint such a calling, tarnish such a name? Shall I,-shall I, to shrink from open strife, Like some base coward, point the assassin's knife? Or in the crowded mart, or public street, Defy and combat him in open light. Curse the mean wretch who slays, but does not fight! Happy, compared with him, his murdered foe,- To all he meets, his cowardice and shame. King. E'en as thou wilt; but in this paper read, [Sancho reads the paper aloud, which promises the king's protection, if he is brought into any jeopardy in consequence of killing the person alluded to, and is signed, "Yo el Rey," I the king.] King. Act as you may, my name shall set you free. I ask no surety but my king's command. Perish such deeds! [Tears the paper]-they serve but to record Some doubt, some question, of a monarch's word. King. Were she the richest and the best allied Ortiz. So throughout the world, May oceans view thy conquering flag unfurled! Ortiz. I'll put that prowess to the proof ere long. II. Bustos Tabera and Sancho Ortiz. Tabera. In meeting thus, my fortune do I greet. [Exit. Ortiz (aside). Alas! I curse the chance that makes us meet. You come to make a friend, a brother, blest, And I, to plunge a dagger in thy breast. Tabera. Brother, the hour of long-sought bliss is come. Ortiz (aside). My hour of grief, of all my woes the doom! O God! did man e'er bear such weight of ill? Him whom I love next heaven my sword must kill; My love is lost, and all my visions end. Tabera. The deeds are drawn; to tell the news I came; They only wait for Sancho Ortiz' name. Ortiz (aloud). Once, it is true, by fickle fancy led, Tabera's sister Ortiz fain would wed; But now, though drawn the strict agreements stand, I scorn the offer, and reject her hand. Tabera. Know'st thou to whom, or what thou speak'st? Ortiz. I know To whom I speak, and therefore speak I so. Tabera. How, knowing me, can words of insult dwell On Ortiz' tongue? Ortiz. Because he knows thee well. Tabera. And knows he aught but generous pride of blood, And honor such as prompts the brave and good? Virtue and genuine honor are the same: Pride, uninspired by her, usurps the name. Ortiz. Not more offended can thy virtue be, Tabera. Is 't come to this? and dost thou brand my fame With aught that bears not honor's sacred name? Prove, then, this sword, which dares thy rage defy,My foe a villain, and his charge a lie. [They draw and fight. Ortiz. What can the swords of traitorous villains prove? Pardon me, sacred friendship! pardon, love! My king impels; I madden as I fight, And frenzy lends my arm resistless might. Tabera. Enough, nor further press thy blow,—I bleed,— My hour is come! Ortiz. Then am I mad, indeed! [Tabera falls. Yes, when I struck thy death, my sense was gone; [Dies. Ortiz. Come, then, destructive, unrelenting blade, [Enter Farfan and Pedro, Alcaldes mayores. Pedro. Wretch! stay that weapon, raised thyself to kill! Ortiz. 'Twas raised against a life yet dearer still. Arias. What's this disorder? [Enter Arias. Ortiz. The disorder 's plain: I've killed a brother, like another Cain,- Here, here he lies,-survey each mangled limb; Ortiz. What is it, do you ask? 'Tis a kept promise, an accomplished task; Honor, that slew the man he dearly loved. For them our laws expire, our brothers die. Pedro. He's killed Tabera. Arias. Rash, flagitious deed! Ortiz. Then seize me,-bind me,-let his murderer bleed! Where are we? Do not law and reason say, Ruffians shall die, and blood shall blood repay? But marked you how the mighty crime was done? No hate was here; 'twas love, and love alone; And love, that did the crime, shall for the crime atone. And beg of justice-that his murderer bleed. Thy friend that tribute to thy memory pays! Arias. The man is mad, and knows not what he says. Pedro. Then to Triana's tower the culprit lead,— Lest, at the noise of such a lawless deed, Seville should rise, and some new tumult breed. Ortiz. Yet I would raise my brother from the ground, Clasp his cold limbs, and kiss the sacred wound, And wash the noble blood that streams his corpse around. So I'll his Atlas be; nor would repine, Ortiz. When I from friendship swerved, The riddle 's easy, when the clew is found; III. Estrella and Theodora. [Exit guarded. Estrella. So quick my toilet was, I scarce can guess Theodora. All glass is needless here; Look on thyself,—no mirror is so clear; Such matchless charms and beauty bright as thine. [Holds the looking-glass. Estr. Whence can such crimson colors fire my cheek? Theo. Thy joy, and yet thy modesty, they speak. Yes, to thy face contending passions rush, Thy bliss betraying with a maiden blush. Estr. 'Tis true he comes; the youth my heart approves. Comes fraught with joy, and led by smiling Loves. He claims my hand; I hear his soft caress, See his soul's bliss come beaming from his eye. O partial stars! unlooked-for happiness! Can it be true?-is this my destiny? Theo. Hark! some one rings !-but, lo! with envy smit, One mirror into thousand mirrors split! Estr. Is 't broken? Theo. Yes. Estr. And sure with reason too; Since soon, without its aid, I hope to view I need no glass, and can its use despise. [Enter Clarindo. |