Félix Lope de Vega y Carpio
In love but discreet
La discreta enamorada
Traducción
Vega, Lope de. <<In love but discreet>> [En línea] http://www.comedias.org/play_texts/translat/lovdis1.html
Joan Oleza Simó
(Investigador principal)
Vern G. Williamsen
(Traductor)
Burgos Segarra, Gemma
(Editor)
English · Verso · 2533 versos
https://playcode.fly.dev/plays/EMOTHE0628_InLoveButDiscreet
IN LOVE BUT DISCREET (La discreta enamorada) was first performed at the University of Missouri-Columbia on February 28, 1986. Directed by Weldon B. Durham Scenery and Lighting by Patrick Atkinson Costume Design by Jim Miller The cast was as follows: Fenisa - Jennifer Allton Belisa - Julie Karr Lucindo - Jeff Portell Captain - Rob Dillon Hernando - Trent Kendall Gerarda - Judy Dickherber Doristeo - Joe Gately Finardo - Kirk Wishon Fulminato - Richard Hinschberger Beatriz - Tracey Rabus Musicians - Quentin Kuyper Julie Youmans CAST THE MEN LUCINDO - a young gallant in his mid-twenties CAPTAIN - a widower, forty-six years old HERNANDO - man servant to Lucindo DORISTEO - a young gallant in his mid twenties FINARDO - a young friend of Doristeo FULMINATO - older servant to the Captain THE WOMEN FENISA - a young lady, near twenty years old BELISA - her mother, a widow about forty years old GERARDA - a young woman, courtesan of free-living reputation BEATRIZ - maid servant to Fenisa and Belisa, young. A non-speaking role MUSICIANS
Fenisa
Belisa
Lucindo
Captain
Hernando
Gerarda
Doristeo
Finardo
Fulminato
Beatriz
Musicians
(Locale 1:A street in the Madrid of 1606)
(BELISAand FENISA, wearing "mantos".)
BELISA
Fenisa, get your eyes on the ground!
1
You don't need to look around.
2
FENISA
What?Not even at the sky?
3
BELISA
Don't talk back!
4
FENISA
I'm not surprised.
If God, with singular insight,
5
used his limitless, sacred might
6
to make men that stood up straight
7
so that they would see the place
8
they could eventually hope to go,
9
and animals for the earth below
10
with eyes directed at the ground,
11
why must mine look only down?
12
BELISA
Heaven is seen with the mind alone.
13
True virtue is found only at home.,
14
"Modesty in a maiden is treasure divine:
15
use it and naught but good can derive;
16
lose it and thousands of evils arise."
17
If you want, there's plenty of time,
18
Fenisa, in your room or in mine,
19
for contemplating the glories of heaven.
20
FENISA
I'm no nun! Don't waste the sermon.
21
If your reason for bringing me here
22
is to torture me, mother dear,
23
wouldn't your ends be better achieved
24
leaving me at home, under lock and key?
25
BELISA
Don't exaggerate.
26
FENISA
All the time,
you're after me, or after my eyes.
27
When did they give you reason...?
28
BELISA
It's because of the Holy Season.
29
That's reason enough to guard your eyes.
30
Don't get upset. I know I'm right.
31
"A beautiful girl is like a babe,
32
an evil eye sends either to the grave."
33
Here in Madrid there are lots of young men
34
whose burning look has deadly effect.
35
FENISA
How?
36
BELISA
Their fire reaches your heart
not scorching the gown.
37
FENISA
I'm too smart
to be easily fooled that way.
38
BELISA
As your sainted grandmother used to say:
39
"The maid who ventures out on the street,
40
like the doe that hunters happen to meet,
41
is lost when she spies
42
the glint in their eyes:
43
one spark and she falls at their feet".
44
FENISA
How can I marry if I'm never seen?
45
BELISA
Anything is possible.
46
FENISA
Explain that, please.
What do you mean?
47
BELISA
The game is played
by keeping your virtue and guarding your name.
48
FENISA
"When a fortune in money of land is lacking
49
it seems that beauty's a girl's true backing."
50
Men want more now than virtue and health.
51
BELISA
What more?
52
FENISA
Good looks and wealth.
(LUCINDO enters with GERARDA, a courtesan, and his servant HERNANDO.)
GERARDA
So, I'm your love?
53
LUCINDO
That you can say.
GERARDA
You do talk big.
54
LUCINDO
Men talk that way.
FENISA
(There's Lucindo)
55
GERARDA
What a braggart!
LUCINDO
Braggart! Now who's being smart?
56
FENISA
(Me, love him? How silly of me!
57
He's not interested; I must be crazy.)
58
GERARDA
When it comes to a talkative lover,
59
I'm cruel. My taste, you'll discover,
60
doesn't run to fooling around.
61
LUCINDO
You make me laugh.
62
GERARDA
A bucket of frowns
won't get you one drop of my love.
63
LUCINDO
Let my devotion calm you, my dove.
64
If my crime is having been nice
65
to some woman who was passing by,
66
I also said I love you, my dear.
67
GERARDA
Take that stuff and get out of here.
68
Go to the Indies with your bauble and beads.
69
Hook someone there, you'll never get me.
70
I have to be hit with solid gold,
71
anything less won't do, you know.
72
FENISA
(Such love for someone I've never met?
73
Can it be? Is it possible? Not yet.)
74
(DORISTEO enters with FINARDO. They are opposite LUCINDO and GERARDA.)
FINARDO
They came this way.
75
DORISTEO
What's he like?
FINARDO
Well-dressed.
76
DORISTEO
Is that...?
FINARDO
It's them, all right.
GERARDA
Do you see that man coming over there?
77
LUCINDO
I do.
78
GERARDA
Well, we make a pair.
My love for you has been a good joke.
79
Good-bye. He's waiting for me, you know.
80
(GERARDA moves across to join DORISTEO and FINARDO.)
LUCINDO
What happened here?
81
HERNANDO
She shot you down.
LUCINDO
Should I go after her? Tell me how.
82
HERNANDO
Do you love her?
83
LUCINDO
So much I'm burning.
HERNANDO
Then we need cold water! There's no earning
84
the love of that woman.
85
GERARDA
You caught my eye.
DORISTEO
You tamed my temper. It's just that I
86
saw you standing beside that clown
87
who's over there strutting about.
88
you're here. Take my thanks and my arm.
89
GERARDA
You come with me.
90
DORISTEO
Where to?
GERARDA
To the park.
(GERARDA, DORISTEO, and FINARDO exit. BELISA and FENISA are to one side; LUCINDO and HERNANDO on the other.)
LUCINDO
They've gone!
91
HERNANDO
In a big hurry.
she's only teasing you. Don't worry.
92
LUCINDO
Who's that girl?
93
HERNANDO
She lives across the street
with her watchdog mother. Getting a peace
94
in Ireland would be easier.
95
FENISA
(How can I?
Love someone who doesn't know I'm alive?)
96
LUCINDO
I've never seen her before.
97
FENISA
(Some way,
I must resist my feelings. Some day,
98
I'll manage to let him see my face.
99
Has any woman ever been so insane?)
100
HERNANDO
I give you my word. If you could get
101
a good look, I'm sure you'd forget
102
Gerarda. Fenisa's sweet, she's nice,
103
she's wise, but if she's caught the eye
104
of your father....
105
LUCINDO
My father!
HERNANDO
It may be the other.
It would be more fitting he marry the mother.
106
LUCINDO
At his age? Get married?
107
HERNANDO
I have observed
him watching the lady; she's well-preserved...
108
LUCINDO
I'm so jealous I'm pulling my hair.
109
So how can you expect me to look elsewhere?
110
HERNANDO
She is good looking.
111
LUCINDO
A jealous man
wants only one woman.
112
FENISA
(A very good plan!
I know how to start this play:
113
I'll drop my hanky when we pass his way.
114
When he gives it back, he'll have a chance:
115
a real good look. If he'll only glance
116
into my eyes and see the love hidden there...)
117
HERNANDO
Look at those eyes. In love, I'd swear...
118
or ready for love at least.
119
BELISA
It's time,
Fenisa. Let's go.
120
HERNANDO
They're coming by.
Open your eyes, notice her beauty.
121
LUCINDO
A real angel! Or, so it seems.
122
(As BELISA and FENISA pass, FENISA drops her hanky.)
HERNANDO
Her handkerchief!
123
LUCINDO
I'll get it for her.
(LUCINDO picks it up and runs after them.)
Ladies, please wait.
124
FENISA
Something for you, sir?
LUCINDO
You dropped your 'kerchief.
125
FENISA
Perhaps, I'll see...
LUCINDO
But...
126
FENISA
...if mine is still up my sleeve.
(FENISA removes her "manto" and starts to search her clothing.)
BELISA
What are you doing?
127
FENISA
Not here I see.
BELISA
What is he doing?
128
FENISA
He's giving it to me.
BELISA
What?
129
LUCINDO
(What a beauty!)
FENISA
I'll soon find out.
It's not here either.
130
HERNANDO
(Sweet and soft!
Enough to drive a sane man giddy!)
131
FENISA
I'll look in my purse.
132
BELISA
Stop!
FENISA
I'll hurry.
Not here.
133
BELISA
Let's go!
FENISA
Not here either.
BELISA
What's keeping you?
134
FENISA
Is it embroidered?
LUCINDO
Yes.
135
FENISA
With lace?
LUCINDO
Can't you see?
BELISA
We've been here too long, out on the street.
136
Anyone could see you as they pass by.
137
FENISA
You think I should take it if it's not mine?
138
LUCINDO
I'll trust you with it.
139
FENISA
Is there a place
with worn embroidery?
140
LUCINDO
Next to the lace.
FENISA
Which side?
141
BELISA
Stop fooling.
LUCINDO
I'm sure it's yours.
BELISA
Let's go. Young man, inside the church door,
142
there's a place that's near the baptismal font...
