Scene.—The meeting place of the Tribunal of the Inquisition. It is a low-vaulted chamber with ogive arches, lighted with candles. On the walls are religious paintings. At the foot of the scene is a narrow glazed window. At the right is a large high gate closing the entrance of a corridor leading to the Episcopal palace. On the same side, in the foreground, are seats of the Tribunal. Facing the left are an altar and a wooden Calvary. On the other side of them are an iron door and an arch leading to the jail. Seats and stools are scattered about. It is three o’clock in the morning. At the end of the act dawn begins to light the windows.

Scene One

The Members of the Tribunal, Fray Eugenio Calabazas, and Fray Teofilo Ibarra, Dominicans, later Cleofas, Oliveira, Fray Miguel Molina and Fray Hernando Albornos, Franciscans. An Usher of the Tribunal, at the foot of the stage.

As the curtain rises, Calabazas, seated, and Ibarra, at the left outside, are discovered talking in a low voice. Cleofas and Fray Hernando Albornos enter at the right.

Cleofas. (Advancing into the scene) I have slept so well after that excellent feast! Nothing is more injurious to the health than being startlingly awakened during one’s first sleep.

Albornos. What business is so urgent that we must convene before daybreak?

Cleofas. (Joining the group at the left) You Excellencies should have the goodness to tell us.

Calabazas. We know no more about it than you.

Ibarra. We were greatly surprised at the morning visit of the agent of the Tribunal. We are here at the special request of His Eminence to consider a pressing and serious matter.

Albornos. Then you have no idea what it is?

Ibarra and Calabazas. None.

Cleofas. (To Molina, who enters at right) And you, my reverend father?

Molina. No more than you.

Calabazas. In any case, I think, without question, that the two women whom we again examined after vespers are guilty of sorcery.

Molina. Moreover, they confessed.

Ibarra. That will simplify the task.

Cleofas. (Seeing Oliveira, who enters at the left) Is it not the opinion of my excellent colleague. Master Oliveira, that there is not sufficient evidence to condemn them?

All turn toward Oliveira with questioning looks.

Oliveira. Since my very venerable colleague has obliged me to give my humble opinion, I must confess that one of the two women, the one called Afrida, appears to me to be an old fool, who after having been forced to listen to sorcery and witchcraft, is possessed with the idea that she is on intimate terms with a demon. She accepts her dreams and nightmares as realities and every woman and girl whom she knows she accuses of having attended a witches’ revel. A dozen of these unfortunates have been placed in our dungeons since yesterday. If we listened to that vixen all of the women of Toledo would be sorceresses—especially the young ones!

Calabazas. Has she not a reason for accusing them if she has seen them at these revels?

Murmurs of discreet approbation.

Oliveira. For her to have seen them, my father, it would have been necessary for her to have gone there herself.

Ibarra. She partook in them.

Molina. And you doubt that?

Oliveira. For a good reason!—As she pretended, in spite of the confining walls of her dungeons, to be able to attend the revels again, I determined to see for myself whether she was telling the truth. Three times during the night I found her sleeping deeply on the pallet in her cell in the prison. When she awoke she told me all that she thought she had seen at the home of the devil!

Albornos. If you were more experienced in these matters. Master Oliveira, you would know that these sorceresses can leave their bodies lying in their beds and at the same time attend these Satanic love-feasts.

Murmurs of approbation.

Cleofas. And that in the same body the devil can place one of his imps, who will not change its appearance.

Renewed approbation.

Calabazas. And the other sorceress?—This young peasant woman from Torrijos, whom they found in a wood at dawn stretched naked on ground which had been trampled by infernal dances and which was still littered with the remains of an infernal feast and firebrands and ashes—Master Oliveira, do you believe she too is innocent?

Oliveira. I have good cause to believe it!—She is a poor girl from the fields who was seduced by her master, who abandoned her and her child and left them in deep misery. A passing vagrant invited her to go to a witches’ meeting where Satan would provide her with plenty of gold. He took her to a nocturnal gathering of beggars and ragamuffins, who with the aid of some rogue put her into a sleep, from which she awakened at dawn with the vague memory of horrible debauchery!—An orgie! Yes! But witches’ meeting?—Who will prove it?——

Cleofas. The sigillum or stigma Diaboli, Master Oliveira! That mark which the devil makes with his pitchfork, or the horny spots on the bodies of his creatures, such as we have found, you and I, in two places on this girl’s skin. Our needles penetrated them without drawing blood and they were not felt.

