SCENES FROM CALDERONY NINA DE GOMEZ ARIAS. 527 



See'st thou yon woman clad in all her charms ? 



To me she is a treacherous basilisk, 



I shun her, for her gaze doth bring me death. 



O had I never with the blinded eyes 



Of admiration gazed, till sight grew love ! 



Desire so strong in fond anticipation, 



Denies me love when in the full possession. 



Love is a man who deals in precious jewels, 



Whose value lies but in their estimation, 



Whose worth is nought the day they lose esteem. 



GINES. I wonder not at your perversity; 

 Yet must I wonder how you find the heart, 

 Alone and sleeping in this wild to leave her. 



GOMEZ. Why not? when since the day that she was mine 

 So hateful was she ever in my eyes, 

 A poisonous viper I not more abhorred. 

 Where shall I fly encumbered with a wife ! 

 And should I all mine oaths and prayers deny, 

 Her sight alone would bring convincing proof. 

 My bread's my sword, and all my gold and wealth, 

 My valiant mind the ranks, my fatherland. 

 And more than all, I know, that undeceived, 

 Beatrice waits me, rich, and young, and fair, 

 Whose love had first possession of my soul. 

 Untie the horses then and let us fly ! 



GINES. Ah ! woe betide her who will trust a man 

 That loves another ! 



GOMEZ. Come, another time 



For your formalities away ! why linger ? 



GINES. O, sir, bethink you that your cruelty 

 Is greater than 



GOMEZ. How ! do you raise your voice? 



GINES. No, no, I only say 'tis most unworthy 

 Of you to act towards a woman thus : 

 Think of some other way to part from her : 

 Leave her not in the mountains here alone ! 

 Has not Granada cloisters ? Yet bethink ! 

 Take not her life whose honour you have wronged. 



GOMEZ. Hum ! see you this dagger ? it shall be the key 

 To open up a thousand bloody mouths 

 Within your breast, and lock my secrets fast. 

 Come forth with me, or you are near your doom ! 



GINES. If I must choose, I choose then 



GOMEZ. Not so loud ! 



GINES. To go ! Yet turn once more, I beg of you, 

 And see the sweetest beauty where she lies ! 



GOMEZ. I've seen her oft enough she is misfortune. 

 Yet had I loved, had she not loved in turn. 



[GOMEZ and GINES retire. 



(CANJERI and MOORS appear on the top of the mountain.) 



CANJERI. Softly tread with thievish footsteps ! 

 For from yonder steep afar 

 Saw I men and saw I horses 

 Through the bushes glide away. 



A MOOR. Tis perchance the travellers' horses, 



