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Betrays her nest； by striving to conceal it。
I will not leave thee here in the great city
To be a grandee's mistress。 Make thee ready
To go with us； and until then remember
A watchful eye is on thee。 ＇Exit。
Prec。 Woe is me！
I have a strange misgiving in my heart！
But that one deed of charity I'll do；
Befall what may； they cannot take that from me。
SCENE II A room in the ARCHBISHOP'S Palace。 The ARCHBISHOP
and a CARDINAL seated。
Arch。 Knowing how near it touched the public morals；
And that our age is grown corrupt and rotten
By such excesses； we have sent to Rome；
Beseeching that his Holiness would aid
In curing the gross surfeit of the time；
By seasonable stop put here in Spain
To bull…fights and lewd dances on the stage。
All this you know。
Card。 Know and approve。
Arch。 And further；
That； by a mandate from his Holiness；
The first have been suppressed。
Card。 I trust forever。
It was a cruel sport。
Arch。 A barbarous pastime；
Disgraceful to the land that calls itself
Most Catholic and Christian。
Card。 Yet the people
Murmur at this； and； if the public dances
Should be condemned upon too slight occasion；
Worse ills might follow than the ills we cure。
As Panem et Circenses was the cry
Among the Roman populace of old；
So Pan y Toros is the cry in Spain。
Hence I would act advisedly herein；
And therefore have induced your Grace to see
These national dances； ere we interdict them。
（Enter a Servant）
Serv。 The dancing…girl； and with her the musicians
Your Grace was pleased to order； wait without。
Arch。 Bid them come in。 Now shall your eyes behold
In what angelic； yet voluptuous shape
The Devil came to tempt Saint Anthony。
（Enter PRECIOSA； with a mantle thrown over her head。 She
advances slowly； in modest； half…timid attitude。）
Card。 （aside）。 O； what a fair and ministering angel
Was lost to heaven when this sweet woman fell！
Prec。 （kneeling before the ARCHBISHOP）。
I have obeyed the order of your Grace。
If I intrude upon your better hours；
I proffer this excuse； and here beseech
Your holy benediction。
Arch。 May God bless thee；
And lead thee to a better life。 Arise。
Card。 （aside）。 Her acts are modest； and her words discreet！
I did not look for this！ Come hither； child。
Is thy name Preciosa？
Prec。 Thus I am called。
Card。 That is a Gypsy name。 Who is thy father？
Prec。 Beltran Cruzado； Count of the Cales。
Arch。 I have a dim remembrance of that man：
He was a bold and reckless character；
A sun…burnt Ishmael！
Card。 Dost thou remember
Thy earlier days？
Prec。 Yes； by the Darro's side
My childhood passed。 I can remember still
The river； and the mountains capped with snow
The village； where； yet a little child；
I told the traveller's fortune in the street；
The smuggler's horse； the brigand and the shepherd；
The march across the moor； the halt at noon；
The red fire of the evening camp； that lighted
The forest where we slept； and； further back；
As in a dream or in some former life；
Gardens and palace walls。
Arch。 'T is the Alhambra；
Under whose towers the Gypsy camp was pitched。
But the time wears； and we would see thee dance。
Prec。 Your Grace shall be obeyed。
（She lays aside her mantilla。 The music of the cachucha is
played； and the dance begins。 The ARCHBISHOP and the CARDINAL
look on with gravity and an occasional frown； then make signs to
each other； and； as the dance continues； become more and more
pleased and excited； and at length rise from their seats； throw
their caps in the air； and applaud vehemently as the scene
closes。）
SCENE III。 The Prado。 A long avenue of trees leading to the
gate of Atocha。 On the right the dome and spires of a convent。
A fountain。 Evening； DON CARLOS and HYPOLITO meeting。
Don C。 Hola！ good evening； Don Hypolito。
Hyp。 And a good evening to my friend； Don Carlos。
Some lucky star has led my steps this way。
I was in search of you。
Don。 C。 Command me always。
Hyp。 Do you remember； in Quevedo's Dreams；
The miser； who； upon the Day of Judgment；
Asks if his money…bags would rise？
Don C。 I do；
But what of that？
Hyp。 I am that wretched man。
Don C。 You mean to tell me yours have risen empty？
Hyp。 And amen！ said my Cid the Campeador。
Don C。 Pray； how much need you？
Hyp。 Some half…dozen ounces；
Which； with due interest
Don C。 （giving his purse）。 What； am I a Jew
To put my moneys out at usury？
Here is my purse。
Hyp。 Thank you。 A pretty purse。
Made by the hand of some fair Madrilena；
Perhaps a keepsake。
Don C。 No； 't is at your service。
Hyp。 Thank you again。 Lie there； good Chrysostom；
And with thy golden mouth remind me often；
I am the debtor of my friend。
Don C。 But tell me；
Come you to…day from Alcala？
Hyp。 This moment。
Don C。 And pray； how fares the brave Victorian？
Hyp。 Indifferent well； that is to say； not well。
A damsel has ensnared him with the glances
Of her dark； roving eyes； as herdsmen catch
A steer of Andalusia with a lazo。
He is in love。
Don C。 And is it faring ill
To be in love？
Hyp。 In his case very ill。
Don C。 Why so？
Hyp。 For many reasons。 First and foremost；
Because he is in love with an ideal；
A creature of his own imagination；
A child of air； an echo of his heart；
And； like a lily on a river floating；
She floats upon the river of his thoughts！
Don C。 A common thing with poets。 But who is
This floating lily？ For； in fine； some woman；
Some living woman；not a mere ideal；
Must wear the outward semblance of his thought。
Who is it？ Tell me。
Hyp。 Well； it is a woman！
But； look you； from the coffer of his heart
He brings forth precious jewels to adorn her；
As pious priests adorn some favorite saint
With gems and gold； until at length she gleams
One blaze of glory。 Without these； you know；
And the priest's benediction； 't is a doll。
Don C。 Well； well！ who is this doll？
Hyp。 Why； who do you think？
Don C。 His cousin Violante。
Hyp。 Guess again。
To ease his laboring heart； in the last storm
He threw her overboard； with all her ingots。
Don C。 I cannot guess； so tell me who it is。
Hyp。 Not I。
Don。 C。 Why not？
Hyp。 （mysteriously）。 Why？ Because Mari Franca
Was married four leagues out of Salamanca！
Don C。 Jesting aside； who is it？
Hyp。 Preciosa。
Don C。 Impossible！ The Count of Lara tells me
She is not virtuous。
Hyp。 Did I say she was？
The Roman Emperor Claudius had a