Juan Ruiz de Alarcón y Mendoza

The Truth Can’t Be Trusted

La verdad sospechosa

Traducción de La verdad sospechosa

Juan Ruiz de Alarcón, The Truth Can’t Be Trusted , edited and translated by Dakin Matthews, The Association for Hispanic Classical Theater, http://www.comedias.org/play_texts/translat/trutru1.html.

Joan Oleza Simó (Investigador principal) Matthews, Dakin (Traductor) Guinart Palomares, David (Editor digital)

English · Verso · 3112 versos

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) License

https://playcode.fly.dev/plays/EMOTHE0075_TheTruthCantBeTrusted

Note on this digital edition

The TC/12 project and the EMOTHE project are grateful to Dakin Matthews and his publisher for giving permission to post his translation of La verdad sospechosa by Juan Ruiz de Alarcón on their website. The translation was originally published online by The Association for Hispanic Classical Theater ( http://www.comedias.org/play_texts/translat/trutru1.html ). Matthews originally prepared the text in electronic form and this was, in turn, set in HTML by Vern Williamsen in 1998.

List of speakers in this play

Don Beltrán father of don García

Don García young man

A Lawyer guardian of don García

Tristán servant

Doña Jacinta dama

Doña Lucrecia dama

Isabel criada de Jacinta

Don Juan de Sosa young man

Don Félix young man

Don Sancho Jacinta’s uncle and guardian

Don Juan

Camino criado

Juan de Sosa and García

Scene One: A room in Don Beltrán's house

(From one door, enter DON GARCÍA, dressed as a student, and an aged LAWYER, in travelling clothes. From another, DON BELTRÁN and TRISTÁN)

BELTRÁN

Welcome, my son—come inside. 1

GARCÍA

Father, your hand. Dear sir! 2

BELTRÁN

And how have you been? 3

GARCÍA

Oh, we're

Parched by the dry summer and fried 4

By its heat. Father, the pain 5

Was almost too much to bear 6

Except of course that—always—there 7

Was the hope of seeing you again. 8

BELTRÁN

Well, get inside and rest. Go on! 9

God bless you—what a man you've become! 10

Tristán! 11

TRISTÁN

Sir?

BELTRÁN

Time to wait on some-

one new; from now on, serve my son 12

García. You know your way 13

Around the court, and he 14

Can use a guide. 15

TRISTÁN

Happy to be

Of any service to him I may. 16

BELTRÁN

It's not just a servant I'm giving you; 17

He's been a trusted friend to me. 18

(GARCÍA and TRISTÁN, going in)

GARCÍA

And he'll be mine as well, you'll see. 19

TRISTÁN

And your very humble servant, too. 20

BELTRÁN

So, counselor, let me shake 21

Your hand. 22

LAWYER

No, no, let me kiss

Your foot. 23

BELTRÁN

How've you been? No, this

Is too much. Get up. 24

LAWYER

For his sake,

I've been well, happy, blest; 25

Your son García's honored me 26

With so much love, I cannot see 27

How I can live the rest 28

Of my life without him. 29

BELTRÁN

God bless

You, counselor; you've always been 30

A man of great discretion and keen 31

Appreciation. And I'm no less 32

Grateful to you that my son 33

Has done his duty so well by you, 34

Behaved exactly as he ought to do, 35

And done all he should have done. 36

I promise you, therefore, my friend, 37

My gratitude to you is such, 38

That I have done for you as much 39

As I can to help you ascend 40

To the post of Magistrate. Not as high 41

As my love would raise you, if it could. 42

If I had the power, you know I would 43

Make you a cabinet minister. 44

LAWYER

Have no doubts about your power. 45

BELTRÁN

And for good reason, sir. But still 46

Of one thing I am sure. You will, 47

Once you have placed, with our 48

Help, your foot upon the low- 49

est rung, climb higher and higher, 50

Without our help—even aspire 51

To the Supreme Court. 52

LAWYER

I know,

Wherever I am, and however I 53

Get there, I shall always be 54

Yours. 55

BELTRÁN

Then, before you turn over to me,

Counselor, the helm of my 56

García's ship, and leave me to steer 57

The rest of his course, I ask 58

You to do just one more task, 59

For my sake and for his. 60

LAWYER

My dear

Sir, a pleasure. No sooner heard 61

Than done—whatever you ask me to do. 62

BELTRÁN

First I want you to swear that you 63

Will do whatever I say. Your word? 64

LAWYER

Sir, I swear by the Lord on high 65

To do whatever you ask me to. 66

BELTRÁN

Then I've only one question to put to you, 67

But I want the truth and not a lie. 68

I always thought that leaving here 69

To study law—as you must know— 70

Was the best preparation for him to grow 71

Up in the world with a fine career. 72

He's my second son, you see, 73

And for such a one, the law's 74

Almost a sure thing, because 75

It's the door to opportunity. 76

But now that God has deigned to take 77

My firstborn Gabriel from me, 78

Leaving García with my legacy, 79

There's a change or two I need to make. 80

I have decided it's time to bring 81

Him back to Madrid, time to end 82

His legal studies, so he can spend 83

His days—it's the customary thing— 84

Among the aristocracy 85

Of Spain. Each noble house takes care, 86

And for good reason, to place an heir 87

In the service of his majesty. 88

So now García, for all intents, 89

Is his own man, his school days are gone, 90

He has his business to carry on, 91

Although at my expense. 92

Now, my son may not be in the first 93

Rank, I know, but as a loving father, 94

I'd like him to be well thought of, rather 95

Than as one of the worst. 96

And therefore, counselor, the only thing 97

I want from you is the simple truth, 98

Without flattery—what kind of youth 99

Has he been? You helped to bring 100

Him up. What do you think of his 101

Manners, his personality, 102

His character? Any flaws that he 103

Seems to favor? Any vices? Is 104

There some behavior I should know 105

About—to help him change it? Believe me 106

My friend, you couldn't grieve me 107

In the least by telling me so. 108

He has to have some faults, I know, 109

And I won't exactly be overjoyed 110

To know them, but perhaps I can avoid 111

Worse harm, by hearing about them now, 112

However distasteful that may be. 113

There's no better way to show your love 114

For him or give a demonstration of 115

Your loyalty to the family, 116

Than to tell me all the bad news now, 117

Now while I still can help my son, 118

Not later, after the damage is done, 119

When I'm bound to find out anyhow. 120

LAWYER

Great sir, I assure you there was no need 121

For such a strict injunction. 122

I know my duty here—my function 123

Is to obey, not yours to plead. 124

It's an open and shut case: 125

I mean, when a man buys a horse, 126

The trainer, as a matter of course, 127

The one who supposedly broke him, has 128

A duty to disclose as much as he can 129

Of the horse's quirks, otherwise 130

There'll be a rather unpleasant surprise, 131

Both for the animal and for the man. 132

Telling the truth's the right thing to do. 133

And truth is what I've vowed to give, 134

Though sometimes truth's a purgative 135

Which can make you gag as it heals you. 136

Your son García, in all that he 137

Performs, has a certain flair 138

That perfectly suits the son and heir 139

Of such a noble family. 140

He's generous and bold, 141

He's witty, wise, articulate, 142

Open, devout, and temperate 143

Usually, though not yet old 144

Enough to avoid the impatience 145

Of youth. Such high spirits as 146

All boys have, García has, 147

So mentioning them makes little sense. 148

But there is one tiny fault, just one, 149

That I have noted—indeed that I 150

Have warned him of, and unfortunately, 151

So far nothing seems to get done 152

About it. 153

BELTRÁN

Is it likely to

Affect his standing here? 154

LAWYER

Could be.

BELTRÁN

What is it then? Be honest with me. 155

LAWYER

Well, the things he says aren't always true. 156

BELTRÁN

Good God, but that's a terrible thing 157

For a man in his position. 158

LAWYER

It's just a temporary condition, 159

I think, a bad habit. You can bring 160

The full weight of your authority 161

To bear on him, and that, along 162

With his growing good sense, will be strong 163

Enough to root out this fault, you'll see. 164

It's just a phase he's going through. 165

BELTRÁN

If nothing could be done when he 166

Was pliable and easy to be 167

Straightened out, what can we do 168

When the sapling becomes a tree? 169

LAWYER

Sir, those were Salamanca days. 170

Boys will be boys, sir; play's 171

The only thing they know. They're free 172

To follow their every whim. They give 173

Vice the name of virtue, call 174

Mischief manners, and folly's all 175

The grace they want—the prerogative 176

Of youth. But here in the court, sir, we 177

Have better hopes for his reformation, 178

For here he has for his edification 179

So many models of nobility. 180

BELTRÁN

It almost makes me laugh to see 181

How ignorant you are of the way 182

Things work at court. Are you trying to say 183

That he couldn't learn mendacity 184

At court? Don't you realize 185

That if he were at the top of his game, 186

He'd lose daily to some men I could name— 187

Even with a lead of a thousand lies. 188

Here in Madrid, some politicians 189

Of power and wealth, deceive and conceal 190

To close a lucrative real estate deal 191

Or improve their social positions. 192

If that is so, is it not even worse 193

In one who is placed, so to speak, 194

As a mirror where people should seek— 195

Let's drop it—before I start to curse. 196

A bull that's stuck by an expert blow, 197

Lashes out at whoever's nearby 198

Without even bothering to try 199

To find the picador, and so 200

Do I, overwhelmed with grief 201

At this latest news, and blind 202

With tears, I strike at the first man I find, 203

To give my rage some relief. 204

Believe me, if he threw away 205

My entire estate blindly pursu- 206

ing love affairs, or gambled through 207

Every night and every day, 208

If he were reckless, restless, and inclined 209

To pick a fight at the least provocation, 210

Or married far below his station, 211

If he were to die, I still would find 212

The strength to bear these things and control 213

My grief. But to know he was a liar! Oh, 214

What a horrible fault! It's so 215

Repugnant to my very soul. 216

All right, then, I know what I have to do: 217

Before the bad news gets around, 218

I've got to move quickly till I've found 219

Someone to marry him to. 220

Well, counselor, I'm in your debt, 221

You've certainly given me evidence 222

Of your zeal and your intelligence. 223

Much obliged. Now when do you have to get 224

Going? 225

LAWYER

Well, I was thinking of

Leaving right away. 226

BELTRÁN

That can't be.

Come rest a while, and then go see 227

The sights at court. 228

LAWYER

I'd really love

To spend some time with you, but I— 229

Well, duty calls. New job, you know. 230

BELTRÁN

Of course, a man can never go 231

Fast enough when he's moving up. Goodbye. 232

(BELTRÁN goes out)

LAWYER

And God go with you, too. I see 233

My news has really hurt the kind 234

Old man. So—even the wisest find 235

No sweetness in adversity. 236

(The LAWYER goes out)

Scene Two: On Silver Street

(Enter GARCÍA, handsomely dressed, and TRISTÁN)

GARCÍA

So what do you think? Do you like my coat? 237

TRISTÁN

It's absolutely divine, sir. Such 238

Brilliant people those Dutch 239

To invent this frou-frou surrounding the throat. 240

With an acre of linen like that, who knows 241

What horrors may lurk beneath every pleat! 242

I once knew a lady whose heart skipped a beat 243

When a certain friend, in frills just like those, 244

Came walking in her direction. 245

But once by mistake she happened to see 246

His actual neck, with the upshot that she 247

Was obliged to renounce her affection. 248

For his neck was furrowed and greasy, 249

The ravages of a previous bout 250

Of scrofula, no doubt, 251

For his skin was yellow and cheesy. 252

To twice normal size his nose had grown, 253

And each ear was as big as my fist, 254

And his jowls and chin, all shriveled and twist- 255

ed, were those of an ancient crone. 256

In short, this gentlemen of worth 257

Was so little like he appeared to be, 258

That no one would ever have known it was he, 259

Not even his mother who gave him birth. 260

GARCÍA

Well, that's, for one thing, why I'd feel 261

Overjoyed if our country had 262

A law prohibiting such a stupid fad 263

As a collar shaped like a water-wheel. 264

Besides encouraging such deceit, 265

These foreigners steal our good Spanish dollars 266

For their ridiculous linen collars, 267

And make the damage to us complete. 268

If we ever adopted a nice 269

Simple collar, we'd quickly see 270

The face set off to advantage, and be 271

Just as attractive, at a much lower price. 272

And a man wouldn't walk around all distressed 273

About the condition of his ruff, 274

And worry if he was wearing enough 275

Protection to keep it from getting messed. 276

TRISTÁN

I once knew a man who had an inkling 277

He was loved by a beautiful lady; 278

But at every approach the lady made, he 279

Backed off to keep his ruff from wrinkling. 280

That's why I'm so bewildered by it: 281

Everyone claims they would love with a passion 282

For the simple collar to come back in fashion, 283

But no one'll be the first to try it. 284

GARCÍA

We can't rule the world—so leave 285

It be. How are the women here? 286

TRISTÁN

So—forget the world, instead we're 287

Going to rule the flesh—and you believe 288

That's easier? 289

GARCÍA

More fun, anyway.

TRISTÁN

Are you "in the mood"? 290

GARCÍA

I'm "in my prime."

TRISTÁN

Then you've come to Madrid at just the right time. 291

Here love never takes a holiday. 292

Beautiful women are permanent 293

Fixtures here. Against the fine 294

Background of the court, they glitter and shine 295

Like the brightest stars in the firmament. 296

Some more brightly than others, it seems, 297

For they can all be classified, 298

By magnitude, brilliance and by how wide- 299

ly they spread their glorious beams. 300

Of course, among all these I'm not 301

Including the great ladies of the land, 302

They are angels of pure spirit and 303

Are untouchable, even in thought. 304

I'm only talking about the ones 305

With souls a bit more inclin- 306

ing, blessedly human, yet divine, 307

Dazzling, corruptible, heavenly suns. 308

The sky is full of them. Let me scan it 309

For you. There's the beautiful wife 310

Who lives an easy, approachable life 311

With discretion. I call her a planet. 312

A woman like this, in conjunction 313

With a husband who's easy going, 314

Is likely to shed her rays all a-glowing 315

On perfect strangers, with little compunction. 316

Then there are others, whose justification 317

Is that their husbands have gone away, 318

To the Americas, some of them say, 319

Or to Italy on vacation. 320

You can't always trust women like these, 321

There are thousands sly enough to pretend 322

They are married, so they can spend 323

Their lives as they like, in comparative ease. 324

You'll meet the occasional gorgeous trainee 325

Under the wing of a beautiful mother, 326

The girl's a fixed star, while the other 327

Moves in an orbit a bit more free. 328

And then of course there's a multitude 329

Of classy working girls—you know— 330

Who rank in my heaven, as courtesans go, 331

As stars of a lesser magnitude. 332

Right behind them are many more 333

Working girls in training, less 334

Luminous perhaps, I must confess, 335

But better than a whore; 336

Third magnitude stars, not as bright, 337

Certainly, as a pro should be, 338

But in cases of necessity, 339

You can bathe quite nicely in their light. 340

Now the common whore, in her condition, 341

I don't really rank as a star, 342

More like a comet, because they are 343

Quite dim, and their tails keep changing position. 344

They rise in the dawn to demand their pay, 345

And once that ceremony's done, 346

The very next moment they're completely gone, 347

And you don't see them for the rest of the day. 348

Then there are talented amateurs, 349

Ready for all occasions, they last 350

For a while, then burn out fast, 351

I think of them as meteors. 352

The problem here, my boy, if you 353

Were thinking of reaching for this kind of star— 354

They're very unstable, won't stay where they are, 355

Not for all the gold in Peru. 356

And always be mindful, as I always am, 357

That in the zodiac, Capricorn's 358

Not the only sign that wears the horns, 359

There's also the Bull and the Ram, 360

But there's only one Virgin. And in 361

Conclusion, as sure as death and taxes, 362

Money's the solitary axis 363

Around which all these bright stars spin. 364

GARCÍA

You sound like some kind of expert to me 365

On heavenly bodies. 366

TRISTÁN

While I was hang-

ing around the court, ang- 367

ling for jobs, I studied astronomy. 368

GARCÍA

You hung around the court? Well, I'm 369

Surprised. 370

TRISTÁN

And I'm embarrassed about

The whole thing. 371

GARCÍA

But why a servant?

TRISTÁN

I ran out

Of money and luck at the same time. 372

Not that serving you isn't the fin- 373

est fortune a man like me 374

Could wish for. 375

GARCÍA

Forget the flattery,

Get a glimpse of that hand, what a divine 376

Whiteness, pure ivory! And of 377

Those eyes, whose beams are shafts of light, 378

Arrows that carry in their flight, 379

Twin poisons of death and love. 380

TRISTÁN

You mean that lady over there 381

In the coach? 382

GARCÍA

Of course! Do you see

Another that shines as brightly as she? 383

TRISTÁN

I've never seen anything to compare. 384

Hers is a coach fit for the sun, 385

With all its little satellites, 386

Its fiery rays and golden lights 387

Illuminating everyone. 388

GARCÍA

This is the first woman I've seen 389

Here, and she sets my heart aglow. 390

TRISTÁN

The first? In all the world? 391

GARCÍA

No.

