Part 13 (1/2)

[_Gaspar, with friar's gown and hood on, returns to Don Perez._

_Gasp._ Look up, Don Perez! Knowest thou this form?

Thou dost require some holy man to shrive thee, Ere thou pa.s.s away.----Don Perez, answer!

Know'st thou this form,--these features?

_Perez._ Thou art the Friar Anselmo. I have wrong'd thee, And ask forgiveness. O then pardon me!

And, as thou hop'st t' enjoy eternal life, Feel no resentment 'gainst a dying man!

(_Faintly._) Shrive me, good father, for I'm sinking fast.

Yon stream of blood will not creep on its course Another foot, ere I shall be no more.

_Gasp._ Thou saw'st Anselmo. Now raise up thine eyes, (_Throws off his disguise._) And see Don Gaspar! who has just reveng'd The wrongs inflicted on the spurn'd at monk.

_Perez._ Whoe'er thou art, mysterious, awful being!

At least be satisfied with thy revenge.

If thou art holy, shrive me!

_Gasp._ I am a monk, and yet not holy (_putting on gown, and folding his arms_).

_Perez._ If thou art a monk by vows, thou'rt holy.

'Tis not my blood that's now upon thy hand, And shall hereafter be upon thy soul, Which makes thee less so: thou'rt but an instrument.

I pray thee, shrive me, that my guilty soul May quit in peace this tenement of clay.

_Gasp._ Does he not speak the truth? Tell me, my heart, I think--I feel----I can forgive him now!

[_Gaspar takes out his crucifix, returns to Don Perez, and, kneeling, presents it to him. Perez kisses the crucifix, and falls back dead. Gaspar remains hanging over him._

_Don Felix_ (_without_). What hoa!

_Enter Don Felix with servants bearing torches._

_Gasp._ (_still kneeling by the body_). Who calls?

_Felix._ We seek Don Perez, who this way did bend His steps some hours ago; and not returning At th' appointed time, we fear some mischief Hath befallen him.

_Gasp._ Behold then here the body of some gallant, Whose face I know not. As I pa.s.s'd this way I heard the clash of high and fierce contention, And when I came, this most unhappy man Lay breathing here his last. I shrived him, And he since has died.

_Felix._ It is Don Perez. Holy father, saw you The other party in the contest?

_Gasp._ Save that a manly figure flitted by, And vanish'd in the shadow of yon trees.

_Felix._ Raise up the corpse, and bear it to my house.

This b.l.o.o.d.y work, Don Gaspar, must be thine!

Perez, thou hear'st me not! but, by this sword, I will revenge thy death!

[_Exit Don Felix and servants carrying body._

_Gasp._ Thus far have I escaped suspicion-- Now will I to the monastery.

[_Cas.e.m.e.nt opens, and Donna Serafina appears at window._]

_Ser._ Who's there?