登陆注册
5419700000017

第17章

No one can harm you! I am a poor girl, Whom chance has taken from the public streets.

I have no other shield than mine own virtue.

That is the charm which has protected me!

Amid a thousand perils, I have worn it Here on my heart! It is my guardian angel.

Ang.(rising).I thank you for this counsel, dearest lady.

Prec.Thank me by following it.

Ang.Indeed I will.

Prec.Pray, do not go.I have much more to say.

Ang.My mother is alone.I dare not leave her.

Prec.Some other time, then, when we meet again.

You must not go away with words alone.

(Gives her a purse.)

Take this.Would it were more.

Ang.I thank you, lady.

Prec.No thanks.To-morrow come to me again.

I dance to-night,--perhaps for the last time.

But what I gain, I promise shall be yours, If that can save you from the Count of Lara.

Ang.O, my dear lady! how shall I be grateful For so much kindness?

Prec.I deserve no thanks, Thank Heaven, not me.

Ang.Both Heaven and you.

Prec.Farewell.

Remember that you come again tomorrow.

Ang.I will.And may the Blessed Virgin guard you, And all good angels.[Exit.

Prec.May they guard thee too, And all the poor; for they have need of angels.

Now bring me, dear Dolores, my basquina, My richest maja dress,--my dancing dress, And my most precious jewels! Make me look Fairer than night e'er saw me! I've a prize To win this day, worthy of Preciosa!

(Enter BELTRAN CRUZADO.)

Cruz.Ave Maria!

Prec.O God! my evil genius!

What seekest thou here to-day?

Cruz.Thyself,--my child.

Prec.What is thy will with me?

Cruz.Gold! gold!

Prec.I gave thee yesterday; I have no more.

Cruz.The gold of the Busne,--give me his gold!

Prec.I gave the last in charity to-day.

Cruz.That is a foolish lie.

Prec.It is the truth.

Cruz.Curses upon thee! Thou art not my child!

Hast thou given gold away, and not to me?

Not to thy father? To whom, then?

Prec.To one Who needs it more.

Cruz.No one can need it more.

Prec.Thou art not poor.

Cruz.What, I, who lurk about In dismal suburbs and unwholesome lanes I, who am housed worse than the galley slave;I, who am fed worse than the kennelled hound;I, who am clothed in rags,--Beltran Cruzado,--Not poor!

Prec.Thou hast a stout heart and strong hands.

Thou canst supply thy wants; what wouldst thou more?

Cruz.The gold of the Busne! give me his gold!

Prec.Beltran Cruzado! hear me once for all.

I speak the truth.So long as I had gold, I gave it to thee freely, at all times, Never denied thee; never had a wish But to fulfil thine own.Now go in peace!

Be merciful, be patient, and erelong Thou shalt have more.

Cruz.And if I have it not, Thou shalt no longer dwell here in rich chambers, Wear silken dresses, feed on dainty food, And live in idleness; but go with me, Dance the Romalis in the public streets, And wander wild again o'er field and fell;For here we stay not long.

Prec.What! march again?

Cruz.Ay, with all speed.I hate the crowded town!

I cannot breathe shut up within its gates Air,--I want air, and sunshine, and blue sky, The feeling of the breeze upon my face, The feeling of the turf beneath my feet, And no walls but the far-off mountain-tops.

Then I am free and strong,--once more myself, Beltran Cruzado, Count of the Cales!

Prec.God speed thee on thy march!--I cannot go.

Cruz.Remember who I am, and who thou art Be silent and obey! Yet one thing more.

Bartolome Roman--

Prec.(with emotion).O, I beseech thee If my obedience and blameless life, If my humility and meek submission In all things hitherto, can move in thee One feeling of compassion; if thou art Indeed my father, and canst trace in me One look of her who bore me, or one tone That doth remind thee of her, let it plead In my behalf, who am a feeble girl, Too feeble to resist, and do not force me To wed that man! I am afraid of him!

I do not love him! On my knees I beg thee To use no violence, nor do in haste What cannot be undone!

Cruz.O child, child, child!

Thou hast betrayed thy secret, as a bird 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 ARCHBISHOPand 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.