Murmurs of approval.

Oliveira. I found three on the body of the Superior of the Incarnation, who afterward died in unquestioned sainthood!

He walks toward the foot of the stage, followed by the eyes of the displeased Inquisitors.

Calabazas. (In a low voice) This surgeon is too much of a reasoner!

Cleofas. You need say nothing to me about it!—If they listened to him they would burn no one!

Scene Two

The same persons, then Padilla, followed by D’Aguilar, notary of the tribunal.

Padilla, pale and agitated, quickly enters at the left.

The Usher. (Announcing) His Excellency, the Governor.

All salute Padilla, who looks about for XimÉnÈs and stops.

Padilla. His Eminence is not here?

Albornos. Not yet, Lord Padilla.

Padilla. I want to see him!—I must speak to him!

He makes a movement to leave.

Calabazas. Be pleased to wait for him with us.

Padilla. Yes! yes! (To Calabazas) Ah! my father, do you believe it! A gentleman, a soldier! my son——

He goes toward the iron door and waits for XimÉnÈs. The Inquisitors surround D’Aguilar in the foreground.

Molina. (To D’Aguilar in a low voice) Some misfortune has befallen His Excellency?

D’Aguilar. (In a low voice) Your lordships, then, do not know why you are called to meet at this hour?

All. (With low voices) No!—Why? What is it?—We know nothing about it!

D’Aguilar. (The same) Lord Palacios has been arrested.

All. Arrested!

Calabazas. Don Enrique?

D’Aguilar. For assassinating Cardenos!——

All. Good God!—Is it possible! Our Agent!

D’Aguilar. With the assistance of a woman!—Both were fleeing towards the river when stopped by pedestrians, who heard shouts in the distance. The fugitives were flung to the earth at the entrance of an alley. The woman cried to Don Enrique desperately and in vain: “Kill me! Kill me!”

Cleofas. A Mooress?

D’Aguilar. Yes.

Cleofas. It is Zoraya!

The Usher. His Eminence!

All turn to the right to salute the Cardinal.

Scene Three

The same persons, XimÉnÈs, Gil AndrÈs, Keeper of the Jail, Two Monks, Two Aides to Gil AndrÈs stand at the entrance of the iron door at the left. Two Franciscan monks watch at the foot of the stage during the act.

XimÉnÈs. (To Padilla) God has summoned you to a cruel ordeal, Padilla! I had given to Cardenos orders with the object of sparing you. Who had foreseen this at the hour when I blessed the young couple in the cathedral—your unfortunate daughter?

Padilla. She has heard nothing about it. I found her in a deep sleep and I ordered them not to awaken her. I would always be too soon to tell her the truth. May God will that at the same time she shall learn that Don Enrique is innocent of the crime with which he is accused!

XimÉnÈs. No!—He confesses it!

All start.

Padilla. The assassination?

XimÉnÈs. Yes!—The assassination, his infamous relation with the Saracen woman and his plan of fleeing to African soil.

All are indignant.

Padilla. (After a gesture of despair) The more monstrous the crime the stronger is the proof that he has lost his reason!

XimÉnÈs. It is for this, Governor, that I have called this hasty convocation of the Tribunal before the scandal bursts forth—Toledo must not know at its awakening that a member of the Council of Castile, one honored with royal favor, commander of the archers and crossbowmen of the city, son of a long line of Christians, brave soldier and your son-in-law, has committed such crimes without knowing that he had a right to some explanation—being under the spell of this woman’s sorcery—And that is what all say! Where is Gil AndrÈs?

Oliveira. (Pointing at Gil AndrÈs at the foot) Here, Eminence!

XimÉnÈs. (To Gil AndrÈs) Has she spoken some word of confession?

Gil AndrÈs. None, Eminence. She has said nothing since she asked about Don Enrique. She appeared to care less about her own delivery than about his.

XimÉnÈs. Is she there?

Gil AndrÈs. Yes, Your Eminence.

XimÉnÈs. Go get her! (Gil AndrÈs goes out at left with his two aides. To Padilla) Your Excellency may sit down. The Tribunal authorizes you to assist in questioning. (Padilla bows. The Tribunal is installed. XimÉnÈs sits on a chair before the other judges. Padilla is seated at the right on a stool lower than the platform. The notary sits at a little table behind him. The two physicians are seated on stools at the side of the platform near the iron door at the right. All wait.) My brothers, never more than at this hour had we a better reason for addressing God with our usual prayer: Dominie, auxilium, in reperienda veritate, sit nobis. Spiritus Sanctus, ad majorem Fidei gloriam.

