Part 38 (2/2)

285 And if she thought my tears did flow For her, how should I be to blame?

For my love ever is the same On thee, thee only to bestow, And that it's thine well dost thou know.

290 _C._ How I hate thee, how I love thee, Ferdinand, were it mine to prove thee!

_F._ Now despair I utterly, Yes, I am most desperate, And good and ill come all too late.

For thy father has married thee 295 To Goncalo, and desolate I here remain, alone, deserted, Nothing of thee left to me But to be thus broken-hearted.

And another's shalt thou be, 300 Taken to another place, And I, by the Devil's grace, Promise that I instantly Will a monk become: in fine So much of thee shall be mine 305 In imagination's play As was given me on that day When thine eyes began to s.h.i.+ne.

_C._ Nay, but give me thy hand instead And I will say that I am wed.

310 _F._ Alas I have nothing now to give.

My promise is already said That I will in a convent live.

_C._ How many perils mar the peace Of this gloomy sea of love, 315 From day to day they still increase And its tempests greater prove.

If a monk then thou must be Husband mine will ne'er be seen: If a monk thou must be, for me 320 Thou leavest of necessity The fate of Dido, hapless queen.

_F._ Thou wilt find no sure escape With Goncalo not to marry, For whatever plans thou shape 325 Thou wilt never round the cape And thy father the day will carry.

_C._ O deliver us from ill!

May such never be my lot, For Goncalo loves me not, 330 And Goncalo I love less still.

But there he comes, see, Ferdinand, Above there in the mountain pa.s.s, And Madanela goes before, She it is that he searches for.

335 _F._ Behind this hedge here we will stand And listen to them as they pa.s.s And we will see what's in his mind And if to thee he be inclined Or if thou art given o'er.

340 _Enter Madanela, singing, and behind her Goncalo:_

(_Song:_)

When here below there's rain and snow What will it be on the mountain-height?

On the hills of Coimbra 'twas snowing 345 and raining, What will it be on the mountain-height?

(_Spoken:_)

Goncalo, what is your pretence?

_G._ Madanela, Madanela!

350 _M._ Go back at once, I say, go hence, Since thou hast so little sense.

_G._ Madanela, Madanela!

_M._ What another plague is here, What annoyance, by my soul!

355 What, wouldst thou now follow me?

_G._ I suppose I need not fear That thou shouldst eat me whole.

But if me thou wouldest kill Because of this my love for thee 360 Not serious surely is thy will.

_M._ Goncalo, go back, go back to thy plough, For all this is but vanity.

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