[_Throws herself on the prie-dieu, and clasps her hands together
          in front of the picture of our Lady of Pain. Don Silvio still
          standing._

  Oh! Holy Virgin, Mother of our Lord;
  Chosen of God, immaculate, Divine;
  Thou, who hast promised aye to intercede
  With thy dear Son, the living God of Heaven
  For us poor mortals when oppressed with woe,
  From that high heaven where thou sittest enthroned
  'Midst glorious angels, mercifully look down
  Upon thy humble votaries, who groan
  'Neath the oppression of a tyrant world. Oh! thou who never turnest a deaf ear
  Unto a suppliant's prayer, send down thy grace,
  And succour her from evil men's designs
  Who puts her trust in thee. Thwart thou their schemes,
  And, for the glory of thy holy name,
  Avenge thy handmaid's wrongs, and punish those
  Who, strong in the abuse of worldly power,
  Would fain defile the virgin chastity
  Of her who seeks thy aid; rain down thy grace. Oh! Holy Mother, who canst never see
  The wrong to triumph and the right to fall,
  Soften my father's heart, and let him kneel
  To thee, and join with me in heartfelt prayer
  And supplication, that the evils which
  Do threaten us alike may be withdrawn. [_Don Silvio drops crucifix, and exit slowly and moodily._

  Oh, Holy Saints! Oh, Holy Virgin Mother! Look down in pity on this suppliant pair,
  Who all unworthy are to raise our eyes
  To that high Heaven, whence thou art, and seek
  Thy aid and guidance, strengthen us, O Lord! Strengthen our faith, and let our trust in Thee
  Never abate, e'en in temptation's hour. [_Draws forth a rosary, and remains for some time counting her
          beads. Then rises._

  I thank thee, Holy Virgin. Thou hast heard
  The prayer of faith, and----(_looking round her_) What! my father
      gone! Too proud to pray, alas! Oh, Heaven grant
  My doting father more humility,
  More faith, more hope; and aye within this breast
  Keep thou _my_ faith alive, lest Satan send
  Some emissary forth to thwart thy will. _Enter_ RODRIGUEZ, _smiling towards_ INEZ, _who starts, looks
          suspiciously at her, and shudders_. ROD. What! my young mistress taken by surprise,
  And scared at poor Rodriguez! I've no doubt
  Some transient fever, brought on by the shock
  You late have suffered, made you shiver so. Come to old Rodriguez, my pretty bird,
  Pour forth into old nurse's willing ear
  All its past troubles. Did the gipsy gang
  Run off with pretty darling, and insult
  Her and old Pedro! Sweetest, grieve no more
  Now all is over, but take courage from
  Old nurse Rodriguez, who was ever wont
  To smooth its pillow, and to share its griefs. INEZ. Good nurse, Rodriguez, 'tis not, as you think,
  The gipsy tribe that causes me this dread. I have another and a secret grief
  I daren't divulge to thee. Nay, leave me, pray. ROD. What! my young mistress has a secret grief;
  And I, poor old Rodriguez, am debarred
  From sharing it. Leave you alone, forsooth! Leave my young mistress Inez all alone,
  To brood and mope over her secret grief! Never! You ill know nurse Rodriguez, child. INEZ. (_Aside._) This is intolerable. ROD. As you say,
  It cannot be about the gipsy tribe
  My darling frets. The danger's gone and past,
  Thanks to the noble conduct of my lord,
  The brave and gallant Don Diego, who
  At risk of his own life, with sword in hand,
  Did rescue you from the dark gipsy gang. 'Twas bravely done. And how he wears his years! Just like a stripling--and how fine a man;
  How courteous, too, and what a merry eye
  He has for all his favourites. I'm sure
  That you yourself are one, judging from how
                                      [_Inez draws back scornfully._
  He looks at you askance, then turns away
  And sighs so deeply, little thinking that
  Rodriguez guesses what he bears within. INEZ. Rodriguez, silence! Of this trash no more. ROD. Nay, Mistress Inez; pray not angered be
  With poor old nurse. She loves a jest at times. INEZ. I'm in no jesting mood, I promise you. I pray you, leave me. ROD. There you are again,
  Wishing me to leave you alone to mope;
  But, dear, Rodriguez better knows than leave
  Her little mistress all uncomforted. Away with nasty grief, and courage take
  From kind old nurse, and, like her, merry be. INEZ. Your consolation, nurse, is, perhaps, well meant. Albeit, at present, 'tis superfluous. ROD. What! Hoity, toity! child; would'st have me see
  My little Inez pining and downcast,
  E'en though it be for nought at all; and ne'er
  Say word to cheer her? Nay, 'tis my duty
  To my mistress. So here I mean to stick
  Until I've made you laugh. Come now, madam. INEZ. (_Aside._) She's insupportable. ROD. Were I a maid once more, I'd show you how
  I'd laugh and enjoy the world. Not as you,
  Pent up these years within a convent cell,
  Till you've grown musty. A pest on convents all! Keep them for cripples and incurables. For those who from birth so ill-favoured are,
  They find not husbands. These may chant and sing,
  And moan and fast, an't please them; but, for you,
  A maid of Lady Inez's beauty, jammed
  Within these walls--'tis sacrilege, I ween. INEZ. Rodriguez, now you must not lightly talk
  Against those holy women, who have fled
  All worldly joys to win the peace of Heaven. ROD. Each to their taste. For me, I love the world. INEZ. I know it, nurse; but at your age 'twere fit
  You'd higher thoughts. ROD. At _my_ age! Pooh! tut, tut! Those with a merry heart are never old. Look at Don Diego, how he bears himself,
  And all because he has a merry heart. Had he been priest or monk, he had been old
  At thirty. But just look how proud his step,
  How clear his eye, how red his manly cheek. Were I a maid once more, just of your age,
  I straight should lose my heart, and that's a fact. Heigh ho! INEZ. A truce to this unseemly banter. Nor dare to name that man to me again. ROD. That man! What, poor Don Diego? In what way
  Hath he offended, that you treat him thus? I'm sure he is not conscious of his fault,
  Or he would die with grief; the dear, good man,
  Fond of you as he is, as all can see. INEZ. Rodriguez, cease! I'll hear no more, I've said. And let me tell you, nurse, now once for all,
  It ill becomes thy years and sex, t'enact
  A part, of all parts most contemptible. ROD. What part, my pretty child? Don't so misjudge
  Poor nurse Rodriguez as to think that she
  Could counsel you for aught but for your good
  Remember, you are young, my mistress dear,
  And have yet to unlearn your convent life,
  That so ill fits you for our merry world. Your father, poor mistaken man----

  INEZ. Hold there,
  And reverence my father as thy lord. ROD. Ne'er doubt me, mistress mine, but e'en my lord
  Would counsel you as I would counsel you. INEZ. Thou speak'st of counsel. How would'st counsel me? ROD. Nay, then, nought 'gainst your interests; that's clear. Had I your youth and beauty, and your chance,
  I'd have a care, nor throw such chance away.