[The same without Zoraya and Fatoum. Afterward Doña Joana and her
women, Cleofas]
[While dance music is being played, the great double door of the
chamber is thrown open--the guests crowd to the windows. The women
arrange themselves at the left of the patio, the men at the right.
Doña Joana comes out of the chamber, followed by her female
attendants. As she descends, she is saluted by the women, who make
courtesies before her, and by the cavaliers, who bow. Each, at the
moment she passes, throws a flower at her feet and murmurs a wish for
happiness.]
DOÑA SYRENA. Joy and health, Señora!
DOÑA RUFINA. Be happy, Doña Joana!
DOÑA SERAFINA. Everlasting happiness, Señora!
THE CAVALIERS. Our best wishes, Señora!
[Doña Joana thanks them as she descends into the foreground and goes
up the steps leading to her apartment. The women watch her and bow
reverently as she stops on the threshold to look at them before
entering the room. Fatoum is waiting for her. The music stops when
they enter.]
DOÑA FABIA. (At the left with Doña Rufina and Doña Syrena, after
Joana disappears) She is pale, the dear!
DOÑA RUFINA. (Giggling) With emotion!
DOÑA SYRENA. They create such false ideas about a moment like that!
DOÑA RUFINA. And exaggerate them so!
[They group themselves, seated, near the right column. After the
procession has passed, Cleofas descends at the right, talking with
Ramiro and Cristobol. The guests disperse in the patio, sitting or
standing. There is a murmur of confused voices.]
CLEOFAS. Whew!--it is warm in that chamber!
DOÑA SYRENA. (To Doña Fabia in a low voice) Especially after they
have emptied all the flagons!
DOÑA RUFINA. (To Cleofas) Cleofas would have done well had he given
the bride some comforting elixir.
CLEOFAS. (Gaily) Oh, yes! Those nuns have pictured marriage to her as
something horrible!
DOÑA RUFINA. The poor little child has had no one to give her a
mother's care.
RAMIRO. Oh, yes!--there is Fatoum, the convert, who has brought her
up.
DON AMBROSIO. And, speaking of converts, Master Cleofas, the Very
Holy Inquisition, of which you are the physician, seems to me to be
enjoying a very long moment of leisure.
CLEOFAS. (With satisfaction) Oh, oh! the Tribunal is not out of work.
And, after a short time, I believe that I may promise these ladies a
very jolly bonfire.
[Murmurs of satisfaction.]
DOÑA SYRENA. Of heretics?
CLEOFAS. Of heretics. Moors, Jews, renegades and backsliders--a sample
of each.
DOÑA RUFINA. And of sorcerers?
CLEOFAS. Of sorcerers and sorceresses, also--but fewer in number than
is desirable.
CARDENOS. (To Cleofas in a low voice) Master Cleofas, I should like to
say two words to you in that regard.
CLEOFAS. At Your Grace's disposition!
[He goes to the left of the scene, followed by Cristobol, Rioubos and
Ramiro, who surround him.]
CARDENOS. You have not forgotten an Arabian physician named
Abou-Abassa?
CLEOFAS. A physician!--said to be a charlatan, who resided on the
left bank of the river in a house on the hillside, where his daughter
now lives.
CARDENOS. Zoraya!
CLEOFAS. Oh, yes! I knew him!--I was enraged to see Bishop Talavera
honor and protect a Moor, who had, they say, healed a sprain with
friction--in reality, Cardenos, by means of mystic signs and magic
incantations.