[The same persons, Zoraya]
XIMÉNÈS. (To Cleofas, who rises and salutes) Do you wish to speak,
Master Cleofas?
CLEOFAS. With the permission of Your Eminence, before the accused
is questioned, I should like to inform the Tribunal that, contrary to
the royal edict, she has persisted in continuing the damnable Arabian
custom of painting her eyelashes, eyelids and eyebrows; and I will
wager that her heels and toenails are gilded.
XIMÉNÈS. (To Zoraya) Is this true?
ZORAYA. Yes, Your Eminence.
[Cleofas seats himself.]
XIMÉNÈS. Let that pass--And, Rain of Heaven, if she has not greater
crimes to expiate! (To Zoraya) Your name?
ZORAYA. Zoraya, daughter of the scholar and physician, Abou-Abassa.
[Ironical gesture from Cleofas at the name physician.]
XIMÉNÈS. Your father, it appears, was a genuine necromancer?
ZORAYA. That is the calumnious assertion of ignoramuses, who interpret
as diabolical everything which surpasses their own knowledge.
XIMÉNÈS. He left you the knowledge of his art of healing?
ZORAYA. Yes, Your Eminence.
XIMÉNÈS. Without magic?
ZORAYA. Yes, without magic.
XIMÉNÈS. You are accused of improper relations with Don Enrique
Palacios. The charge is not doubted, as your accomplice has confessed.
ZORAYA. Neither do I deny it.
XIMÉNÈS. You know, of course, that for you awaits the dungeon and for
him the galleys!
ZORAYA. Love is stronger than fear!
[The Governor rises and salutes Ximénès.]
XIMÉNÈS. You may speak, Governor.
PADILLA. Ramiro has told me about the first meeting of Don Enrique and
this woman, who had stolen the body of Kalem. He came to me and
confessed something which he had always kept secret out of affection
for his master--that Don Enrique was compelled to release this wretch
while visibly fascinated by her looks and magic words, which she used
to obtain her liberty.
XIMÉNÈS. (To Zoraya) Do you hear that?
[The Governor sits down.]
ZORAYA. I had recourse to nothing but the usual attractions of all
women.
XIMÉNÈS. And you have not made him mad with love for you with the use
of incantations, philters, evil methods?
ZORAYA. With no other philter than my ardent love for him!
XIMÉNÈS. Briefly, you deny being a sorceress?
ZORAYA. If I were one, I should be far from here!
XIMÉNÈS. The Evil One enjoys abandoning his followers during their
time of peril. And you are suspected of sorcery for good reasons,
being the daughter of a man accused of magic and an unconverted
Mussulman--Why have you not renounced Mahomet for Christ?
ZORAYA. I saw that the Christians were no better than we.
[Movements among the members of the Tribunal.]
XIMÉNÈS. And, naturally, you deny being at a witches' revel?
ZORAYA. Ah! certainly, yes, I deny it! Yes, I deny it!
XIMÉNÈS. You are not, then, afraid to have it proved to you--you
defend yourself with such warmth?
ZORAYA. How can I prove my innocence if my denials are taken as
confessions?
XIMÉNÈS. We shall see what they are worth. (To Gil Andrès) Bring in
the two women who are there. (To Zoraya) You may be seated.
[Zoraya sits down at the left on a seat next to that occupied by
Calabazas.]