Pedro the Cruel
Dol. Let her not copy him; his mother did
Foul wrong to Pedro's—and there! her father's self!
Maria. Constancia.
Dol. Child! look up again. There! there!
'Tis Pedro's self. And this dumb little one?
Maria. That's Isabel. Some say she is like her mother.
Dol. And so she is. (Aside) A mother and her children!
And such a girl too! Can I do it? God!
I'll wait and watch her. Oh, you most rare creature,
That are so cruel and so beautiful,
How can you bear to purchase day by day
Your cup of golden pleasures with the tears
Of that poor girl that was anointed queen
To Pedro six long years ago—God help her—
Who wastes in prison now her innocent life?
Maria. Now witness heaven, if ever human words
Could wound a human heart, your words have done it.
You do not know how deeply, no one does,
Nor how unjustly—but I blame you not.
Hark, 'tis Don Pedro! Wait here, you shall see him.[Exit.
Dot. How light of foot! Were she as light of conscience!
Is that the King? No sure, and yet who else?
Foul wrong to Pedro's—and there! her father's self!
Maria. Constancia.
Dol. Child! look up again. There! there!
'Tis Pedro's self. And this dumb little one?
Maria. That's Isabel. Some say she is like her mother.
Dol. And so she is. (Aside) A mother and her children!
And such a girl too! Can I do it? God!
I'll wait and watch her. Oh, you most rare creature,
That are so cruel and so beautiful,
How can you bear to purchase day by day
Your cup of golden pleasures with the tears
Of that poor girl that was anointed queen
To Pedro six long years ago—God help her—
Who wastes in prison now her innocent life?
Maria. Now witness heaven, if ever human words
Could wound a human heart, your words have done it.
You do not know how deeply, no one does,
Nor how unjustly—but I blame you not.
Hark, 'tis Don Pedro! Wait here, you shall see him.[Exit.
Dot. How light of foot! Were she as light of conscience!
Is that the King? No sure, and yet who else?
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