All. Amen!

XimÉnÈs. Exaudi nos, Domini.

All. Amen!

They seat themselves, Gil AndrÈs opens the iron door at the left.

XimÉnÈs. (To Gil AndrÈs) Bring in the Mooress!

Zoraya is brought in through the iron door. With a gesture Gil AndrÈs compels her to advance into the middle of the scene where she stops and waits.

Scene Four

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.

Scene Five

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.

Scene Six

The same, without Afrida

Zoraya. Ah! the horrible old woman!——

XimÉnÈs. An insult is not a reply!—She affirms; you deny. The accusation stands. And the Tribunal judges. (To Gil AndrÈs) Bring the other. (They make come forward Manuela, who is weak and trembling with fright) You, also, you have confessed it!—You have gone to the witches’ revels?

Manuela. Only once, Your Eminence—Only once! Mercy!

XimÉnÈs. That is once too often!

Manuela. I was so unfortunate!—My employer drove me from his home when he discovered that I was to become a mother—for he was the father of the child. I was too weak to work in the fields and no one would keep me because my poor baby, which I nourished with my thin milk, was so hungry that It cried all of the time!—Ah! I have never known anything but shame and misery!—I have prayed fervently to God—He has done nothing for me—Then—Ah! my benevolent lords!—(She falls upon her knees on the steps before XimÉnÈs and weeps) Have pity!—I have harmed no one!—And I am punished enough now!

XimÉnÈs. (Severely) What else?

Manuela. Then—a gypsy woman, who saw me on my knees before a cross on the road where I had been begging, said to me: “You are foolish enough to address that object, which helps only the happy ones of this world! Charity for the poor comes only from the Other One!—Come! go home with me and you will see for yourself. He loves the jolly girls and will give you an apron full of gold!”

XimÉnÈs. And you went to the home of the Other One?

Manuela. That night—after having left my child with a woman as poor as myself—the gypsy woman conducted me into a wood where many men and bad women were feasting round a fire!—They gave me food and drink and more and more of—I know not what kind of liquor—until I became like a fool!—And after!—Ah! God, no, oh! no, I cannot relate that!—In the morning I lay asleep on the ground, poorer than before, for my miserable, ragged clothes were gone! The archers threw me into a dungeon, where I have done nothing but shed tears day and night, thinking of my poor little baby! I do not know what has become of that! They will not tell me! (Sobbing) Ah! my good lords, do not make me more miserable! If they intend to burn me, why should I not be the first one selected from those doomed to die?

XimÉnÈs. Raise your head—and look at this woman. (Manuela obeys) Do you recognize her as one of those who attended the witches’ revel?

Manuela. (After looking at Zoraya) No, no, Your Eminence.

XimÉnÈs. Look at her carefully. And remember that you will receive some consideration if you answer frankly.

Zoraya. (Going to her) Yes, look at me.

Manuela. (Tremblings after looking at Zoraya) They made me drunk—I had no reason left—I do not remember clearly!——

XimÉnÈs. Are you afraid that she will avenge herself?—She cannot harm you!—Then, confess that you saw her at this diabolical feast!

Manuela. (With the same voice) I cannot remember!

XimÉnÈs. Take care, for we have sure methods for refreshing your memory.

Manuela. Have mercy, my lord!—I am telling the truth!

XimÉnÈs. No!—You recognize her, but will not admit it!

Manuela. Should I accuse an innocent one!—condemn her without being certain?—I shall lose my soul!

XimÉnÈs. The safety of your soul depends upon us—as does that of your body!—Then, you have seen her, have you not?

Manuela. I am not certain!—

XimÉnÈs. (With the same voice) AndrÈs!

Manuela. (Frightened, between his knees) No, no! Have mercy!—mercy! Do nothing more to me!

XimÉnÈs. (Very sternly) Do you recognize her?

Manuela. (In tears) Yes, yes! I know her!—I recognize her! (Falling on her knees at Zoraya’s feet) Ah! pardon, pardon me!—I am too weak!

Zoraya. (Very much moved) Yes, poor girl, yes! I pardon you!

XimÉnÈs. (To Gil AndrÈs) Take her away!

Gil AndrÈs raises Manuela and leads her away, sobbing.

