Samuel Coleridge - The Complete Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge

I ne’er will quit your fortunes. True,’tis tiresome!

You are a painter, one of many fancies!

You can call up past deeds, and make them live

On the blank canvas! and each little herb,

That grows on mountain bleak, or tangled forest, 45

You have learnt to name ——

Hark! heard you not some footsteps?

Alvar. What if it were my brother coming onwards?

I sent a most mysterious message to him.

Enter ORDONIO

Alvar. It is he!

Ordonio (to himself as he enters). If I distinguish’d right her

gait and stature, 50

It was the Moorish woman, Isidore’s wife,

That passed me as I entered. A lit taper,

In the night air, doth not more naturally

Attract the night-flies round it, than a conjuror

Draws round him the whole female neighbourhood. 55

[Addressing ALVAR.

You know my name, I guess, if not my person.

I am Ordonio, son of the Lord Valdez.

Alvar. The Son of Valdez!

[ORDONIO walks leisurely round the room, and looks

attentively at the plants.

Zulimez (to Alvar). Why, what ails you now?

How your hand trembles! Alvar, speak! what wish you?

Alvar. To fall upon his neck and weep forgiveness! 60

Ordonio (returning, and aloud). Plucked in the moonlight from a

ruined abbey —

Those only, which the pale rays visited!

O the unintelligible power of weeds,

When a few odd prayers have been muttered o’er them:

Then they work miracles! I warrant you, 65

There’s not a leaf, but underneath it lurks

Some serviceable imp.

There’s one of you

Hath sent me a strange message.

Alvar. I am he.

Ordonio. With you, then, I am to speak:

[Haughtily waving his hand to ZULIMEZ.

And mark you, alone. [Exit ZULIMEZ. 70

‘He that can bring the dead to life again!’ —

Such was your message, Sir! You are no dullard,

But one that strips the outward rind of things!

Alvar. ‘Tis fabled there are fruits with tempting rinds,

That are all dust and rottenness within. 75

Would’st thou I should strip such?

Ordonio. Thou quibbling fool,

What dost thou mean? Think’st thou I journeyed hither

To sport with thee?

Alvar. O no, my lord! to sport

Best suits the gaiety of innocence.

Ordonio (aside). O what a thing is man! the wisest heart 80

A fool! a fool that laughs at its own folly,

Yet still a fool! [Looks round the cottage.

You are poor!

Alvar. What follows thence?

Ordonio. That you would fain be richer.

The inquisition, too — You comprehend me?

You are poor, in peril. I have wealth and power, 85

Can quench the flames, and cure your poverty:

And for the boon I ask of you but this,

That you should serve me — once — for a few hours.

Alvar. Thou art the son of Valdez! would to Heaven

That I could truly and for ever serve thee. 90

Ordonio. The slave begins to soften. [Aside.

You are my friend,

‘He that can bring the dead to life again,’

Nay, no defence to me! The holy brethren

Believe these calumnies — I know thee better.

Thou art a man, and as a man I’ll trust thee! 95

Alvar (aside). Alas! this hollow mirth — Declare your business.

Ordonio. I love a lady, and she would love me

But for an idle and fantastic scruple.

Have you no servants here, no listeners?

[ORDONIO steps to the door.

Alvar. What, faithless too? False to his angel wife? 100

To such a wife? Well might’st thou look so wan,

Ill-starr’d Teresa! —— Wretch! my softer soul

Is pass’d away, and I will probe his conscience!

Ordonio. In truth this lady lov’d another man,

But he has perish’d.

Alvar. What! you kill’d him? hey? 105

Ordonio. I’ll dash thee to the earth, if thou but think’st it!

Insolent slave! how dar’dst thou —

[Turns abruptly from ALVAR, and then to himself.

Why! what’s this?

‘Twas idiotcy! I’ll tie myself to an aspen,

And wear a fool’s cap —

Alvar. Fare thee well —

I pity thee, Ordonio, even to anguish. [ALVAR is retiring.

Ordonio. Ho! [Calling to ALVAR. 110

Alvar. Be brief, what wish you?

Ordonio. You are deep at bartering — You charge yourself

At a round sum. Come, come, I spake unwisely.

Alvar. I listen to you.

Ordonio. In a sudden tempest

Did Alvar perish — he, I mean — the lover — 115

The fellow ——

Alvar. Nay, speak out! ‘twill ease your heart

To call him villain! — Why stand’st thou aghast?

Men think it natural to hate their rivals.

Ordonio. Now, till she knows him dead, she will not wed me.

Alvar. Are you not wedded, then? Merciful Heaven! 120

Not wedded to Teresa?

Ordonio. Why, what ails thee?

What, art thou mad? why look’st thou upward so?

Dost pray to Lucifer, Prince of the Air?

Alvar. Proceed. I shall be silent.

Ordonio. To Teresa?

Politic wizard! ere you sent that message, 125

You had conn’d your lesson, made yourself proficient

In all my fortunes. Hah! you prophesied

A golden crop! Well, you have not mistaken —

Be faithful to me and I’ll pay thee nobly.

Alvar. Well! and this lady! 130

Ordonio. If we could make her certain of his death,

She needs must wed me. Ere her lover left her,

She tied a little portrait round his neck,

Entreating him to wear it.

Alvar. Yes! he did so!

Ordonio. Why no: he was afraid of accidents, 135

Of robberies, and shipwrecks, and the like.

In secrecy he gave it me to keep,

Till his return.

Alvar. What! he was your friend then?

Ordonio. I was his friend. —

Now that he gave it me, 140

This lady knows not. You are a mighty wizard —

Can call the dead man up — he will not come. —

He is in heaven then — there you have no influence.

Still there are tokens — and your imps may bring you

Something he wore about him when he died. 145

And when the smoke of the incense on the altar

Is pass’d, your spirits will have left this picture.

What say you now?

Alvar. Ordonio, I will do it.

Ordonio. We’ll hazard no delay. Be it to-night,

In the early evening. Ask for the Lord Valdez. 150

I will prepare him. Music too, and incense,

(For I have arranged it — music, altar, incense)

All shall be ready. Here is this same picture,

And here, what you will value more, a purse.

Come early for your magic ceremonies. 155

Alvar. I will not fail to meet you.

Ordonio. Till next we meet, farewell! [Exit ORDONIO.

Alvar (alone, indignantly flings the purse away and gazes

passionately at the portrait). And I did curse thee!

At midnight! on my knees! and I believed

Thee perjur’d, thee a traitress! thee dishonour’d!

O blind and credulous fool! O guilt of folly! 160

Should not thy inarticulate fondnesses,

Thy infant loves — should not thy maiden vows

Have come upon my heart? And this sweet Image

Tied round my neck with many a chaste endearment,

And thrilling hands, that made me weep and tremble — 165

Ah, coward dupe! to yield it to the miscreant,

Who spake pollution of thee! barter for life

This farewell pledge, which with impassioned vow

I had sworn that I would grasp — ev’n in my Death-pang!

I am unworthy of thy love, Teresa, 170

Of that unearthly smile upon those lips,

Which ever smiled on me! Yet do not scorn me —

I lisp’d thy name, ere I had learnt my mother’s.

Dear portrait! rescued from a traitor’s keeping,

I will not now profane thee, holy image, 175