143
(FENISA takes the handkerchief from LUCINDO.)
FENISA
(I hope Cupid sharpened his arrow.)
144
BELISA
Let's go!
145
FENISA
I'm coming.
(FENISA turns to follow her mother but then turns back.)
HERNANDO
Look at her.
LUCINDO
I can't see... My jealousy...
146
FENISA
Oh, sir!
LUCINDO
What can I do?
147
FENISA
I wanted to say:
if the real owner shows up some day,
148
you may, since I'm not sure it's mine,
149
tell her I live on the Street of the Vines...
150
HERNANDO
(How graceful! What a shape! How discreet!)
151
FENISA
...near the Captain Bernardo. Across the street.
152
LUCINDO
That's my father!
153
FENISA
(Tell me how
love burns.)
154
BELISA
Are you insane?
FENISA
Just now
this man was saying he's our neighbor.
155
BELISA
Let's go.
156
FENISA
(Dear God, grant me this favor.)
(BELISA and FENISA exit.)
HERNANDO
What do you think?
157
LUCINDO
She's really sweet.
She's beautiful, bewitching, and discreet.
158
But love for Gerarda has me tied down.
159
"Jealousy's swampy, treacherous ground.
160
The strongest of men are caught in it's snare."
161
It's a terrible thing when a woman dares
162
to seek revenge, playing up to another.
163
Even if my love had been much smaller,
164
seeing her do what it was she did
165
was enough to drive me out of my head.
166
HERNANDO
Loose women, it seems, get the most love;
167
but without honor, they're really lost.
168
"When an honest women suffers disdain,
169
her lover won't care if she complains.
170
He already knows she'll stay at home,
171
rotting in her room, but safely alone."
172
These easier women don't fool around.
173
Their lover's foot hardly touches the ground
174
when they give consolation a try
175
with any one of a thousand men.
176
LUCINDO
That's why:
"Love for a loose woman disappears fast,
177
love for a good one will always last."
178
HERNANDO
"Men still wet behind the ears
179
use their swords to calm their fears."
180
But I still have hope for you. Some day,
181
you'll see the truth of what I say.
182
LUCINDO
Gerarda's given me cause to feel...
183
HERNANDO
Any woman, as crazy as she is free,
184
is like a monkey who wants to play
185
games with the children every day.
186
Let a man with a big stick come
187
to straighten her out and she's all undone
188
She sits quietly picking at fleas,
189
ready to jump if her lord should sneeze.
190
Women love playing around with men
191
who're young and inexperienced
192
but with a mature and able master
193
they do what he says, and they do it faster.
194
Gerarda saw that you were hooked
195
but not worn out, and having others to cook,
196
she's letting you play, giving you the line
197
of jealousy on jealousy, time after time.
198
LUCINDO
What can I do?
199
HERNANDO
Try to find
a beautiful solution.
200
LUCINDO
Do you have in mind
a cure for love?
201
HERNANDO
Certainly!
LUCINDO
What?
HERNANDO
Another love.
202
LUCINDO
Let's not talk
about it any more. We'll wait and see
203
how it all winds up.
204
HERNANDO
It's clear to me:
she's using her wiles to make you fall.
205
Lucindo, a wise man used to call
206
jealousy the finest of fishing fear.
207
It can be used any time of the year
208
to catch honor, wealth, and fame.
209
I think that you would be ashamed
210
that a fishing rod, made from a reed
211
weak enough to bend in the breeze,
212
could be used to catch you. Your bait
213
is wealth; jealousy is your line. Just wait.
214
Money not youth should hang from your thread.
215
On women, another wise man once said:
216
"The web a woman weaves
217
is like that of a spider,
218
the victim it deceives
219
is weaker, not the stronger."
220
Tell me, does it bother you when I try
221
to teach you about the facts of life?
222
LUCINDO
Just don't get boring. You think you see
223
that I'm caught by love, that I'm not free,
224
that I'm only a fly caught in her net...
225
HERNANDO
What kind? A fruit fly?
226
LUCINDO
You say I'm all wet,
227
just a simple fish following her bait.
228
Let's go visit, it's not too late.
229
I think that she has hooked my heart.
230
HERNANDO
I fear you'll make some trouble.
231
LUCINDO
As a start!
HERNANDO
God in Heaven! What a stupid waste!
232
LUCINDO
But what fine bait! What spicy taste!
233
(LUCINDO and HERNANDO exit.)
(Locale 2:A room in BELISA'S house)
(BELISA and FENISA enter removing their clogs and "mantos".)
BELISA
Where's your manto?
234
FENISA
Off.
BELISA
Here's mine.
Put them both away.
235
FENISA
I'm surprised
that you're so angry. May God help me!
236
What have I done? How can it be
237
that everything I do is wrong?
238
BELISA
Don't I know what was going on?
239
But then I'm getting what I deserve.
240
If you were locked up, you might preserve
241
your good name. You'd have no time to...
242
FENISA
If, by some miracle, I make it through
243
the holidays and your anger with me,
244
I'd really prefer you not let me free.
245
BELISA
I don't believe you.
246
FENISA
What have I done
to make you complain so?
247
BELISA
I can't condone
your freedom of action.
248
FENISA
What freedom?
BELISA
Didn't I see? Why didn't you come?
249
FENISA
What young man showing off his wares
250
ever made me the object of his stares?
251
Has even one thrown pebbles at my shutters
252
hoping I'd answer with heart all-aflutter?
253
Have you seen me signal to one in church?
254
Has one come following me in search
255
of love? What is it that you fear?
256
Has any procuress
257
come around here?
What love note from some young man
258
have you ever found in my hand?
259
What pen? What ink? Tell me. Do.
260
What gifts do I get from any but you?
261
What clogs? What veil?
262
BELISA
I want to prevent
exactly that... without argument.
263
I'm not complaining about what you've done.
264
FENISA
What then?
265
BELISA
What you've left undone.
Guard yourself from the things you've mentioned.
266
You must think of your own protection;
267
new bars on the door, an extra key...
268
FENISA
(Does she think that would ever stop me?)
269
BELISA
What are you saying?
270
FENISA
That I'll gladly do
just as you wish: not argue with you.
271
When you were young, were you a saint?
272
BELISA
Not even once was there ever a taint
273
of gossip that could be laid at my feet.
274
At home, in the church, and on the street,
275
I kept my eyes under lock and key.
276
FENISA
Then tell me how you managed to have me?
277
BELISA
Heaven, seeing my virtue, recognized my need.
278
God knows all.
279
FENISA
Your sister told me
that you made novenas to St. Anthony.
280
BELISA
Me? For a husband?
281
FENISA
Seeking matrimony!
She also said you fasted on Friday
282
just like a hermit, and that was your way
283
of getting the husband you always wanted.
284
BELISA
She's lying! My mind was never haunted
285
by such thoughts. Rather a nun
286
than marry for pleasure as others have done.
287
FENISA
Then why were so jealous of my father?
288
May he rest in peace!
289
BELISA
Dear daughter,
because there was no money or jewelry
290
that he wouldn't give to some beauty
291
he found down the block. I wanted to try
292
to save something for you.
293
(There is a knock at the door.)
FENISA
A knock, shall I?
BELISA
Yes, you go and see who's there.
294
(FENISA goes to look out the window.)
FENISA
It's the Captain.
295
BELISA
I think I'm aware
of exactly what it is he wants.
296
FENISA
You know already? How could you?
297
BELISA
He's watched
the house for days. I think he likes me.
298
I've shown contempt, but you will see.
299
He probably want to ask for my hand.
300
He's rich and well-bred, so it's not all bad.
301
FENISA
Pardon me mother, for wanting to laugh.
302
BELISA
What about?
303
FENISA
How it all came to pass.
How you were a saint right here on earth,
304
at home, on the street, and in the church.
305
Please tell me what the Captain has done
306
(Oh, what fun!
307
I certainly hope I can follow her lead.)
308
BELISA
He's a very rich man and we need
309
a man in the house. He'd be a good father.
310
FENISA
But listen to me. It seems such a bother
311
if it's all for me.
312
BELISA
It's only because
a man in the house makes other men pause.
313
FENISA
Well then, let me be the one to marry
314
and the burden would be my man's to carry.
315
BELISA
If there had been a serious offer,
316
I'd have agreed...to guard your honor.
317
FENISA
You could argue that.
318
BELISA
It's you he'd guard.
FENISA
But a husband of my own, even if it's hard,
319
wouldn't he be better protection?
320
BELISA
Certainly, but the Captain has a son.
321
Perhaps we can arrange that, too.
322
FENISA
(Lucindo, my love, let's hope that they do.)
323
(The CAPTAIN BERNARDO enters with FULMINATO, he servant.)
CAPTAIN
Since it took so long to answer the door,
324
I didn't wait for permission. What for?
325
I assumed that as your neighbor
326
since coming to Madrid after the war,
327
it was only right we should meet.
328
BELISA
(Think how much he must want me!)
329
We'd have been disturbed, dear sir,
330
if you hadn't come. This house is yours.
331
Bring the chair, Fenisa, please.
332
(The CAPTAIN sits and the ladies go off to one side to prepare.)
CAPTAIN
You, go outside and wait for me.
333
(FULMINATO exits.)
BELISA
I'm bothered, Fenisa, and unprepared.
334
I wasn't ready. Is my cap on straight?
335
FENISA
You never looked better.
336
BELISA
How's my face?
FENISA
Just fine.
337
BELISA
Have my eyes just a trace
of the fire inside?
338
FENISA
What a notion!
BELISA
How do I look?
339
FENISA
Worthy of devotion.
BELISA
I don't hear any love in your voice.
340
FENISA
(Oh, you saints by privation not choice!
341
"Old ladies unable to enjoy what they eat
342
are envious of those who still have their teeth."
343
But I'm not shocked. She is a woman.)
344
BELISA
Today I was careless with my make up.