The first in paradise. She's the queen 392

Of heaven, the woman's divine! 393

TRISTÁN

Around here every minute you're likely to see 394

A beautiful woman. You'll never be 395

Willing or able, my boy, to confine 396

Yourself to one. I could never stand fast. 397

I just couldn't be constant in love or desire, 398

The next girl I saw always set me on fire, 399

And made me forget the last. 400

GARCÍA

Where is the brightness that surpasses 401

The blazing eyes of my shining star? 402

TRISTÁN

Things always look better than they are, 403

When you look at them through love-tinted glasses. 404

GARCÍA

Do you know her, Tristán? 405

TRISTÁN

Oh no, that girl'd

Never know me. She's divine—you won't 406

Find her with humans. Goddesses don't 407

Come down to live in Tristán's world. 408

GARCÍA

Whoever she is, I'm in love with her. 409

That's that, and I long to be her slave. 410

Tristán, go after her! 411

TRISTÁN

Wait, sir, they've

Gotten out at the shop. 412

GARCÍA

I'd sure

Like to go over. Or does that sound 413

Too gauche for Madrid? 414

TRISTÁN

No, no, not too.

Just remember what I said to you: 415

Money makes the world go round. 416

GARCÍA

I have some gold. 417

TRISTÁN

Well, onward, Spain!

God be with you, sir—and Caesar, too! 418

Just don't forget what I said to you 419

About pretty girls. Let me make it plain. 420

You see that other girl, behind her? 421

Just coming out? Maybe she's the sun 422

And the other's just the dawn, that one. 423

Or vice-versa. Just a reminder. 424

GARCÍA

She's pretty. 425

TRISTÁN

And the maid? Less beaut-

iful than her mistress? No. 426

GARCÍA

I swear, that coach is Cupid's bow 427

And all three are arrows well worth the shoot. 428

I'm going over. 429

TRISTÁN

Don't forget the old

Proverb. 430

GARCÍA

Which is?

TRISTÁN

The quickest road to

A woman's heart runs directly through 431

Your bank. 432

GARCÍA

Here's another: in gold

We trust. 433

TRISTÁN

Then talk to her; I'll go see

If I can get the coachman to spill 434

The beans about who they are. 435

GARCÍA

Think he will?

TRISTÁN

Dear boy, he's a coachman, isn't he? 436

(They separate. Doña JACINTA, Doña LUCRECIA, and ISABEL enter, in mantillas. Doña JACINTA stumbles and falls, and Don GARCÍA comes over to help her up)

JACINTA

Lord, help me! 437

GARCÍA

Your servant implores

That his hand may be of assistance to you, 438

If you think him a worthy Atlas to 439

Support a heaven as beautiful as yours. 440

JACINTA

You'd have to be Atlas if you claim 441

You're touching heaven with your hand. 442

GARCÍA

To touch hands, yes, is one thing, and 443

To deserve that touch, not quite the same. 444

What victory comes with the touch of beauty— 445

Even one for which I have yearned— 446

If that touch is not so much earned 447

From you, as owed you by my duty. 448

A touch, freely given, is so much sweeter. 449

Look, I have heaven at my fingertips, 450

What glory's in that, if it's she that slips, 451

Not I that rise to meet her? 452

JACINTA

And what exactly is the height 453

You would attain? 454

GARCÍA

As high as I can.

JACINTA

But to reach a goal without a plan— 455

Wouldn't that be pure luck? 456

GARCÍA

You're right.

JACINTA

Then how can you complain to me 457

About how short of your goal you are? 458

Since you haven't deserved to get this far, 459

You're already luckier than you ought to be. 460

GARCÍA

According to moral philosophy, 461

An act of favor or benevolence 462

Is only valid when the will consents; 463

Otherwise it's worthless, you see? 464

The fact that I am holding your hand 465

Does not mean you are favoring me, 466

Because the intentionality 467

Of the will is missing. You understand? 468

Therefore I have the right to feel 469

Unlucky in my luck, to touch 470

The hand but not the heart, so much 471

Like favor, but without the will. 472

JACINTA

So much like talk, but without the sense. 473

How can you know what's going on 474

In my heart; you don't even know your own. 475

You accuse me unjustly of some offense. 476

TRISTÁN

(I told you he was a coachman, sir. 477

I've got some news about who they are.) 478

GARCÍA

And have you never seen thus far 479

Clear signs of what my intentions were? 480

JACINTA

I've never even seen you here. 481

GARCÍA

She hasn't even noticed me! 482

My God—I've been in agony 483

Over you—for more than a year! 484

TRISTÁN

(A year? He just walked in the door 485

Yesterday! ) 486

JACINTA

Oh, good Lord!

More than a year? I give you my word 487

I never saw you in my life before. 488

GARCÍA

When I sailed from America 489

To seek my fortunes here, 490

The heaven of your face, my dear, 491

Was the very first thing I saw. 492

And at that instant my soul did melt 493

Into yours, and yet, you never knew, 494

I had no chance to talk to you 495

And tell you what I felt. 496

JACINTA

You're American? 497

GARCÍA

With money to spare.

And yet one glance from these your eyes, 498

And all my goldmines I despise, 499

And leave my El Dorado there. 500

TRISTÁN

(He's American? ) 501

JACINTA

I've heard them say

That rich men are stingy—are you? 502

GARCÍA

And they also say that misers who 503

Fall in love give it all away. 504

JACINTA

Then if what you say is true, 505

I can expect some expensive gifts? 506

GARCÍA

What good is my money unless it lifts 507

My credit with someone like you? 508

And yet such gifts would only be 509

Trinkets. To gain your love 510

I'd fashion for you a world of 511

Pure gold, to show my idolatry. 512

And even that could never aspire 513

To outweigh one petal of your beauty's flower, 514

As my enormous wealth and power 515

Could never equal my desire. 516

And yet, from this little jewelry store, 517

I beg you take anything you will, 518

As a small token of how I feel. 519

JACINTA

(I never saw such a man before. ) 520

(To Doña LUCRECIA)

Lucrecia, what do you think? He's quite 521

Generous, this American. 522

LUCRECIA

I think you rather like the man, 523

Jacinta, and I think you're right. 524

GARCÍA

Here's the shopwindow, look around, 525

Pick out what you like—my treat, as I said. 526

TRISTÁN

(Sir, you're way in over your head. ) 527

GARCÍA

(Tristán, I have already drowned. ) 528

ISABEL

(Here comes Don Juan. ) 529

JACINTA

I'm very grate-

ful, sir, for your kind offer— 530

GARCÍA

But

You simply can't accept it. What 531

A shame. Madam, I'm desolate. 532

JACINTA

Then I'm afraid you have mistaken your 533

Position, sir, and overstepped 534

The bounds of courtesy. I can accept 535

The offer alone—and no more. 536

GARCÍA

But you have my heart, and what have I 537

In return for what I have conferred? 538

JACINTA

You have the pleasure of being heard. 539

GARCÍA

Which I cherish. 540

JACINTA

Then good-bye.

GARCÍA

Good-bye.

And give me leave, before you depart 541

To love you. 542

JACINTA

I don't believe

A man ever needs to ask for leave 543

Before he gives away his heart. 544

(The LADIES leave)

GARCÍA

Go after them! 545

TRISTÁN

Don't worry your head

About it, sir. I don't need to go 546

Find out where your lady-love lives, I know 547

Already. 548

GARCÍA

Oh. Then stay here instead.

You never want to importune a 549

Girl too much. She'll get annoyed with you. 550

TRISTÁN

"The more beautiful lady of the two 551

Is Doña Lucrecia de Luna. 552

She's my mistress. And as for this 553

Second lady, with whom she came, 554

I know her house but not her name, 555

And I can show you where it is." 556

Thus saith the coachman, sir. 557

GARCÍA

If Lucrecia's prettier, then she 558

Must be the one who spoke to me. 559

And I'm in love with her. 560

And as the sun, with each new day, 561

Dims every little star, I find 562

That she, in her brightness, makes me blind, 563

And all the others fade away. 564

TRISTÁN

To me, she that never spoke a word 565

Was the prettier of the two. 566

GARCÍA

Well, you've got terrible taste. 567

TRISTÁN

It's true,

I don't expect my vote to be heard. 568

But nonetheless, I still prefer 569

The quiet one, if only for this, 570

The less she talks the more she is, 571

In my opinion, prettier. 572

But on the off-chance, sir, that you 573

Might be mistaken, wait right here, 574

And I'll go ask the coachman there 575

To tell me who is who. 576

GARCÍA

And Lucrecia, did he say where 577

She lived? 578

TRISTÁN

Where was that? Let me see—

In the square by Our Lady of Victory. 579

GARCÍA

She is the moon that governs there, 580

Eclipsing all stars else. How fit 581

A name is Victory Square! 582

(Enter Don JUAN DE SOSA and Don FÉLIX, in conversation)

JUAN DE SOSA

Dinner and music—that isn't fair! 583

GARCÍA

That's Don Juan de Sosa, isn't it? 584

TRISTÁN

The very same. 585

JUAN DE SOSA

Some lover, no doubt

Who thinks himself lucky. Who can it be 586

That stirs me to such jealousy? 587

FÉLIX

It shouldn't take too long to find out— 588

I'm sure of that. 589

JUAN DE SOSA

She's to be my bride,

I've chosen her, and now I discover 590

Some other man woos her as a lover 591

With a meal and music by the riverside. 592

GARCÍA

Don Juan de Sosa! 593

JUAN DE SOSA

Who is that?

GARCÍA

It's Don García—remember me? 594

JUAN DE SOSA

But you're in Madrid unexpectedly. 595

I didn't recognize you in that—hat. 596

GARCÍA

It was in Salamanca that we 597

Last met. I've changed since you saw me there. 598

JUAN DE SOSA

You're definitely not the student you were. 599

You've become a man of the world, I see. 600

Are you here in Madrid to stay? 601

GARCÍA

Oh, yes! 602

JUAN DE SOSA

Well, welcome home then!

GARCÍA

And you, Don Félix, how have you been? 603

FÉLIX

Now that you're here, I'd have to say 604

I couldn't be happier. Welcome! You're well? 605

GARCÍA

And at your service, my friend—so 606

What were you talking about? May I know? 607

JUAN DE SOSA

Some gossip going round. I'll tell 608

You what it was. Last night, someone 609

Was down by the river, with a band 610

Of musicians, a lady, and 611

A fancy dinner. 612

GARCÍA

Music, Don Juan?

And a fancy meal? 613

JUAN DE SOSA

Yes.

GARCÍA

Yesterday?

A big to do? 614

JUAN DE SOSA

Yes. So I hear.

GARCÍA

And the lady, how did she appear? 615

JUAN DE SOSA

Absolutely stunning—they say. 616

GARCÍA

Ah, well. 617

JUAN DE SOSA

So, what's the mystery?

GARCÍA

Well, if the lady and the food 618

Were as lovely and as good 619

As you report them, then possibly 620

It is my lady and my feast 621

You're praising so. 622

JUAN DE SOSA

You mean you threw

A party last night—by the river? You? 623

GARCÍA

All night—till the sun rose in the east. 624

TRISTÁN

(What lady? What feast could that have been? 625

You only got here yesterday. ) 626

JUAN DE SOSA

You've feasted a woman already, you say? 627

But you only just got in! 628

Love works very fast with you, I see. 629

GARCÍA

It hasn't been that short a while; 630

I've been home a whole month resting. 631

TRISTÁN

(I'll

Swear—it was yesterday that he 632

Got home. What is he thinking? ) 633

JUAN DE SOSA

If I

Had known, I'd have been there 634

To welcome you back, I swear, 635

And pay my debt of courtesy. 636

GARCÍA

Well, actually, I snuck into Madrid. 637

JUAN DE SOSA

Then, obviously, that's the reason why 638

I didn't know. But satisfy 639

My curiosity; this dinner you did— 640

Was it really so grand? 641

GARCÍA

I'd venture to guess

It's the best that river has ever had. 642

JUAN DE SOSA

(I'm so jealous I may go mad! ) 643

Well, then, you might as well confess 644

It was you in the thicket with mademoiselle. 645

GARCÍA

Don Juan, you lead me to suspect— 646

From your tone of voice and your grim aspect— 647

That the lady is known to you as well. 648

JUAN DE SOSA

I'm not entirely in the dark 649

About the whole affair, but I 650

Have it second-hand, confusedly; 651

I'd love to hear what went on in the park— 652

The whole truth, direct from you, 653

Just out of curiosity, 654

You know, a courtier like me— 655

I've got nothing better to do— 656

(Than roast in the flames of my jealousy. ) 657

FÉLIX

(The heavens are kind, and even without 658

Your asking, see how they go about 659

To reveal your rival's identity. ) 660

GARCÍA

All right, here goes, lend me an ear: 661

And all you desire I shall provide: 662

The story of the Feast by the Riverside. 663

JUAN DE SOSA

There's nothing we would rather hear. 664

GARCÍA

There in a thicket, deep and dark, amid 665

The high and overshadowing elms was hid 666

A secret clearing, black as the face of night, 667

In which there stood a table, clean and bright, 668

A perfect square, set with the elegance 669

Of an Italian hand, and the opulence 670

Of Spain. There in the fine embroidery 671

Of tablecloth and napkins one could see 672

A thousand gorgeous birds and beasts that lacked 673

But souls to be alive. All set and stacked, 674

Four sideboards ran along each length, each one 675

Laden with crystal cups and porcelain 676

Bowls, silver plates and gold. One tree there 677

Was left untouched, it seemed; the others were 678

Stripped of their branches, and of them they 679

Had built six grand pavilions. Hidden away 680

In four of them were different orchestras; 681

Arranged inside the fifth pavilion was 682

A vast display of entrees, of every kind; 683

Inside the sixth, desserts and fresh fruits lined 684

The walls, and among the pastries and preserves 685

Were plates of appetizers and hors d'oeuvres. 686

The coach arrived, and out she stepped, 687

My lady-love, and all stars else, except 688

Her eyes, were dimmed with envy—while the brook 689

Babbled with joy at catching just one look 690

From her, and the air inhaled her sweet perfume. 691

Her lovely footfall made the grasses bloom 692

Where'er it touched, with emeralds; each curl 693

Of wave, a crystal; each grain of sand, a pearl. 694

And suddenly there was a bright confusion 695

Of roman candles, pinwheels in profusion, 696

Fireworks exploding everywhere, rockets fly- 697

ing through the air, turning the evening sky 698

To day, and flaming still higher and higher 699

Till all this patch of earth became pure fire. 700

And then, just as the fireworks dispersed 701

And faded, twenty four bright torches burst 702

Into flame, dimming both the stars and moon. 703

At once, a woodwind band struck up a tune 704

From one of the pavilions; hearing the sound, 705

The strings, from their pavilion, passed it round 706

To the third, where flutes picked up the melody 707

And added their sweet notes to the harmony. 708

Then from the fourth pavilion, came the rich 709

Sounds of a four-part choir, under which 710

Spanish guitars and harps were softly strumming, 711

To celebrate in song my lady's coming. 712

And as they played, the waiters served the food— 713

Thirty two courses for the main meal—and a good 714

Three dozen more of appetizers and 715

Hors d'oeuvres before the meal, with a grand 716

Assortment of desserts and fruits for later. 717

The freshfruits, juices, wines, even the water 718

Were served in frosty crystal bowls and glasses, 719

All made of ice, and covered over with masses 720

Of winter snow, so artfully preserved, 721

The wandering river thought that it had swerved 722

Out of the grove and somehow found the freez- 723

ing heights and passes of the Pyranees. 724

And as the tongue delighted in the taste 725

Of pleasure, the nose was no less busy. Graced 726

With soothing fragrances of potpourri 727

And perfume—flowers, herbs, and spicery 728

Distilled to sweet aromas—what had been 729

A grove became a heaven of muscadine. 730

And in the center of the table stood 731

A holder full of toothpicks, not of wood 732

But of pure gold, the holder itself the figure 733

Of a man, diamond studded and no bigger 734

Than this, a dying man shot through and through 735

With golden arrows, which showed to her the true 736

Picture of her own cruelty to me, 737

And in that figure, my fidelity. 738

These golden toothpicks took from willow, reed, 739

And straw their proper office; for gold indeed 740

Must be the toothpicks when the teeth are pearl. 741

And as I feasted there this lovely girl, 742

Musicians hidden in their separate bowers 743

Played melodies to slow the morning hours, 744

To stop the stars and halt the heavenly sphere— 745

But that Apollo, envious to hear 746

Music more sweet than his, raced in the east 747

And brought the dawn to end our loving feast. 748

JUAN DE SOSA

You've painted such a picture of last night, 749

My friend, with such detail and in such bright 750

Colors that I could not be sure, I swear, 751

If I was hearing it—or actually there. 752

TRISTÁN

(The devil bless him for his only son! 753

Father of lies! How otherwise could one 754

So improvise a tale of a fictitious meal 755

That out-truths truth and out-reals real! ) 756

JUAN DE SOSA

(I'm mad with jealousy! ) 757

FÉLIX

(We never heard

Such things about this party. It's absurd! ) 758

JUAN DE SOSA

(The details are of no importance to me— 759

The time, the place, the substance all agree. ) 760

GARCÍA

What did you say? 761

JUAN DE SOSA

We said such banqueting

As yours is greater far than anything 762

Great Alexander did when he held sway. 763

GARCÍA

Oh, that? No—that was simply child's play, 764

Done on a moment's notice. Given some time, 765

Even a day for preparation, I'm 766

Sure I could throw a party that would shame 767

The ancient Greek and Roman feasts, bring fame 768

To me through all the world, beyond our nation, 769

And be the cause of newfound admiration. 770

FÉLIX

(Look at Lucrecia's coach—that girl, the one 771

By the step's Jacinta! ) 772

JUAN DE SOSA

(And look at Don

García's eyes—they're following every move 773

She makes, I swear to God! ) 774

FÉLIX

(Look how his love

Makes him so restless and distracted! ) 775

JUAN DE SOSA

(See (See Esta intervención de don Juan de Sosa no está marcada como aparte por el traductor, pero el sentido nos ha llevado a incluirla en el aparte anterior.

