[The same, without Cleofas. Don Enrique, Ramiro, Torillo]
ENRIQUE. (Calling Ramiro, who is giving some orders to his archers)
Ramiro!
RAMIRO. (Turning and quickly going to him) Ah! my lord! What a relief
your deliverance is to those who love you! (He kisses his hand.) And
what joy you, yourself, must feel!
ENRIQUE. I am very sad, Ramiro, at the sight of the pyre.
RAMIRO. Has Your Honor not come to await the arrival of this creature?
ENRIQUE. Guilty as she is, I have loved her too well not to pity her.
Tell Torillo to come here and consult with me. (Ramiro speaks in a
low tone to Torillo. The songs in the church cease, Ramiro goes to the
archers. Torilla goes to Enrique in the foreground.) Are you the
person who compels the condemned ones to mount the pyres?
TORILLO. Yes, my lord, and I also light the fires.
ENRIQUE. How can you sleep after doing such work?
TORILLO. From habit.
ENRIQUE. You often save the victims from the horror of being burned
alive, do you not?
TORILLO. Yes, when the Holy Tribunal gives orders to strangle them
and attach them to the stake!
ENRIQUE. You have not received such an order for her?
TORILLO. No, my lord.
ENRIQUE. They tell me that the parents or friends of the condemned
frequently ask such a favor of you?
TORILLO. It is true, my lord.
ENRIQUE. And do you consent to give it?
TORILLO. For charity.
ENRIQUE. And for your own advantage, also?
TORILLO. Those are my little profits.
ENRIQUE. That must be done for her.--What price have you set upon
such concessions?
TORILLO. I shall leave that to the judgment of Your Grace. But, being
an honest man, I must tell you that a similar request has been made.
ENRIQUE. By whom?
TORILLO. By a woman-servant, she told me, in the service of the
condemned.
ENRIQUE. Aisha?
TORILLO. I do not know.
ENRIQUE. Has she paid you?
TORILLO. She has given me ten ducats for agreeing to give to the
Mooress a little waxen pill the instant that I untie her hands for
public penance.
ENRIQUE. Yes! yes! I understand!--You have consented?
TORILLO. I promised without fully deciding to do so! But, now that
Your Grace desires it also----
ENRIQUE. Ah! God, yes!--and you shall have a thousand ducats tomorrow!
TORILLO. The bargain is concluded, señor.
[He turns to go.]
ENRIQUE. (Detaining him with a gesture) But how can you prove to me
that you will keep your promise?
TORILLO. Because the victim will not utter a cry when I set fire to
the pyre; if she restrains then she is dead.
ENRIQUE. If she is unable to utter a cry, or a groan, I will double
the sum.
TORILLO. The bargain is settled, my lord.
[He salutes and goes away. Enrique turns to enter the church. Bells
begin to toll. The assistants go to the foot of the stage to await
the arrival of the procession. In the distance are heard sounds of
the mob preceding the condemned.]
ENRIQUE. (With eyes turned toward the upper street) Is that you,
Oliveira?--Doña Joana?
OLIVEIRA. The same all of the time. (The distant noises are
approaching.) Here comes that unfortunate woman.
ENRIQUE. Yes! it is she!--Ah, Oliveira, who could believe, if she had
not confessed it herself, that this exquisite creature is a detestable
magician?
Oliviera. (In a low voice) Oh! her confessions! (Enrique, surprised,
turns and looks at him.) Don Enrique, you are a man who can rely on
himself. When night comes, I shall leave Toledo for I have much to
fear because I have expressed myself too frankly concerning this poor
woman, who is no more a sorceress than we are magicians, you and me!
ENRIQUE. (Troubled) Is it possible!--But her confessions, her
confessions?
OLIVEIRA. They wrung them from her when they promised your freedom,
her sorcery giving you an excuse.