345
FENISA
Don't flutter about, mother.
346
BELISA
How's that?
FENISA
He'll fall asleep waiting.
347
BELISA
Oh, drat!
I'm finished and ready to play the game.
348
FENISA
(Your cheeks should be colored...with shame.)
349
(BELISA sits near the CAPTAIN.)
BELISA
Now, dear Captain, I'm ready to chat.
350
CAPTAIN
My dear Belisa, I'm glad to hear that.
351
Belisa, having become your neighbor and kept
352
my eye on your house for some time now, I've had reason
353
to learn about your virtues and your worth.
354
I see everything that happens here, day and night.
355
Also, as is usual in one who is about to marry,
356
I've inquired about you and know all about your
357
family. Because even in someone my age, virtue
358
and beauty can stir up feelings that some people think
359
ought better be put to rest as one gets
360
older, I have come here today with a proposal of marriage.
361
I'm younger than I look, but years of running
362
off to strange places, and even stranger climates,
363
bearingarms, sleepingout-of-doors, walking dusty
364
roads, traveling under sail, experiencing all kinds
365
of military dangers, riding through sleepless
366
nights on rented nags, from Spain to Flanders and
367
back, have worn away the body that I had as a
368
younger man. The Emperor Charles —may the Good
369
Lord keep him—said it all when he said that his
370
travels at sea and on horseback had made him old by
371
the time he was forty-six —my age exactly—.
372
I was born in the sixties and the Duke and
373
Duchess of Alba —may their light eternally dawn over Spain—
374
were my godparents.
375
Since then I've seen journeys and travelled
376
enough roads that even if I were a man of steel,
377
I'd have been worn out. After all, ladies, we
378
are neighbors and older men are needed to keep a
379
house and fortune in good order. Younger men are
380
like moths in a woolen garment when it comes to
381
money because they are just beginning to get out
382
and around; older men have no need for such nonsense.
383
Yet my age is not so great that it should offend
384
either your values or your virtues. I am
385
still limber and strong. I still eat and sleep
386
well, and I can still manage to mount, and ride a
387
horse. I don't believe I've been ill a day in my life.
388
Only the hand of an enemy has ever taken my blood
389
—that and a duel I had in Palermo many years ago.
390
The one son I have is well grown now and will soon
391
receive his commission as well as the title I have
392
been negotiating for him. Consequently, he will not
393
be a disturbing factor.
394
FENISA
(Please, God. keep Lucindo here for a while.)
395
CAPTAIN
He'll be leaving soon. Therefore, Belisa, I
396
beg you most humbly to let me marry your daughter
397
Fenisa. I expect to give her a good marriage settlement.
398
In addition to which she will have the management of
399
the small fortune my sword has earned for me. If she
400
is not repelled at the thought of the great difference
401
in our ages, she will soon enough discover that I'm not
402
completely burned out.
403
FENISA
My daughter! You want to marry my daughter?
404
CAPTAIN
Give me her hand and I'd be honored.
405
FENISA
(A sad day for me. I don't understand.
406
I thought it was Mother. He wanted her hand.
407
My hopes for Lucindo were only a dream.
408
The dreams have soured that once were sweet.)
409
BELISA
Weren't you proposing to me?
410
CAPTAIN
Oh, no!
BELISA
I was happy... but now that I know,
411
I'm happier still. You heard what he said?
412
FENISA
(The faith
413
I felt, the life I dreamt,
made my heart jump, now it'll break.
414
Such fallacious faith, false faith,
415
fake from the first! Perfidious, fraudulent
416
faith in a dream that was there to be dreamt.
417
I swear that I'll never again have faith.)
418
Mother, how can this be if he came
419
to ask for you?
420
BELISA
Good Heavens above!
That wasn't his intention.
421
FENISA
(Sweet dreams of love!
That's all they were! It was all a mistake,
422
only a joke. I might as well say
423
that dreams are only dreams after all.)
424
BELISA
Fenisa, although I've seen my hopes fall,
425
—I admit I'd hope to marry— I feel
426
better now since he asked through me
427
for your hand in marriage. You are young,
428
you are discreet. Now that it's done,
429
you can convince yourself to accept.
430
FENISA
At your age a woman is won by wealth,
431
at mine she wants good looks. You elders
432
have had your chance at youthful pleasures
433
and are interested in what money brings:
434
peace and quiet, gifts and things.
435
Envious of youth, you search for these.
436
But, to disobey you would deny my ideals.
437
Right now I'm not well, I need a month's rest.
438
Will you ask for some time before we are wed?
439
BELISA
I can do that, and in such a way
440
he'll thank me for the brief delay.
441
(BELISA goes to talk with the CAPTAIN.)
FENISA
(To pretend to accept was really discreet;
442
it will give me the chance to achieve
443
my heart's desire. To refuse right away
444
would make him angry. There'd be no way
445
to see Lucindo. His expectations
446
will give us a means of communication.)
447
CAPTAIN
This all pleases me very much.
448
I understand and I'll wait one month.
449
But let me talk to her alone,
450
I have something to say.
451
FENISA
(I hope...)
CAPTAIN
Dear Fenisa, Madrid's never seen
452
anyone more resolute and discreet.
453
The decision, in spite of your age, confirms
454
your virtue and self-control. The terms
455
you have set prove the quality
456
of your honor. Having accepted me
457
you've found a father and a protector.
458
If God give me the strength and vigor,
459
this gray beard will guard your virtue.
460
The snow on my brow and the fire of your youth
461
may not mix well, but the gold on your head
462
and the silver on mine, once we are wed,
463
will provide all the wealth we need.
464
FENISA
Your worth and quality, as we've agreed,
465
are a match for my years. Now, can we stop
466
being so formal? I'm yours, after all.
467
CAPTAIN
Mine, did you say?
468
FENISA
And correctly, too.
Having accepted, I belong to you.
469
CAPTAIN
I think this calls for a celebration.
470
All of Madrid...the entire nation...
471
will applaud the games in the main square,
472
if I can get a permit.
473
FENISA
Stop there!
Please, let's have no such commotion.
474
CAPTAIN
All right, I'll give in to your notion,
475
but if it weren't...
476
FENISA
I've something to say.
CAPTAIN
For you I'm all ears.
477
FENISA
May God keep you safe.
(Now FENISA adopt the same ponderous tone the CAPTAIN had used.)
Until today, I didn't know that Lucindo, the
478
man who comes to your house from time to time,
479
was your son. My mother was just telling me that
480
when you came in. Since, he's your son, and
481
you're to be my husband, if God grants me the health...
482
CAPTAIN
What flowery words! By the living God! The sun
483
of your sweet smile is melting the frost on my head.
484
FENISA
I was trying to say, sir, that it's very important
485
for you to stop him from chasing after me.
486
CAPTAIN
My son has been bothering you?
487
FENISA
If only he were doing so properly and discreetly,
488
and with the courtesy due a woman of my station,
489
I would not complain. I don't believe in such hypocrisy.
490
CAPTAIN
What's he been doing?
491
FENISA
He's been writing me love notes delivered by go-betweens,
492
old ladies that he keeps sending to the house on pretended
493
errands. He's gone so far as to try to get my friends to
494
speak for him. And in all that time it doesn't seem that
495
the thought of marriage has ever crossed his mind.
496
CAPTAIN
The boy is mad! I beg you to forgive him. I'll
497
go his bail this time and promise that he won't
498
upset you in the future.
499
FENISA
Now that he's almost my son, I beg you to be
500
careful but still let him know exactly what it is
501
I've complained about. I know I can trust your
502
discretion in the matter.
503
CAPTAIN
Leave your worries to me. Heaven keep you well.
504
Belisa, I was just telling Fenisa of how I want
505
to give her everything. I live only to serve her.
506
May God preserve you until I return. You really
507
must give me permission to do so again soon.
508
BELISA
Heaven keep you too, Captain.
509
(The CAPTAIN exits.)
Fenisa, see what good fortune the Lord brought
510
us today!
511
FENISA
Are you all that happy about it?
512
BELISA
Can't you see that I am?
513
FENISA
I think you're covering up your true feelings.
514
BELISA
Why?
515
FENISA
You wanted to marry him yourself.
516
BELISA
Don't be ridiculous. Let's go in.
517
(BELISA exits.)
FENISA
Oh, Lucindo, if you don't understand my message,
518
you weren't born in Madrid..., or you lack
519
discretion; but if you do understand and come
520
looking for me, you were indeed, and are discreet.
521
(FENISA exits.)
(Locale 3:The street in front of GERARDA'S house)
(LUCINDO and HERNANDO enter.)
LUCINDO
Has he left yet?
522
HERNANDO
He's taking his time.
LUCINDO
I'm jealous of that.
523
HERNANDO
He may find
her house a place with much to show.
524
He'll spend two weeks just getting to know
525
his way around. I'd rather be a slave
526
than to work for her even one day.
527
LUCINDO
If he's so lucky as to be aboard
528
Gerarda's galley, dipping hisoar...
529
and he must be he's taking so long
530
I'm envious. I hope that I'm wrong.
531
Shall we wait for him to come ashore?
532
How unlucky I am, Hernando. I adore
533
that skillful, sly woman whose vanity
534
seems easy prey for his flattery...
535
and yet, her heart is made of steel.
536
HERNANDO
It's only right that love makes one reel,
537
but being loved should never raise
538
those spectral bastards: Neglect and Disdain.
539
LUCINDO
He's leaving now and she has come out.
540
HERNANDO
For one more look at her beau, no doubt.
541
(DORISTEO and FINARDO come out of GERARDA'S house onto the street. GERARDA appears on her balcony.)
GERARDA
(Lucindo is here!)
542
LUCINDO
(Bad luck just grows.)
DORISTEO
Isn't she elegant?
543
FINARDO
Extremely so.
As discreet as she is courtly.
544
DORISTEO
And her shape!
Just what I like!
