ENRIQUE. Like yourself--by this danger.
ZORAYA. Yes, but I am more tender than you--While you--they say that
your heart is always far away--far away from me!--Look at me!--I want
you to look at me!--Quickly!--without taking time to invent a lie!
(She turns Enrique's face toward her.) Your gaze seems to tell me
that your love has been stolen from me!
ENRIQUE. Ah! My charmer! What a long time until then!--Since the hour
when we first met, they have followed me everywhere, those eyes,
there--they call to me day and night!--Ramiro had said to me, "Take
care, my lord, that the magician does not throw over you some kind of
a love charm!"
ZORAYA. Ramiro is a silly fellow. There has been neither a magician
nor magic. "Life," said my father, "is a combat, where, like flights
of arrows, contrary minds strive among themselves for a victory,
which finally rests with the fallen." I desired ardently to be loved
by you. You did not know how to defend yourself. I have shot my arrow
into your heart--in that lies all of my sorcery.
ENRIQUE. And why did you so fervently desire me to love you?
ZORAYA. (Passing Enrique, to the left) First, because of cowardice,
my dear lord!--to extort from you my pardon--and later on, if I
conquered you, to flee from Toledo!
ENRIQUE. Ingrate!
ZORAYA. (Sitting) It is bold of me to tell you now--and next--for
bravado, malice and revenge!
ENRIQUE. Revenge?
ZORAYA. Yes, yes, revenge! I wanted to have the pleasure of
humiliating in you the Spaniard, the Christian, the conqueror of my
people, the enemy of my race, which you declare impure! I wanted to
make you renounce your faith like the heroes of that book of love
(she points to the book on the table), "Celastine," which you have
given me to read--like Calixte, who said to his dear Melibee: "I am
no more Christian or pagan. I am Melibee! I believe in no one but
Melibee, I adore no one but Melibee!" And, after all!--after all!--I
wanted to be loved--for the sake of love! Leaning against you, nearly
in your arms, as I am now, with your cheek brushing my cheek--I felt
little by little the chaste coldness of my widowhood, which Aisha
always glorified, melting like snow in the glowing warmth of our
clasped hands, in the burning breath from our hot lips--This fever of
love which I believe will never be cured has crept stealthily into my
blood. I am like one intoxicated. And when you say to me: "Go away,
you are free!" I shall take with me in leaving the hope, the dear
hope, that you will come to me very soon on some dark night and
demand a ransom for my freedom. Ah! my adored conqueror, you are well
avenged! She who would rule is no more than an humble slave at your
feet, subdued and tender as a tamed gazelle! (Sounds of the distant
bells. Enrique starts. Zoraya does not move.) What disturbs you?
ENRIQUE. Those bells!
ZORAYA. Well, they are ringing. What is that to us?
ENRIQUE. It means that they are calling me and that it is time for us
to part.
ZORAYA. (Rising) So soon? What for? You may remain here until the
hour of the siesta when the streets are deserted.