The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 126

_Ordonio._ That you would fain be richer.

The inquisition, too--You comprehend me?

You are poor, in peril. I have wealth and power, 85 Can quench the flames, and cure your poverty: And for the boon I ask of you but this, That you should serve me--once--for a few hours.

_Alvar._ Thou art the son of Valdez! would to Heaven That I could truly and for ever serve thee. 90

_Ordonio._ The slave begins to soften. [_Aside._ You are my friend, 'He that can bring the dead to life again,'

Nay, no defence to me! The holy brethren Believe these calumnies--I know thee better.

Thou art a man, and as a man I'll trust thee! 95

_Alvar (aside)._ Alas! this hollow mirth--Declare your business.

_Ordonio._ I love a lady, and she would love me But for an idle and fantastic scruple.

Have you no servants here, no listeners?

[_ORDONIO steps to the door._

_Alvar._ What, faithless too? False to his angel wife? 100 To such a wife? Well might'st thou look so wan, Ill-starr'd Teresa!----Wretch! my softer soul Is pa.s.s'd away, and I will probe his conscience!

_Ordonio._ In truth this lady lov'd another man, But he has perish'd.

_Alvar._ What! you kill'd him? hey? 105

_Ordonio._ I'll dash thee to the earth, if thou but think'st it!

Insolent slave! how dar'dst thou--

[_Turns abruptly from ALVAR, and then to himself._

Why! what's this?

'Twas idiotcy! I'll tie myself to an aspen, And wear a fool's cap--

_Alvar._ Fare thee well--[845:1]

I pity thee, Ordonio, even to anguish. [_ALVAR is retiring._

_Ordonio._ Ho! [_Calling to ALVAR._ 110

_Alvar._ Be brief, what wish you?

_Ordonio._ You are deep at bartering--You charge yourself At a round sum. Come, come, I spake unwisely.

_Alvar._ I listen to you.

_Ordonio._ In a sudden tempest Did Alvar perish--he, I mean--the lover-- 115 The fellow----

_Alvar._ Nay, speak out! 'twill ease your heart To call him villain!--Why stand'st thou aghast?

Men think it natural to hate their rivals.

_Ordonio._ Now, till she knows him dead, she will not wed me.

_Alvar._ Are you not wedded, then? Merciful Heaven! 120 Not wedded to Teresa?

_Ordonio._ Why, what ails thee?

What, art thou mad? why look'st thou upward so?

Dost pray to Lucifer, Prince of the Air?

_Alvar._ Proceed. I shall be silent.

_Ordonio._ To Teresa?

Politic wizard! ere you sent that message, 125 You had conn'd your lesson, made yourself proficient In all my fortunes. Hah! you prophesied A golden crop! Well, you have not mistaken-- Be faithful to me and I'll pay thee n.o.bly.

_Alvar._ Well! and this lady! 130

_Ordonio._ If we could make her certain of his death, She needs must wed me. Ere her lover left her, She tied a little portrait round his neck, Entreating him to wear it.

_Alvar._ Yes! he did so!

_Ordonio._ Why no: he was afraid of accidents, 135 Of robberies, and s.h.i.+pwrecks, and the like.

In secrecy he gave it me to keep, Till his return.

_Alvar._ What! he was your friend then?

_Ordonio._ I was his friend.-- Now that he gave it me, 140 This lady knows not. You are a mighty wizard-- Can call the dead man up--he will not come.-- He is in heaven then--there you have no influence.

Still there are tokens--and your imps may bring you Something he wore about him when he died. 145 And when the smoke of the incense on the altar Is pa.s.s'd, your spirits will have left this picture.

What say you now?

_Alvar._ Ordonio, I will do it.

_Ordonio._ We'll hazard no delay. Be it to-night, In the early evening. Ask for the Lord Valdez. 150 I will prepare him. Music too, and incense, (For I have arranged it--music, altar, incense) All shall be ready. Here is this same picture, And here, what you will value more, a purse.

Come early for your magic ceremonies. 155

_Alvar._ I will not fail to meet you.

_Ordonio._ Till next we meet, farewell! [_Exit ORDONIO._

_Alvar (alone, indignantly flings the purse away and gazes pa.s.sionately at the portrait)._ And I did curse thee!

At midnight! on my knees! and I believed Thee perjur'd, thee a traitress! thee dishonour'd!

O blind and credulous fool! O guilt of folly! 160 Should not thy inarticulate fondnesses, Thy infant loves--should not thy maiden vows Have come upon my heart? And this sweet Image Tied round my neck with many a chaste endearment, And thrilling hands, that made me weep and tremble-- 165 Ah, coward dupe! to yield it to the miscreant, Who spake pollution of thee! barter for life This farewell pledge, which with impa.s.sioned vow I had sworn that I would grasp--ev'n in my Death-pang!

I am unworthy of thy love, Teresa, 170 Of that unearthly smile upon those lips, Which ever smiled on me! Yet do not scorn me-- I lisp'd thy name, ere I had learnt my mother's.

Dear portrait! rescued from a traitor's keeping, I will not now profane thee, holy image, 175 To a dark trick. That worst bad man shall find A picture, which will wake the h.e.l.l within him, And rouse a fiery whirlwind in his conscience.

FOOTNOTES:

[842:1] The following lines I have preserved in this place, not so much as explanatory of the picture of the a.s.sa.s.sination, as (if I may say so without disrespect to the Public) to gratify my own feelings, the pa.s.sage being no mere _fancy_ portrait; but a slight, yet not unfaithful, profile of one[842:A], who still lives, n.o.bilitate felix, arte clarior, vita colendissimus.

_Zulimez (speaking of Alvar in the third person)._ Such was the n.o.ble Spaniard's own relation.

He told me, too, how in his early youth, And his first travels, 'twas his choice or chance To make long sojourn in sea-wedded Venice; There won the love of that divine old man, Courted by mightiest kings, the famous t.i.tian!

Who, like a second and more lovely Nature, By the sweet mystery of lines and colours Changed the blank canvas to a magic mirror, That made the absent present; and to shadows Gave light, depth, substance, bloom, yea, thought and motion.