545
FINARDO
You've got it made,
but Lucindo is there.
546
DORISTEO
So he is.
FINARDO
Oh, Lord!
I wonder if he came to try out his sword?
547
DORISTEO
I don't care why. I know she hates him.
548
GERARDA
(He's jealous. Let the devil take him!
549
Disdain and Neglect make a man come around.
550
I'll stick it to him and pin him to the ground.
551
I'll call Doristeo even though I can't stand him.
552
Back up and start over. That ought to do it.Disdain and Neglect make a man come around.
553
I'll get what I want.)
554
LUCINDO
Who, me?
GERARDA
Not you.
555
DORISTEO
You mean me?
GERARDA
As you can see.
LUCINDO
Got me!
556
HERNANDO
Just being here is a shame.
LUCINDO
Think, Hernando. We must find a way
557
to convince her I'm here for another reason.
558
What'll I do?
559
GERARDA
Since this is the season,
I'd like to go for a ride tonight.
560
DORISTEO
Where?
561
GERARDA
To the Prado if that's all right.
Will you pick me up?
562
DORISTEO
I'll be here at eight.
LUCINDO
To go to the Prado! They've made a date!
563
HERNANDO
Try to forget her. I do believe
564
your jealousy's in need of some relief.
565
DORISTEO
Is that all you want?
566
GERARDA
Thank you, yes.
DORISTEO
Good-bye then.
567
FINARDO
Nothing more?
DORISTEO
Let's go.
FINARDO
Oh, yes!
(DORISTEO and FINARDO exit. LUCINDO and HERNANDO are in the street. GERARDA is still on the balcony.)
LUCINDO
Why didn't I draw my sword
568
to stop her from shooting at me? Good Lord!
569
I've got to make her jealous of me.
570
That might bring her around. You see?
571
it's my bad luck that the heavens above
572
won't let me bring her to love through love.
573
HERNANDO
But what is your plan?
574
LUCINDO
I'd really like
to take a woman to the Prado tonight.
575
Gerarda would see us and...Oh, what a blow!
576
HERNANDO
Who would go with you?
577
LUCINDO
That I don't know.
HERNANDO
It'd be hard to find one now.
578
LUCINDO
No matter.
We'll put a manto on you.
579
HERNANDO
I'd rather...
You'd have to call me Madame the Terrible.
580
LUCINDO
That's what I'll do.
581
HERNANDO
You're crazy.
LUCINDO
It's possible.
Why not?
582
HERNANDO
Why not? What if we meet
Don Juan
583
and he acts before he speaks?
584
LUCINDO
I'll be there, Hernando. For now, you go ask
585
Gerarda if she's seen a lady pass.
586
HERNANDO
A good idea! I think that might do.
587
You've tried loving, try jealousy too.
588
Miss Gerarda!
589
GERARDA
Hernando, is that you?
HERNANDO
Yes, it is.
590
GERARDA
I have some work to do.
HERNANDO
Just listen a minute.
591
GERARDA
A minute? I'll wait.
HERNANDO
You show discretion and have good taste...
592
GERARDA
Just say what you want.
593
HERNANDO
I wanted to know
which of these houses is... Estefania's home,
594
so that dunce of a master won't take away
595
the salary he owes me for today.
596
He asked me to follow her and I lost track
597
when I saw you here.
598
GERARDA
Now that's a laugh.
You go tell that fool of a master
599
such tricks only invite disaster.
600
(She turns toward LUCINDO.)
Oh, Sir Somber, why the tricks?
601
Throw off the jealousy that's making you sick.
602
Try some plain talk. Tell me the truth.
603
How can you claim bravery as a virtue
604
if just seeing me here has you shaking?
605
Give me your wrist to feel the quaking
606
of your pulse. Let me touch your brow.
607
Dear Heaven, you're burning! What is it now?
608
You, there, bring this man a swallow
609
of orange-blossom water.
610
HERNANDO
That's a low blow.
GERARDA
Why do you need to make up stories for me?
611
Trying to get even with me? With me?
612
LUCINDO
I'm angry.
613
HERNANDO
Me too. Do you know a poet?
LUCINDO
What for?
614
HERNANDO
To write a satirical poem
that we can use, like a prescription
615
against that witch.
616
He can put her description
617
into a gossipy song. We'll hang her in effigy.
618
We'll buy a cowbell to use in the revelry.
619
You get the costumes and we'll have a feast.
620
By God...!
621
LUCINDO
Be quiet, you ignorant beast.
My love, my Gerarda...
622
GERARDA
I must go, it's late.
(GERARDA exits.)
LUCINDO
What? Where are you going? Please wait.
623
Listen to your lover. Tell me why
624
you hurt me this way. Why do I...
625
HERNANDO
Does Estefania live here?
626
LUCINDO
Stop that!
HERNANDO
She went that way. She left at last.
627
There's your father.
628
LUCINDO
Coming this way?
(The CAPTAIN enters.)
CAPTAIN
I've looked everywhere for you all day.
629
LUCINDO
I can guess why you want to see me.
630
You always complain that I'm too free,
631
too restless, and stay out too late;
632
but really it's all right to chase
633
women at my age; a sign of daring
634
that's proper to a man of bearing.
635
If it's because she has no honor...
636
CAPTAIN
No honor? What do you mean? Why for...
637
Where did you get that scorpion tongue?
638
Are you worthy to kiss her foot?
639
Even the ground she has stepped upon?
640
LUCINDO
I'm annoyed at what she has done,
641
making me jealous with a man or two
642
she claims to adore.
643
CAPTAIN
What talk from you!
About a fine lady! But then I must be
644
the one you're talking about. It's me
645
she loves.
646
LUCINDO
She loves you, too?
CAPTAIN
I have what it takes.
647
LUCINDO
(I'm sure you do.)
CAPTAIN
Speak up now.
648
LUCINDO
I'm sorry you're here.
She must have twenty more, I fear...
649
CAPTAIN
You talk that way because you feel
650
left out knowing she's accepted me.
651
And such a nice lady! If the mourning
652
wouldn't delay our marriage...One warning:
653
I'd run you through.
654
LUCINDO
You? Marry her?
You might as well kill me. Just consider...
655
CAPTAIN
What should I consider? Anything more?
656
LUCINDO
She's little better than a common whore!
657
CAPTAIN
(Now that makes me stop and think...but then,
658
he may be trying to provoke me again
659
to stop the wedding. Like a soldier
660
who reflects the sun, aiming a mirror
661
into the eyes of an approaching line,
662
that fool wants to anger me with his advice.
663
I'll go to Fenisa and take her his answer,
664
but I have stopped to think and wonder.)
665
(The CAPTAIN exits.)
HERNANDO
What about that?
666
LUCINDO
I'm ready to kill.
Break down those doors.
667
(LUCINDO pounds on GERARDA's doors.)
HERNANDO
Not now! Be still!
LUCINDO
Come out here right now, you witch.
668
HERNANDO
Wait a minute. Calm down a bit.
669
(GERARDA comes again onto the balcony.)
GERARDA
Knocking down my house, you silly clown?
670
LUCINDO
What stops me from killing you now?
671
GERARDA
Adaggerforme? Averyprettyplay!
672
LUCINDO
Why did you fool my father that way
673
by saying you'd marry him?
674
GERARDA
That's a good one
you're trying to pull. Do you need a reason
675
to come talk to me?
676
LUCINDO
Tell me why
I weaken when I see you. Why don't I
677
just kill you right now? My father was here.
678
He told me you'd marry him. How queer!
679
GERARDA
Me? I've never seen him. That boob
680
Hernando made it all up so you,
681
Lucindo, could come see me.
682
HERNANDO
Less contempt!
He's telling the truth, not what I dreamt.
683
GERARDA
Not so loud!
684
HERNANDO
If I must whisper my lies,
the truth I'll speak out loud.
685
GERARDA
I'm surprised
by your gall.
686
LUCINDO
And I by your cheek.
When did you see him? Where did you speak?
687
How did he find you?
688
GERARDA
What are you saying?
I've never heard such crazy raving.
689
LUCINDO
You've made him forget his graying hair.
690
All women are devils. That I swear.
691
GERARDA
You men are all angels, I suppose?
692
Lucindo, are you afraid to show
693
that you've been hurt by my disdain?
694
Do I know your father? Isn't it plain
695
what it is you're doing?
696
LUCINDO
I pray
if you marry you realize your mistake:
697
that the old man lives two thousand years.
698
You got him by fooling his eyes and his ears
699
to get even with me. By God! What curse
700
more inhuman, what oath more perverse,
701
than to hope you awaken each day of the week
702
lying beside that snow-capped peak?
703
What more foul than to find your body
704
beside the aging hulk of your hubby,
705
like ice in the winter, a scarecrow in summer?
706
When you're married, cruel stepmother,
707
I'll kiss your hand, he'll kiss your mouth.
708
What a choice!
709
GERARDA
Hernando, tell me now,
is this the truth or one of your plots?
710
HERNANDO
I wish it were.
711
GERARDA
I know your thoughts:
when I made a date for the Prado tonight,
712
you heard me and want to stop me. All right!
713
I will have a coach and I will have some fun.
714
We'll hire musicians before we are done.
715
Please take your stunts to Estefania. There!
716
LUCINDO
I'll kill you yet.
717
GERARDA
Oh, I'm really scared!
(GERARDA exits.)
HERNANDO
She left!
718
LUCINDO
She closed the door, the bitch!
Damn this love that makes me twitch!
719
Please open the door, my love. Hernando,
720
are her maids around? Look through the keyhole.
721
HERNANDO
She sure knows how to get under your skin.
722
LUCINDO
And flay me too.
723
HERNANDO
Her efforts to win
the old man were a success.
724
LUCINDO
You can bet
her beauty made him easy to get.
725
(The CAPTAIN enters.)
CAPTAIN
Are you still here?
726
LUCINDO
What a surprise!
