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Compare me with the great men of the earth；
What am I？ Why； a pygmy among giants！
But if thou lovest；mark me！ I say lovest；
The greatest of thy sex excels thee not！
The world of the affections is thy world；
Not that of man's ambition。 In that stillness
Which most becomes a woman； calm and holy；
Thou sittest by the fireside of the heart；
Feeding its flame。 The element of fire
Is pure。 It cannot change nor hide its nature；
But burns as brightly in a Gypsy camp
As in a palace hall。 Art thou convinced？
Prec。 Yes； that I love thee； as the good love heaven；
But not that I am worthy of that heaven。
How shall I more deserve it？
Vict。 Loving more。
Prec。 I cannot love thee more； my heart is full。
Vict。 Then let it overflow； and I will drink it；
As in the summer…time the thirsty sands
Drink the swift waters of the Manzanares；
And still do thirst for more。
A Watchman （in the street）。 Ave Maria
Purissima！ 'T is midnight and serene！
Vict。 Hear'st thou that cry？
Prec。 It is a hateful sound；
To scare thee from me！
Vict。 As the hunter's horn
Doth scare the timid stag； or bark of hounds
The moor…fowl from his mate。
Prec。 Pray； do not go！
Vict。 I must away to Alcala to…night。
Think of me when I am away。
Prec。 Fear not！
I have no thoughts that do not think of thee。
Vict。 （giving her a ring）。
And to remind thee of my love； take this；
A serpent； emblem of Eternity；
A ruby；say； a drop of my heart's blood。
Prec。 It is an ancient saying； that the ruby
Brings gladness to the wearer； and preserves
The heart pure； and； if laid beneath the pillow；
Drives away evil dreams。 But then； alas！
It was a serpent tempted Eve to sin。
Vict。 What convent of barefooted Carmelites
Taught thee so much theology？
Prec。 （laying her hand upon his mouth）。 Hush！ hush！
Good night！ and may all holy angels guard thee！
Vict。 Good night！ good night！ Thou art my guardian angel！
I have no other saint than thou to pray to！
（He descends by the balcony。）
Prec。 Take care； and do not hurt thee。 Art thou safe？
Vict。 （from the garden）。
Safe as my love for thee！ But art thou safe？
Others can climb a balcony by moonlight
As well as I。 Pray shut thy window close；
I am jealous of the perfumed air of night
That from this garden climbs to kiss thy lips。
Prec。 （throwing down her handkerchief）。
Thou silly child！ Take this to blind thine eyes。
It is my benison！
Vict。 And brings to me
Sweet fragrance from thy lips； as the soft wind
Wafts to the out…bound mariner the breath
Of the beloved land he leaves behind。
Prec。 Make not thy voyage long。
Vict。 To…morrow night
Shall see me safe returned。 Thou art the star
To guide me to an anchorage。 Good night！
My beauteous star！ My star of love； good night！
Prec。 Good night！
Watchman （at a distance）。 Ave Maria Purissima！
Scene IV。 An inn on the road to Alcala。
BALTASAR asleep on a bench。 Enter CHISPA。
Chispa。 And here we are； halfway to Alcala； between cocks and
midnight。 Body o' me！ what an inn this is！ The lights out； and
the landlord asleep。 Hola！ ancient Baltasar！
Bal。 （waking）。 Here I am。
Chispa。 Yes； there you are； like a one…eyed Alcalde in a town
without inhabitants。 Bring a light； and let me have supper。
Bal。 Where is your master？
Chispo。 Do not trouble yourself about him。 We have stopped a
moment to breathe our horses； and； if he chooses to walk up and
down in the open air； looking into the sky as one who hears it
rain； that does not satisfy my hunger； you know。 But be quick；
for I am in a hurry； and every man stretches his legs according
to the length of his coverlet。 What have we here？
Bal。 （setting a light on the table）。 Stewed rabbit。
Chispa （eating）。 Conscience of Portalegre！ Stewed kitten； you
mean！
Bal。 And a pitcher of Pedro Ximenes； with a roasted pear in
it。
Chispa （drinking）。 Ancient Baltasar； amigo！ You know how to
cry wine and sell vinegar。 I tell you this is nothing but Vino
Tinto of La Mancha； with a tang of the swine…skin。
Bal。 I swear to you by Saint Simon and Judas； it is all as I
say。
Chispa。 And I swear to you by Saint Peter and Saint Paul； that
it is no such thing。 Moreover； your supper is like the hidalgo's
dinner； very little meat and a great deal of tablecloth。
Bal。 Ha！ ha！ ha！
Chispa。 And more noise than nuts。
Bal。 Ha！ ha！ ha！ You must have your joke； Master Chispa。 But
shall I not ask Don Victorian in； to take a draught of the Pedro
Ximenes？
Chispa。 No； you might as well say； 〃Don't…you…want…some？〃 to a
dead man。
Bal。 Why does he go so often to Madrid？
Chispa。 For the same reason that he eats no supper。 He is in
love。 Were you ever in love； Baltasar？
Bal。 I was never out of it； good Chispa。 It has been the
torment of my life。
Chispa。 What！ are you on fire； too； old hay…stack？ Why； we
shall never be able to put you out。
Vict。 （without）。 Chispa！
Chispa。 Go to bed； Pero Grullo； for the cocks are crowing。
Vict。 Ea！ Chispa！ Chispa！
Chispa。 Ea！ Senor。 Come with me； ancient Baltasar； and bring
water for the horses。 I will pay for the supper tomorrow。
＇Exeunt。
SCENE V。 VICTORIAN'S chambers at Alcala。 HYPOLITO asleep in
an arm…chair。 He awakes slowly。
Hyp。 I must have been asleep！ ay； sound asleep！
And it was all a dream。 O sleep； sweet sleep
Whatever form thou takest； thou art fair；
Holding unto our lips thy goblet filled
Out of Oblivion's well； a healing draught！
The candles have burned low； it must be late。
Where can Victorian be？ Like Fray Carrillo；
The only place in which one cannot find him
Is his own cell。 Here's his guitar； that seldom
Feels the caresses of its master's hand。
Open thy silent lips； sweet instrument！
And make dull midnight merry with a song。
（He plays and sings。）
Padre Francisco！
Padre Francisco！
What do you want of Padre Francisco？
Here is a pretty young maiden
Who wants to confess her sins！
Open the door and let her come in；
I will shrive her from every sin。
（Enter VICTORIAN。）
Vict。 Padre Hypolito！ Padre Hypolito！
Hyp。 What do you want of Padre Hypolito？
Vict。 Come； shrive me straight； for； if love be a sin；
I am the greatest sinner that doth live。
I will confess the sweetest of all crimes；
A maiden wooed and won。
Hyp。 The same old tale
Of the old woman in the chimney…corner；
Who； while the pot boils； says； 〃Come here； my child；
I'll tell thee a story of my wedding…day。〃
Vict。 Nay； listen； for my heart is full； so full
That I must speak。
Hyp。