A Escrava Isaura 9.31 · 9.31

She makes the plea an act of intercession: 'em nome della que lhe peço,' in Malvina's name I beg you. And she frames his desire as a descent — 'deixe de abaixar seos olhos para uma pobre captiva,' stop lowering your eyes to a poor captive. The verb 'abaixar,' to lower, casts his lust as a fall beneath his station, appealing to his pride to save her: let him not stoop. She turns even his hierarchy-bound vanity into a possible defence.

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