This house, these doors today are mine;
727
tomorrow they may be yours.
728
Can I so swiftly leave behind
729
the one who is to be your bride?
730
The woman I adore?
731
CAPTAIN
I think you must have gone insane.
You told me several terrible tales
732
about that angel Fenisa.
733
And reporting that made me lose face.
734
I was lucky to get away safe
735
from her mother, Belisa.
736
You traitor! You caused the trouble.
737
My wife-to-be is much more honorable,
738
more virtuous than your mother.
739
LUCINDO
Who is the subject of all this babble?
740
CAPTAIN
Fenisa.
741
LUCINDO
But she's more respectable
than almost any other!
742
The woman I was talking about,
743
the strumpet who lives in this house,
744
is Gerarda.
745
CAPTAIN
What does she
have to do with Fenisa, you lout?
746
LUCINDO
Well, I was here when you bawled me out
747
about some woman, you see?
748
CAPTAIN
Now that is just another tale
749
that you've invented. All with the aid
750
of your servant buffoon.
751
HERNANDO
Me? A tale? You've made a mistake.
752
Like any man of a certain age,
753
afraid of being fooled.
754
CAPTAIN
Deny your love for Fenisa, now.
755
LUCINDO
My love?
756
CAPTAIN
Can you also disavow
your notes and go-betweens?
757
Well, she told me all about how
758
you came last night to stand below
759
her window, trying to see
760
if she would talk.
761
LUCINDO
Me, send notes?
Or go-betweens? Me at her window?
762
Hernando...
763
CAPTAIN
A deposition?
False eyes, flattering tongue, phony heart and soul!
764
Feigned friend, faked view, forged word and oath!
765
Hear my admonition:
766
By heaven above, if I ever hear
767
that you have even been passing near
768
her house, her window, her door,
769
you will never —and this is clear—
770
come into my house again. You hear?
771
LUCINDO
But listen to me.
772
CAPTAIN
What for?
LUCINDO
Just one word.
773
CAPTAIN
What word is that?
LUCINDO
You can tell her for me she shouldn't act
774
like a stepmother yet.
775
If, before getting married, she began
776
her wicked work...
777
CAPTAIN
Get away, you ass!
LUCINDO
Listen!
778
CAPTAIN
That's all, the end!
(The CAPTAIN exits.)
LUCINDO
What's going on? What's happening to me?
779
Telling lies about me before I've seen
780
or had a look at her face?
781
HERNANDO
Isn't she the very same lady
782
who looked at you so tenderly
783
a little earlier today?
784
LUCINDO
The very same!
785
HERNANDO
Well, I'll be damned
if this isn't all part of a plan
786
to get a message to you.
787
She must have fallen for you at that!
788
LUCINDO
How could that have come to pass?
789
HERNANDO
It did! It's God's own truth!
790
I read four lines from the letter she wrote
791
that was addressed to your simple soul
792
and sent with her loving eyes.
793
She tempted you by letting you hold
794
her lace hanky and giving you hope.
795
That is, if my eyes aren't blind.
796
And all that stuff your father says
797
about your writing and bothering ways
798
is to tell you to write,
799
to come to her window and make your claim.
800
LUCINDO
How strange, Hernando! I'm amazed!
801
HERNANDO
What's to lose if you try?
802
LUCINDO
Nothing, Hernando, nothing at all.
803
With her fine face, her bright resolve,
804
her art of being clever,
805
that young lady's just what I want
806
to loosen the bonds and let me fall
807
out of love with the other.
808
We'll go call on her tonight.
809
If it's true and you are right,
810
if it's all a means
811
to bring me there, it's a daring sign
812
of her discretion, a delightful device
813
this world has never seen.
814
HERNANDO
And it's important that she love you.
815
Think of the legacy
816
you stand to lose
817
if your father should remarry.
818
That loss is greater, whatever you do,
819
than losing the love of that lying fool
820
with whom you want to tarry.
821
If he does want to take a new wife,
822
Belisa would give him a more fitting life
823
than would Fenisa, I vow.
824
LUCINDO
If she loves me, Hernando, I mightthan losing the love of that lying fool
825
order new britches for you as a prize.
826
HERNANDO
Place the order right now.
827
LUCINDO
If she were able to fool those two
828
in spite of their age and experience too;
829
if, with great discretion,
830
she were able to make good use
831
of this opportunity she's run into;
832
if having felt affection
833
for someone she's hardly had time to inspect,
834
she could let him know her soul's intent;
835
if she could also foresee
836
his response, knowing he'd comprehend;
837
in talking of her, it might well be said:
838
she's IN LOVE BUT DISCREET.
839
END OF ACT ONE
(Locale 1: At night on the Prado.)
(DORISTEO and FINARDO enter with GERARDA, and FABIO and LISEO, musicians.)
DORISTEO
How cool!
840
FINARDO
And pleasant!
GERARDA
I'm delighted
by the fountains.
841
DORISTEO
No place more alive
in all of Spain.
842
GERARDA
What lovely pools...
DORISTEO
Wonderful!
843
GERARDA
...greeting us with jewels.
DORISTEO
The water in them is beautifully clear.
844
Are you glad you came?
845
GERARDA
It's enough, my dear,
to be at your side.
846
DORISTEO
Sit here and rest.
FINARDO
Of all places to be, the Prado's the best.
847
DORISTEO
So I've heard people say. You two,
848
haven't you tuned up yet?
849
LISEO
I would,
but my G-string is loose.
850
GERARDA
Twist the pin.
DORISTEO
That's what I say.
851
FABIO
Ready?
DORISTEO
Begin.
FABIO
What shall I sing?
852
DORISTEO
Lope's new song.
LISEO
"I Sigh With Desire?"
853
FINARDO
That's a good one!
(The MUSICIANS play and sing.)
MUSIC[IANS]
When your beauty stands before me,
854
I sigh with love;
855
and when you are no longer seen
856
I sigh with desire.
857
When I note the warmth of your fire,
858
I thrill with love;
859
but when icy disdain is in your eyes,
860
I sigh and retire.
861
When your beauty stands before me,
862
I sigh with love;
863
and when you are no longer seen
864
I sigh with desire.
865
(LUCINDO and HERNANDO enter.)
LUCINDO
They said they were going to hire musicians.
866
HERNANDO
There's singing over there in that direction.
867
LUCINDO
The song's not bad if it's not too long.
868
HERNANDO
Just like birds, they stop their song
869
when anyone approaches.
870
LUCINDO
Go get a better look.
HERNANDO
I wish you'd stop acting like a fool.
871
LUCINDO
What does it matter? It's only for fun.
872
It's not time yet for the other one.
873
HERNANDO
"Jealousy laughs when lovers cry."
874
I'll play my part and pass them by.
875
Wait for me here.
876
LUCINDO
I'll wait.
(HERNANDO covers his face with his cape, passes close by the five and returns to LUCINDO.)
FINARDO
Look there!
Why is he coming here to stare?
877
DORISTEO
He must be looking for something he's lost,
878
or someone that got away.
879
GERARDA
A song?
LISEO
Another one?
880
GERARDA
Yes, but don't stop to tune.
HERNANDO
I know her voice.
881
LUCINDO
Is it Gerarda?
HERNANDO
For sure!
LUCINDO
Ohhh!
882
HERNANDO
Are you hurt?
LUCINDO
And the man?
Is it him?
883
HERNANDO
Yes, it is.
LUCINDO
Oh, damn!
HERNANDO
It hurts like hell to judge from your squeal.
884
LUCINDO
The more distance between us, the closer I feel.
885
HERNANDO
If you keep that up, she'll see you. Calm down.
886
LUCINDO
Is he holding her close?
887
HERNANDO
And how!
LUCINDO
I know I'm drinking from Jealousy's cup
888
for inside I feel like I'm burning up.
889
The poison's too bitter! It enters the eyes
890
and attacks the soul where love resides.
891
I wish I'd never come!
892
HERNANDO
Then leave.
A better angel's waiting, isn't she?
893
LUCINDO
What angel?
894
HERNANDO
Fenisa.
LUCINDO
I'm in no mood
to talk to angels.
895
HERNANDO
But she adores you.
Isn't it right that you return her love?
896
LUCINDO
There's no danger in putting her off.
897
This must be a first love for her.
898
Like Hero she'll wait alone in her tower,
899
but this one who's in the arms of a lover,
900
if I leave her alone, I'll suffer.
901
She'll rip my soul to shreds. You brought
902
the manto?
903
HERNANDO
I did.
LUCINDO
Then put it on.
HERNANDO
Something could go wrong.
904
LUCINDO
From your cape,
you can make a skirt.
905
HERNANDO
Me, be your date?
A woman?
906
LUCINDO
In the bushes over there,
disguise yourself in women's wear.
907
HERNANDO
I'm going, but I'm afraid.
908
LUCINDO
You sot,
get going!
909
HERNANDO
I'm off, but I'll tell you what:
You're my defense. If you don't come,
910
you'll be shocked to smell what I've done.
911
(HERNANDO exits. LUCINDO is afoot, at a distance from the others who are seated.)
LUCINDO
Love is never cured with good intentions!
912
The mistake is made in treating the hurt
913
since deep within gray ash, still there burns
914
the amber sign of passions's resurrection.
915
Ardor and Disdain, Anger, Indiscretion,
916
the soul at times retains while yet asleep;
917
but what lethargic spirit does not leap
918
wakened by the force of doubt's inventions?
919
Oh Suspicion! How rightly you've been compared
920
to a swarm of gnats drawn to love, whose flames
921
provide the fumes in which you are conceived.
922
What matter, since whenever I'm relieved
923
by sleep, fatigued by playing love's games,
924
Jealousy's trumpet awakens me with its blare?
925
(HERNANDO enters dressed in manto and cape as a woman.)
HERNANDO
How do I look?
926
LUCINDO
Good enough I hope
for it all to work out.
927
HERNANDO
You think I can cope
with this skirt?