同类推荐
  • 长灵守卓禅师语录

    长灵守卓禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 修真十书黄庭外景玉经注卷

    修真十书黄庭外景玉经注卷

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Of the Conduct of the Understanding

    Of the Conduct of the Understanding

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 察舌辨症新法

    察舌辨症新法

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 象台首末

    象台首末

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • A Confederacy of Dunces

    A Confederacy of Dunces

    A Confederacy of Dunces is an American comic masterpiece. John Kennedy Toole's hero, one Ignatius J. Reilly, is "huge, obese, fractious, fastidious, a latter-day Gargantua, a Don Quixote of the French Quarter. His story bursts with wholly original characters, denizens of New Orleans' lower depths, incredibly true-to-life dialogue, and the zaniest series of high and low comic adventures" (Henry Kisor, Chicago Sun-Times).
  • 快穿之男配追冷妻

    快穿之男配追冷妻

    【1V1,细水流长】不懂情爱的简鸢被仇人所害,死后绑定黑心系统,开启撩夫之旅。男配:“撩完就跑?你得负责!”简鸢:“你要我怎样?”男配:“以心换心,还有……”简鸢:“……”#任君虐我千万遍,我仍待君如初恋#“听说您追妻不容易啊。”“是的,等了这么多世,终于盼到她爱上我。”
  • 仙妖同修

    仙妖同修

    天道初成,万物皆可修。欲修自身成仙,定要随天意而为。逆天意而行修自身者,罪之。天道无情太上无道,无情无道之天控制人妖修行,逆天行之降天罚,若要行逆天事必要做逆天修,天说我有罪,那做罪仙又如何!天要我随之,可命运在我,逆天而顺己道!辰曦,少年之人,得天地未开秩序未生之妖石却踏上了修仙之路,修道苦旅无涯,仙妖同体之人,又如何于秩序下的天道修自身之道,前路艰险,各种美丽仙子魅惑小妖,带着自己的吃货小宠一路向前,破乱阻者,又如何踏上那修自身而踏天之道?!
  • 肥婆娘亲我要了

    肥婆娘亲我要了

    “儿子,六年前,这该死的王爷把我休了,现在竟然又说我偷了他的宝物,是可忍孰不可忍!欺人太甚!”“先操家伙!平了他的王府再说!”五岁的儿子怒气冲冲。…六年前,寒王娶的胖王妃怀孕了,众所周知,这胖王妃自从嫁入王府后,就夜夜守空房。天大的绿帽子扣在了寒王的头上。一纸休书,熏媛媛带着肚子里她自己都不知道从哪里鬼混来的种离开了寒王府。六年后,当年的那颗种茁壮成长…“我告诉你们!虽然小爷的这个娘又傻又笨,呆的淌口水,而且见人见鬼都要宣传她那几件情趣内衣,但是她依然是小爷的笨娘亲!谁也抢不走她!”五岁的儿子拍着胸脯大吼。“…儿子,我可以理解为这是一种另类的赞美吗?”某女捂着心脏,牙痒痒。“熏圆圆!”“是熏媛媛!我已经不圆了!”“好,熏圆圆…”“…”“熏媛媛,儿子和宝物,你只能选一样,你要交出哪一个!”男人眯起双眼,威胁。“喏,给你。”熏媛媛从身后拎出熏皓月,毫不犹豫。“娘,我是你的亲生儿子啊!我滴个亲娘啊…”“儿啊,娘对不住你啊…来生,咱们还做母子啊…”“娘啊…”“儿啊…”“够了!”男人气急败坏的捂住耳朵暴走,他脑子都要被两人弄炸了。耶~\/母子两人笑眯眯的对视,举起两根手指。“娘,这天下的男人多的是,何必要吊死在这么一棵烂树上!走,儿子给你买他一箩筐!!”儿子拉着娘的手,往菜市场走去。“…一…一箩筐?儿子,你买大白菜呢?!”熏媛媛:儿子,虽然娘不知道你的爹是谁,但是通过你,娘还是看到了你爹的‘优良’基因。熏皓月:娘亲,虽然我不知道自己的爹是谁,但是据我这么聪明来看,我肯定是像我爹多一点。南宫寒:熏媛媛,不交出宝物我不会放过你!南轩澈:熏圆圆,虽然你现在不圆了,但我也不能叫你熏方方不是?而且你也不方啊,所以还是叫圆圆好了。南擎宇:熏媛媛,交出宝物,饶你一死。龙月:熏媛媛,你儿子都叫我爹了,你还能逃得了?!花凌夜:熏媛媛,小爷这一辈子就败在你这个女人手里了!熏媛媛碎碎念:“X的,宝物宝物,我哪有偷什么宝物?!当年姑奶奶净身出户,除了肚子里的那个种什么都没有!哎哎…这位大爷,看看,这情趣内衣,会带来许多的乐趣啊,热血沸腾促进血液循环,大脑发热促进智商发育,买一件吧!强身又健体,还补充大脑所需ABCDEFG………”!!!!!!!!!!!喜欢文文请点击【放入书架】【放入书架】【放入书架】【放入书架】【放入书架】
  • 绛云楼俊遇

