ADVERTISEMENT. This strange comedy was composed by Clara Gazul, at the request of one of her friends—a lady, who was passionately attached to moving and improbable stories. The author, who studied to imitate the old Spanish comic writers, has by no means endeavoured to avoid their usual faults-such as too great rapidity of action, and imperfect development. We are indebted to her, also, for not having copied the style culto, so fatiguing to readers of the present age. Finally, Clara Gazul's intention in composing this comedy, was only to make a kind of prologue for the second part, or the Triumph of Prejudice. DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. THE KING. DON LUIS DE MENDOZA. DON CARLOS. CURATE OF MONCLAR. JUAN MENDO. A NOTARY. A CLERK. POLICE OFFICERS-PEASANTS. INES MENDO. (1) The Scene is at Monclar in Galicia, 1640.(2) INES MENDO; OR, PREJUDICE VANQUISHED. FIRST PART. SCENE I. MENDO-THE CURATE. MENDO. When I hear of a theft or a murder, I become pale in spite of myself, as if I were the guilty person. At present my hands are free from blood; but, if at some future period CURATE. Thank God the inhabitants of our village are harmless, honest people: it is now more than ten years since a crime has been committed in Monclar. MENDO. No matter this horrible idea presents itself continually to my mind; each night the same dream breaks in upon my slumbers.-I imagine myself in the middle of the market-place; at my feet is a youth, his eyes bound, his hands clasped in prayer: the Alcade presents me the axe, and says, "Strike!" CURATE. Prayer, Mendo, will free you from these visions. When I first took orders, I used to see in my dreams the figure of my cousin, who intreated me to throw aside my religious habit, and fly with her to America. Fasting and prayer have banished for ever these vain shadows. MENDO. Ah! never will they abandon me ! CURATE. Reflect, Mendo, how much more unhappy you might be. An inquisitor who condemns a man on slight grounds-think you he is more at his ease than thou? The judge who signs the death-warrantdoes his conscience leave him to repose? Yet he has neglected no means of instructing himself in the merits of the case. How difficult it is to discover the truth! God alone knows who is innocent, and who is guilty. You are disquieted, you say, about the judgment men may form of you; -but you live retired, and are little known-few of the villagers are old enough to remember the profession of your father. Ah! sir, my father! MENDO. CURATE. The Alcade and myself are, I imagine, the only |