928
LUCINDO
Well enough.
HERNANDO
And the veil?
LUCINDO
That too.
929
HERNANDO
How about my...sex appeal?
LUCINDO
Let's start the play.
930
HERNANDO
Does my slip show?
LUCINDO
Come on!
931
HERNANDO
You're in love, so I must go.
(LUCINDO and HERNANDO approach the others.)
DORISTEO
A lady and her friend are coming this way.
932
GERARDA
Look at how she moves. What a display!
933
That has to be seen to be believed.
934
DORISTEO
What do you mean?
935
GERARDA
Just what I see,
and a nice smell, too.
936
DORISTEO
In leaving the house
she must have taken a mint.
937
FINARDO
A trip out
and to the Prado, with minty breath!
938
That means she's a lady of...
939
DORISTEO
...of that bent!
FINARDO
Professional!
940
DORISTEO
She wants to sit next to you.
GERARDA
How heavy!
941
FINARDO
She could be sitting for two.
LUCINDO
Beautiful Estefania, what do you think
942
of the breeze out here?
943
(HERNANDO speaks in falsetto when he plays the role of ESTEFANIA.)
HERNANDO
It seems a sin
to come without Aunty, but I'd do even more
944
if only you'd ask me. It's you I adore.
945
LUCINDO
Please go on singing.
946
HERNANDO
Did you stop for me?
(The MUSICIANS repeat their song softly in the background. GERARDA gets up and moves off.)
GERARDA
(It's Lucindo! Ahh! Now I see.
947
It must have been true—without a doubt—.
948
He was after the lady he asked about.
949
That reaction I thought he was faking
950
turned out to be true. My heart is breaking!
951
"Love often comes in flattering shades;
952
of Treason and Error its clothes are made."
953
He discovered my trick and learned a lesson)
954
HERNANDO
She's disturbed, having tasted the medicine.
955
What do you think?
956
LUCINDO
We might just make it.
GERARDA
(What fun to dish it out! How awful to take it)
957
Doristeo, please bring me some water.
958
DORISTEO
And something to go with it. I never falter
959
in trying to please you. You wait here
960
while I go for refreshments.
961
GERARDA
I wouldn't hear
of your going by yourself.
962
FINARDO
Shall I?
GERARDA
Yes, do.
I'm not alone.
963
DORISTEO
Let's go.
FINARDO
Tootle-oo!
(DORISTEO and FINARDO exit.)
GERARDA
(I can't wait for us to be left alone)
964
LISEO
Shall we sing?
965
GERARDA
I'd rather you go.
FABIO
She's up to something.
966
LISEO
She did a good job
getting rid of the others.
967
FABIO
Well, I don't want
to disturb them, Liseo.
968
LISEO
Fabio, let's leave.
(The MUSICIANS leave.)
GERARDA
Oh, miss!
969
HERNANDO
Are you talking to me?
GERARDA
I would like to see and to talk with you, too.
970
HERNANDO
See and talk to me? Why do you...
971
GERARDA
Because I'm a neighbor!...
972
HERNANDO
For pity's sake,
what's wrong?
973
GERARDA
Is that all it takes
to make you cross?
974
HERNANDO
It's hot around here,
Lucindo, let's go.
975
LUCINDO
Calm down, my dear.
To get so angry is quite severe.
976
Take off your manto so the lady here
977
can see the beauty, by God endowed,
978
the radiance that's the talk of the town.
979
Uncover those beautiful eyes, my dove,
980
the cause of envy, the cause of love.
981
HERNANDO
I'm not in the mood. My eyes are all tears,
982
a sea of jealousy because it appears
983
you've been seeing Gerarda. I'm told
984
she's generous to a fault.
985
LUCINDO
Oh, no!
How could Gerarda make you jealous?
986
I don't know how you could be suspicious.
987
May God never cure the love that's killing me
988
if I care for her one whit.
989
May God keep us from joining in love's embrace
990
if I respect her one bit.
991
May God not allow me to taste of your lips
992
if I have loved her ever.
993
May God forbid the two of us to marry
994
if I should even see her...
995
GERARDA
(How can I stand this? Why do I stay?)
996
HERNANDO
Dear Lord! What curses!
997
GERARDA
(May they come my way
if I take any more of this, you louse.
998
Such nonsense!)
999
HERNANDO
They say you went to her house
and that's what got me all unnerved.
1000
LUCINDO
There's really no reason to be concerned,
1001
so calm yourself, take heart, my dove.
1002
You're the one that has my love.
1003
GERARDA
Not as long as I'm alive!
1004
(GERARDA attacks HERNANDO, and LUCINDO steps between them.)
LUCINDO
What do you think you are doing?
1005
HERNANDO
Why?
Are you attacking me?
1006
GERARDA
I don't care
if you are Estefania.
1007
LUCINDO
Don't you dare.
HERNANDO
A lady like me?
1008
GERARDA
I'll kill her!
LUCINDO
You stay!
HERNANDO
She wants to hurt me!
1009
LUCINDO
And you, get away!
(HERNANDO leaves.)
GERARDA
Who was that woman?
1010
LUCINDO
One who adores me.
You've made a terrible mistake. Let her be.
1011
She's a lady with powerful friends.
1012
It could cost you plenty in the end.
1013
GERARDA
What worse than what she's already done?
1014
Get out of my way!
1015
LUCINDO
I never let anyone
who hates me order me around that way.
1016
GERARDA
Me? Hate you?
1017
LUCINDO
Do you mean to say
that you love me?
1018
GERARDA
Oh, sweetheart,
everything I told you was only pretend,
1019
so was everything you heard me say.
1020
You, I love; Doristeo, I hate.
1021
Lucindo, I'm yours all over. Take me.
1022
LUCINDO
God in heaven! What's this I see?
1023
GERARDA
As proof that I love you alone,
1024
sweet lover, come with me. Come home.
1025
LUCINDO
Punishment gives you the will to go on.
1026
Like animals, you women are easily taught.
1027
But it's over now, forevermore.
1028
Estefania's the woman that I adore.
1029
GERARDA
Why are you leaving, light of my life?
1030
LUCINDO
Because your day has turned into night.
1031
GERARDA
Come with me. Come on, to my house.
1032
LUCINDO
Not on your life.
1033
GERARDA
Why not now?
LUCINDO
Doristeo will be here in due time;
1034
let him keep you warm if you like.
1035
GERARDA
On bended knee I beg you to come.
1036
I want to explain why I did what I've done,
1037
to clear up the reasons for my disdain.
1038
Nothing but jealousy! Let's leave this place.
1039
Come, Lucindo, come on. You'll see.
1040
LUCINDO
Really and truly? You do love me?
1041
GERARDA
I've always loved only you, my dove.
1042
LUCINDO
Well, that'll cost you a little blood.
1043
(LUCINDO draws his dagger just as HERNANDO returns in normal dress.)
HERNANDO
What sacrifice is this being performed?
1044
LUCINDO
She made me angry with her scorn.
1045
HERNANDO
(If he wants vengeance and is that bold,
1046
and Gerarda sits there waiting for the blow,
1047
I must have to play the angel's role)
1048
What are you doing, sir?
1049
LUCINDO
Oh, Hernando,
a good thing you came!
1050
HERNANDO
I've been in the park,
searching the Prado for you in the dark.
1051
They found out at home this lady got out,
1052
and two hours ago...
1053
LUCINDO
Not this one, you lout!
HERNANDO
This isn't Estefania?
1054
LUCINDO
For a while here
we had thunder and lightning.
1055
HERNANDO
Gerarda, I fear.
LUCINDO
Can't you see that it is?
1056
HERNANDO
Leave her alone.
If it is she, you'd be the one
1057
to catch the blame.
1058
LUCINDO
We'll talk about
this later, Gerarda.
1059
GERARDA
Listen.
LUCINDO
Not now.
GERARDA
Wait.
1060
HERNANDO
Now that was brave of you.
LUCINDO
Just knowing she loved me cut me loose.
1061
(LUCINDO and HERNANDO exit. DORISTEO and FINARDO return.)
DORISTEO
God, what bad luck! A real disgrace!
1062
Nothing was open, not one place.
1063
FINARDO
We even broke one door down.
1064
GERARDA
You two must be all worn out.
1065
DORISTEO
Were you here by yourself?
1066
GERARDA
All alone.
DORISTEO
But the musicians?
1067
GERARDA
They left to go home.
FINARDO
We couldn't find a thing to eat!
1068
And they brag that every street
1069
in Madrid, all year round, has places
1070
where those who want can get pastries,
1071
wines and desserts far into the night.
1072
GERARDA
It's getting late and I don't feel right.
1073
DORISTEO
I wonder if it's not too cool out here.
1074
GERARDA
The trouble was the heat, my dear.
1075
DORISTEO
Can you read the stars?
1076
FINARDO
I only know:
"When the handle of the dipper points its toe,
1077
it's nearly morning and time to go."
1078
DORISTEO
If what you say is really true,
1079
it's almost that time. Take a look.
1080
It's already high. Let's go and rest.
1081
What poor friends!
1082
FINARDO
Not the best!
GERARDA
(Lucindo, now that you love me less,
1083
I love you more. What a mess!)
1084
(DORISTEO, FINARDO, and GERARDA exit together.)
(Locale 2:The street in front of FENISA'S house.)
(LUCINDO and HERNANDO enter.)
HERNANDO
You're so calm now, I presume
1085
you've managed to forget that lady loon.
1086
LUCINDO
You're not just joking.
1087
HERNANDO
What's the cause
of such a miracle? What has brought
1088
you to your senses?
1089
LUCINDO
Knowing she loves me.
God bless the idea, the plan, the jealousy,
1090
the time, the manto, the Prado, the action,
1091
and even her unpleasant reaction.
1092
HERNANDO
Why not bless Estefania, too?
1093
I still have the marks, to tell the truth,
1094
from when Gerarda slapped my face.
