_Don Sancho._ Yes, lady, you require a victim [or revenge] steeped in blood [_lit._ for you there is need of bleeding victims]; your wrath is just and your tears legitimate, and I do not attempt, by dint of speaking, either to soothe you or to console you. But, if I may be capable of serving you, employ my sword to punish the guilty [one], employ my love to revenge this death; under your commands my arm will be [only] too strong. _Chimene._ Unhappy that I am! _Don Sancho._ I implore you, accept my services. _Chimene._ I should offend the King, who has promised me justice. _Don Sancho._ You know that justice [_lit._ it] proceeds with such slowness, that very often crime escapes in consequence of its delay, its slow and doubtful course causes us to lose too many tears. Permit that a cavalier may avenge you by [force of] arms; that method is more certain and more prompt in punishing. _Chimene._ It is the last remedy; and if it is necessary to have recourse to it, and your pity for my misfortunes still continues, you shall then be free to avenge my injury. _Don Sancho._ It is the sole happiness to which my soul aspires; and, being able to hope for it, I depart too well contented. Scene III.--CHIMENE and ELVIRA. _Chimene._ At last I see myself free, and I can, without constraint, show thee the extent of my keen sorrows; I can give vent to my sad sighs; I can unbosom to thee my soul and all my griefs. My father is dead, Elvira; and the first sword with which Rodrigo armed himself has cut his thread of life. Weep, weep, mine eyes, and dissolve yourselves into tears! The one half of my life [i.e. Rodrigo] has laid the other [half, i.e. my father] in the grave, and compels me to revenge, after this fatal blow, that which I have no more [i.e. my father] on that which still remains to me [i.e. Rodrigo]. _Elvira._ Calm yourself, dear lady. _Chimene._ Ah! how unsuitably, in a misfortune so great, thou speakest of calmness. By what means can my sorrow ever be appeased, if I cannot hate the hand which has caused it? And what ought I to hope for but a never-ending anguish if I follow up a crime, still loving the criminal. _Elvira._ He deprives you of a father, and you still love him?