How all he does confirms my jealousy! ) 776

JUAN and GARCÍA

Good-bye! 777

FÉLIX

(And see how well you synchronize,

In perfect unison, your swift goodbyes! ) 778

(Don JUAN DE SOSA and FÉLIX leave)

TRISTÁN

I've never seen two gentlemen agree 779

To say good-bye with such velocity! 780

GARCÍA

She is my heaven, the prime mover of 781

My every act, the north star of my love, 782

Which draws me like a magnet to her side. 783

TRISTÁN

Well then, you must be patient, sir, and hide 784

Your love. Revealing it is likelier 785

To fail than to succeed with one like her. 786

Believe me, sir, it's my experience 787

That fortune favors men who have the sense 788

Not to respond. For women, sir, and devils 789

Use very similar ways to work their evils. 790

The souls they have already, they ignore— 791

The don't tempt them, they don't go hunting for 792

The already damned. For once they have them in 793

Their claws, they can forget them, and begin 794

Pursuing with a vengeance, night and day, 795

Only the ones they fear might get away. 796

GARCÍA

You're right, I know—I'm just not master of 797

Myself today. 798

TRISTÁN

This woman that you love—

Until you actually know who she is 799

And what she has, don't get mixed up in this. 800

Remember, sir, to look before you leap, 801

Or you'll end up, over your head, in deep 802

Water. Not everything that's green is grass; 803

Jump in, and you could sink in a morass. 804

GARCÍA

Go find out all you can immediately. 805

TRISTÁN

I'll take good care of it—leave it to me. 806

And now for God's sake, tell me something, sir, 807

Before I burst. What in heaven's name were 808

Those stories for, that I was hearing? I ask 809

Only that I might help you in your task— 810

Whatever that might be! If we get caught 811

Lying, the shame and the disgrace are not 812

Going to go away. So why did you 813

Tell all the ladies you were from Peru? 814

GARCÍA

Because, Tristán, the fact is foreign men 815

Do well with Spanish ladies, especially when 816

They come here from America, which is, 817

To women here, always a sign of riches. 818

TRISTÁN

I understand that that's what you intend, 819

But, sir, those means won't lead you to that end. 820

Eventually the ladies have to know 821

Exactly who you are. 822

GARCÍA

Till when, I'll go

And be received into the inmost parts 823

Of both the ladies' houses and their hearts, 824

And once inside—thanks to this strategem— 825

I'm pretty sure that I can manage them. 826

TRISTÁN

All right, you've won me over, sir; but now, 827

I pray, explain that other business, how 828

You've been here for a month, and not yet seen 829

At court or in the town? In fact, you've been 830

At home since yesterday. So what's the plan? 831

GARCÍA

Surely you know, there's nothing grander than 832

A man who's travelling incognito, or 833

Who hides himself away behind the door 834

Of his great house, or else retires to 835

Some tiny village, out of public view. 836

TRISTÁN

You win again, sir! And the fancy meal? 837

GARCÍA

I made that up, because I just can't deal 838

With people who are trying to discover 839

If I have feelings that I just can't cover— 840

Like envy or amazement. Some things can 841

Make me feel that way—I'm just a man— 842

I have these feelings, they embarrass me. 843

Amazement, after all, is just stupidity, 844

And envy, a disgrace. You'll never know 845

How satisfying it can be, to show 846

Another person up, who comes to tell 847

Some news, bursting with pride, about some swell 848

Party he's given or some big thing he's done, 849

By topping his tale with a bigger one; 850

Before he gets it out, you tell yours first 851

And stuff it down his throat and make him burst. 852

TRISTÁN

A very tricky move of self-defence, sir— 853

A dangerous feint, for even a master fencer. 854

You'll be a joke at court, quite soon enough, 855

The moment that those people call your bluff. 856

GARCÍA

A man's life needs a little stimulation; 857

If all he does is swell the population, 858

And act like everybody else, then how 859

Is he any better than a horse or cow? 860

It's a wondrous thing to be a famous man, 861

Worth striving for by any means he can. 862

In every street they're whispering my name, 863

And everyone will know about my fame. 864

Just like that man in Ephesus, when he 865

Burnt down a church to become a celebrity. 866

And here's my best—and final—reason, too: 867

It's something that I really love to do. 868

TRISTÁN

Well, those are very youngish thoughts, I fear; 869

And your ideas, much too advanced for here. 870

So what you need to do is keep a lid 871

On thoughts like those, to make it in Madrid. 872

(They go out)

Scene Three: A room in Don Sancho's house

(Enter Doña JACINTA and ISABEL, in mantillas, with Don BELTRÁN and Don SANCHO)

JACINTA

You're very kind! 873

BELTRÁN

This isn't all

Some friendship of a single day; 874

Our families have been this way 875

For quite some time, if you recall. 876

That's why I'm sure my little visit 877

Is not so unexpected. 878

JACINTA

If I

Seem shocked, dear sir, it's only my 879

Surprise; it's not that often, is it, 880

That you come to see us? Pardon me. 881

If I had known who my uncle was with, 882

I wouldn't have lingered with the silversmith, 883

Haggling over some jewelry. 884

BELTRÁN

That was an omen, a favorable one, 885

For what I have in mind: for you'll 886

Be purchasing a priceless jewel, 887

If I can persuade you to marry my son. 888

Your uncle Sancho and I have been 889

Discussing the possibility 890

Of elevating our intimacy 891

Into kinship. And both of us are in 892

Agreement (once we have subjected 893

It to your approval, as he 894

Quite properly reminded me) 895

That this should be effected. 896

Now surely there can be no doubt 897

Of the value of my son's legacy, 898

So there's just his personality 899

For you to be concerned about. 900

And though the boy just got to Madrid 901

From Salamanca yesterday, 902

And got a sunburn on the way 903

(Something that jealous Phoebus did), 904

I'll take the chance, and gladly put 905

Him right where you can look him over, 906

Since I'm so sure that, as a lover, 907

You'll find him pleasing—from head to foot— 908

If you will only grant that he 909

May come to pay you his respects. 910

JACINTA

What you present me with, affects 911

Me so, that praising it would be 912

Presumptuous and impolite. 913

Your offer means so much to me 914

I'd say yes now, but unfortunately, 915

I just don't feel it would be right 916

To give anyone the wrong impression 917

(Whatever the gain might be for us) 918

That I was rash or frivolous, 919

Which any woman of discretion 920

Must avoid. To rush ahead 921

In matters so weighty would only befit 922

A woman with a tiny wit 923

Or an enormous need to be wed. 924

Also, it might be more discrete, 925

So as not to compromise anyone— 926

And if you agree—to see your son 927

As he passed by in the street. 928

It does happen once in a while— 929

Actually, fairly frequently— 930

That such an engagement might just be 931

Dissolved, after a term of trial. 932

And how would it reflect on me? 933

What's more compromising than 934

To have been visited by a man 935

With almost a husband's intimacy? 936

BELTRÁN

You have a wonderful sense of duty, 937

And if my son should marry you 938

I'd count him lucky for that gift, too— 939

As well as for your beauty. 940

SANCHO

My little niece is the mirror where 941

Prudence itself may see her face. 942

BELTRÁN

You've captured her undeniable grace 943

In a perfect image there. 944

Don García and I will ride 945

On horseback along the avenue 946

This very afternoon. 947

JACINTA

If you do,

I'll be at the window, looking outside. 948

BELTRÁN

I beg you, then, to take a good view, 949

For I shall return this very night, 950

Beautiful Jacinta, if I might, 951

To ask how he appeared to you. 952

JACINTA

So soon? 953

BELTRÁN

No need to wonder at how

Strongly I feel. By God's holy name, 954

If I was fond of you when I came, 955

I'm completely in love with you now. 956

Goodbye. 957

JACINTA

Goodbye.

BELTRÁN

Sir, I can find

My own way out. 958

SANCHO

No, please, I'll go.

BELTRÁN

Don't bother. 959

SANCHO

At least let me show

You into the hall—if you don't mind. 960

(SANCHO and BELTRÁN go out)

ISABEL

The old man's really rushing you. 961

JACINTA

I should be rushing myself much more, 962

Because this match is perfect for 963

My honor—but I have to do 964

What my love advises me to. 965

My poor Don Juan, the master of 966

My every thought, will probably 967

Not get promoted, which will be 968

The end of our marriage plans—but I love 969

Him so—he is so forcefully 970

Fixed in my heart—that though I would 971

Have every right to entertain 972

Other proposals, I never could 973

Discard his love. I tremble with pain 974

When I think of yielding my maidenhood 975

To some other man in marriage. 976

ISABEL

I thought

Perhaps you had already forgot- 977

ten him, when I saw you receiv- 978

ing other men. 979

JACINTA

No, don't deceive

Yourself, Isabel. But though I'm not 980

Forgetting him, I have to get on 981

With my life. My father's permission 982

To marry him depends upon 983

His receiving his commission, 984

Which he won't, so my hopes in him are gone. 985

I'm getting back in society; 986

It's either that or death for me— 987

And why pursue an impossible plan? 988

I don't approve—a woman can 989

Perish of too much constancy. 990

Somewhere out there, perhaps I will 991

Find another, as worthy of 992

My hand, and maybe of my love. 993

ISABEL

Time will all your hopes fulfill, 994

As sure as there are stars above. 995

In fact, unless I am deceived, 996

You found the American you received 997

Today quite charming. 998

JACINTA

I'll tell you the truth,

I was quite taken with that youth— 999

More than I ever would have believed 1000

Possible. So much, in fact, that I'd 1001

Be willing to say, all jesting aside, 1002

That if this son of Don Beltrán 1003

Is as handsome a gentleman 1004

And as smart, he can have me as his bride. 1005

ISABEL

This afternoon, you'll be able to see 1006

Him, with his father, riding by. 1007

JACINTA

His face and his figure, yes, but I 1008

Need to know his mind—to me 1009

That's more important. I'm afraid that we 1010

Will have to talk. 1011

ISABEL

To talk?

JACINTA

Which would

Offend Don Juan, if he found out; 1012

And I'd rather not lose him if I could, 1013

At least until I'm sure about 1014

Having to marry the other. 1015

ISABEL

Then you should

Do something! Anything! Time flies, 1016

You know, and you should be wise 1017

Enough to avoid the real danger 1018

Of losing both. Don Juan, in my eyes, 1019

Is just playing the dog in the manger. 1020

You can talk to the son of Don Beltrán 1021

If you really want to, without Don Juan 1022

Finding out. For years, women like you, 1023

In cases like these, have found some plan 1024

They could always use. And you can, too. 1025

JACINTA

I'm thinking of one right now that might 1026

Just work. I'll ask Lucrecia—she's 1027

A friend of mine—if she'll invite 1028

Him over on her behalf; and while he's 1029

There talking, I'll be out of sight 1030

Behind the curtains. That might just be 1031

A real possibility. 1032

ISABEL

It's perfect! It's an inspiration! 1033

Only from an imagination 1034

Like yours could it come! 1035

JACINTA

Then instantly

Go over to Lucrecia's house and say 1036

Exactly what I have in mind. 1037

ISABEL

I shall fly with the wings of the wind! 1038

JACINTA

And tell her even a moment's delay 1039

Will be a century. On your way! 1040

(Don JUAN DE SOSA enters and meets ISABEL going out)

JUAN DE SOSA

Your lady—may I speak with her? 1041

ISABEL

A minute, maybe—the hour's near 1042

When my master usually comes here 1043

To take her into dinner, sir. 1044

(ISABEL goes out)

JUAN DE SOSA

So, Jacinta, now I've lost you, 1045

I've lost myself, now you've lost me— 1046

JACINTA

Are you insane? 1047

JUAN DE SOSA

Who wouldn't be,

When you behave the way you do? 1048

JACINTA

Behave yourself! And quiet down— 1049

My uncle's somewhere in the hall. 1050

JUAN DE SOSA

And did you worry about him at all, 1051

When you dined by the river at the edge of town? 1052

JACINTA

You're not yourself—what is all this? 1053

JUAN DE SOSA

When another man spends the night with you, 1054

What do you expect me to do— 1055

Be as blind as your uncle is? 1056

JACINTA

Spends the night! Watch what you say! 1057

Even if the story were true 1058

It would still be presumptuous of you 1059

To talk to me in such a way. 1060

How much more so, when the whole idea 1061

Is a figment of your fantasy. 1062

JUAN DE SOSA

I know all about your riverside spree, 1063

And I know your host was Don García, 1064

And about all the fireworks burning bright, 1065

The moment little Jacinta drove 1066

Up, and the torches that turned the grove 1067

Into day, in the middle of the night; 1068

And the tables piled higher and higher 1069

With silver service on every side, 1070

And the four pavilions occupied 1071

By orchestras and a four-part choir— 1072

I know it all, dear enemy, 1073

And how the sunrise found you there; 1074

So tell me now that the whole affair 1075

Is a figment of my fantasy; 1076

And tell me I'm presumptuous 1077

To talk to you of these vile events, 1078

When your perfidy and my offense 1079

Deserve to be made notorious. 1080

JACINTA

I swear to God— 1081

JUAN DE SOSA

Please, no more lies!

Don't even bother speaking to me; 1082

A proven offense can never be 1083

Excused. Oh, now I realize 1084

The truth—oh false one! —now I see— 1085

I've lost you, yes, but my discontent 1086

Is not from my disillusionment, 1087

But the shame of your inconstancy. 1088

And even if my lady denies 1089

The story I heard, she cannot say 1090

I did not see what I saw today— 1091

The truth in Don García's eyes. 1092

And what of his father? What did he 1093

Want here? Explain that one! 1094

You spend the whole night with the son, 1095

And the day with his father? I see! 1096

I see it all! Don't lie to me 1097

To win me back. I know your ways— 1098

They're all in vain. And your delays 1099

Are born of your inconstancy. 1100

O cruel one! In heaven's name, 1101

May you never have a moment's rest! 1102

And may this volcano in my breast 1103

Explode and roast you in its flame! 1104

Jealousy! O, may the author of 1105

My pain lose you as I have done! 1106

JACINTA

Are you all right? 1107

JUAN DE SOSA

All right? Can one

Be sane, and hopelessly in love? 1108

JACINTA

Come back, listen—the truth must be 1109

Believed. Soon you will see how bad 1110

The information is you've had. 1111

JUAN DE SOSA

I'm going—your uncle mustn't see 1112

Me here. 1113

JACINTA

He's nowhere near. I swear

I can change your mind. 1114

JUAN DE SOSA

The only way

Is to promise to marry me. 1115

JACINTA

Today?

I think my uncle's right out there. 1116

(END of ACT ONE)

Scene One: A room in Don Beltrán's house

(Don GARCÍA enters in a robe, reading, accompanied by TRISTÁN and CAMINO. Don GARCÍA reads)

GARCÍA

"It is the urgency of the matter that forces me beyond the proprieties of my station. What it is, you may discover tonight, at a balcony which the bearer of this note will reveal to you, along with other things I dare not put in writing, May the Lord protect and, etc."

(To CAMINO)

Who wrote this note to me, d'you know? 1117

CAMINO

Doña Lucrecia is her name. 1118

GARCÍA

De Luna? She whom I proclaim 1119

My very heart, beating so 1120

Proudly in my breast! She, 1121

That queen of beauty, whose lovely feet 1122

Tripped today down Silver Street 1123

Before noon! 1124

CAMINO

Yes.

GARCÍA

My destiny!

My joy, my life, my own! 1125

Tell me all her qualities— 1126

Quickly! 1127

CAMINO

I'm amazed that these

Great gifts of hers are still unknown 1128

To you. You've seen her, you needn't be told 1129

About her beauty—I'll skip that part. 1130

She's virtuous, she's very smart, 1131

Her father's widowed, and very old, 1132

And has a vast estate, I hear— 1133

A thousand ducats, maybe two, 1134

Which she'll inherit. 1135

GARCÍA

Tristán, did you

Hear that? 1136

TRISTÁN

Without a single tear.

CAMINO

As far as her rank of nobility— 1137

What can I say? Luna's her father's 1138

Name, and Mendoza, her mother's— 1139

Both solid gold in pedigree. 1140

Doña Lucrecia—to put it plain— 1141

Deserves to marry only with kings. 1142

GARCÍA

Cupid, I pray, lend me your wings 1143

To mount such heights and there remain. 1144

Where does she live? 1145

CAMINO

Victory Square.

GARCÍA

My goal is clear, and you the guide, 1146

It tells me here, to lead me inside 1147

The glorious heaven that awaits me there. 1148

CAMINO

I'll show you the way to both places, then. 1149

GARCÍA

For which I'll thank you, with all my might. 1150

CAMINO

I will return later tonight 1151

To accompany you, at the stroke of ten. 1152

GARCÍA

And tell Lucrecia my reply 1153

To her request. 1154

CAMINO

Yes, sir. God bless.

(CAMINO goes out)

GARCÍA

I'm in heaven! What happiness! 1155

What love! What a fortunate man am I! 1156

Remember, Tristán, the coachman said 1157

Lucrecia was the prettier— 1158

And that's the one I love, I'm sure! 1159

And surely she has forwarded 1160

This letter to me! Don't you see? 1161

TRISTÁN

I think you're reaching for it, sir. 1162

GARCÍA

Don't be silly—of course, it's her— 1163

Why would the other one write to me? 1164

TRISTÁN

Well, the worst thing that can happen to you 1165

Tonight, I suppose, is having your 1166

Doubts removed. You'll know for sure 1167

Who the lady is you're talking to. 1168

GARCÍA

I know I won't be led astray. 1169

My sense still holds the memory of 1170

That sweet soprano voice I love, 1171

Whose music slew my soul today. 1172

(A PAGE comes in, with a note)

PAGE

Don García? Sir! That 1173

Is for you. 1174

GARCÍA

As you were—

Relax. 1175

PAGE

Your servant, sir.

