Don Garcia of Navarre | Page 5

sought
to influence the minds of great and small. Whilst Castile was arming
ten thousand men to restore that Prince so wished for by his people,
Don Louis caused a report to be noised abroad that the renowned Don
Alphonso was coming, but that he would not produce him save at the
head of an army, and completely ready to launch the avenging
thunderbolts at the vile usurper's head. Leon is besieged, and Don
Silvio himself commands the auxiliary forces, with which his father
aids you.
ELV. We may flatter ourselves that our expectations will be realized,
but I am afraid my brother will owe Don Silvio too heavy a debt.
[Footnote: Donna Elvira is afraid that Don Alphonso will owe Don
Silvio a debt so heavy, that he will only be able to repay it by the gift of
her hand.]
ALV. But, Madam, is it not strange that, notwithstanding the storm
which the usurper of your throne hears growling over his head, all the
advices from Leon agree that he is going to marry the Countess Inez?
ELV. By allying himself to the high-born maiden, he hopes to obtain
the support of her powerful family. I am rather uneasy that of late I
have heard nothing of her. But she has always shown an inveterate
dislike to that tyrant.
EL. Feelings of honour and tenderness will cause her to refuse the
marriage they urge upon her, for...
ALV. The Prince is coming here.

SCENE III.--DON GARCIA, DONNA ELVIRA, DON ALVAREZ,
ELIZA.

GARC. I come, Madam to rejoice with you in the good tidings you
have just heard. Your brother, who threatens a tyrant stained with
crimes, allows me to hope that my love may one day be returned, and
offers to my arm an opportunity to acquire glory in fresh dangers for
the sake of your lovely eyes. If Heaven proves propitious I will gain
amidst these dangers a victory, which divine justice owes to you, which
will lay treachery at your feet, and restore to your family its former
dignity. But what pleases me still more amidst these cherished
expectations is that Heaven restores you this brother to be King; for
now my love may openly declare itself, without being accused of
seeking to gain a crown whilst striving to obtain your hand. Yes, my
heart desires nothing more than to show before the whole world that in
you it values but yourself; if I may say so without giving offence, a
hundred times have I wished you were of less rank. Loving you as I do
I could have desired that your divine charms had fallen to the lot of
some one born in a humbler station, that I might unselfishly proffer my
heart, and thus make amends to you for Heaven's injustice, so that you
might owe to my love the homage due to your birth.
[Footnote: The sentence from "Yes, my heart," &c., until "your birth" is
nearly the same as the words addressed by Alceste to Celimène in the
Misanthrope, Act iv. Sc. 3 (see Vol. II.)]
But since Heaven has forestalled me, and deprives me of the privilege
of proving my love, do not take it amiss that my amorous flames look
for some slight encouragement when I shall have killed the tyrant,
whom I am ready to encounter; suffer me by noble services favourably
to dispose the minds of a brother and of a whole nation towards me.
ELV. I know, Prince, that by avenging our wrongs you can make a
hundred deeds of daring speak for your love. But the favour of a
brother and the gratitude of a nation are not sufficient to reward you;
Elvira is not to be obtained by such efforts; there is yet a stronger
obstacle to overcome.
GARC. Yes, Madam, I know what you mean. I know very well that my
heart sighs in vain for you; neither do I ignore the powerful obstacle
against my love, though you name it not.

ELV. Often we hear badly when we think we hear well. Too much
ardour, Prince, may lead us into mistakes. But since I must speak, I will.
Do you wish to know how you can please me, and when you may
entertain any hope?
GARC. I should consider this, Madam, a very great favour.
ELV. When you know how to love as you ought.
GARC. Alas! Madam, does there exist anything under the canopy of
heaven that yields not to the passion with which your eyes have
inspired me?
ELV. When your passion displays nothing at which the object of your
love can feel offended.
GARC. That is its greatest study.
ELV. When you shall cease to harbour mean unworthy sentiments of
me.
GARC. I love you to adoration.
ELV. When you have