ACT THE THIRD.


Scene I.--DON RODRIGO and ELVIRA.


_Elvira._ Rodrigo, what hast them done? Whence comest thou, unhappy man?

_Don Rodrigo._ Here [i.e. to the house of Chimène], to follow out the
sad course of my miserable destiny.

_Elvira._ Whence obtainest thou this audacity, and this new pride, of
appearing in places which thou hast filled with mourning? What! dost
thou come even here to defy the shade of the Count? Hast thou not slain
him?

_Don Rodrigo._ His existence was my shame; my honor required this deed
from my [reluctant] hand.

_Elvira._ But to seek thy asylum in the house of the dead! Has ever a
murderer made such his refuge?

_Don Rodrigo._ And I come here only to yield myself to my judge. Look no
more on me with astonishment [_lit._ an eye amazed]; I seek death after
having inflicted it. My love is my judge; my judge is my Chimène. I
deserve death for deserving her hatred, and I am come to receive, as a
supreme blessing, its decree from her lips, and its stroke from her