GARCÍA

For heaven's sake, put on your hat! 1176

(He reads, to himself)

"I wish to set the matter straight 1177

About some important things. 1178

Come alone. When the bell rings 1179

Seven. At St. Blaise. I shall wait. 1180

(Damn! Good Heaven! 1181

What can it be? He doesn't say. 1182

But I only got here yesterday, 1183

And he's a friend of mine.) 1184

(To the PAGE)

At seven,

You may say, I will not fail 1185

To meet with him. 1186

(The PAGE goes out)

TRISTÁN

Hello? Sir?

Don García? What is it? You're 1187

Looking extremely pale. 1188

GARCÍA

Nothing at all. 1189

TRISTÁN

No problems?

GARCÍA

None.

TRISTÁN

(This is serious—I can tell.) 1190

GARCÍA

Fetch me my cape—and my sword as well. 1191

(TRISTÁN goes out)

But what could I have possibly done? 1192

(Don BELTRÁN comes in)

BELTRÁN

García? 1193

GARCÍA

Father?

BELTRÁN

We're going to

Take a little horseback ride 1194

Today—there's a certain matter I'd 1195

Like to talk over with you. 1196

GARCÍA

(Another one? Now what?) 1197

(TRISTÁN returns and starts to dress Don GARCÍA)

BELTRÁN

Now where

Are you off to? It's blazing hot 1198

Out there. 1199

GARCÍA

Just next door; I thought

I'd shoot a little pool over there 1200

With our neighbor, the count. 1201

BELTRÁN

Well, don't

Dash about so much. I don't approve— 1202

You just got in. There're thousands of 1203

People yet to meet—you won't 1204

Be able to do it in a single day. 1205

And when you do, I'd prefer it if you 1206

Carefully considered two 1207

Conditions: when you gamble, play 1208

With what you have, and before you air 1209

An opinion, think twice. It's the only way 1210

I know to be happy. 1211

GARCÍA

I'll do what you say—

You're right. 1212

BELTRÁN

Now go on out there

And make sure the stableboys get 1213

The horses saddled and ready by 1214

Four. 1215

GARCÍA

I'll see to it.

BELTRÁN

Good-bye.

(Don GARCÍA goes out)

I'm still more than a little upset 1216

Over what his tutor said. 1217

Tristán—how much time would you say 1218

You spent with him? 1219

TRISTÁN

The entire day.

BELTRÁN

Forget that he's my son. Instead, 1220

Remember only the loyalty 1221

That I have always found in you, 1222

And which I'm sure is still there, too. 1223

What is he like?—be honest with me. 1224

TRISTÁN

I really couldn't say—there's been 1225

So little time to judge him by. 1226

BELTRÁN

Your tongue's not usually this shy— 1227

There's been plenty of time to judge him in, 1228

More than enough, I'd say, for one 1229

As smart as you. For my life's sake, 1230

Don't spare me—tell me. 1231

TRISTÁN

What I make

Of him, sir, is this. You see, your son— 1232

And I'm only telling you the truth 1233

For your life's sake—that's what you swore— 1234

BELTRÁN

You've always done me right before, 1235

And earned my favor so. 1236

TRISTÁN

It's his youth—

He's got a great imagination, 1237

A wonderful sense of fine detail, 1238

But a young man's fancy can sometimes fail 1239

Through rashness or over-compensation. 1240

Salamanca was his nurse, 1241

He needs to be weaned away from the taste 1242

For sophomoric pranks, and placed 1243

Where that crowd can't infect him. Nothing's worse 1244

Than the habits picked up in college. This 1245

Wild talk, this lying without 1246

Caution or sense, this boasting about 1247

Everything, this compulsion of his 1248

To risk it all! I heard him today, 1249

In one hour, tell six or seven lies! 1250

BELTRÁN

God help me! 1251

TRISTÁN

Here's the big surprise—

You haven't heard the worst news—they 1252

Were such terrible lies, he could have been caught 1253

In any one of them. 1254

BELTRÁN

Good Lord!

TRISTÁN

I'd never have said a single word 1255

To hurt you, sir, if you had not 1256

Commanded me. 1257

BELTRÁN

I know too well

Your loyalty and love for me. 1258

TRISTÁN

Then, sir, forgive my temerity 1259

If I remind you not to tell 1260

Your son. Don García must never hear 1261

That I mentioned it. Surely you see 1262

The risk I run. 1263

BELTRÁN

Put your trust in me,

Tristán, and put away all fear. 1264

Go out and order them to prepare 1265

Our horses. 1266

(TRISTÁN goes out)

O God in Heaven!

Well, since it is your will, Lord, even 1267

This must make sense somehow—somewhere! 1268

For the balance of my time on earth, late 1269

In my sad life, my only consolation 1270

Is my one son, my only relation— 1271

And God burdens me with this—counterweight! 1272

Ah well, it was ever thus—old men 1273

Are forever disappointed in 1274

Their sons. And ills have always been 1275

Worst in the eldest. Patience, then! 1276

I'll try to bring this marriage plan 1277

To a swift conclusion today; 1278

And with a little speed I may 1279

Just mend this fault—if I can 1280

Do it before the court starts taking 1281

Notice of his instability 1282

Which would pretty effectively 1283

Block any marriage worth the making. 1284

With any luck, his new position 1285

As a married man might just be 1286

The very motivation that he 1287

Needs, to reform his vile condition. 1288

For it's useless to think that constant correction, 1289

Advice, rebuke, or disapproval 1290

Would ever bring about the removal 1291

Of such an ingrained predilection. 1292

(TRISTÁN comes back in)

TRISTÁN

The horses are ready, waiting for 1293

Your command to go, each one 1294

Testing its iron shoes upon 1295

The cobblestones of the courtyard floor. 1296

Your dappled stallion, eager to advance 1297

At the head of the parade, re-learns 1298

All by himself the twists and turns 1299

And intricate steps of his dance. 1300

Behind him, the bay, proudly daring 1301

To match her rider in reputation, 1302

Studies with renewed dedication 1303

Her motions and her equine bearing. 1304

BELTRÁN

Go tell García—hurry him on. 1305

TRISTÁN

Your son awaits you—so gallantly, 1306

That all the court will think that he, 1307

Even at this hour, brings a new dawn. 1308

(They go out)

Scene Two: A room in Don Sancho's house

(Enter Doña JACINTA and ISABEL)

ISABEL

I told Lucrecia, ma'am, and she 1309

Grabbed for her pen and immediately 1310

Started to put your brilliant plan 1311

Into action. The son of Don Beltrán 1312

This night beneath her balcony 1313

Will wait. "An urgent matter," she wrote, 1314

"We must discuss tonight." Close quote. 1315

There you can chat with him—he must 1316

Obey. Camino carried the note, 1317

And he's a person you can trust. 1318

JACINTA

Lucrecia's so obliging to me! 1319

ISABEL

At every opportunity 1320

She shows herself a perfect friend. 1321

JACINTA

Is it late? 1322

ISABEL

It's five.

JACINTA

Will it never end—

This worry? Even asleep, the memory 1323

Distresses me of my poor Don Juan; 1324

During my nap, I dreamt that he 1325

Was all consumed with jealousy 1326

Of another suitor! 1327

(They look out the window)

ISABEL

It's Don Beltrán!

And with him—ay!—your Peruvian! 1328

JACINTA

What are you talking about? 1329

ISABEL

That man

You spoke with today, on Silver Street, 1330

He's riding alongside Don Beltrán— 1331

See for yourself! 1332

JACINTA

My God, that can-

not be—you're right—it's him! That cheat! 1333

That fraud! That liar! Why would he 1334

Pretend to be an American 1335

When he's the son of Don Beltrán? 1336

ISABEL

Because money will always be 1337

Crucial to any engagement plan. 1338

Money played an important part 1339

In gaining access to your heart— 1340

He thought. He must imagine this is 1341

At least the likeliest way to start— 1342

As Midas, rather than Narcissus. 1343

JACINTA

So when he said it was last year when 1344

He first saw me—he was lying again! 1345

I clearly heard his father say 1346

He just arrived in Madrid today 1347

From Salamanca. 1348

ISABEL

But then—

To put it in the best possible light, 1349

It could be true, lady, you know. 1350

He might have seen you a year ago, 1351

Then left Madrid, and then he might 1352

Have returned from Salamanca last night. 1353

And if he didn't, what's the surprise 1354

If someone who's desirous of 1355

Gaining favor in a lady's eyes, 1356

And giving credit to his love, 1357

Strengthens his gifts with a couple of lies? 1358

What's more, I'm pretty sure he's not 1359

Indulging in hyperbole 1360

For nothing. Trust me. García got 1361

His father here as speedily 1362

As if he took a bow and shot 1363

Him over to talk with you. Can't be a 1364

Coincidence. To see you and say 1365

He loves you, and then that very day 1366

His father's here with the bright idea 1367

Of having you marry his son Garc´a. 1368

JACINTA

You're right—but still I would have thought 1369

The time between when he saw me 1370

And when his father came, and brought 1371

These wedding plans of his, was not 1372

Long enough. 1373

ISABEL

But it was, if he

Knew who you were all the time, then met 1374

His father on Silver Street, who knew 1375

You as well, and was not unaware of who 1376

Your family was, and they talked, and he let 1377

Him know how much he felt for you, 1378

And he—since he adored his son— 1379

And rightly so—moved fast. 1380

JACINTA

What will be

Will be. The boy's a handsome one, 1381

His father's crazy about me, and he 1382

Desires me. Consider the marriage done. 1383

(They go out)

Scene Three: Atocha Boulevard

(Enter Don BELTRÁN and Don GARCÍA)

BELTRÁN

What are you thinking about? 1384

GARCÍA

That this

Is the finest horse I've ever seen. 1385

BELTRÁN

A beautiful beast. 1386

GARCÍA

How well she's been

Trained, and how sharp her spirit is! 1387

So mild, yet so magnificent! 1388

BELTRÁN

Your brother Gabriel, may he rest 1389

In peace, thought her the best; 1390

She was his joy, his sole content. 1391

GARCÍA

So now, sir, that we've found our way 1392

To the hermitage on this lonely hill, 1393

What did you want? What's your will? 1394

BELTRÁN

What's my pain, you ought to say. 1395

Are you a gentleman, García? 1396

GARCÍA

I've always thought I was your son. 1397

BELTRÁN

I see, just being a son of mine 1398

Is all you need to make you one? 1399

GARCÍA

Well, yes, father, I think it is. 1400

BELTRÁN

Well, that's a really dumb idea! 1401

Because you have to act like one, 1402

To be a gentleman, Garc´a. 1403

How do you think the noblest houses 1404

Started? The founders made a name 1405

For themselves by their noble deeds. 1406

They had no ancestry to claim; 1407

These lowborn men had but their acts 1408

With which to honor their progeny. 1409

It's acting well or ill that makes 1410

You good or bad. Now do you see 1411

What I'm telling you? 1412

GARCÍA

I don't deny

That noble deeds can make a man 1413

Noble, but I will also say 1414

If deeds don't do it, then birth can. 1415

BELTRÁN

But if a man of lowly birth 1416

Can gain nobility, then is 1417

The opposite not true as well— 1418

May not the high born man lose his? 1419

GARCÍA

That's also true. 1420

BELTRÁN

So then if you

Perform disgraceful acts, you can— 1421

Even though you are my son— 1422

Fail to be a gentleman. 1423

And if your every action was 1424

A scandal to society, 1425

My coat of arms would count for nothing, 1426

As would your noble ancestry. 1427

What is all this I hear with my 1428

Own ears—that all your lies and all 1429

Your stories have become the wonder 1430

Of Salamanca? And you call 1431

Yourself a gentleman! You're nothing! 1432

To call any man a liar—this 1433

Alone is enough to ruin him— 1434

Tell me what being a liar is! 1435

If in the world's eyes, I were 1436

A man without honor, as long 1437

As people said I was a liar, 1438

I wouldn't leave the house. How strong 1439

And tough your heart must be, or else 1440

How long the sword you bear, that you 1441

Think you can walk around with all 1442

The town calling you what they do! 1443

How can such a man exist, 1444

With thoughts so base and so inane, 1445

To enslave himself to such a vice 1446

That yields him neither joy nor gain! 1447

At least the lecher has the lure 1448

Of seeking sexual satisfaction; 1449

The miser has the comfort of 1450

His money's power and attraction; 1451

The glutton has his feasts to please 1452

His palate; the gambler has the thrill 1453

Of play and hope of winning big 1454

To keep him coming back; the kill- 1455

er satisfies his blood revenge; 1456

The thief enjoys the haul he's made; 1457

Even a quarrelsome man may gain 1458

A reputation with his blade. 1459

So every vice, in short, can yield 1460

Some pleasure or some benefit— 1461

Except for lying. What does it bring 1462

But infamy and scorn with it? 1463

GARCÍA

Whoever says that I tell lies 1464

Is just a. . . liar! 1465

BELTRÁN

And once again

You lie. That's all you know, even to 1466

Defend yourself—you lie, and then 1467

You lie again. 1468

GARCÍA

But if you won't

Believe in me— 1469

BELTRÁN

Believe in what?

That you tell truth and all the town 1470

Tells lies? Am I an idiot? 1471

What matters now is that you give 1472

The lie to your defamers by 1473

Your actions. It's a whole new world; 1474

Speak little and speak true. A high 1475

And saintly king lives here—for all 1476

To see; you cannot use some fault 1477

Of his to excuse your own. And here 1478

You deal with all the most exalt- 1479

ed peers of Spain, with gentlemen 1480

And lords, who if they ever find 1481

Your weakness out, will never give 1482

You their respect. Must I remind 1483

You more? You're all grown up, you wear 1484

A beard upon your chin and a sharp sword 1485

At your side, you're nobly born, and I'm 1486

Your father—that's my final word; 1487

I've nothing more to say; I hope 1488

A simple reprimand will be 1489

Enough for one of your high rank 1490

And mental ingenuity. 1491

And now, just so you understand 1492

How much I've been upset and harried 1493

About your welfare, you should know 1494

I'm working to get you nobly married. 1495

GARCÍA

(Ay! My Lucrecia!) 1496

BELTRÁN

Never before

My son, has heaven deigned to place 1497

Such heavenly beauties, such divine 1498

Endowments in a human face 1499

As in Jacinta, daughter of 1500

Don Fernando Pacheco—she 1501

From whom I look to have some fine 1502

Grandchildren in my seniority. 1503

GARCÍA

(Ay, my Lucrecia! Can it be? 1504

You are the only mistress of 1505

My heart!) 1506

BELTRÁN

What's this? No answer?

GARCÍA

(Yours

I must be, by heaven, my love!) 1507

BELTRÁN

Now what are you so sad about? 1508

Speak up—don't keep me in suspense. 1509

GARCÍA

I'm sad because I find I can- 1510

not give you my obedience. 1511

BELTRÁN

But why?

