Nothing but shadows; and the Future stands Before me like a wall of adamant I cannot climb. _Hyp._ And right above it gleams A glorious star. Be patient—trust thy star. (_Sound of a village bell in the distance._) _Vic._ Ave Maria! I hear the sacristan Ringing the chimes from yonder village belfry! A solemn sound that echoes far and wide Over the red roofs of the cottages, And bids the laboring hind a-field, the shepherd, Guarding his flock, the lonely muleteer, And all the crowd in village streets stand still, And breathe a prayer unto the Blessed Virgin! _Hyp._ Amen! amen! Not half a league from hence The village lies. _Vic._ This path will lead us to it, Over the wheat fields, where the shadows sail Across the running sea, now green, now blue, And like an idle mariner on the main Whistles the quail. Come, let us hasten on. [_Exeunt._ Scene II.—_The public square of El Pardillo. The Ave Maria still tolling. A crowd of villagers, with their hats in their hands, as if in prayer. In front a group of Gipsies. The bell rings a merrier peel. A Gipsy dance. Enter Pancho, followed by Pedro Crespo._ _Pan._ Make room, ye vagabonds and gipsy thieves! Make room for the Alcalde of Pardillo! _P. Cres._ Keep silence all! I have an edict here From our most gracious lord, the King of Spain, Which I shall publish in the market-place. Open your ears and listen! (_Enter Padre Cura at the door of his cottage._) Padre Cura, Good day! and pray you hear this paper read. _P. Cura._ Good day, and God be with you! What is this? _P. Crespo._ An act of banishment against the gipsies! (_Agitation and murmurs in the crowd._) _Pancho._ Silence! _P. Crespo._ (_reads._) “I hereby order and command, That the Egyptian and Chaldean strangers, Known by the name of gipsies, shall henceforth Be banished from our realm, as vagabonds And beggars; and if after seventy days Any be found within our kingdom’s bounds, They shall receive a hundred lashes each; The second time, shall have their ears cut off; The third, be slaves for life to him who takes them; Or burnt as heretics. Signed, I the King.” Vile miscreants and creatures unbaptized! You hear the law! Obey and disappear! _Pancho._ And if in seventy days you are not gone, Dead or alive I make you all my slaves. (_The gipsies go out in confusion, showing signs of fear_ _and discontent. Pancho follows._) _P. Cura._ A righteous law! A very righteous law! Pray you sit down. _P. Crespo._ I thank you heartily. (_They seat themselves on a bench at the Padre Cura’s door. Sound of guitars and voices heard at a distance, approaching during the dialogue which follows._)