PRECIOSA.

Farewell!

Remember that you come again to-morrow.

ANGELICA.

I will. And may the blessed Virgin guard you,

And all good angels.

PRECIOSA.

[Exit.

May they guard thee too,

And all the poor; for they have need of angels.
Now bring me, dear Dolores, my basquiña,
My richest maja dress, - my dancing dress,
And my most precious jewels! Make me look
Fairer than night e'er saw me! I've a prize
To win this day, worthy of Preciosa !

(Enter BELTRAN CRUZADO.)

CRUZADO.

Ave Maria!

PRECIOSA.

O God ! my evil genius !

What seekest thou here to-day?

The gold of the Busné, give me his gold!

PRECIOSA.

I gave the last in charity to-day.

Hast thou given gold away, and not to me?

Not to thy father? To whom, then?

PRECIOSA.

To one

Who needs it more.

CRUZADO.

No one can need it more.

PRECIOSA.

Thou art not poor.

CRUZADO.

What, I, who lurk about

In dismal suburbs and unwholesome lanes;

I, who am housed worse than the galley slave; I, who am fed worse than the kennelled hound; I, who am clothed in rags,

Not poor!

PRECIOSA.

Beltran Cruzado,

Thou hast a stout heart and strong hands.

Thou canst supply thy wants; what wouldst thou

more?

CRUZADO.

The gold of the Busné! give me his gold!

PRECIOSA.

Beltran Cruzado! hear me once for all.

I speak the truth.

So long as I had gold,

I gave it to thee freely, at all times,

Never denied thee; never had a wish

But to fulfil thine own.

Now go in peace!

Be merciful, be patient, and, ere long,

Thou shalt have more.

CRUZADO.

And if I have it not,

Thou shalt no longer dwell here in rich chambers,

Wear silken dresses, feed on dainty food,

And live in idleness; but go with me,

Dance the Romalis in the public streets,

And wander wild again o'er field and fell;
For here we stay not long.

Ay, with all speed. I hate the crowded town!

I cannot breathe shut up

within its gates!

Air, I want air, and sunshine, and blue sky, The feeling of the breeze upon my face,

The feeling of the turf beneath my feet,

And no walls but the far-off mountain tops.

Then I am free and strong,

once more myself,

Beltran Cruzado, Count of the Calés !

PRECIOSA.

God speed thee on thy march! — I cannot go.

CRUZADO.

Remember who I am, and who thou art!

Be silent and obey! Yet one thing more.

Bartolomé Román

If

my

PRECIOSA (with emotion).

O, I beseech thee !

obedience and blameless life,

If my humility and meek submission

In all things hitherto, can move in thee
One feeling of compassion; if thou art
Indeed my father, and canst trace in me
One look of her who bore me, or one tone