Scene Seven

The same persons, without Manuela

XimÉnÈs. (To Zoraya) Here is more testimony against you.

Zoraya. (Indignant) Testimony!—of that unfortunate girl!

XimÉnÈs. According to her own confessions!—

Zoraya. Ah! her confessions!—made under the threats of your tortures! (Movements among the members of the Tribunal) You can find whatever pleases you with the aid of him, there. (She points to Gil AndrÈs) You can convict with false testimony and you can make innocent ones confess crimes which they never committed. You, yourself, Bishop, under torture would admit going to a witches’ meeting!

The Inquisitors make movements of astonishment.

XimÉnÈs. (Calmly) It is not likely that I shall have occasion to submit to such a trial!—Prove to us that these women have lied!

Zoraya. And how do you want me to prove it?—Is It possible for me to do so?—You, can you prove to me that these women are telling the truth?

XimÉnÈs. That is the opinion of the Tribunal.

Zoraya. Then all of them say that I must be found guilty at any price. That could be done in a quicker and less cowardly manner.

Murmurs of indignation from the Inquisitors.

XimÉnÈs. Do you mean to defy us?

Zoraya. Yes, I defy all of you! If I am to be condemned before I have an opportunity to defend myself, I shall have, at least, the pleasure of shouting my hatred to this Tribunal of the Church, which instead of being more human than those who believe in other religions, is more ferocious!

Exclamations from the Tribunal.

Calabazas. Your hatred, villainous Mooress!

Zoraya. Yes, my hatred!—Yes, I abhor you!—I abhor you!—Priests!—who set upon a vanquished people like jackals upon the bodies of the dead after the battle!

Protestations from the Tribunal.

XimÉnÈs. Let her alone!—her lips are betraying the disease from which she is suffering.

Zoraya. All the humiliations and sorrows of defeat—we have known them. They have changed our mosques into churches, our courts into kennels, our schools into stables! They have broken our aqueducts, drained our fish-ponds, burned our mills and wine-presses, cut down our orchards and made such a desert of the flowery plain of Granada that a bee cannot gather honey upon it! But that was not enough for us—we must have misery, famine and the brutality of soldiers! There must be refined cruelty at least, so you invented the Inquisition.—Thanks to that, you can assure yourselves with joyful hearts that we are punished like hardened heathens, that we perish in your oubliettes and that we are burned alive in the name of your Savior, who taught only mercy and goodness! (Pointing to the Calvary) And, that prophet—your God!—crucified by the Inquisitors of his time!—A martyr, whom you make an executioner! (There is a movement of protest among the Inquisitors, two of whom rise indignantly. Zoraya turns toward the Christ on the Calvary and addresses it) God of the Christians!—They have nailed thy feet and thy hands, so that thou canst not come to the aid of the unfortunate! But, if thou canst not tear thyself from the cross, cry at least unto these infamous judges that they need not look elsewhere for Hell and the gathering of witches—Here is the Hell where they sacrifice human creatures, where they offer to thee as hymns the lamentations of the tortured, and as incense the smell of burning flesh! Here is Hell, Hell with its furnaces, Hell with its damned, Hell! Hell! with its demons!

She falls choking and weeping upon the seat at left. The Inquisitors, protesting, rise and advance into the middle of the scene, all speaking at the same time.

All. Blasphemy!—Blasphemy!

Albornos. Shall we let this Saracen continue to insult the Tribunal?

Calabazas. And the Church!

Ibarra. The sentence!—Eminence! the sentence!

XimÉnÈs. (Who remains seated) Be calm!—She is not alone a blasphemer to the Governor and me.—She is a sorceress!

Albornos. That has been proven!

XimÉnÈs. Not yet. I must have more testimony in the form of a confession.

Padilla. Then torture her!

XimÉnÈs. This woman?—All of our torments would not wrest one word from her.

All. What other means will you use, Eminence?

XimÉnÈs. (Rising) Then!—(Loud enough for Zoraya to hear him) We shall question her accomplice (Zoraya starts) and ask him to explain the reason for the murder of Cardenos, which he confesses, and (Zoraya again starts) why this woman was in his house on such a night.

Zoraya. In spite of that he!—— (She rises quickly.)

