admire thy courage, and I pity thy youth. Seek not to make thy first
attempt [_or_, maiden-stroke] fatal. Release my valor from an unequal
conflict; too little honor for me would attend this victory. In
conquering without danger we triumph without glory. Men would always
believe that thou wert overpowered without an effort, and I should have
only regret for thy death.

_Don Rodrigo._ Thy presumption is followed by a despicable [_lit._
unworthy] pity! The man who dares to deprive me of honor, fears to
deprive me of life!

_Count._ Withdraw from this place.

_Don Rodrigo._ Let us proceed without further parley.

_Count._ Art thou so tired of life?

_Don Rodrigo._ Hast thou such a dread of death?

_Count._ Come, thou art doing thy duty, and the son becomes degenerate
who survives for one instant the honor of his father.


Scene III.--The INFANTA, CHIMÈNE and LEONORA.


_Infanta._ Soothe, my Chimène, soothe thy grief; summon up thy firmness
in this sudden misfortune. Thou shalt see a calm again after this
short-lived [_lit._ feeble] storm. Thy happiness is overcast [_lit._
covered] only by a slight cloud, and thou hast lost nothing in seeing it