GARCÍA

Because I am already married. 1512

BELTRÁN

You're married! How can this be? 1513

My God! And I not know it? 1514

GARCÍA

Well,

I had to marry—and secretly. 1515

BELTRÁN

Was ever father so disgraced! 1516

GARCÍA

Don't be distressed, for once you un- 1517

derstand the cause, dear father, you 1518

Will find the result a happy one. 1519

BELTRÁN

My life hangs by a slender thread— 1520

Get to the point—and speedily. 1521

GARCÍA

(Come on, imagination, lend 1522

Me now your finest subtlety. ) 1523

(To BELTRÁN)

There lives in Salamanca, sir, 1524

A gentleman of noble fame 1525

And family. His forbears were 1526

Herreras, Don Pedro is his name. 1527

Heaven has given him a daughter, 1528

A second heaven, with suns for eyes 1529

And cheeks as rosy as the water 1530

On the horizon at sunrise. 1531

To keep it brief, I'll say this much 1532

Only, no more: that Nature, sir, 1533

Took every blessing fit for such 1534

A young age, and gave them all to her. 1535

But Fortune, when she sees some one 1536

So blest, is Nature's enemy, 1537

And to oppose what Nature had done, 1538

Gave her the gift of poverty. 1539

Moreover, though her family 1540

Was far less rich than noble, there 1541

Were three in line for the legacy, 1542

Two brothers born ahead of her. 1543

I saw her in her coach one night, 1544

Riding toward the river. If on- 1545

ly it were Italy, it might 1546

Have been the coach of Phaëton— 1547

But it was Spain. Who ever said 1548

That Cupid's shafts were tipped with flame? 1549

What I felt then was ice instead— 1550

A chill that pierced me all the same. 1551

Why do we think of them as hot— 1552

These passions and these feelings, if 1553

Under their spell the soul is caught 1554

And held, the body frozen stiff? 1555

In brief, I had to see her there, 1556

And seeing her, love had to make 1557

Me blind, I had to follow her, 1558

I was so rapt; and it would take 1559

A heart of bronze to judge me for't. 1560

By day I walked her street, by night 1561

Lived at her gate. I had resort 1562

To go-betweens and notes. I'd write 1563

Her of my passion, till at last 1564

From pity or affection, she 1565

Responded; for Love's laws bind fast 1566

Even among divinity. 1567

The more affection that I showed 1568

To her, the more she did requite 1569

It—till at last on me she bestowed 1570

The heaven of her room one night. 1571

And as my burning passions, restrain- 1572

ing all my scruples, sought to ease 1573

My aching heart's enormous pain 1574

And find with her, love's sweet release, 1575

I heard her father coming to 1576

Her room. What called him there?—it was 1577

Not something that he used to do; 1578

What was it? It was Fortune cross- 1579

ing me that night. Alarmed, but bold— 1580

Oh woman!—she pushed my almost dead 1581

Body, unmoving, frozen, cold, 1582

Behind the curtains of her bed. 1583

In came Don Pedro, and she to hide 1584

Her face, now drained of color, flung 1585

Her arms about him, and bravely tried 1586

To feign delight even as she clung 1587

To him. They sat together, side 1588

By side, and he explained how she 1589

Might benefit by being allied 1590

To the Monroyes family 1591

By marriage. She, with equal parts 1592

Of candor and of caution, said 1593

Enough to comfort both our hearts— 1594

For I could hear her from the bed. 1595

The two said their goodnights, and then 1596

Just as her father headed out 1597

Her bedroom door, the moment when 1598

The old man's foot was just about 1599

To cross her threshold—cursèd be 1600

The inventor of—damned and amen!— 1601

The chiming pocket-watch! You see, 1602

Mine began striking midnight then. 1603

Don Pedro heard it, turned and said, 1604

"What is a watch doing over there?" 1605

"That watch? why, it was forwarded 1606

To me," she answered, "for repair— 1607

By Don Diego Ponce, my 1608

Cousin, you know, because out where 1609

He lives, he says, there's a scant supply 1610

Of watches and watchmakers there." 1611

"Give it to me," her father said, 1612

"And I'll take care of it." She came 1613

Running quite swiftly toward the bed— 1614

Did Sancha—that was my lady's name— 1615

To fetch the watch away from me, 1616

And prevent her father from doing so, 1617

Before it simultaneously 1618

Came into his head that he should go. 1619

I reached for it, and was about 1620

To hand it over, when once again 1621

Chance intervened. As I pulled it out, 1622

My pistol tangled in the chain— 1623

I had the pistol out, you see— 1624

The chain caught in the trigger, the gun 1625

Fired as the hammer fell, and she 1626

Fell, too, at the sound; this seemed to stun 1627

The old man, he began to roar; 1628

And I seeing these sunlike eyes 1629

Eclipsed, heav'n fall'n to the floor, 1630

Was sure that she, my life, my prize, 1631

The goal of all my actions, lay dead— 1632

A victim of the atrocity 1633

Committed by those balls of lead 1634

That flew at her so suddenly 1635

Out of my pistol's mouth. In rage, 1636

Racked with despair, I drew my blade; 1637

I was prepared now to engage 1638

A thousand men. His two sons stayed 1639

Me from escaping—they were twin 1640

Brave lions, armed, and with them stood 1641

An army of their servants in 1642

The hall, opposing me. I could 1643

Have whipped them all—quite easily— 1644

So sharp were both my fury and my blade— 1645

But human strength can never be 1646

Victorious, once Fate has made 1647

Its dire decree. For just as I 1648

Was fighting past them coming in, 1649

My swordbelt was entangled by 1650

A metal hook—it must have been 1651

The knocker on the bedroom door! 1652

I'd have to turn my back to free 1653

Myself, and be a target for 1654

Their wall of swords. That instant she— 1655

My Sancha—woke, regained her sense, 1656

And fearing what the end might be 1657

Of this unfortunate turn of events, 1658

She pulled so mightily on me 1659

And pushed so hard upon the door, 1660

That in I tumbled, sword and all, 1661

Safe in her room, and what is more, 1662

She locked my enemies in the hall. 1663

We both piled up a barricade 1664

Of bureaus, chests, and trunks to bar 1665

The door—hoping that wrath delayed 1666

Might be some remedy. But far 1667

More strength we would have needed, for 1668

My foes, in fury, tore right through 1669

The bedroom wall, and knocked the door 1670

Clean off its iron hinges, too. 1671

Now seeing that however much 1672

I might delay it, nothing could 1673

Prevent my foes from exacting such 1674

A punishment as honor would 1675

Demand of me, and seeing at 1676

My side, beautiful Sancha, the love- 1677

ly partner of my Fate, and that 1678

Terror had plucked the roses of 1679

Her cheeks, and seeing how through no 1680

Fault of her own she tossed with me 1681

Upon the storm of Chance, and blow 1682

For blow did fight with Destiny— 1683

So to reward her loyalty, 1684

To spare her any further dread, 1685

To escape a certain death for me, 1686

And kill all further conflict dead, 1687

I had no choice, sir, but to yield— 1688

And ask whether this bloody fray 1689

Between us might not best be healed 1690

By union of our bloods that day. 1691

They saw the risk of continuing, 1692

And knew quite well my quality, 1693

And after a little squabbling 1694

Among themselves, agreed with me. 1695

Her father brought the Bishop the news 1696

And then returned victorious 1697

With his permission for us to use 1698

Any priest at all to marry us. 1699

So that was done, and mortal war 1700

Concluded in the sweetest peace, 1701

And you have gained a daughter-in-law 1702

Unmatched on earth, or the seven seas. 1703

And yet we all agreed that you 1704

Should not be told of it. For your 1705

Assent had not been given; then too, 1706

There was the fact that she was poor. 1707

But now at last you have to know— 1708

Then tell me, would you have it so? 1709

Which would be better—to have me dead 1710

Or living, and so nobly wed? 1711

BELTRÁN

From what you say, I'm satisfied 1712

That overpowering Fate or Chance 1713

Has destined her to be your bride— 1714

So much is clear from the circumstance. 1715

And so the only fault you bear 1716

Is in not telling me. 1717

GARCÍA

That I

Might grieve you, sir, was all my fear— 1718

Enough to silence me. 1719

BELTRÁN

And why,

If she's so noble, should I care 1720

If she is poor? The worst thing is— 1721

Of which you seem quite unaware— 1722

That I must now return with this 1723

News to Jacinta, to whom I have 1724

Given my word. Look at the bind 1725

You put me in! All right, we'll save 1726

A longer talk for later; we'll find 1727

Some time tonight. Ride home at once; 1728

Go on, we can discuss it there. 1729

(BELTRÁN goes out)

GARCÍA

I go, in all obedience; 1730

I'll be just in time for evening prayer. 1731

Well, that went well. The old man went 1732

Away convinced of everything 1733

I said! So lies will never bring 1734

A person profit or content? 1735

Says who? I'm obviously elated 1736

To see him swallow all I said, 1737

And clearly I have profited 1738

By fleeing a marriage which I hated. 1739

That was a wonder to behold! 1740

He bawls me out for telling lies, 1741

And then immediately he buys 1742

The biggest lie I ever told. 1743

It's really quite a simple feat 1744

To persuade someone who wants to be; 1745

And they're deceived quite easily 1746

Who are unpracticed in deceit. 1747

But now—Don Juan is waiting for me! 1748

(Calls off)

Hey there! My horse! I've witnessed some 1749

Amazing things, and they have come 1750

So hard and fast I think I must be 1751

Crazy. I'm here one day, and see!— 1752

In just an instant, I'm in love, 1753

Engaged to be married, and the rival of 1754

Someone who wants to challenge me. 1755

(Don JUAN DE SOSA comes in)

JUAN DE SOSA

So, Don García, you have been 1756

As good as your word. 1757

GARCÍA

Who could know

My breeding and think I would be so 1758

Base-hearted as to fail? Let's begin, 1759

Don Juan—what is the cause, my friend, 1760

For which you call me here? What wrong 1761

Have I done you? Come, sir, I long 1762

To know. Why must our friendship end 1763

In a deadly duel? Come, sir, confide. 1764

JUAN DE SOSA

She is the cause, that lady who— 1765

If what you told me, still holds true— 1766

Dined with you by the riverside 1767

Last night. She is the reason why 1768

I suffer, she whom two years ago 1769

I made my fiancée, and, though 1770

Our marriage is delayed, whom I 1771

Intend to wed. You have been here 1772

A month, and though you may have been 1773

The whole time barricaded in 1774

Your house, hidden from me, it's clear 1775

You must have known—so publicly 1776

Have I expressed to her my love, 1777

You could not have been ignorant of 1778

My intentions—and so offended me. 1779

And now that I have said my piece, 1780

I have just one more thing to say, 1781

And it is this: either today 1782

You stop pursuing her, and cease 1783

All contact, for she's the goal I've fol- 1784

lowed all these years—or if you feel 1785

That my request is groundless, we'll 1786

Decide it with swords—winner take all. 1787

GARCÍA

It grieves me, sir, that you could be 1788

So ill informed in all you say, 1789

That you could call me out today 1790

To this place, just to fight with me. 1791

The lady by the riverside, 1792

By Heaven, Hell, and Earth between, 1793

Is someone you have never seen, 1794

Nor could she ever be your bride. 1795

The woman's married, she got to Madrid 1796

Only a while ago, Don Juan; 1797

I know for sure, if anyone 1798

Has seen her, it's me—you never did. 1799

And once she goes, I've no desire 1800

To see her again, as I hope to live, 1801

Nor ever will, on this I give 1802

You my solemn word—or call me a liar! 1803

JUAN DE SOSA

What you have told me puts an end 1804

To all suspicion, and the rage inside 1805

My heart is calmed. I am satisfied. 1806

GARCÍA

Well, I'm not satisfied, my friend! 1807

You called me here, you challenged me; 1808

Since that is so, my honor's still 1809

In question. Of your own free will 1810

You did it, I'm not so easily 1811

Put off. I'm no longer free 1812

To go—for here I must remain, 1813

Be true to what I am, and gain 1814

Either my death or victory. 1815

JUAN DE SOSA

Consider, friend, before we engage, 1816

That though my fears are satisfied, 1817

I still feel burning deep inside, 1818

The memory of my jealous rage. 1819

(They draw their swords and begin to skirmish; Don FÉLIX enters)

FÉLIX

Gentlemen, put up your swords, 1820

I've come to stop you! 1821

GARCÍA

I'd like to see

The man capable of stopping me! 1822

FÉLIX

Sheathe your steel, and hear my words; 1823

The quarrel between the two of you 1824

Is groundless! 1825

JUAN DE SOSA

I told him so, but he

Insists on the necessity 1826

Of answering my call, and drew 1827

His naked sword for honor's sake. 1828

FÉLIX

And like a gentleman he drew 1829

His sword, with valor equal to 1830

His mighty spirit, and that should make 1831

His honor safe. Sir, understand, 1832

I beg you, it was jealousy 1833

That blinded him, and grant that he 1834

May have your pardon and your hand. 1835

GARCÍA

I will be ruled by you; well said. 1836

But be more careful from this time on, 1837

And don't rush into things, Don Juan, 1838

Where even angels fear to tread. 1839

The whole thing should be comprehended, 1840

Before you ever duel again; 1841

It's crazy to start the process, when 1842

You know the way these things are ended. 1843

(Don GARCÍA goes out)

FÉLIX

You're a very lucky man, you know, 1844

That I arrived here just in time. 1845

JUAN DE SOSA

In other words, you're saying I'm 1846

Mistaken. 1847

FÉLIX

Yes.

JUAN DE SOSA

Who told you so?

FÉLIX

One of Lucrecia's pages. I know 1848

All the details. 1849

JUAN DE SOSA

Then tell them to me—

What really happened? 1850

FÉLIX

Your page did see

Jacinta's coach and coachman go 1851

Last night down to the elm grove on 1852

The riverside. And the ladies within 1853

Had themselves quite a marvelous din- 1854

ner. But! The coach was a borrowed one. 1855

Here are the facts. Last night at the ver- 1856

y hour Lucrecia went to see 1857

Your beautful Jacinta, she 1858

Was trying to deal with a pair 1859

Of queens from out of town—her two 1860

Cousins, the ones with the killing eyes? 1861

JUAN DE SOSA

The ones from Carmen Street? 1862

FÉLIX

Precise-

ly. And they're the very ladies who 1863

Begged Jacinta to let them use 1864

Her coach, in which they made their way 1865

Under cover of night, to the river; and they 1866

Were the ones of whom your page brought news, 1867

Whom you had ordered to keep an eye 1868

On the coach, who seeing two women in there, 1869

And no other visitors anywhere, 1870

Had to assume it was occupied by 1871

Jacinta and Lucrecia. 1872

JUAN DE SOSA

Of course!

FÉLIX

He followed the coach diligently, 1873

And when it stopped at the elm grove, he 1874

Saw all the waiters and troubadours 1875

And left to come to look for us 1876

In Madrid. And it's because he couldn't 1877

Find us that you've been in pain. You wouldn't 1878

Have suffered from such torturous 1879

Jealousy, if you had gone 1880

To the grove and discovered your mistake. 1881

JUAN DE SOSA

Yes, that's the thing that made me make 1882

This fatal error! And yet upon 1883

Discovering that I was wrong 1884

I feel such joy, that everything 1885

I've suffered seems worth the suffering. 1886

FÉLIX

I've something else to pass along. 1887

You might find it amusing. 1888

JUAN DE SOSA

Say.

FÉLIX

It's something our friend García did. 1889

It seems he only got to Madrid 1890

From Salamanca yesterday. 1891

And instantly he went to bed 1892

And slept the entire night away; 1893

So everything you heard him say 1894

About this feast was all in his head. 1895

JUAN DE SOSA

What are you saying? 1896

FÉLIX

I tell you true.

JUAN DE SOSA

You mean that Don García lies? 1897

FÉLIX

I'd say that any man with eyes 1898

In his head could see that. The whole thing's too 1899

Farfetched to be believed—gold 1900

And silver service, six pavilions, 1901

Sideboards piled high with millions 1902

Of plates, thirty-two courses, ice-cold 1903

Goblets, orchestras, a four-part choir! 1904

JUAN DE SOSA

The only thing that puzzles me 1905

Is how a valiant man could be 1906

Such an outrageous liar. 1907

The fury of his sword might try 1908

The strength of Hercules. 1909

FÉLIX

Then he

Inherited his bravery; 1910

He had to teach himself to lie. 1911

JUAN DE SOSA

Let's go to Jacinta, it's time that I 1912

Went and apologized to her, 1913

And tried to explain how it could occur 1914

That such a liar could rouse all my 1915

Suspicions. 1916

FÉLIX

And from now on, be

Careful not to believe a word 1917

He says. 1918

JUAN DE SOSA

Even if I heard

The truth, I'd think it a fantasy. 1919

(And they go out)

Scene Four: A Street

(Enter Don GARCÍA, TRISTÁN, and CAMINO)

GARCÍA

I hope my father will forgive 1920

Me for deceiving him. There was 1921

No choice. 1922

TRISTÁN

It was ingenious,

But tell me, sir, what narrative 1923

Will you think up now, to keep him from 1924

Figuring out your wedding story 1925

Was a fiction? 1926

GARCÍA

Well, before he

Finds out, I guess I'll tell him some- 1927

thing else—I'll write back false replies 1928

To every letter he gives me to send 1929

To Salamanca. Why should it end? 1930

I can keep it going by telling more lies. 1931

(Doña JACINTA, Doña LUCRECIA, and ISABEL enter above, in a window)

JACINTA

I'd just got used to the whole idea, 1932

When back comes Don Beltrán, enraged, 1933

With the news that I couldn't be engaged 1934

To be married to Don García. 1935

LUCRECIA

So then your fake American 1936

Really was his son, García. 1937

JACINTA

That's true,

My friend. 1938

LUCRECIA

And who acquainted you

With the story of the banquet? 1939

JACINTA

Don Juan.

LUCRECIA

But when did you have time to see 1940

Don Juan? 1941

JACINTA

Tonight—he just now went.

He knew the story well, and spent 1942

The whole time telling it to me. 1943

LUCRECIA

It's rather grand—his dishonesty! 1944

And you should punish him for it, I'd say. 1945

JACINTA

Those three men there—does it look like they 1946

Are heading toward our balcony? 1947

LUCRECIA

It's Don García marching to 1948

His post. It's time. 1949

JACINTA

Go, Isabel,

Spy on the two old men and tell 1950

Us what they're doing. 1951

LUCRECIA

I can tell you;

My father's telling your uncle some slow, 1952

Dull, long drawn-out story about 1953

God knows what. 1954

ISABEL

Then I'll go out;

And when I come back, I'll let you know. 1955

(To Don GARCÍA)

CAMINO

There's the balcony where your heart, 1956

Your soul, your glory waits for you. 1957

(To Doña JACINTA)

LUCRECIA

It's your big scene, I want you to 1958

Speak all my lines, and take my part. 1959

GARCÍA

Lucrecia? 1960

JACINTA

García, is that you?

GARCÍA

It is one who found a jewel today 1961

On Silver Street, richer than may 1962

Be carved by the hand of heaven—one who 1963

From the first moment he laid his eyes 1964

On you, was caught in the grip of love, 1965

And surrended his heart, his soul, all of 1966

His life, so greatly did he prize 1967

Your worth—one who in essence gave 1968

Himself. As yours alone does he 1969

Account himself, and begins to be 1970

Today what he is—Lucrecia's slave. 1971

JACINTA

(My friend, this gallant seems to be 1972

In love with every girl he sees.) 1973

LUCRECIA

(Then he's a charlatan.) 1974

JACINTA

(He's

A great pretender, certainly.) 1975

GARCÍA

My lady, I am eager to be 1976

Of any service I may to you. 1977

JACINTA

It's no longer possible to do 1978

What I hoped you would discuss with me— 1979

TRISTÁN

(Is that her?) 1980

GARCÍA

(Oh, yes!)