1095
LUCINDO
They've opened the window. We'll stop and wait.
1096
(FENISA appears at her window.)
FENISA
Oh, sir...
1097
LUCINDO
Who's calling?
FENISA
A lady. Be quiet.
HERNANDO
(It must be Fenisa who got out of bed)
1098
FENISA
Tell me your name and I'll talk to you.
1099
LUCINDO
(See? Coming here was a really good move.
1100
HERNANDO
Everyone in Madrid is now fast asleep.)
1101
LUCINDO
It's Lucindo, dear lady, I came to see
1102
about your complaint, not just for fun.
1103
You do know I'm Captain Bernardo's son?
1104
FENISA
I do.
1105
LUCINDO
If I've never been here before,
how can you say I came here to court?
1106
Me? Did I ever come looking for you?
1107
Me? Did I write you a love note or two?
1108
Me? At this window, covered with bars,
1109
talking of love or causing alarm?
1110
Me? Out here to keep you awake?
1111
Me? A messenger? For pity's sake!
1112
FENISA
Don't resent my tricks of love.
1113
You never were here. Heavens above!
1114
I never saw you here at my window.
1115
My complaints weren't true as you know
1116
although I did say that earlier today.
1117
Never have you written or given me chase.
1118
What this is about you know, all right.
1119
I don't need to say it. You came tonight.
1120
It's been hard for me to find a way
1121
to let you know my feelings, but today
1122
you gave me the will, love gave me the plan.
1123
Your father came to ask for my hand,
1124
but since my birth I've been marked for you.
1125
With God's help it may all come true.
1126
To use the Captain as my go-between
1127
shouldn't be seen as insanity.
1128
He's a neighbor, he's old, he's wise.
1129
What's more, he loves you as much as I.
1130
I've used this means to let you know
1131
how much I love you, dear Lucindo.
1132
In return I ask you to appreciate
1133
my belief in you. If my wealth and face
1134
even though you deserve much more
1135
should lead you to...
1136
LUCINDO
So soon, such favor!
Don't just throw it on the street.
1137
The street is no fertile field.
1138
Such seed is wasted when it is sown
1139
unless it falls on a loving soul.
1140
I have to thank my own good fortune
1141
for finding out that I've pleased you.
1142
How well I know I've never thought
1143
I could ever deserve your love.
1144
That day, that glorious jubilee,
1145
I first saw you and you saw me,
1146
I felt a new desire awaken.
1147
I've not been able to sleep since then.
1148
My own lack of native wit
1149
seemed to prevent my seeing it;
1150
what I hear my father saying.
1151
But when he stubbornly kept insisting,
1152
I finally came to see what you meant.
1153
FENISA
Then you know what it is I dreamt.
1154
LUCINDO
"A debt acquired is a debt to pay".
1155
Once I knew, I looked for a way
1156
to pay what I owed. But if they persist
1157
in your marriage to my father, can I resist?
1158
What will happen to me and to you?
1159
FENISA
Don't believe in the power of those two,
1160
because it's we, their own two children,
1161
whose marriage is clearly destined.
1162
You've yet to comprehend the wiles
1163
of a woman in love, as decided as I.
1164
LUCINDO
I know that you are discreet and vital.
1165
That's obvious from your wit and style.
1166
FENISA
I've done nothing yet.
1167
LUCINDO
I can only repeat:
Fenisa's a lady IN LOVE BUT DISCREET.
1168
FENISA
May your father forgive me for using him so,
1169
sending word through him to let you know
1170
what my mother prefers to keep indoors.
1171
What I want to say that I'll be yours,
1172
I'll say by complaining. Whenever we can,
1173
we'll see each other. If you hear I can't stand
1174
any more, pay attention to the talk.
1175
LUCINDO
I say, dear lady, I had the same thought.
1176
FENISA
That way you'll know what's going on
1177
inside this house. We'll tie the knot
1178
while he's making plans to take a spouse.
1179
We'll be wed before he finds out.
1180
LUCINDO
We need all the help we can get
1181
to conceal our reason for worry, and then,
1182
can you plan things so that we can meet?
1183
After all, you're the one who's discreet.
1184
FENISA
I have a plan that'll work. I'll plead
1185
with your father to sent you to me
1186
so that I can give you my blessing.
1187
that way you can come without upsetting
1188
my mother. But disillusion me now
1189
or tell me I'm standing on solid ground.
1190
LUCINDO
I gave you my soul of my own free will.
1191
It's yours to command.
1192
HERNANDO
Listen! Be still!
Hear the larks singing to the morning;
1193
there, a quail is whistling its warning.
1194
The morning star has risen high.
1195
The time for love has passed us by.
1196
FENISA
Go now, my love, the dawn is here.
1197
I don't want my mother to miss me, dear.
1198
LUCINDO
You ask for permission from my father
1199
for me to see you.
1200
HERNANDO
It's getting brighter!
LUCINDO
Give me something, if you please,
1201
to take to my bed.
1202
FENISA
I wish it were me!
HERNANDO
Tell her to wind things up. It's late.
1203
FENISA
For this ribbon, what will you trade?
1204
LUCINDO
What do you want?
1205
FENISA
Your heart.
HERNANDO
Enough!
LUCINDO
It's already yours.
1206
FENISA
Good night, my love.
(FENISA exits.)
LUCINDO
She left!
1207
HERNANDO
At last!
LUCINDO
What luck!
HERNANDO
I see
that you're in love.
1208
LUCINDO
Shouldn't I be?
HERNANDO
And Gerarda?
1209
LUCINDO
That's over.
HERNANDO
How come?
LUCINDO
You saw. Fenisa's prettier, she's fun,
1210
she's noble...
1211
HERNANDO
And has hot Spanish blood!
LUCINDO
This ribbon alone, now that it's won,
1212
is better than Gerarda when all's said and done.
1213
(HERNANDO and LUCINDO exit.)
(Locale 3:In front of GERARDA's house)
(DORISTEO and GERARDA enter.)
DORISTEO
I'm a man and a good one, too.
1214
Speak freely to me; tell me the truth.
1215
Why do you treat me with such contempt?
1216
Do you still love Lucindo?
1217
GERARDA
No, but then
last night...
1218
DORISTEO
Go on.
GERARDA
It's my bad luck
that his disdain, it seems, was enough
1219
to set fire to the snow covering my heart.
1220
Did you see that woman, that ugly tart,
1221
who sat next to me?
1222
DORISTEO
Then it must have been
Lucindo who brought her.
1223
GERARDA
So it seems.
DORISTEO
That's all I need to know from you,
1224
Gerarda. See what jealousy can do!
1225
GERARDA
Jealousy's stronger than love as you say.
1226
It can triumph over disdain.
1227
I swear that I'm as good as dead.
1228
Everything that Lucindo said
1229
seemed to be already prepared.
1230
So did her questions. I was snared.
1231
But then I did find out the lady's name,
1232
Estefania, [and also that she came]
1233
from a good family. A footman appeared
1234
like greased lightning and I could hear
1235
what he said: that there was no doubt,
1236
they knew at home that she had gone out.
1237
DORISTEO
(How could this happen? Is it all a game?)
1238
What's that? What was the woman's name?
1239
GERARDA
What reason do you have for being so shaken?
1240
DORISTEO
I was wondering about the woman
1241
you were denouncing.
1242
GERARDA
Estefania, she said.
DORISTEO
Estefania!
1243
GERARDA
That's right!
DORISTEO
It must be!
It would be a way to get even, you see,
1244
if because I came to visit your house
1245
Lucindo got into mine.
1246
GERARDA
But how?
DORISTEO
A sister of mine Don't you see?
1247
is named Estefania.
1248
GERARDA
It must be she!
DORISTEO
What's to keep me from defending my honor,
1249
from seeking revenge on that traitor?
1250
GERARDA
He is after her! He said one day
1251
he'd get even with you if he found a way.
1252
DORISTEO
And he did! She told me last night
1253
that she'd been out to see the sights
1254
on the Prado. Estefania! My honor is lost!
1255
(At what a cost!)
1256
GERARDA
That was more than I wanted to know.
1257
DORISTEO
He's certainly dishonored my already, so...
1258
they'll have to get married.
1259
GERARDA
Married!
That's not fair. You'll have me buried.
1260
DORISTEO
What have I done?
1261
GERARDA
You might as well kill me
as marry him to another.
1262
DORISTEO
How else can it be?
(Now that's a case!)
1263
GERARDA
My heart is broken!
DORISTEO
Get out of my way!
1264
GERARDA
I shouldn't have spoken.
(GERARDA exits.)
DORISTEO
My sister! Who could plan such revenge!
1265
I must find Finardo so we can challenge
1266
Lucindo to a duel. He'll come
1267
to settle the matter. Justice will be done.
1268
He'll die or he'll marry to satisfy me.
1269
Such a vile sister! How could she?
1270
But the law that condemns me is very just;
1271
rather than duty I catered to lust.
1272
"Home fires must be tended with care
1273
before fanning a new flame anywhere."
1274
(DORISTEO exits.)
(Locale 4:A room in BELISA's house.)
(BELISA, the CAPTAIN, FENISA and FULMINATO all enter.)
FENISA
Do me a favor and give me great pleasure:
1275
bring you son here since I'm his mother.
1276
CAPTAIN
I think you're right.
1277
FENISA
All will be clear
as soon as we exchange our greeting here.
1278
BELISA
This house is yours, you should let him come.
1279
CAPTAIN
He can come now; he knows what I've done.
1280
Fulminato!
1281
FULMINATO
Yes sir?
CAPTAIN
You go and call
my son the lieutenant.
1282
FULMINATO
Yes sir. I'm off.
(FULMINATO exits.)
FENISA
(He has sent for Lucindo. That's good.
1283
Heaven help me! Before we are through
1284
these walls will witness my true affections.)
