Page:Oriental Sketches Dramatic Sketches and Tales.pdf/179

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170

Helena.

           Thou hast never wronged him,

Giovanni.

    Willingly, my Helena, never yet
By word, or deed, or wish, did I e'er harm
A human being; but by me and mine
Was Garcia deeply injured. Seek not now
To learn the story, and guard well your ears
From vulgar slanders; do not trust your eyes
To whisper to your heart an evil thought,
Because a cruel destiny hath marked
His form with haggard misery: he'd show
Not so unseemly in a velvet robe;
But tattered weeds, and scars, and sun-burnt brows,
Detract from outward beauty.

Helena.

                                       Why dost thou
Deny his history? It is unjust,
For I shall doubt until I be convinced.
Come, come, Giovanni, hide it not from me.