    绛云楼俊遇

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 苏小宁的空间田园

    苏小宁的空间田园

    苏小宁投简历屡次被拒后,一家零食手工铺的老板聘用了她。在她第一天上班做事的时候不小心割伤了手指,然后与手上的戒指居然吸了她的血…………
  • 诛神记:狂傲天下女神

    诛神记:狂傲天下女神

    【完结】千年前的那次背叛,让她恨得牙痒痒地,看着他一步步堕入魔道,她有种恨钢不是铁的感觉。无奈,对方剔除神籍时说了句,根本没有爱过自己。那刚才还抱着自己哭,贱!狠狠甩了他几巴掌后,从此恩断义绝,心彻底死去。原本以为今生再不会相见,可谁知神族人的身体消失后,灵识还可以活这么长。是呀!自从被那小三暗算后,到现在已经过去几千年了,自己终于出“山”了!可变数却相继出现,那个贱男也现世了!还好自己有云成,抱着亲一个,气死贱男!
  • 不平凡的人生

    不平凡的人生

    如果我告诉你这一切都是真的,你会相信吗?一次离奇结婚,开启我半辈子不平凡的人生。
  • 破解销售的23个难题

    破解销售的23个难题

    为销售人员破解销售疑惑,全书共汇集销售过程中最前沿的23个难题,每一难题均以古今中外的成功故事开场,用蜻蜓点水的手法引出销售疑难所在,然后用“身临其境”的销售案例展开对难题的论述,紧接着就是销售难题的核心部分——“难题破解”,最后以故事收尾,让销售人员“学有所思”。文中以表格和流程图的形式,具体详细地阐述了解析难题的步骤、方法及技巧。本书脉络清晰,简洁直观,方法巧妙实用,具有很强的可操作性,能够切实解决广大销售人员的实际困难和工作疑惑,全面提升销售人员的销售能力与工作绩效。
  • “草包”王妃

    “草包”王妃

    【当享有国际级的“散打女王”称号,犀利坚毅、腹黑果决的她,穿越到一个草包王妃的身上时,命运的齿轮又会如何运转?】她明明记得自己被一辆破吉普撞飞,然,再次醒来,却发现自己赤条条地与一个同样赤条条的尖嘴猴腮的男人躺在床上。她还没来得及反应,就被一群如狼似虎似地冲进来的穿着古代戏服的“演员”大喊着“捉奸在床”……什么?居然骂她是不知廉耻的草包王妃?什么?她的王爷夫君居然只是个十二岁的小正太?什么?那个长相娇俏,笑露两个可爱梨涡的小女人就是陷害她的凶手?呵呵,凶手笑得很猖狂嘛!很抱歉,她已不再是原来的她……娘惨死,爹漠视,庶出身份的痴傻女,因种种原因代替嫡出的妹妹嫁给七皇子成为七王妃。然,王妃这个世人艳羡的头衔却并未让她的日子比以前好过,甚至连丫鬟小厮都敢踩在她头上。而她的那个正太夫君却像爹一样对她采取完全的漠视态度……但是,她又岂是那个对一切攻击皆无反抗,任人搓扁揉圆的可怜虫“草包王妃”?在这个陌生的异时空,为求生存,为求安定,她可是会不择一切手段的!注:女强,男强,不虐,美男多多,无限YY,仿正剧,文风轻快诙谐,但不排除偶有抽疯变态恶搞的嫌疑,喜欢的亲,请支持竹子哦!推荐自己的文:【生出个吸血鬼宝贝】【穿越女尊之纯倾天下】【丑女丑丑】【“衰”后】推荐好友的文:【老公,别装啦】·风悠雪【捡回一只老公】·风悠雪