Volume 2 / Act 3 — ACT III.
Reading edition
Scene 1.—A Hall of armory, with an altar at the back of the stage. Soft music from an instrument of glass or steel. Valdez, Ordonio, and Alvar in a Sorcerer's robe, are discovered.
Ord. This was too melancholy, father.
Val. Nay, My Alvar lov'd sad music from a child. Once he was lost; and after weary search We found him in an open place in [of Osor.] the wood, To which spot he had followed a blind boy, Who breath'd into a pipe of sycamore Some strangely-moving notes: and these, he said, Were taught him in a dream. Him we first saw Stretch'd on the broad top of a sunny heath-bank; And lower down poor Alvar, fast asleep, His head upon the blind boy's dog. It pleas'd me To mark how he had fasten'd round the pipe
A silver toy his grandmother had Osor. grandam had late given him.
Methinks I see him now as he then look'd—
His infant dress was grown too short for him, Osor. Even so!—He had outgrown his infant dress,
Yet still he wore it.
Alv. (aside). My tears must not flow! I must not clasp his knees, and cry, My father!
Enter Teresa and attendants.
Remorse.
[These lines with the variants as noted above are included in Osorio, Act III, lines 58-74.]
After 3 stage-direction om. Remorse.
Between 3 and 4
Ordonio. Believe you then no preternatural influence?
Believe you not that spirits throng around us? I thought you held that spirits throng'd around us?
Corr. in MS. III.
Ter. Say rather that I have imagined it A possible thing; and it has sooth'd my soul As other fancies have; but ne'er seduced me To traffic with the black and frenzied hope, That the dead hear the voice of witch or wizard.
Remorse.
[
4
]
you] you Remorse.
[
5
]
employments] employment Remorse.
[
9
]
things] guilt Remorse.
[
10
]
Stand ye from the altar Remorse.
After 10 [Here, &c. . . . scene Remorse.
[
13
]
spells] spell Remorse.
[
21
]
unstun'd] unstunn'd Remorse.
After 23 [Music Remorse.
[
29
]
build up] upbuild Remorse.
[
37
]
[Here behind the scenes a voice sings the three words, 'Hear, sweet Spirit.' Remorse.
After 43 Song.—Behind the scenes, &c. Remorse.
[
50
]
chanters] chaunter Remorse.
[
58-74
]
are printed as ll. 1-17, Act III, Sc. i Remorse.
[
61
]
of] in Remorse.
[
70-72
]
A silver toy his grandam had late given him, Methinks I see him now as he then look'd— Even so!—He had outgrown his infant dress,
Remorse, Act III, ll. 13-15.
[
79
]
Stage-direction om. Remorse.
[
87
]
Stage-direction om. Remorse.
[
88-9
]
But what if he had a brother, Who had lived even so
Remorse.
[
91-2
]
Valdez. Idly prating man! Thou hast guess'd ill: Don Alvar's only brother Stands here before thee—a father's blessing on him! He is most virtuous.
Remorse.
[
96
]
excellently] exquisitely Remorse.
Between 104 and 105
[Music again.
Teresa. 'Tis strange, I tremble at my own conjectures! But whatso'er it mean, I dare no longer Be present at these lawless mysteries, This dark provoking of the hidden Powers! Already I affront—if not high Heaven— Yet Alvar's memory!—Hark! I make appeal Against the unholy rite, and hasten hence To bend before a lawful shrine, and seek That voice which whispers, when the still heart listens, Comfort and faithful hope! Let us retire. Alv. (to Teresa). O full of faith and guileless love, thy spirit Still prompts thee wisely. Let the pangs of guilt Surprise the guilty: thou art innocent!
[Exeunt Teresa and Attendant. Music as before.
Remorse.
[
106
]
an eye of flesh] a human eye Remorse.
[
108
]
come quick] O come Remorse.
[
109
]
and if he lives] but if he live Remorse.
After 110 The whole music clashes into a Chorus Remorse.
[
111
]
demon] demons Remorse.
113 foll. For the rest of Act III, as published in Remorse, vide post pp. 851-8. According to the Editor of Osorio as first published in 1873, 'The rest of this Act is entirely different in the published Remorse.' This statement needs qualification. The remainder of Act III of Osorio was rewritten, much was omitted, much added, and the 'dramatic ordonnance' of this part of the play was remodelled on a different plan, but the following lines 174-82, 195-202, 210-31 and 246-7 were included, with certain alterations, in Remorse. See Remorse, Act III, Scene II, ll. 64-71, 79-87, 94-114 and 185-6.
[
140-3
]
And . . . come MS. III erased.
After 146
Doth swim with love and pity—Well Ordonio O my foreboding Spirit, he suborn'd thee, And thou didst spare his life
Corr. in MS. III.
[
299
]
interpolated by S. T. C. MS. III.