What, but the sure hope of this fierce, glad hour,
That I might track thee down to this might see
Thy tortured body writhe beneath my feet,
And blast thy stricken spirit with my curse?
MARIA (in a crushed voice).
Have mercy! mercy!
RIBERA.
Yes, I will have mercy
The mercy of the tiger or the wolf,
Athirst for blood.
MARIA (terror-struck, rises upon her Icnees in an attitude of supplication. RIBERA averts his face}.
Oh, father, kill me not !
Turn not away I am not changed for thee !
In God s name, look at me thy child, thine own!
Spare me, oh, spare me, till I win of Heaven
Some sign of promise ! I am lost forever
If I die now.
RIBERA (looks at her in silence, then pushing her from him laughs bitterly).
Nay, have no fear of me.
I would not do thee that much grace to ease thee
Of the gross burden of the flesh. Behold,
Thou shalt be cursed with weary length of days;
And when thou seek st to purge thy guilty heart,
