[The same persons, Manuela, Afrida]
[Gil Andrès makes both women enter at the left at the same time. The
younger one remains at the foot of the stage between the two aides,
while Gil Andrès pushes before him old Afrida, whom Zoraya regards
with surprise and disgust.]
XIMÉNÈS. (To Afrida) Come forward! (Gil Andrès, with a blow, forces
Afrida to go forward. To D'Aguilar) Write: "Afrida." (To Afrida) You
confessed the other day--(Afrida, without looking at him, makes a
sign to him with her left hand to keep silent; with her right hand
she makes a trumpet to her ear for listening) What is this?--Are you
mocking us?
GIL ANDRÈS. With your permission. Your Eminence, she is thus
frequently seen holding her ear to listen to her favorite demon, whom
she calls Verdelet.
XIMÉNÈS. That demon there is very bold to face us in our home! Hello
there! woman, dismiss this bad gallant and answer this Tribunal,
which was not called for his attendance.
[Afrida smiles like an idiot and makes a sign with her hand.]
AFRIDA. Patience!--patience!--There he goes!
[She laughs stupidly.]
XIMÉNÈS. What are you laughing at, old ribald?
AFRIDA. (Looking the same) At the face he made when he went out.
XIMÉNÈS. Take care that you are not seated on a wooden horse! (She
attempts to speak) Enough of those mummeries. You confessed the other
day of practising evil acts upon your neighbors, causing their
children and fowls to die, of setting fire to their roofs and sending
hail upon their fields.
AFRIDA. To avenge myself upon those who were happier than I.
XIMÉNÈS. You confessed to being at a nocturnal revelry attended by
witches, did you not?
AFRIDA. Oh! I have often been (counting on her fingers) more than
thirty times.
XIMÉNÈS. By what power do you go?
AFRIDA. The black sheep or the large red cat, which come to take me
from my bed while I sleep--And then. Gee-up! gee-up! across the
fields, accompanied by the sound of bells to where they are
assembling. There the great devil Astaroth, on seeing me, says: "Ah!
here is my little Afrida! Come, mignon, come here that I may pet
you!" For she loves me above all and always says: "Go, fear nothing,
my little chicken. If they want to burn you, I shall drag away the
wood before all the world. And we shall laugh then. Oh! we shall
laugh well! Ah! how we shall laugh then!"
[She writhes and chokes with laughter, after being seated on a step
at the foot of Ximénès.
XIMÉNÈS. Yes, yes! we laugh! That is admitted!--And those whom you
accuse of having been at the revel with you--will Astaroth also save
them from the fire?
AFRIDA. (Hatefully) Oh! those who have treated me like an old fool,
those who are young and togged out, I shall surely let them burn on
your fire, while Astaroth carries me away!
XIMÉNÈS. Turn your eyes a little to that side (indicating to her
Zoraya) and look at that woman. (She rises, pointing to Zoraya) Yes,
she there!--Does she not remind you of something?
AFRIDA. (Approaching Zoraya and leaning over her) Yes!--I have seen
that nose there somewhere! Raise your eyes a little, beautiful! What
makes you dislike to see me--(Suddenly) Yes! yes! I remember
her!--Here is one of them!----
XIMÉNÈS. One of whom?
AFRIDA. One of those from below, there!--One of those who danced at
the witches' revel!
ZORAYA. (Indignant, rising) Me? Me?
AFRIDA. Yes, you! Do not now become a straight-laced prude; I have
seen you as clearly as I see you now--carousing with us!----
ZORAYA. But, you lie, you wretch!--You lie!--Do not believe such
execrable foolishness!
AFRIDA. (Furious) Foolishness!--Ah! you treat me as a fool,
also!--Yes, my lords, yes, I have seen her, I tell you; I have seen
her enraptured in the arms of a goat-headed devil!
ZORAYA. Oh! it is false! It is false!
AFRIDA. (Following her in the scene and walking round her) Go! go!
You were given by the Evil One to be rich and beautiful! You will be
roasted, my girl! (Laughing) Roasted, those beautiful eyes so
fiery!--roasted your skin so white, which all the men want to cling
to--roasted all that, roasted, roasted!
[At a motion from Ximénès, she goes out, crying, following by Gil
Andrès.]