Act I, Scene 2

[The River-side.]

[Enter JUANA and MANUEL.]

JUA.
Oh never did I owe more to your love,
Than for this quick return.

MAN.
O my Juana,
The love such beauty as your own inspires,
Surmounts impossibilities. However,
I needed not go on to Salvatierra,
Lighting on what I look’d for by the way,
Among the mountains; where my friend Gil Perez
(Whose honour I insult if I declare it)
Has pitcht his tent, with hospitality
Prophetic of our coming;
So peaceably our love may fold its wings
Under the shadow of my friend’s.

JUA.
Oh, Manuel,
She who has left home, country, friends, and fame,
And would contentedly leave life, for you,
Desires no other temple of her love
Than a bleak rock, whose unchanged stedfastness
Shall not out-wear her own.

ALON.
(within) I can no more!

JUA.
Listen! What noise is that?

MAN.
A cavalier
Still with his sword in his exhausted hand.
He falls!

[Enter ALONZO, who falls at the side.]

ALON.
They e’en must have me.

MAN.
Courage, sir.
Wounded? (Voices within.)

ALON.
Hark! the bloodhounds are close by;
And worse, they must have slain Gil Perez first.
Who else—

[Enter GIL.]

GIL.
Confound the rogues, they’ve got the bridge
And the way to ’t, and heav’n itself, I think,
To fight upon their side.

MAN.
Gil, what is this?

GIL.
Trying to help a friend out of a ditch,
I’ve tumbled in myself.

MAN.
Come, we are two
In hand, and one in heart; at least can fight
And die together.

ALON.
Nay, add me;
The cause—

GIL.
There’s but a moment. Manuel,
I charge you by your friendship,
Draw not your sword to-day.

MAN.
Not I my sword
When theirs are on you?

JUA.
(clinging to MANUEL) Heav’ns!

VOICES, WITHIN.
This way! This way!

MAN.
They’re coming.

GIL.
(to ALONSO) Listen! you can swim?

ALON.
Alas—

GIL.
I mean upon my shoulders. Manuel,
We two shall cross to Portugal,
Where follow us they may, but cannot seize us.
Meanwhile I leave you master of my house
And honour, centred (no time to say more)
In Isabel, my sister. Swear to me
That you will see to this.

MAN.
I swear it, Gil.

GIL.
Enough, your hand! Adieu! Now courage, sir!

(Takes ALONSO on his shoulders and plunges into the river.)

JUA.
The man swims like a dolphin.

GIL.
(within) Manuel,
Remember!

MAN.
How he wrestles with the flood!
And now is half-way over.

GIL.
(within) Manuel,
Remember! I have trusted all to you.

MAN.
Waste not your breath. I’ll do ’t.

GIL.
(within) Adieu!

MAN.
Adieu!

[Exit MANUEL with JUANA.]