_Teresa._ Heart-chilling Superstition! thou canst glaze Ev'n Pity's eye with her own frozen tear. In vain I urge the tortures that await him: Even Selma, reverend guardian of my childhood, My second mother, shuts her heart against me! Well, I have won from her what most imports The present need, this secret of the dungeon Known only to herself.--A Moor! a Sorcerer! No, I have faith, that nature ne'er permitted Baseness to wear a form so noble. True, I doubt not, that Ordonio had suborned him To act some part in some unholy fraud; As little doubt, that for some unknown purpose He hath baffled his suborner, terror-struck him, And that Ordonio meditates revenge! But my resolve is fixed! myself will rescue him, And learn if haply he knew aught of Alvar. _Enter VALDEZ._ _Valdez._ Still sad?--and gazing at the massive door Of that fell dungeon which thou ne'er had'st sight of, Save what, perchance, thy infant fancy shap'd it When the nurse still'd thy cries with unmeant threats. Now by my faith, girl! this same wizard haunts thee! A stately man, and eloquent and tender-- Who then need wonder if a lady sighs Even at the thought of what these stern Dominicans-- _Teresa._ The horror of their ghastly punishments Doth so o'ertop the height of all compassion, That I should feel too little for mine enemy, If it were possible I could feel more, Even though the dearest inmates of our household Were doom'd to suffer them. That such things are-- Remorse. [155] _Maria._ 'Tis strange] _Teresa._ 'Tis said MS. III. [157] _Foster-Mother_] _Selma_ Corr. in MS. III. [165-6] O honor'd Selma! this strange man has left me Wilder'd with stranger fancies than yon moon Corr. in MS. III. [169] She gazes idly! _Ter._ But that entrance, Selma Corr. in MS. III. [170] _Foster-Mother_] _Selma_ Corr. in MS. III. [171] _Maria_] _Teresa._ _Foster-Mother_] _Selma_ Corr. in MS. III. [172] Leoni] Sesina Corr. in MS. III. [180] Velez] Valdez Corr. in MS. III. [201] Velez] Valdez Corr. in MS. III. [212] And once as he was working near this dungeon Corr. in MS. III. [221] _Maria_] _Teresa_ Corr. in MS. III. [226] Leoni's] Sesina's Corr. in MS. III. [228] Leoni] Sesina Corr. in MS. III. [Between 248 and 255:] What if Monviedro or his creatures hear us! I dare not listen to you. _Teresa._ My honoured lord, These were my Alvar's lessons, and whene'er I bend me o'er his portrait, I repeat them, As if to give a voice to the mute image. _Valdez._ ----We have mourned for Alvar. Of his sad fate there now remains no doubt. Have I no other son? Remorse. [256] That low imposture! That mysterious picture! Remorse. it] this Remorse. [Between 262 and 268:]