JACINTA

I wished to discuss

An important marriage, sir, and so 1981

I sent for you, but now I know 1982

That it's not possible for us. 1983

GARCÍA

But why? 1984

JACINTA

Because you've made a prior

Marriage. 1985

GARCÍA

I have? Who, me?

JACINTA

Yes, you.

GARCÍA

I'm single, by heaven! It's not true! 1986

Whoever told you that was a liar! 1987

JACINTA

(Have you ever seen a bigger fraud?) 1988

LUCRECIA

(All he knows how to do is deceive.) 1989

JACINTA

That's what you'd like me to believe! 1990

GARCÍA

I'm single, I tell you—I swear to God! 1991

JACINTA

(And now he swears it!) 1992

LUCRECIA

(That's what they do—

Liars—that's how they work—they all 1993

Take oaths to bolster up their fall- 1994

ing credit, and make their lies seem true.) 1995

GARCÍA

If yours is the white hand that Fate 1996

Has chosen to be the crown of my 1997

Good fortune, I hope that I 1998

Can keep from forfeiting that great- 1999

est good by simply proving to you 2000

That I am guiltless of this offense. 2001

JACINTA

(He lies with so much confidence! 2002

Doesn't it almost seem to be true?) 2003

GARCÍA

Here is my hand, and by the power 2004

Of that, lady, believe in me. 2005

JACINTA

A hand you'd give as surety 2006

To three hundred women in a single hour? 2007

GARCÍA

Somehow I've lost my credit with you. 2008

JACINTA

For a very good reason, I would say. 2009

You expect to keep it, when today 2010

You told me you were from Peru? 2011

When the truth is you were born right here 2012

In Madrid, and that although you just 2013

Got back into town, you said you must 2014

Have been around for a whole year 2015

Here in the court. And then you claim, 2016

Somewhat more recently, that you 2017

Were wed in Salamanca to 2018

Some woman, which you now disclaim, 2019

And on top of that, you were in your bed 2020

Asleep last night, although you lied 2021

And said you were by the riverside 2022

Feasting some lady with a fancy spread. 2023

TRISTÁN

(I'd say that covers it.) 2024

GARCÍA

All right, this

Is the simple truth. Listen to me, 2025

My glorious one, I think I see 2026

Exactly where the problem is. 2027

I really don't think I need to bring 2028

The other matters up, they're not 2029

Important, really. But we've got 2030

To talk about the crucial thing— 2031

This marriage. Lucrecia, will you tell 2032

Me something: if you were the reason why 2033

I said I was married, would the lie 2034

I told be blamed on you as well? 2035

JACINTA

If I were the reason? 2036

GARCÍA

Yes, my prize.

JACINTA

How could I be? 2037

GARCÍA

I'll tell you how.

JACINTA

(You listen close, Lucrecia, now 2038

We're going to get some gorgeous lies.) 2039

GARCÍA

This very day my father was trying 2040

To arrange a marriage for me, to force 2041

Me to marry someone else. But yours 2042

I must be, and I hoped by lying 2043

To prevent it. And in expectation of 2044

Gaining your hand, when it comes to 2045

All other women, I'm married, for you 2046

And you alone, I'm single, my love. 2047

When I got your note, I had to be 2048

Encouraged, and so I tried to block, 2049

With this excuse, all further talk 2050

Of other marriage plans for me. 2051

So that's the story. And if you view 2052

The whole thing as a rude surprise, 2053

Remember that what prompted the lies 2054

Was really the truth of my love for you. 2055

LUCRECIA

(If only that were so!) 2056

JACINTA

(How well

He talks, and with so little time 2057

To prepare!) 2058

The reason why you suffer—tell 2059

Me then how could I be, on so 2060

Short an acquaintance? You saw me today, 2061

And you're hopelessly in love, you say? 2062

You'd marry a woman you don't even know? 2063

GARCÍA

I grant, today I saw your beauty 2064

For the first time, lady, and love 2065

Compels me now to speak to you of 2066

Only what's true—it is my duty. 2067

But don't forget that godlike things 2068

Work miracles, and Cupid, though 2069

He's far too young to walk, can go 2070

Swift as the wind, on Love's own wings. 2071

And thus to say a moment would be 2072

Too short a time to make me die 2073

Of love, Lucrecia, is to deny 2074

Your power and your divinity. 2075

You ask how I can love you when 2076

I know you hardly at all. I would 2077

To God I didn't know you! I could 2078

Be sure my love was purer then. 2079

But I do know you—and your family; 2080

Your name is sweet upon my lips: 2081

You are a Luna without eclipse, 2082

A Mendoza free from infamy. 2083

I know your mother has passed away, 2084

You live alone in your great house, 2085

Your father's income exceeds a thous- 2086

and doubloons—I'm sure. Now can you say 2087

That I am ill informed? I would 2088

To God, my dearest love, you knew 2089

Me half so well, and loved me too. 2090

LUCRECIA

(Love him! I almost think I could.) 2091

JACINTA

But what about Jacinta? She's 2092

Pretty enough, isn't she, 2093

Smart and rich enough to be 2094

Courted by all the finest grandees? 2095

GARCÍA

She's smart, rich, and pretty, I concur. 2096

But that means nothing at all to me. 2097

JACINTA

Why, what defect in her do you see? 2098

GARCÍA

The biggest—I'm not in love with her. 2099

JACINTA

Suppose I wanted you to be 2100

Married to her? That that was why 2101

I called you here? What would you reply? 2102

GARCÍA

That you were being hard on me 2103

For nothing. That's what my father said, 2104

He had the same idea today; 2105

And that is why I had to say 2106

That I already had been wed 2107

To someone else. So that won't work. 2108

I'm sorry, no; and if you try 2109

To talk me into it, then I 2110

Would sooner get married to a Turk. 2111

And that's the truth. And I swear here, 2112

That I will hate—such is my love— 2113

Anything else you can even think of, 2114

That isn't you, Lucrecia dear. 2115

LUCRECIA

(Would it were true!) 2116

JACINTA

Have you no shame?

Or is it a faulty memory 2117

That makes you lie so outrageously? 2118

How dare you treat me so—the same 2119

Day that I hear you profess your love 2120

To Jacinta! By all that's holy, how 2121

Do you dare to deny it now? 2122

GARCÍA

Jacinta? I swear by God above, 2123

That you're the only lady I 2124

Have talked to since I came to Madrid. 2125

JACINTA

You might have told your lies and hid 2126

Your shame till now! But will you try— 2127

In the very thing I saw you do— 2128

To tell me lies? If that is so, 2129

How could I ever hope to know 2130

Even the smallest truth from you? 2131

Good-bye! And if I ever hear 2132

From you again, think this, I do 2133

It only to amuse myself with you— 2134

As those, exhausted by the sheer 2135

Weight of their business, leave their tables 2136

And workbenches to seek relief 2137

From their tedium, by spending a brief 2138

Hour or two with Aesop's fables. 2139

(Doña JACINTA goes out)

GARCÍA

Lovely Lucrecia, hear me out. 2140

LUCRECIA

(Now I'm really confused.) 2141

(Doña LUCRECIA goes out)

GARCÍA

I'm going mad.

Was there ever a time when true things had 2142

So little credit? 2143

TRISTÁN

When they came out

Of a lying mouth. 2144

GARCÍA

She didn't believe

A word I said! 2145

TRISTÁN

What's the surprise?

She caught you in six or seven lies 2146

Already. What did you hope to achieve? 2147

The next time give it a little thought— 2148

And you'll see—the man who lies in small 2149

Affairs, will he be trusted at all 2150

In important matters? I think not! 2151

(And they go out)

(END OF ACT TWO)

Scene One: A Room in Don Sancho's House

(CAMINO comes in with a note; he gives it to LUCRECIA)

CAMINO

This note for you was given me 2152

By Tristán the trusty, a man who serves 2153

García well and well deserves 2154

His trust—as I deserve to be 2155

Trusted by you—a man whom fate 2156

Has rudely placed in service though 2157

He was nobly born. His master so 2158

Insists upon immediate 2159

Reply, he says, that he would swear 2160

The boy is crazy. 2161

LUCRECIA

It's strange to me!

What man would woo so stubbornly 2162

Who only counterfeits to care? 2163

The strongest love's not strong enough 2164

Unless it is returned again. 2165

Can passion be pretended when 2166

It's so undaunted by rebuff? 2167

CAMINO

Well, I will swear to this at least— 2168

If what's inside the heart may be known 2169

By what outside the heart is shown, 2170

The man is definitely diseased. 2171

Someone, let's say, who wears a rut 2172

In your street, pacing night and day? 2173

Someone who never looks away 2174

From your shutters, even when they're shut? 2175

Someone who gets to your balcony 2176

Just in time to see you go, 2177

And yet remains there rooted so, 2178

Unseen, unseeing, unceasingly? 2179

Someone who weeps, who even despairs, 2180

And who because I serve his love 2181

Pays me—the surest symptom of 2182

This illness in today's affairs? 2183

So—cross my palm and hope to die, 2184

If he's a liar, I'm insane. 2185

LUCRECIA

Alas, Camino, it's very plain 2186

That you have never heard him lie. 2187

If only I knew he had expressed 2188

His feelings truly, for my own part 2189

I swear to you, his storm-tossed heart 2190

Would find safe harbor in my breast. 2191

Of course I know it would be best 2192

Not to believe his equivocation, 2193

But I'll say this—his imagination 2194

Has certainly piqued my interest. 2195

And though it would be madness to 2196

Give credit to a man who lies, 2197

All things are possible for him who tries, 2198

There's no compulsion not to be true. 2199

Since this is so, I still have just 2200

Enough hope and self-esteem to believe 2201

That he could learn not to deceive 2202

With me, and change his ways. I must, 2203

Of course, protect my honor still; 2204

He may be lying, or he may 2205

Be true in love, so either way 2206

I'll keep in mind both good and ill; 2207

And since he may be worthy of 2208

My hand, I never will respect him 2209

If he lies, nor ever will reject him 2210

If he truly speaks to me of love. 2211

CAMINO

Well, that seems fair enough to me. 2212

LUCRECIA

Then tell him how I cruelly tore 2213

His letter all to pieces before 2214

I could read it. That's what my reply will be. 2215

But then tell him not to despair— 2216

On your own account—and that if he 2217

Still wishes to converse with me 2218

Then he should come to evening prayer 2219

At Mary Magdalen's. 2220

CAMINO

I go.

LUCRECIA

And all my hopes go with you today. 2221

CAMINO

They'll never get lost if they go my way, 2222

I'm the best Camino in town, you know. 2223

(They go off)

Scene Two: A room in Don Beltrán's house

(Enter Don BELTRÁN, Don GARCÍA, and TRISTÁN. Don BELTRÁN takes out an unsealed letter and hands it to Don GARCÍA)

BELTRÁN

Have you written yet, my son? 2224

GARCÍA

This evening I was going to. 2225

BELTRÁN

Then here's what I would like you to do— 2226

I'll give you mine right now un- 2227

sealed; you can read it and make sure 2228

Your father-in-law receives the same 2229

Message from both of us now—name- 2230

ly that you'll be coming soon to your 2231

New wife, to bring her back to her 2232

New home yourself. I want you to, 2233

And it's the proper thing to do; 2234

Sending for her would be discour- 2235

teous when you are free to go. 2236

GARCÍA

That's true, but the trip would be in vain. 2237

BELTRÁN

Why? 2238

GARCÍA

She's expecting, and the strain

Of making such a trip, you know, 2239

At least until she gives you what 2240

You're hoping for, a grandson, might be 2241

A risk. 2242

BELTRÁN

It'd be insanity

To travel now. Sweet Jesus! But 2243

Tell me, why did you wait till now 2244

To give me the happy news, García? 2245

GARCÍA

Till yesterday I had no idea— 2246

It came in the mail. They wrote me how 2247

They knew for sure my darling bride, 2248

My Sancha, was with child. 2249

BELTRÁN

What joy

To my old age a little boy 2250

Would bring! What comfort and what pride! 2251

I want to add a word or two 2252

About how pleased I am. Give me 2253

My note. 2254

(Don BELTRÁN takes the letter back)

Your father-in-law, let's see—

What was the name again? 2255

GARCÍA

Of who?

BELTRÁN

Your father-in-law. 2256

GARCÍA

(What did I tell

Him?) 2257

BELTRÁN

No, that's not so—

You called him Pedro a while ago, 2258

Unless I'm wrong. 2259

GARCÍA

No, that as well.

Yes, I remember now—he still 2260

Uses them both. 2261

BELTRÁN

Don Pedro and

Don Diego? 2262

GARCÍA

I'm sure you'll understand!

Because of a certain codicil, 2263

All the heirs of the family estate 2264

And fortune have to take the name 2265

Diego. He was Pedro before he became 2266

The head of the family. But since that date 2267

He has to be called Diego, because 2268

Of the codicil in the will, you see, 2269

So now he's Diego, but he still might be 2270

Pedro sometimes, which is who he was. 2271

BELTRÁN

Well, it's a common codicil— 2272

In certain Spanish families. 2273

I'm going to write him. 2274

(Don BELTRÁN goes out)

TRISTÁN

No more of these

Mix-ups of yours—they make me ill. 2275

GARCÍA

Oh, then you heard my explanation? 2276

TRISTÁN

I heard more than I understood. 2277

I see a liar needs as good 2278

A memory as imagination. 2279

GARCÍA

I thought I was finished. 2280

TRISTÁN

You made a good start

And it's how you'll end up if you don't watch out. 2281

GARCÍA

But meanwhile all I care about 2282

Is how things are going in affairs of the heart— 2283

For better or worse—any news? 2284

TRISTÁN

Well she's

Not nearly as tough as she'd like to be; 2285

I don't think you'll need the brutality 2286

Of a Tarquin to ravish this Lucrece. 2287

GARCÍA

You mean she read my note? 2288

TRISTÁN

Oh, yes.

Although she told Camino to 2289

Report she tore it up. It's true— 2290

It's what I heard the man confess. 2291

And based on that, I'd have to say 2292

This could be going a whole lot worse, 2293

If one believes the little verse 2294

That Martial wrote his girl one day. 2295

"I sent my love a little note, 2296

She never answered. Pretty tough. 2297

But she'll soften soon enough, 2298

Since she read the words I wrote." 2299

GARCÍA

I don't trust him—d'you think it's true? 2300

TRISTÁN

I'm sure Camino's on your side, 2301

And vows—whatever she tries to hide 2302

In her secret heart, he'll reveal to you. 2303

Once he gives his word, he won't take it back— 2304

As long as you keep giving as well, 2305

When it comes to making a sinner tell, 2306

Money's much better than the rack. 2307

And a gift or two for her, I'm told, 2308

Might help to make a conquest of 2309

The girl's reserve. For the God of Love 2310

Makes killing arrows out of gold. 2311

GARCÍA

I never heard you talk before 2312

So grossly! What's got into you? 2313

She's not the kind of woman who 2314

Would give herself for gold like— 2315

TRISTÁN

Book Four

Of the Aeneid, as you know, 2316

Says Dido was consumed with love 2317

For Aeneas, as much the victim of 2318

The Trojan's gifts as Cupid's bow. 2319

And she was a queen! So don't look so 2320

Amazed if what I say sounds rough; 2321

Only a diamond's strong enough 2322

To cut a diamond, you know. 2323

GARCÍA

But didn't you see how she was so 2324

Offended by my offer to her 2325

On Silver Street? 2326

TRISTÁN

The offer, sir,

She found offensive—the jewelry, no. 2327

In these affairs, let custom be 2328

Your guide. As far as I know, around here 2329

They don't cut off a hand or an ear 2330

For the crime of generosity. 2331

GARCÍA

I think I'd give her the earth and sky 2332

If I thought she'd want them. 2333

TRISTÁN

There can be no

More direct way to her than Camino— 2334

He's a polestar you can navigate by. 2335

And just to let you know how well 2336

The whole affair is going, sir, 2337

There's this: Lucrecia ordered her 2338

Servant—the same Camino—to tell 2339

You something, on his own—that his 2340

Sweet mistress would be going to pray 2341

At Mary Magdalen's today. 2342

GARCÍA

What sweet relief from pain this is! 2343

So were you trying to drive me mad 2344

By telling me so slowly? 2345

TRISTÁN

No!

