Count Alarcos | Page 3

flash of lances, blaze of banners, rush Of hurrying horsemen, and the haughty blast Of the soul-stirring trumpet, I renounced My old philosophy, and gazed as gazes The falcon on his quarry!
I:2:33 COUN. Jesu grant The lure will bear no harm!
[A trumpet sounds.]
I:2:34 ALAR. Whose note is that? I hear the tramp of horsemen in the court; We have some guests.
I:2:35 COUN. Indeed!
[Enter the COUNT OF SIDONIA and the COUNT OF LEON.]
I:2:36 ALAR. My noble friends, My Countess greets ye!
I:2:37 SIDO. And indeed we pay To her our homage.
I:2:38 LEON. Proud our city boasts So fair a presence.
I:2:39 COUN. Count Alarcos' friends Are ever welcome here.
I:2:40 ALAR. No common wife. Who welcomes with a smile her husband's friends.
I:2:41 SIDO. Indeed a treasure! When I marry, Count, I'll claim your counsel.
I:2:42 COUN. 'Tis not then your lot?
I:2:43 SIDO. Not yet, sweet dame; tho' sooth to say, full often I dream such things may be.
I:2:44 COUN. Your friend is free?
I:2:45 LEON. And values freedom: with a rosy chain I still should feel a captive.
I:2:46 SIDO. Noble Leon Is proof against the gentle passion, lady, And will ere long, my rapier for a gage, Marry a scold.
I:2:47 LEON. In Burgos now, methinks, Marriage is scarce the mode. Our princess frowns, It seems, upon her suitors.
I:2:48 SIDO. Is it true The match is off?
I:2:49 LEON. 'Tis said.
I:2:50 COUN. The match is off You did not tell me this strange news, Alarcos.
I:2:51 SIDO. Did he not tell you how --
I:2:52 ALAR. In truth, good sirs, My wife and I are somewhat strangers here, And things that are of moment to the minds That long have dwelt on them, to us are nought.
[To the Countess.]
There was a sort of scene to-day at Court; The Princess fainted: we were all dismissed, Somewhat abruptly; but, in truth, I deem These rumours have no source but in the tongues Of curious idlers.
I:2:53 SIDO. Faith, I hold them true. Indeed they're very rife.
I:2:54 LEON. Poor man, methinks His is a lot forlorn, at once to lose A mistress and a crown!
I:2:55 COUN. Yet both may bring Sorrow and cares. But little joy, I ween, Dwells with a royal bride, too apt to claim The homage she should yield.
I:2:56 SIDO. I would all wives Hold with your Countess in this pleasing creed.
I:2:57 ALAR. She has her way: it is a cunning wench That knows to wheedle. Burgos still maintains Its fame for noble fabrics. Since my time The city's spread.
I:2:58 SIDO. Ah! you're a traveller, Count. And yet we have not lagged.
I:2:59 COUN. The Infanta, sirs, Was it a kind of swoon?
I:2:60 ALAR. Old Lara lives Still in his ancient quarter?
I:2:61 LEON. With the rats That share his palace. You spoke, Madam?
I:2:62 COUN. She Has dainty health, perhaps?
I:2:63 LEON. All ladies have. And yet as little of the fainting mood As one could fix on --
I:2:64 ALAR. Mendola left treasure?
I:2:65 SIDO. Wedges of gold, a chamber of sequins Sealed up for ages, flocks of Barbary sheep Might ransom princes, tapestry so rare The King straight purchased, covering for the price Each piece with pistoles.
I:2:66 COUN. Is she very fair
I:2:67 LEON. As future queens must ever be, and yet Her face might charm uncrowned.
I:2:68 COUN. It grieves me much To hear the Prince departs. 'Tis not the first Among her suitors
I:2:69 ALAR. Your good uncle lives -- Nunez de Leon?
I:2:70 LEON. To my cost, Alarcos; He owes me much.
I:2:71 SIDO. Some promises his heir Would wish fulfilled.
I:2:72 COUN. In Gascony, they said, Navarre had sought her hand.
I:2:73 LEON. He loitered here But could not pluck the fruit: it was too high. Sidonia threw him in a tilt one day. The Infanta has her fancies; unhorsed knights Count not among them.
[Enter a CHAMBERLAIN who whispers COUNT ALARCOS.]
I:2:74 ALAR. Urgent, and me alone Will commune with! A Page! Kind guests, your pardon, I'll find you here anon. My Florimonde, Our friends will not desert you, like your spouse.
[Exit ALARCOS.]
I:2:75 COUN. My Lords, will see our gardens?
I:2:76 SIDO. We are favoured. We wait upon your steps.
I:2:77 LEON. And feel that roses Will spring beneath them.
I:2:78 COUN. You are an adept, sir, In our gay science.
I:2:79 LEON. Faith, I stole it, lady, From a loose Troubadour Sidonia keeps To write his sonnets.
[Exeunt omnes.]

SCENE 3
A Chamber.
[Enter ALARCOS and PAGE.]
I:3:1 PAGE. Will you wait here, my Lord?
I:3:2 ALAR. I will, sir Page.
[Exit PAGE.] The Bishop of Ossuna: what would he? He scents the prosperous ever. Ay! they'll cluster Round this new hive. But I'll not house them yet. Marry, I know them all; but me they know, As mountains might the leaping stream that meets The ocean as a river. Time and exile Change our life's course, but is its flow less deep Because it is more calm? I've seen to-day Might stir its pools. What if my