Days of darkness, days of moan!
A friend shall sigh, a friend shall fall,
And wring thy bosom more than all
The sorrow that thou yet hast known!

Princess S.
O think better of it, mother!

Gip. Your sweet eyes deserve a better portion than tears, and
I read too,

But ere thy last hour be nigh
Sorrow from thy breast shall fly!

Princess S.
A friend, you say? I thank you, 'twas not my husband!

Gip. And yet a husband he,
And many tears thou'lt see!

Car. (Aside) A friend--a husband--and a fall!

Gip. Shall I read for her majesty?

Car. No! no!

Lopez. She has peeped into Fate's urn, madam, I assure you!

Car. Nay, I'm content. What I choose for myself I will abide,
and what I choose not is the gift of God and I'll abide
that too!

Prince Zichy.
I congratulate you! Majesty is not always able to
show such noble indifference to the future, and lesser
mortals--never!

Gip. Please the stars, may I read for you, sir?

Prince Zichy.
I give you a proxy,--Senor Ignacio. If the fortune
be fair, I take it, if not, I leave it with him.

Ladies. O, hear Ignacio's fortune! (They crowd about him and
the gypsy)

Car. (To Lopez) A favor, sir! Will you take a message to his
majesty?

Lopez. I am twice blest--to bear your message--and bear it to the
emperor. (They talk apart)

Gip. Here's a secret matter, sir. Shall I speak it out?

Ig. O spare me! Come aside!

Ladies. Nay, nay, Ignacio! You heard our fortunes!

Ig. But yours were fair and innocent, and mine is dark and
guilty--maybe with crime!

Ladies. Oh! A crime!

Ig. Come, witch! (They go aside, near where Marquez is
stationed unseen) Aseffa!

Asef. Rafael is prisoner at Savarro! Trevino is taken, too!

Ig. O Heaven! (To ladies) Stay back! 'Tis crime indeed!

Ladies. Villain!

Asef. Help me to Maximilian! O, I must see him! You called him
gentle! When I tell him what Rafael is--the fairest soul
man ever called a foe--

Ig. Softly, Aseffa! You can not see the emperor to-night.

Asef. I must! To-morrow 't will be too late! He dies at sunrise!

Ig.