The news was better delivered slow; 2346

The longer it took, the more pleasure you had. 2347

(They go out)

Scene Three: The cloisters of the convent of Mary Magdalen, with a door leading into the church

(Enter Doña JACINTA and Doña LUCRECIA in mantillas)

JACINTA

Is Don García still after you? 2348

LUCRECIA

He won't let up. And even though 2349

I know his lying ways, he's so 2350

Relentless, stubborn, and so true 2351

That I'm not sure what I should do. 2352

JACINTA

No law prevents a lying lip 2353

From making the occasional slip 2354

And telling the truth. It may be you 2355

Are not deceived. It may be true— 2356

His love. Why not? A girl whose youth 2357

And loveliness might draw the truth 2358

From any man who looks at you? 2359

LUCRECIA

You're always flattering me; but I 2360

Could never hope to be loved by him; 2361

Your beauty makes the sun grow dim, 2362

And you've already caught his eye. 2363

JACINTA

You know your worth as well as I, 2364

And in our little rivalry 2365

There's never been a victory, 2366

Because the vote is always a tie. 2367

But beauty's not the only thing 2368

You need to get the fire lit; 2369

Love also needs a little bit 2370

Of luck to keep it sizzling. 2371

If I can step aside for you, 2372

My friend, then all my happiness 2373

Would be in seeing you possess 2374

A love I'm not entitled to. 2375

García has no real claim 2376

On me, and this could never be 2377

Your fault. Just do it cautiously, 2378

Or you'll end up being to blame 2379

For rushing headlong into love 2380

And being foolish for believing 2381

Him, after being warned that deceiving 2382

Was all that he was capable of. 2383

LUCRECIA

Thank you so much, but let me just 2384

Help you to ease your suspicious mind; 2385

I never said I was inclined 2386

To give him love, only my trust. 2387

JACINTA

You'll start by feeling bound to believe, 2388

And end up loving boundlessly; 2389

The trip from trust to love can be 2390

So short, you're there before you leave. 2391

LUCRECIA

I wonder, then, what you'd make of 2392

This note from him I just received. 2393

JACINTA

I'd say that you already believed; 2394

I might even say you were in love. 2395

LUCRECIA

Then you'd be wrong; the power of 2396

The will, you know, is often free 2397

To do for curiosity 2398

What it would never do for love. 2399

You liked it when he talked with us 2400

On Silver Street? 2401

JACINTA

I liked it, yes.

LUCRECIA

You let him talk to you; confess, 2402

Were you in love or curious? 2403

JACINTA

Just curious. 2404

LUCRECIA

Well, I'm like that—

Just curious to know what's here 2405

Inside his note, as you once were 2406

To carry on your little chat. 2407

JACINTA

But don't you see you're obvious- 2408

ly wrong? To take a note he sent 2409

Is nothing less than encouragement; 2410

To listen, merely courteous. 2411

LUCRECIA

If he thought that I read the note, 2412

He might find that encouraging; 2413

But he thinks I tore up the thing 2414

Before I read a word he wrote. 2415

JACINTA

Well, clearly then, if that's all you meant, 2416

It was simple curiosity. 2417

LUCRECIA

It's been a lifelong joy for me, 2418

You know, my curious temperament. 2419

But listen to this, my dear, will you, 2420

And see if you can recognize 2421

His falsehoods? Tell me, are these lies? 2422

Can they be lies, that sound so true? 2423

(Doña LUCRECIA takes out the note and reads it quietly to herself. CAMINO, TRISTÁN, and Don GARCÍA come in from the other side)

CAMINO

You see right there—the one who's got 2424

The paper in her hand? 2425

GARCÍA

I do.

CAMINO

Well, that's Lucrecia. 2426

GARCÍA

(Lucrecia, it's you!

The cause of all my pain! But what 2427

Is in that note? O, jealousy!) 2428

Camino, I am in your debt. 2429

TRISTÁN

Which means tomorrow you can get 2430

That brand new suit. 2431

CAMINO

Happy to be

Of service. 2432

(CAMINO goes out)

GARCÍA

Tristán, here's what I need—

A way of getting over there 2433

Without her seeing me, to where 2434

I'm close enough to her to read 2435

That paper! 2436

TRISTÁN

That's easy, sir; you'll find

A chapel through this door; just keep 2437

Along the inside wall, then creep 2438

Out of that other door, behind 2439

Their backs. 2440

GARCÍA

They're looking! Quick as a bird!

(They slip out the first door)

JACINTA

You might at least have whispered—you 2441

Are very rude! 2442

LUCRECIA

Here, read it—I'm too

Embarrassed to be overheard. 2443

(Doña LUCRECIA hands Doña JACINTA the note)

JACINTA

Now this is ever so much better! 2444

(TRISTÁN and Don GARCÍA come back in the second door, behind the ladies' backs)

TRISTÁN

Well, that was easy enough to do. 2445

GARCÍA

Tristán, you've got a better view; 2446

So see if you can read the letter. 2447

(Doña JACINTA reads aloud)

JACINTA

"Now that I see my credit with you 2448

Is lost—no matter what I say— 2449

I ask you to trust my deeds, for they 2450

Will never lie—deeds never do. 2451

Only a husband's word will do 2452

To make a lady like you believe, 2453

And I can never hope to receive 2454

Your favor unless you think me true. 2455

Here is my note, then—may it be a 2456

Firm assurance; for as I sign 2457

Myself, so am I, ever thine, 2458

Already your husband, Don Garcia." 2459

GARCÍA

Good God above—it's the letter I wrote! 2460

TRISTÁN

Why now? She read it at home before. 2461

GARCÍA

Well, maybe it's because the more 2462

She reads it, the more she enjoys my note. 2463

TRISTÁN

Whatever the reason, it's going well. 2464

GARCÍA

Whatever the reason, I feel good, too. 2465

(To Doña LUCRECIA)

JACINTA

It's short and sweet, so either it's true, 2466

Or the biggest lie a man can tell. 2467

(To Doña JACINTA, from behind)

GARCÍA

Turn, O turn those eyes on me, 2468

Whose beams are fatal near and far! 2469

(Doña LUCRECIA and Doña JACINTA speak to each other)

JACINTA

He's still not certain who we are, 2470

So veil yourself, and prepare to be 2471

Enlightened now. 2472

LUCRECIA

Don't mention me!

(They veil themselves. Don GARCÍA speaks to Doña JACINTA)

GARCÍA

Lift, O lift that veil away, 2473

That men may see your heaven today, 2474

And heaven itself astonished be! 2475

What find I here? O, can it be? 2476

My love, my life's sweet murderer? 2477

And yet where better look for her, 2478

Than in a church, for sanctu'ry? 2479

If it's because you murdered me, 2480

That you hide here—then fear not so; 2481

The laws of love are strange, you know, 2482

And so corrupt, they never fail 2483

To keep the victim locked in jail 2484

And always let the killer go. 2485

Would you relieve my suffering then, 2486

My love? I hope you will. And is 2487

Repentence why you've come to this 2488

Old convent of the Magdalen? 2489

How just the hand of love is, when 2490

It gives my pain this recompense! 2491

For though your cruelty torments 2492

Me so, I bear it all, my dear, 2493

For the joy I feel, right now, right here, 2494

The glory of your penitence. 2495

Dear mistress? Not a word from her? 2496

You owe me nothing for my pain? 2497

Or maybe you repent again 2498

For having repented earlier? 2499

I beg of you, sweet murderer, 2500

Before you strike me twice—beware 2501

The consequence! If you should glare 2502

With killing eyes upon my face— 2503

A murder done in a holy place 2504

Can find no sanctuary there. 2505

(Doña JACINTA removes her veil)

JACINTA

Do you know me? 2506

GARCÍA

My God—too well!

So well, that ever since that day 2507

On Silver Street, I dare not say 2508

That I am I! I cannot tell 2509

The two of us apart. You dwell 2510

In me, more deeply than I do. 2511

I am transformed since seeing you— 2512

Transformed to being you! My eyes 2513

My self no longer recognize— 2514

Not what I am, or was, or who! 2515

JACINTA

It's clear you have no memory of 2516

Your former life—of what you were; 2517

You had a wife—you've forgotten her— 2518

You're busy courting some new love! 2519

GARCÍA

You're back to that! Good Lord above! 2520

JACINTA

Why not? 2521

GARCÍA

It's just your stubborn pride!

I made that up—I swear! I lied 2522

To be with you! 2523

JACINTA

Or not to be!

Mention a wedding, and suddenly 2524

You're off to Turkey to find a bride! 2525

GARCÍA

I swear again—my love is true! 2526

That I'm a married man is what 2527

I am to other women, but 2528

I'm still a bachelor for you! 2529

(Doña JACINTA and Doña LUCRECIA speak to one side)

JACINTA

Are you enlightened yet? 2530

LUCRECIA

(Oh, me!

How swift a spark of love can start 2531

A conflagration, and the heart 2532

Erupt with burning jealousy!) 2533

(To Doña JACINTA)

GARCÍA

Remember at your balcony 2534

That night, when I explained to you 2535

My situation? Surely you do! 2536

JACINTA

My balcony? 2537

LUCRECIA

(Oh, treachery!)

JACINTA

You are mistaken—totally! 2538

You talked to me? 2539

GARCÍA

And you know when!

LUCRECIA

(You talk to him at night, and then 2540

You dare to give advice to me!) 2541

GARCÍA

And what about the letter I wrote— 2542

Do you deny it? 2543

JACINTA

Of course I do!

LUCRECIA

(You're such a loyal friend, aren't you?) 2544

GARCÍA

I'm positive you read my note! 2545

JACINTA

Lying can be quite wonderful, 2546

As long as there's no injury, 2547

But once you cross that boundary, 2548

It just becomes intolerable. 2549

GARCÍA

But three nights ago, at your balcony, 2550

Lucrecia—we talked—we two! 2551

JACINTA

(Lucrecia! Me? Oh, good for you! 2552

New bull in the ring, new strategy! 2553

He saw Lucrecia! Now it's cer- 2554

tain that he loves her, since he pretended— 2555

Just so she won't be offended— 2556

That he'd mistaken me for her.) 2557

LUCRECIA

(O traitress! I see what you're about! 2558

You just informed him, doubtlessly, 2559

That the woman in the veil was me, 2560

So now he's going to sort it out 2561

By claiming that he talked to you 2562

Because he thought that you were me!) 2563

TRISTÁN

She must be pretending not to be 2564

Lucrecia, in order to 2565

Confuse the woman she's with. 2566

GARCÍA

I know!

If she were doing it for me, 2567

She'd veil her face. But can they be 2568

Talking together and still be so 2569

Unknown to one another? 2570

TRISTÁN

That's true—

But then in church you often see 2571

Two people talking who happen to be 2572

Unknown to each other, but in the same pew. 2573

GARCÍA

You're right! 2574

TRISTÁN

So go along with her

By claiming to be the victim of 2575

Bad eyesight. 2576

GARCÍA

Lady, the fire of love

So brightly burns, my weak eyes were 2577

Bedazzled momentarily; 2578

I took you for another, I fear. 2579

Forgive me my mistake, my dear; 2580

It was this veil that blinded me. 2581

For just as fantasy may be 2582

Beguiled by love—so may the eyes. 2583

Lucrecia's face I recognize 2584

In every woman that I see. 2585

JACINTA

(I knew he'd try to play that part!) 2586

LUCRECIA

(The little bitch informed on me!) 2587

JACINTA

(The one he loves is obviously 2588

Lucrecia.) 2589

GARCÍA

Lady, my poor heart,

From the first moment I did see 2590

Her face, made her my sovereign queen. 2591

(Doña JACINTA and Doña LUCRECIA speak to one side)

JACINTA

Well, he's the best I've ever seen! 2592

LUCRECIA

(So now she's making fun of me! 2593

I won't let on I understand— 2594

The last thing I want is to make a scene.) 2595

(To Don GARCÍA)

JACINTA

I think Lucrecia would have been 2596

Delighted, were she listening and 2597

Assured of that. 2598

GARCÍA

You know my sweet-

heart? 2599

JACINTA

Know her? She's my dearest friend!

So much so I would dare contend 2600

That she and I have hearts that beat 2601

As one—one heart between us two. 2602

GARCÍA

(Well, obviously—if you are she! 2603

How carefully and cleverly 2604

She teaches me what I'm to do!) 2605

(To Doña JACINTA)

Then be an angel, I beg of you— 2606

Since fortune now has offered me 2607

This golden opportunity— 2608

And bear her tidings of my true 2609

Devotion and my pain and woe. 2610

And pardon me for making you 2611

My messenger. 2612

TRISTÁN

(Girls love to do

That sort of thing these days, you know, 2613

At least in Madrid!) 2614

GARCÍA

And try to make

Her see such love deserves to be 2615

Returned. 2616

JACINTA

If you do that, I'll see

That she relents for your love's sake. 2617

GARCÍA

Why won't she believe me? I've been head 2618

Over heels since first I saw her beau- 2619

tiful face. 2620

JACINTA

Well, I'll be frank with you-

She never believed a word you said! 2621

GARCÍA

But it's true—I swear to God, it's true! 2622

JACINTA

Look, she's the one you need to convince— 2623

And being true won't matter, since 2624

The one who's saying it is you. 2625

Liars make people so disgusted, 2626

And their credit is so weak, 2627

That when they open their mouths to speak, 2628

Even the truth can't be trusted! 2629

GARCÍA

But lady— 2630

JACINTA

Enough—no more—just be

Aware of this. 2631

GARCÍA

I must obey.

(To LUCRECIA)

JACINTA

Are you happy now? 2632

(JACINTA goes out)

LUCRECIA

(What can I say,

Jacinta? Thanks for enlightening me.) 2633

(LUCRECIA goes out)

GARCÍA

She's such a smart one, isn't she? 2634

How cleverly she made it clear 2635

She'd couldn't be Lucrecia here! 2636

TRISTÁN

The girl's no fool, that's plain to see. 2637

GARCÍA

She made it very clear that she 2638

Would be upset if the other girl knew— 2639

The one that she was talking to. 2640

TRISTÁN

That's obvious, since there can be 2641

No other reason I can see 2642

Why she'd refuse to admit what's true; 2643

And she never really denied to you 2644

That talk you had at her balcony, 2645

Since she herself reminded you 2646

Of the very things that you discussed 2647

When you conversed with her. 2648

GARCÍA

That must

Be also why she let me view 2649

Her face without the veil—so I'd 2650

Be sure. 2651

TRISTÁN

And said so pointedly,

"Mention a wedding, and suddenly 2652

You're off to Turkey to find a bride." 2653

And just to add to what you've heard 2654

Already, here's more proof—that though 2655

She says she's not Lucrecia, she'll go 2656

And talk about her in the third 2657

Person, revealing all her in- 2658

most thoughts, suggesting that she knows 2659

She would respond to your propos- 2660

als and your love, once you begin 2661

To make Lucrecia come to see 2662

The truth of what you tell her, sir. 2663

GARCÍA

But what proof can I give to her 2664

To show I love her truthfully? 2665

TRISTÁN

You want to marry her? 2666

GARCÍA

I do.

TRISTÁN

Then ask her, sir. 2667

GARCÍA

And if she won't?

TRISTÁN

It seems to me, sir, that you don't 2668

Quite get what she just said to you: 2669

"Make her believe it, and I will see 2670

That she relents for your love's sake." 2671

What stronger gesture could she make 2672

To tell you she desires to be 2673

Your wife? Someone who takes your letter? 2674

Who talks with you from her balcony? 2675

Good indications, sir, that she 2676

Adores you! How could she give you better? 2677

It's just the thought that you might be 2678

Married that holds her back—that's all. 2679

And you'll surmount that obstacle 2680

The minute you propose—for she 2681

Must think a gentleman like you 2682

Who offers marriage has to be 2683

A real bachelor, you see? 2684

And if she needs to know it's true, 2685

If she's afraid to trust a man 2686

Who's lied to her before, if she 2687

Demands some further guarantee, 2688

Well—Salamanca's not Japan! 2689

GARCÍA

Oh, yes it is—for a young man who 2690

Is hopelessly in love! Each mo- 2691

ment lasts a century. 2692

TRISTÁN

Do you know

Of someone here who'd vouch for you? 2693

GARCÍA

I might. 2694

TRISTÁN

Well, how hard could it be?

GARCÍA

I'll go and find one right away. 2695

TRISTÁN

I'll give you one right now—today! 2696

GARCÍA

Oh? Who? 2697

TRISTÁN

Don Juan.

GARCÍA

To vouch for me?

Don Juan de Sosa? 2698

TRISTÁN

Yes—he'd do.

GARCÍA

Yes—he would know. 2699

TRISTÁN

That's not to say

I've seen him lately—not since that day 2700

On Silver Street. Has he seen you? 2701

Sir—I admit I wondered what 2702

It was about that note you got 2703

From him that worried you, but not 2704

Wanting to anger you, I put 2705

My curiosity aside—because 2706

The one time that I asked, you went 2707

Quite pale and made a violent 2708

Denial. Now that the moment does 2709

Seem more appropriate, I won- 2710

der, sir, if I—the keeper of 2711

Your secrets, the counselor of your love— 2712

Might ask. By now, the storm is done. 2713

GARCÍA

I want to tell you all—I must! 2714

For from experience I know 2715

Your secrecy and prudence, so 2716

I'm sure that you have earned my trust. 2717

In the early evening, at St. Blaise, 2718

Promptly at seven o'clock, he wrote, 2719

Don Juan de Sosa will wait for me, 2720

To discuss a matter of some note. 2721

Because it was a duel, I said 2722

Nothing. A man would only speak 2723

If he wanted to be stopped or helped— 2724

Two things that only a coward would seek! 2725

So to the appointed place I came, 2726

Where Don Juan de Sosa awaited me; 2727

Two weapons he wore that gave him the odds— 2728

They were his sword and his jealousy. 2729

His strong resentment he expressed, 2730

And I accepted his angry words, 2731

And then, at last, to make it right, 2732

The two of us drew our naked swords. 2733

Quickly measuring out the ground, 2734

I made a swift advance, and streak- 2735

ing forward, deftly stepped aside, 2736

To hit him with the thrust oblique. 2737

His life was rescued by the Ag- 2738

nus Dei medal he displayed 2739

Upon his chest, which caught my point, 2740

And snapped in two my thrusting blade. 2741

He gave me ground, stung by the blow, 2742

Then with a furious rage, he roared 2743

Back—and mainly thrust at me; 2744

High on the blade I caught his sword, 2745

With a crosshand perpendicular 2746

Defense. No sooner had he dis- 2747

engaged, and found me still so near— 2748

I had nowhere else to go, for his 2749

Weapon was now three times the length 2750

Of my poor trusty steel, now just 2751

A fragment of its former self, 2752

Shattered in that initial thrust, 2753

And I was forced by this to seek 2754

Close quarters—but on he sped, 2755

Aiming a furious slashing blow 2756

In the direction of my head. 2757

I took him at the very top 2758

Of his downswing, driving my bold 2759

But shortened blade beneath the full 2760

Weight of his sword, stopping it cold! 2761

Then came the moment of truth! I spun 2762

Out with a backhand blow of such 2763

Power, the shortness of my sword 2764

Didn't count against me much, 2765

And opened in his head a gash 2766

As wide as my hand, and down he fell, 2767

Fainting and senseless upon the ground, 2768

And lifeless I presumed as well. 2769

And there I left him, secretly 2770

Returning here. That's it, that's my 2771

Whole story—and if you've missed him, 2772

Now you know the reason why. 2773

TRISTÁN

What an amazing incident! 2774

And was he dead? 2775

GARCÍA

He had to be—

I mean, the poor man's brains were spread 2776

All over the vicinity. 2777

TRISTÁN

O, poor don Juan! 2778

(Don JUAN DE SOSA and Don BELTRÁN come in on the other side)

But isn't that

Him walking towards us? 2779

GARCÍA

How bizarre!