XimÉnÈs. It is not for you to plead his case!——

Zoraya. (Quickly, going to XimÉnÈs) Yes, yes! it is I! (XimÉnÈs makes a sign to Gil AndrÈs.) Wait!—Oh! wait, wait, then! (AndrÈs stops.) It is only I who can explain for him!—He was maddened by my tears, my reproaches, my furious jealousy!—The other arrived and insulted me—then, in the height of his rage!—Ah!—that crime—I am more guilty than he! Would he have killed him, had I not been there?

All of the Inquisitors advance and group themselves at her left.

XimÉnÈs. (Quickly going to her) Then you wish to convince us that this murder is your work?

Zoraya. Yes, it is my work!

XimÉnÈs. It is you who caused this unfortunate man to become an assassin?

Zoraya. It is I!—It is I!

XimÉnÈs. And by his flight, a deserter and a renegade?

Zoraya. Yes! yes!—It is I!—It is I!

XimÉnÈs. And is that not enough, wretched woman! It must be that you are bent upon his utter ruin!

Zoraya. I?

XimÉnÈs. For you have condemned him to death!

Padilla. Without pity, too!

Zoraya. (Going to Padilla. XimÉnÈs is at her right, Padilla at her left, Albornos and Ibarra stand behind her.) Oh! how horrible! I would give my flesh and blood to save him!

XimÉnÈs. No!—You can do that with one word!—And you are too obstinate to speak it!

Zoraya. One word?

Padilla. Tell the truth!

Zoraya. But, I told it!—I told the truth!

XimÉnÈs. (Whispering in her ear) No!—there is one thing which you have not admitted—one thing, alone—which will make him innocent of all crime!

Padilla. And save him from all punishment!

XimÉnÈs. The cause of his madness!

Padilla. Madness due to your witchcraft!

Albornos. And your philters!

XimÉnÈs. And your poisons!

All are silent for an instant, during which Zoraya looks at them stupefied.

Zoraya. Ah! I understand!—I understand! (The Inquisitors are silent) You want me to save him? Yes, it is true! It is true! If I have made him mad with some kind of a philter, he is unconscious of his acts! He is not guilty! He is more my accomplice! He is my victim! That is what you want, is it not?—Is it not?

XimÉnÈs. And he escapes execution.

Padilla. He will be sent to the galleys!

XimÉnÈs. To prison!

Zoraya. (Quickly) He is free?

XimÉnÈs and Padilla. Yes.

Zoraya. Ah! say so, then!—say it, then! On that condition, yes! on that condition! I will confess to whatever you wish!—(Movement of satisfaction among the Inquisitors.) But, when will you set him at liberty?

XimÉnÈs and Padilla. On the spot!

Zoraya. Then! Quickly! quickly!—Tell me what I must say!

XimÉnÈs returns quickly to his seat. Between two guards, Enrique appears at the iron door. Padilla makes him advance to the left out of sight of Zoraya, whom the Inquisitors surround, seated and standing. The clerk writes. All this takes place rapidly.

XimÉnÈs. (Leaning toward Zoraya) You confess of your own free will and with repentance that you compelled Enrique Palacios to love you madly——

Padilla. (To Enrique, in a low voice) Do you hear that?

XimÉnÈs. And that while infatuated he was guilty of crimes of which he had no knowledge, that his conduct was caused by philters you had given him and by enchantments and other tricks of the black art!

Zoraya. (Quickly) Yes! yes! I confess it!

XimÉnÈs. You confess?

Zoraya. Oh! is not that enough?

XimÉnÈs. And that you went to the witches’ dance?

Zoraya. Yes! yes! I confess.

Padilla restrains Enrique from moving forward.

XimÉnÈs. That you have taken part in diabolical feasts and obscene dances?

Zoraya. Yes!

Enrique again attempts to go forward.

XimÉnÈs. And that you gave up your body to the lusts of all present, sorcerers and demons?

Zoraya. Yes! yes!

Enrique. (Restrained by Padilla and Gil AndrÈs) Ah! accursed one!

Zoraya. (Turning) Him! Oh! (She attempts to rush to him, but others prevent her.) No! Do not believe that! My Enrique! Not that! not that!—Do not believe it!

Enrique. Away from me, prostitute of Hell!

Padilla pushes him to the door.

Zoraya. I have lied!—It is false! It is false!

XimÉnÈs. (Sternly) It is false! Detain that man! (The guards step before Enrique. To Zoraya.) Is it false?

Zoraya. No! no!—It is true!—I confess! I confess! It is true!

She falls upon the steps exhausted. Padilla drags Enrique out of the door at right.

XimÉnÈs. We shall burn her after vespers!

(Curtain)