English

SCENE XII

The Vaults of the Inquisition.

The I NQUISITORS are seated on benches . — Behind them Familiars bearing torches .

Throughout this Scene, distant peals of thunder are heard.

CHIEF INQUISITOR .

W OULD I could bid you welcome, brethren, here!
This wild derangement of the elements,
These fiery gashes in the vault of heaven
That stream with flame, and fright the astonied earth,
Are not from natural causes: Hell is loose;

SCENE XI

A Street.

Enter Two Gentlemen , meeting .

FIRST GENTLEMAN .

S AVE you, brave Cavalier!

SECOND GENTLEMAN .

The like to you, sir.
I scarce need ask where you have been to-day —
All Badajoz was at the market-place.

FIRST GENTLEMAN .

You mean the Act of Faith? I was too late:
Will you vouchsafe me some relation of it?

SCENE X

Square below the Pillar.

Enter A POLLODORUS , a Critic .

Why do men call me a presumptuous cur,
A vapouring blockhead, and a turgid fool,
A common nuisance, and a charlatan?
I've dashed into the sea of metaphor
With as strong paddles as the sturdiest ship
That churns Medusae into liquid light,
And hashed at every object in my way.
My ends are public. I have talked of men
As my familiars, whom I never saw.

SCENE VII

Saloon. — Pall and Coffin.

Enter Countess , C ONFESSOR , H AVERILLO , and A TTENDANTS .

CONFESSOR .

W EEP not, dear lady — he is now at rest!
Nor thundering cannon, nor loud-booming drum,
Nor braying trumpet, nor the clarion's call,
Nor rapid crash of charging chivalry,
Can stir him from his sleep. For him no more
Hath the lewd tinkling of the amorous lute
Behind a twilight lattice, or the wave

SCENE IX

Summit of the Pillar of St Simeon Stylites.

FIRMILIAN .

'T WAS a grand spectacle! The solid earth
Seemed from its quaking entrails to eruct
The gathered lava of a thousand years,
Like an imposthume bursting up from hell!
In a red robe of flame, the riven towers,
Pillars and altar, organ-loft and screen,
With a singed swarm of mortals intermixed,
Were whirled in anguish to the shuddering stars,
And all creation trembled at the din.

SCENE VIII

A Gallery. — At the end an armed figure bearing a mace.

Enter Confessor and F ABIAN .

CONFESSOR .

I WARRANT me thou thinkest, Master Steward,
That I was over urgent with thy dame.
There are some natures, sir, so obstinate
That mildness will not stir them, and for these
The Church enjoins a wholesome stimulant.
Such is your lady.

FABIAN .

You are learned, sir,

SCENE VI

Exterior of the Cathedral of St. Nicholas. — Choir heard chaunting within.

Enter F IRMILIAN .

How darkly hangs yon cloud above the spire!
There's thunder in the air —
What if the flash
Should rend the solid walls, and reach the vault,
Where my terrestrial thunder lies prepared,
And so, without the action of my hand,
Whirl up those thousand bigots in its blaze,
And leave me guiltless, save in the intent?

SCENE V

A Wine Shop . — N ICODEMUS and Two Familiars .

NICODEMUS .

N OT a drop more, gentlemen, if you love me!

FIRST FAMILIAR .

Nonsense, man! We have not had as much as would satisfy the thirst of a chicken. Another stoup here! And now tell us a little more about your master.

NICODEMUS .

Aha, sirs! He's an odd one, is Senor Firmilian.

SCENE IV

Cloisters. — Enter F IRMILIAN .

This was a splendid morning! The dew lay
In amplest drops upon the loaded grass,
And filled the buttercups hard by the place
Where I expected fiery D'Aguilar.
He did not come. Well — I was there at least,
And waited for an hour beyond the time,
During which while I studied botany,
And yet my proud opponent showed no face!
Pshaw! to myself I'll be no hypocrite —
If Raymond Lully lied not, they are dead,

SCENE III

A Tavern . — A LPHONZO D'A GUILAR , G ARCIA P EREZ , A LONZO O LIVAREZ , and F IRMILIAN .

PEREZ .

You take it far too hotly, D'Aguilar —
All men are fanciful in love, and beauty
Is as abundant as the open air
In every region of this bounteous world.
You stand for Spanish beauty — what's your type?
Dark hair, vermilion lips, an olive tint,
A stately carriage, and a flashing eye.
Go northward: there's your Dutchman — he prefers