TRISTÁN

You even tried to lie to me— 2780

Your secretary and counselor! 2781

(Dear God, how could I fall for that— 2782

Who knew how he was predisposed! 2783

But then again who wouldn't be fooled 2784

By lies so beautifully composed? ) 2785

GARCÍA

They must have used some kind of spell 2786

To heal the wound! 2787

TRISTÁN

The gash that you

Described let all his brains spill out— 2788

It healed in just a day or two? 2789

GARCÍA

You think that's something? In Salamanca 2790

One time, I know, they used this spell 2791

On a man who had his whole arm am- 2792

putated, and half his shoulder as well, 2793

And once they stuck the thing back on, 2794

It was less than a week before he had 2795

It working and just as healthy as 2796

It was before. 2797

TRISTÁN

He's raving mad!

GARCÍA

I'm telling you something that I saw— 2798

Not something that I merely heard! 2799

TRISTÁN

Please, sir, no more! 2800

GARCÍA

By God, it's true!

I won't take back a single word. 2801

TRISTÁN

(Ah, do we ever know each other!) 2802

I'd think my services repaid, 2803

If you would teach that spell to me. 2804

GARCÍA

The thing's in Hebrew, I'm afraid, 2805

So if you don't know that, you won't 2806

Know how the incantation's sung. 2807

TRISTÁN

And you know Hebrew? 2808

GARCÍA

Fluently.

Better than the Spanish tongue. 2809

I speak ten languages. 2810

TRISTÁN

(And I'm

Quite sure that you've already lied 2811

In every one. And more. The saying 2812

"He's full of. . . truth" might be applied 2813

To you. Since only lies get out, 2814

There's all that truth still trapped inside!) 2815

(To Don JUAN)

BELTRÁN

What are you saying? 2816

JUAN DE SOSA

That unless my mem-

ory is playing tricks, no one 2817

In Salamanca has those names— 2818

No lady, nor no gentleman. 2819

BELTRÁN

(Another fabrication from 2820

My son García, obviously! 2821

I'd better keep this to myself.) 2822

Sir, may your new commission be 2823

A source of joy for many years— 2824

Along with a handsome salary. 2825

JUAN DE SOSA

Sir, I shall always be so much 2826

The more in your debt, the more I thrive. 2827

And now, my duty calls, I fear— 2828

There are some gentlemen that I've 2829

Got to go thank. I may not see 2830

You to your house—pray, pardon me. 2831

(Don JUAN DE SOSA goes out)

BELTRÁN

God give me strength! How long must I 2832

Be punished for my son's disgrace? 2833

Forever? Is it possible? 2834

And how could he look me in the face 2835

And lie—at the very moment he 2836

Was being chided for that sin! 2837

And how, in such an important thing, 2838

Could he so quickly take me in? 2839

Me who already knew too well 2840

His reputation for telling lies! 2841

But then who would believe that he 2842

Could look at me right in the eyes, 2843

While I was scolding him—and lie! 2844

Who could imagine such a thing— 2845

That a judge could have his pocket picked 2846

By the thief that he was sentencing? 2847

(To Don GARCÍA)

TRISTÁN

Are you still resolved to talk to him? 2848

GARCÍA

Of course, Tristán. 2849

TRISTÁN

Then God go with thee!

(To Don BELTRÁN)

GARCÍA

Father? 2850

BELTRÁN

Don't you dare call me that!

Villain! Call me your enemy! 2851

No man has any blood of mine 2852

Who bears not even the slightest trace 2853

Of a resemblance to me! 2854

Away! If I never see your face— 2855

TRISTÁN

(There seems to be a storm on the 2856

Horizon. Find a better time.) 2857

BELTRÁN

God in heaven! What punishment 2858

Have I deserved? You know that I'm 2859

The kind of man that loves the truth— 2860

How can you give me a son like this, 2861

Of just the opposite condition? 2862

How can a man like me, who is 2863

So careful of his honor, spawn 2864

This base, contaminated boy? 2865

How can you take my Gabriel, 2866

The honor to my blood, the joy 2867

Of my grey hairs, and pluck him 2868

In the flower of youth? I could say more— 2869

But for my faith! 2870

GARCÍA

(What's going on?)

TRISTÁN

(Get lost! What are you waiting for?) 2871

BELTRÁN

Go away, Tristán—leave us alone! 2872

No, wait, come back—don't go away; 2873

Perhaps the fact that you're aware 2874

Of his shame will be humilia- 2875

tion enough to have some effect on him— 2876

More than respect for my grey hair! 2877

And if this mortification's not 2878

Enough to drive him to repair 2879

His faults, at least he'll feel the sting 2880

Of having his vices publicized! 2881

So what did you hope to gain, you wretch? 2882

Madman! What joy have you realized 2883

From telling lies so recklessly? 2884

If you must gallop after your in- 2885

clinations with everybody else— 2886

At least with me, rein yourself in! 2887

This Salamanca wedding, what 2888

Was the point of inventing that? Were you 2889

Trying to undermine my credit 2890

With everyone I was talking to? 2891

How can I face these people again— 2892

These people that I told about 2893

Your marriage to Doña Sancha de 2894

Herrera? How can I face it out? 2895

When once they all discover she's 2896

A fiction—your Sancha—then I will be 2897

Denounced as well—this noble head 2898

Hung with the charge of complicity. 2899

And then what means is left to me 2900

To clear this blot from my good name? 2901

Since the only way to manage that— 2902

If I want to rid myself of blame— 2903

Is to put it on my son instead! 2904

And then by saying publicly 2905

The fault was yours, I make myself 2906

The herald of your infamy! 2907

If it was some affair of the heart 2908

That obligated you to be 2909

Untrue to me—what did you think? 2910

That I would be your enemy? 2911

What weapon would I strike you with, 2912

But with the name of father, father 2913

To the end? That name alone should tell 2914

You how your plight would move me rather 2915

Than anger me—an old man who 2916

Was young once too, and has to know 2917

How high and hot in young men's hearts 2918

The flames of love can sometimes grow. 2919

GARCÍA

If you know that, and that alone 2920

Had been enough for you back then 2921

To pardon me, isn't it still 2922

Enough to pardon me again? 2923

Right now? It seemed a sign of dis- 2924

respect to your grey hairs if I 2925

Had disobeyed your plans for me, 2926

And so I felt I had to lie. 2927

It was an error, not a crime; 2928

I wasn't guilty, I was mis- 2929

informed. The cause is love, and you're 2930

My father indeed, to say that this 2931

Is all I need to win your pardon. 2932

I see my offense. Now listen to 2933

The lovely reason why, and she 2934

Herself will make amends to you. 2935

Doña Lucrecia, the daughter of 2936

Don Juan de Luna, is for me 2937

The soul of life—this only child 2938

And heir of all her family; 2939

And all I lack to be most blest 2940

With her most beauteous hand is for you 2941

To give me your consent, and make 2942

A declaration that the ru- 2943

mor of my marriage can be traced 2944

Back to this cause, and is untrue. 2945

BELTRÁN

No, no! In Jesus' name—no more! 2946

Don't stick me in another one! 2947

I'd have to think you lied to me, 2948

If you told me that thing was the sun. 2949

GARCÍA

You need not fear. That must be true 2950

Which is corroborated by 2951

The facts; Tristán, whom you can trust, 2952

Is ready, sir, to testify 2953

To my desires. 2954

(To TRISTÁN)

Tell him.

TRISTÁN

Yes, sir.

He tells it, sir, just as it is. 2955

BELTRÁN

Aren't you embarrassed now, to have 2956

A servant vouch for you? Is this 2957

Not shameful, sir? To make the truth 2958

Of what you say depend upon 2959

Your servingman? Oh well, all right, 2960

I want to talk to old Don Juan; 2961

God grant he give you his Lucrecia, 2962

And pity the poor deluded thing! 2963

But first I need to be sure about 2964

This Salamanca marrying 2965

Business. I fear in telling me 2966

You lied, you're still dissembling. 2967

I knew the truth already, you see, 2968

Before I came to talk to you; 2969

But now I hear you speak of it, 2970

I can hardly trust that the truth is true. 2971

(Don BELTRÁN goes out)

GARCÍA

Well, that went well! 2972

TRISTÁN

Oh yes—quite well.

I thought perhaps you had used that spell 2973

On him, that Hebrew incantation, 2974

That reverses amputation. 2975

(They go out)

Scene Four: A room in the house of Don Juan de Luna, with views of the garden

(Don JUAN DE LUNA and Don SANCHO come in)

JUAN DE LUNA

It seems the night has turned a little cool. 2976

SANCHO

My dear Don Juan de Luna, the river air 2977

Is much too cold for these old bones, too cruel. 2978

JUAN DE LUNA

Better we stay here in my garden, where 2979

We can set up a table for ourselves, and eat 2980

A pleasant meal in peace, without a care. 2981

SANCHO

You're right, Don Juan, that would be more discrete; 2982

We'll sup down by the river some other night, 2983

When it's more temperate. These extremes of heat 2984

And cold can harm the health. 2985

(Calling off stage)

JUAN DE LUNA

Lucrecia, you might

Invite your lovely friend to come out here 2986

Into the garden. 2987

SANCHO

God willing, sir, do right

By that sweet angel. 2988

JUAN DE LUNA

She's no fool, it's clear;

And lovely as my daughter is, I know 2989

More than her life she holds her virtue dear. 2990

(A SERVANT enters, goes to SANCHO)

SERVANT

There's someone at the door—Don Juan de So- 2991

sa—seeking you; he'd like to be let in. 2992

SANCHO

This late? 2993

JUAN DE LUNA

It must be of importance.

SANCHO

Go,

And show him in. 2994

(The SERVANT goes out, and then Don JUAN DE SOSA enters, with a paper in his hand)

JUAN DE SOSA

Dear sir, I'd never have been

So bold to come without this paper. But 2995

With it, I have no patience, I must begin! 2996

My love can't bear a moment's delay, if what 2997

Is in this paper means I may now see 2998

My dear beloved's face in all its ut- 2999

most glory. My commission's come! Now be 3000

Mindful of what you promised me. You may 3001

Fulfill your word and crown my victory! 3002

SANCHO

My faith in you, you have confirmed today, 3003

Don Juan, by bringing me this happy news 3004

Without so much as even a moment's delay. 3005

I'll go and tell my lovely niece. Excuse 3006

Me for not calling her to come. Without 3007

Being fully dressed, I know she would refuse. 3008

(SANCHO goes out)

JUAN DE LUNA

I always knew you'd win. The truth will out! 3009

Even the truth most hidden and oppressed. 3010

Delay there may be—yes—but never doubt! 3011

(Don BELTRÁN, Don GARCÍA, and TRISTÁN come in to another area)

BELTRÁN

It's not a good time now—he has a guest. 3012

We have important business to discuss; 3013

To talk to him alone would be the best. 3014

GARCÍA

Don Juan de Sosa can be of help to us— 3015

To witness to that thing in Salaman- 3016

ca. 3017

BELTRÁN

That you should need his help—it's infamous!

Till I assure him our proposal's hon- 3018

orable, kindly delay all mention of 3019

That business. 3020

JUAN DE LUNA

Beltrán, my friend!

BELTRÁN

My friend, Don Juan!

JUAN DE LUNA

Such courtesy so late at night? 3021

BELTRÁN

I'd prove

By this how constant is my love, and true. 3022

JUAN DE LUNA

Blessed is he who could deserve such love! 3023

BELTRÁN

You must excuse me; the door was open to 3024

Your house—that and our friendship seemed to be 3025

Permission enough to come and visit you. 3026

JUAN DE LUNA

Now, now—that's quite enough of your flattery! 3027

My heart is eager to know why you are here. 3028

BELTRÁN

And I will tell you—just as eagerly! 3029

(To Don JUAN DE SOSA)

GARCÍA

The truth of such a man as you, my dear 3030

Don Juan, some envious soul might for a time 3031

Oppress, but never conquer—'tis too clear! 3032

Believe me, sir, I swear to God that I'm 3033

Happy for your success. 3034

JUAN DE SOSA

Believe you? Yes—

As much as I can. 3035

GARCÍA

And may you climb

As high in rank and have as much success 3036

As you deserve and I would wish for you. 3037

JUAN DE LUNA

This match will bring Lucrecia such a bless- 3038

ing that I feel it is a dream come true! 3039

Don Juan de Sosa, if you will pardon me— 3040

Dear Don García—son—a word or two. 3041

Your father says that you desire to be 3042

Lucrecia's husband. 3043

GARCÍA

All that I am or do,

My joy, my life, my soul, my honor she 3044

Holds in her hand. 3045

JUAN DE LUNA

Then here is mine, in lieu

Of hers. 3046

(They shake hands)

I know how much you bring to me;

And so does she, I've heard her speak of you. 3047

GARCÍA

For this great boon, I thank you heartily. 3048

(SANCHO comes in, with LUCRECIA and JACINTA)

LUCRECIA

After so many obstacles 3049

Your dream comes true! Isn't it sweet? 3050

JACINTA

When you have yours, my dear Lucrecia, 3051

My happiness will be complete. 3052

JUAN DE LUNA

She comes, with Jacinta by the hand; 3053

How little she suspects what bless- 3054

ings wait for her—all shining bright 3055

And colorful as a wedding dress! 3056

Oh, what shall I get for my reward, 3057

Once I have told her the good news? 3058

(Don JUAN DE LUNA speaks to LUCRECIA)

BELTRÁN

(Oh no! Don Sancho! I wish I had 3059

Some other face that I could use. 3060

GARCÍA

The little sins that love commits, 3061

A wise man knows how to excuse.) 3062

(To Don JUAN DE LUNA)

LUCRECIA

There was no Salamanca bride? 3063

JUAN DE LUNA

He made that up just to confuse 3064

His father, who was trying to marry 3065

Him off to someone else—that's all! 3066

LUCRECIA

If that is so, my will is yours; 3067

And I am most agreeable. 3068

SANCHO

Come on, you bright young gentlemen, 3069

Approach your fiancées; they stand 3070

Ready, and each confesses herself 3071

Content, and awaits her lover's hand. 3072

GARCÍA

And now my deeds will finally seal 3073

The truth of everything I feel! 3074

(Don GARCÍA and Don JUAN DE SOSA both go up to JACINTA)

JUAN DE LUNA

Where are you going, Don García? 3075

The lovely Lucrecia's over here. 3076

GARCÍA

Lucrecia? Since when? 3077

BELTRÁN

What's happening?

(To JACINTA)

GARCÍA

You are my mistress, lady dear! 3078

BELTRÁN

Oh, not another one! 3079

GARCÍA

The names

May be wrong, but I know I'm asking for 3080

The right person. It's you I seek; 3081

You are the lady I adore. 3082

(Taking out a paper)

LUCRECIA

But what you say in your letter here— 3083

Do you deny it to my face? 3084

It's written in your hand, deceiver! 3085

BELTRÁN

You did it again—another disgrace! 3086

JUAN DE SOSA

Give me your hand, Jacinta dear, 3087

And put an end to this foolishness! 3088

SANCHO

Jacinta, give Don Juan your hand! 3089

(Giving him her hand)

JACINTA

I'm yours. 3090

GARCÍA

I've lost my happiness.

BELTRÁN

By God, if you don't marry that 3091

Lucrecia, you'll lose a lot more 3092

Than that, my boy! I'll strike you dead! 3093

JUAN DE LUNA

I gave you my own hand before 3094

In pledge of hers—and you gave yours. 3095

If you should change your mind again 3096

With this insane inconstancy 3097

Of yours, I'll wash away the stain 3098

Of my dishonor in your blood! 3099

TRISTÁN

I hate to say I told you so, 3100

But you're to blame for this. If you 3101

Had told the truth at first, you know, 3102

Jacinta would be yours right now. 3103

I'm sorry, there's no remedy— 3104

Apologize and give her your hand, 3105

She's quite a lovely girl, you see. 3106

GARCÍA

I have no choice—here is my hand. 3107

TRISTÁN

And now at last you understand! 3108

(Referring to the audience)

And they do too! You can get stung 3109

By lying! The sword of truth gets rusted 3110

When it isn't used. And on a lying tongue— 3111

Like yours—even The Truth Can't Be Trusted! 3112

(THE END)