"And now, Hidalgo! now that you have thrown Doubt upon me, confusion over all, Pray have the courtesy to make it known _Who_ is the man you search for? how d' ye call Him? what's his lineage? let him but be shown-- I hope he's young and handsome--is he tall? Tell me--and be assured, that since you stain My honour thus, it shall not be in vain. CLV. "At least, perhaps, he has not sixty years, At that age he would be too old for slaughter, Or for so young a husband's jealous fears-- (Antonia! let me have a glass of water.) I am ashamed of having shed these tears, They are unworthy of my father's daughter; My mother dreamed not in my natal hour, That I should fall into a monster's power. CLVI. "Perhaps 't is of Antonia you are jealous, You saw that she was sleeping by my side, When you broke in upon us with your fellows: Look where you please--we've nothing, sir, to hide; Only another time, I trust, you'll tell us, Or for the sake of decency abide A moment at the door, that we may be Dressed to receive so much good company. CLVII. "And now, sir, I have done, and say no more; The little I have said may serve to show The guileless heart in silence may grieve o'er[af] The wrongs to whose exposure it is slow:-- I leave you to your conscience as before, 'T will one day ask you _why_ you used me so? God grant you feel not then the bitterest grief!-- Antonia! where's my pocket-handkerchief?" CLVIII. She ceased, and turned upon her pillow; pale She lay, her dark eyes flashing through their tears, Like skies that rain and lighten; as a veil, Waved and o'ershading her wan cheek, appears Her streaming hair; the black curls strive, but fail To hide the glossy shoulder, which uprears Its snow through all;--her soft lips lie apart, And louder than her breathing beats her heart. CLIX. The Senhor Don Alfonso stood confused; Antonia bustled round the ransacked room, And, turning up her nose, with looks abused Her master, and his myrmidons, of whom Not one, except the attorney, was amused; He, like Achates, faithful to the tomb, So there were quarrels, cared not for the cause, Knowing they must be settled by the laws. CLX. With prying snub-nose, and small eyes, he stood, Following Antonia's motions here and there, With much suspicion in his attitude; For reputations he had little care; So that a suit or action were made good, Small pity had he for the young and fair, And ne'er believed in negatives, till these Were proved by competent false witnesses. CLXI.