_Bep._ Nay, I would I did: I wonder not your doting heart rejects Such monstrous treachery. Yet it is true, And true as curs'd. The Donna Isidora By her charms has won him; and his feign'd death Was but a stratagem to shake you off. As you last night asserted, Perez fell; Don Felix, swearing vengeance, seeks Don Gaspar. _Ser._ (_after a pause_). Who is this Isidora? _Bep._ A lovely creature in her early bloom, The noble blood of Guzman in her veins, A rival worthy of your beauty, madam, And therefore one most dangerous. _Ser._ Would that I had her here. My heart is now So full of anger, malice, and fierce hate, With all those direful and envenom'd passions By which the breasts of demons are infected; If I but even look'd upon her face, My scorching breath would wither up her charms Like adder's poison. Would I had her here! _Bep._ Yet blame her not. She's good and beautiful: Report doth much commend her early worth And ever active charity. _Ser._ Were she not so, I yet might have retain'd My truant love. Each virtue that she hath With me's a vice--each charm, deformity. They are my foes, array'd against my power, And I must hate them, as they've vanquish'd me. _Bep._ But _my_ hate should fall on Gaspar, lady. _Ser._ That's not so easy; the strong tide of love, Though check'd, still flows against the adverse hate. In their opposing strife, my troubled breast Heaves as the elements in wild commotion. _Bep._ It must not last. I've much to tell you yet Of this base man. When you have heard it all, A rapid flood of rage shall sweep its course, Lash'd by the storm raised in your much-wrong'd soul, O'erwhelming all remorse, to Gaspar's ruin. _Ser._ Direct me, Heav'n! Come to my chamber, Beppa, I must unrobe me. When my swollen heart Can throb more freely, I will hear your tale. Come on, good Beppa. [_Exeunt._ _Scene III._ _Street in Seville._ _Enter Antonio._ _Ant._ This is a strange world! What a simpleton is this Don Felix! First he buys my secret at a heavy price, and then, after two minutes' deliberation, declares that he will make no use of it, but that I must deliver the message that he gave me. I've no objection. I like to see my betters dismiss each other to the next world;--the more room for those who remain behind, and poor rogues like me are not so much jostled. This world is certainly much too full for comfort. Ah! here comes one that stands a chance of going out of it. _Enter Don Gaspar._ _Gasp._ Antonio, I must for a time remain concealed. Don Perez is no more, and in this friar's gown, which I put on to elude the bravos, I have convinced the Donna Serafina of my death. Thus do I rid myself of her unwelcome love. Remember, should you meet your wife, I don't know which of them, you will keep my secret. You will remain here in charge till I return. _Ant._ Most certainly, sir. But I had almost forgotten; I have a message which may interfere with your departure. _Gasp._ From whom?