The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 120

_Alhadra._ I know that man; 'tis well he knows not me.

Five years ago (and he was the prime agent), Five years ago the holy brethren seized me.

_Teresa._ What might your crime be?

_Alhadra._ I was a Moresco! 205 They cast me, then a young and nursing mother, Into a dungeon of their prison house, Where was no bed, no fire, no ray of light, No touch, no sound of comfort! The black air, It was a toil to breathe it! when the door, 210 Slow opening at the appointed hour, disclosed One human countenance, the lamp's red flame Cowered as it entered, and at once sank down.

Oh miserable! by that lamp to see My infant quarrelling with the coa.r.s.e hard bread 215 Brought daily; for the little wretch was sickly-- My rage had dried away its natural food.[830:1]

In darkness I remained--the dull bell counting, Which haply told me, that the all-cheering sun Was rising on our garden. When I dozed, 220 My infant's moanings mingled with my slumbers And waked me.--If you were a mother, lady, I should scarce dare to tell you, that its noises And peevish cries so fretted on my brain That I have struck the innocent babe in anger. 225

_Teresa._ O Heaven! it is too horrible to hear.

_Alhadra._ What was it then to suffer? 'Tis most right That such as you should hear it.--Know you not, What nature makes you mourn, she bids you heal?[830:2]

Great evils ask great pa.s.sions to redress them, 230 And whirlwinds fitliest scatter pestilence.

_Teresa._ You were at length released?

_Alhadra._ Yes, at length I saw the blessed arch of the whole heaven!

'Twas the first time my infant smiled. No more-- For if I dwell upon that moment, Lady, 235 A trance comes on which makes me o'er again All I then was--my knees hang loose and drag, And my lip falls with such an idiot laugh, That you would start and shudder!

_Teresa._ But your husband--

_Alhadra._ A month's imprisonment would kill him, Lady. 240

_Teresa._ Alas, poor man!

_Alhadra._ He hath a lion's courage, Fearless in act, but feeble in endurance; Unfit for boisterous times, with gentle heart He wors.h.i.+ps nature in the hill and valley, Not knowing what he loves, but loves it all-- 245

_Enter ALVAR disguised as a Moresco, and in Moorish garments._

_Teresa._ Know you that stately Moor?

_Alhadra._ I know him not: But doubt not he is some Moresco chieftain, Who hides himself among the Alpujarras.

_Teresa._ The Alpujarras? Does he know his danger, So near this seat?

_Alhadra._ He wears the Moorish robes too, 250 As in defiance of the royal edict.

[_ALHADRA advances to ALVAR, who has walked to the back of the stage, near the rocks. TERESA drops her veil._

_Alhadra._ Gallant Moresco! An inquisitor, Monviedro, of known hatred to our race----

_Alvar._ You have mistaken me. I am a Christian.

_Alhadra._ He deems, that we are plotting to ensnare him: 255 Speak to him, Lady--none can hear you speak, And not believe you innocent of guile.

_Teresa._ If aught enforce you to concealment, Sir--

_Alhadra._ He trembles strangely.

[_ALVAR sinks down and hides his face in his robe._

_Teresa._ See, we have disturbed him.

[_Approaches nearer to him._

I pray you, think us friends--uncowl your face, 260 For you seem faint, and the night-breeze blows healing.

I pray you, think us friends!

_Alvar (raising his head)._ Calm, very calm!

'Tis all too tranquil for reality!

And she spoke to me with her innocent voice, 265 That voice, that innocent voice! She is no traitress!

_Teresa._ Let us retire (_haughtily to Alhadra_).

_Alhadra._ He is indeed a Christian.

_Alvar (aside)._ She deems me dead, yet wears no mourning garment!

Why should my brother's--wife--wear mourning garments? 270

[_To TERESA._

Your pardon, n.o.ble dame! that I disturbed you: I had just started from a frightful dream.

_Teresa._ Dreams tell but of the past, and yet, 'tis said, They prophesy--

_Alvar._ The Past lives o'er again In its effects, and to the guilty spirit 275 The ever-frowning Present is its image.

_Teresa._ Traitress! (_Then aside._) What sudden spell o'ermasters me?

Why seeks he me, shunning the Moorish woman?

_Alvar._ I dreamt I had a friend, on whom I leant With blindest trust, and a betrothed maid, 280 Whom I was wont to call not mine, but me: For mine own self seem'd nothing, lacking her.

This maid so idolized, that trusted friend Dishonoured in my absence, soul and body!

Fear, following guilt, tempted to blacker guilt, 285 And murderers were suborned against my life.

But by my looks, and most impa.s.sioned words, I roused the virtues that are dead in no man, Even in the a.s.sa.s.sins' hearts! they made their terms, And thanked me for redeeming them from murder. 290

_Alhadra._ You are lost in thought: hear him no more, sweet Lady!

_Teresa._ From morn to night I am myself a dreamer, And slight things bring on me the idle mood!

Well sir, what happened then?

_Alvar._ On a rude rock, A rock, methought, fast by a grove of firs, 295 Whose thready leaves to the low-breathing gale Made a soft sound most like the distant ocean, I stayed, as though the hour of death were pa.s.sed, And I were sitting in the world of spirits-- For all things seemed unreal! There I sate-- 300 The dews fell clammy, and the night descended, Black, sultry, close! and ere the midnight hour A storm came on, mingling all sounds of fear, That woods, and sky, and mountains, seemed one havock.

The second flash of lightning shewed a tree 305 Hard by me, newly scathed. I rose tumultuous: My soul worked high, I bared my head to the storm, And with loud voice and clamorous agony, Kneeling I prayed to the great Spirit that made me, Prayed, that Remorse might fasten on their hearts, 310 And cling with poisonous tooth, inextricable As the gored lion's bite!

_Teresa._ A fearful curse!

_Alhadra._ But dreamt you not that you returned and killed them?

Dreamt you of no revenge?

_Alvar._ She would have died Died in her guilt--perchance by her own hands! 315 And bending o'er her self-inflicted wounds, I might have met the evil glance of frenzy, And leapt myself into an unblest grave!