1285
CAPTAIN
(Although she seems to resent his attentions,
1286
her wish to see him has aroused my fears.
1287
He's youthful and wise beyond his years.
1288
His presence, buy contrast, makes me seem senile.
1289
She might think it better to become his wife.
1290
Who'd doubt that he's more appealing
1291
or that our marriage would be more distressing.
1292
Should she be condemned to a man of my age?
1293
There's no need for him right away.
1294
In the presence of an adult son, I'll appear
1295
even older. He must never come here
1296
a second time to raise such doubts.)
1297
(LUCINDO in fine clothes and FULMINATO enter.)
FULMINATO
The Lieutenant is here.
1298
LUCINDO
(So this is her house!
How could I be so lucky?)
1299
CAPTAIN
(His appearance offends me.)
1300
LUCINDO
What do you mean?
1301
CAPTAIN
To put it simply:
you're overdressed and came too quickly.
1302
LUCINDO
But sir, didn't you ask me to come?
1303
CAPTAIN
To greet your mother.
1304
LUCINDO
I came.
CAPTAIN
And it's done.
LUCINDO
But father...
1305
FENISA
(He makes me laugh)
LUCINDO
He told me
I was to greet you as mother-to-be
1306
and to kiss your beautiful, white hand.
1307
CAPTAIN
That's too courteous! It's enough to say "hand".
1308
You needn't add "beautiful".
1309
LUCINDO
My tongue wants
to add the epithet.
1310
FENISA
It is more gallant.
BELISA
Why does that displease you?
1311
CAPTAIN
Get up now.
(LUCINDO remains kneeling before FENISA, holding her hand.)
I won't allow any epithets in this house.
1312
BELISA
Don't be so hard. Let him greet her.
1313
LUCINDO
There's no harm since you're my father.
1314
CAPTAIN
Don't call me father!
1315
LUCINDO
But if I'm to speak
to a young woman as mother, tell me
1316
what's wrong with "father"?
1317
CAPTAIN
"Father" sounds fine
when one is younger, but it's very unkind
1318
to say it to one who is older, unless
1319
he's a priest or a hermit. Finish that kiss.
1320
FENISA
(I'm happy.)
1321
LUCINDO
I kiss the hand that bestows
(My love, accept this note.)
1322
(LUCINDO puts a not into her hand.)
FENISA
(I've got it.)
1323
LUCINDO
Now give me a blessing
as your faithful child.
1324
CAPTAIN
(The child is expecting
her to buy him a regiment.)
1325
FENISA
(What glory I feel.)
May God bless you and fill you with cheer.
1326
May God find you a wife you desire,
1327
exactly the kind you mother would like.
1328
May God give you what's now in your heart
1329
adding his blessing to mine at the start.
1330
May God make you so obedient to my will
1331
that you never displease me or deny my wish.
1332
May God give you peace and understanding
1333
so you save your father from ever worrying.
1334
May he give you such good sense
1335
when it come to love and obedience
1336
that I can give you the very same homage
1337
I would to a husband...
1338
CAPTAIN
What book about marriage,
what manual, taught you that tripe?
1339
Stop it!
1340
FENISA
(He's jealous.)
LUCINDO
(I know what it's like.)
(FENISA takes BELISA to one side. The CAPTAIN talks with LUCINDO.)
FENISA
Mother, may I speak to you alone?
1341
BELISA
What do you want?
1342
FENISA
Do you see this note?
1343
BELISA
Yes, I see it.
1344
FENISA
Well, it's a list of the dresses and other
1345
things the Captain has ordered for me. I
1346
want to read it over, but I don't want the
1347
Captain to see me read it because he might
1348
think I'm more interested in the presents than
1349
in the bridegroom. Please, mother, will you
1350
keep him busy for a minute?
1351
BELISA
It would make me happy to do so.
1352
FENISA
(Good heavens! What I have to go through to
1353
read the note that Lucindo gave me as he
1354
kissed my hand! It might be important and
1355
need an immediate answer.)
1356
BELISA
Will you lend me your ear for a minute, Captain?
1357
(FENISA read the note aside.)
FENISA
"My love, my father, who is jealous because
1358
of what you told him about me, plans to send
1359
me off to Portugal. See if you can do something
1360
about this or I'm as good as dead. I wrote
1361
this knowing that I'd see you soon. God be
1362
with you and make you my wife."
1363
(What else could possibly go wrong?
1364
How crazy and jealous! I hope that God
1365
will help me succeed in speaking to him
1366
right here and now, in front of them)
1367
Lucindo, I read your note and I hope
1368
that heaven won't mistreat us so
1369
as to send you off to Portugal
1370
or separate us for even one hour.
1371
They say the girls there are made for love,
1372
and men who go there have lots of fun;
1373
have your fun with me, Lucindo, please.
1374
When it comes to love, I'm pure Portuguese.
1375
LUCINDO
Oh, God! If only we could talk!
1376
If I could hold you in my arms!
1377
FENISA
I know how to manage that trick.
1378
LUCINDO
How can you do that?
1379
FENISA
By pretending to slip.
Then you can come to pick me up.
1380
While I'm in your arms, we'll manage a hug.
1381
LUCINDO
Are you ready?
1382
FENISA
Oh, I'm falling! Help!
(FENISA falls and LUCINDO picks her up in his arms.)
CAPTAIN
What's going on?
1383
LUCINDO
My mother tripped
and I am helping her back on her feet.
1384
CAPTAIN
That's my job as you can see.
1385
Get out of here now, get out of my sight!
1386
LUCINDO
But she was falling and it's only polite...
1387
BELISA
Did you hurt yourself, my dear?
1388
CAPTAIN
Clear out of this room, now! Did you hear?
1389
LUCINDO
I'm on my way.
1390
CAPTAIN
Immediately! Go!
LUCINDO
Why are you throwing me out?
1391
CAPTAIN
Hit the road!
LUCINDO
(Oh divine Fenisa, sweet comprehension!
1392
Such extremes of heavenly discretion!
1393
You have shown us the marvelous feats
1394
performed by a woman IN LOVE BUT DISCREET.)
1395
(LUCINDO exits.)
FENISA
I'm not at all hurt as you can see.
1396
CAPTAIN
Now that I can believe.
1397
FENISA
My son has left!
1398
CAPTAIN
He's gone at last.
1399
FENISA
I'm sorry about that.
1400
BELISA
Did you want to see more of him? Beatriz,
1401
go quickly and call him.
1402
FENISA
No, not on your life.
1403
CAPTAIN
That clumsy ox must have caused your fall.
1404
I won't let him stay around here any longer.
1405
He'll never come into this house again as
1406
long as I'm alive.
1407
BELISA
How little love you must have for your son!
1408
I thought he was a very nice young man. If
1409
I were as young as I was once, I'd certainly
1410
like to have him for a husband.
1411
FENISA
(Opportunity, I've got a hold on you!)
1412
CAPTAIN
You liked that idiot?
1413
FENISA
Mother, listen to me for a minute.
1414
BELISA
Since you are a captain, you think everyone's
1415
after your hide.
1416
(To FENISA.)
You're always asking me to listen.
1417
(FENISA takes her mother aside to talk with her.)
FENISA
The note I told you about...It really had nothing to
1418
do with dresses and... the Captain didn't give it to me.
1419
BELISA
What are you saying?
1420
FENISA
It came from Lucindo.
1421
BELISA
He has his nerve, writing to you!
1422
FENISA
It's enough to make you want to laugh.
1423
BELISA
Well, don't keep me in suspense.
1424
FENISA
He says that he want to get married.
1425
BELISA
To whom?
1426
FENISA
To you.
1427
BELISA
To me? What do you mean?
1428
FENISA
Just what I said. He says that he likes your
1429
looks. Your seriousness and wisdom please
1430
him more than my qualities do his father.
1431
What's more, if you get married. the property
1432
will then all stay in the family and your
1433
children will both be rich. If only you could
1434
read, you'd see that he says even more. But
1435
most important of all, he asks you not to let
1436
his father send him off to Portugal. He's
1437
sure that he'd be killed.
1438
BELISA
To Portugal? Never! Child, it's clear you
1439
know that good, honorable children find their
1440
pleasure in pleasing their parents. You also
1441
know that I'm not too old. I would be better
1442
off with a husband of my own and you certainly
1443
have found one for me! One that nearly pulls
1444
my eyes out of my head whenever I look at him.
1445
How pleasant! How sweet! How gallant! And,...
1446
(What a body!)
1447
FENISA
(That kind of reaction to the hope for a
1448
chance! What would she do if it were for
1449
real?)
1450
BELISA
What are you saying?
1451
FENISA
You have to keep him from leaving.
1452
BELISA
Leaving? What leaving? Just you get Lucindo
1453
to come talk to me tonight —but secretly now.
1454
FENISA
You go and let me talk to my husband-to-be.
1455
BELISA
(I wasn't prepared to that, but it doesn't
1456
matter. I'll take off these widow's weeds.
1457
I'll check myself in the mirror. Oh, Lucindo!
1458
If only you do love me, you can have all that
1459
I own.)
1460
(BELISA exits.)
CAPTAIN
A real miracle has happened, Fenisa.
1461
We've been left alone by Belisa.
1462
Since there's nobody here to see,
1463
sweet, generous Fenisa, please let me
1464
hold your hand.
1465
FENISA
(That'll be the day!)
You presume too much for a mere fiance.
1466
CAPTAIN
I'm sorry my jealousy got you upset.
1467
Won't you give me your hand as a friend?
1468
FENISA
Not without witnesses to our vows.
1469
CAPTAIN
We have three of them present right now:
1470
Jealousy, Love, and Desire are all here.
1471
FENISA
The jealousy's truly warranted, I fear.
1472
CAPTAIN
Is Lucindo continuing in his pursuit?
1473
FENISA
And wearing me out.
1474
CAPTAIN
As I presumed.
FENISA
Las night, at my window, I hear a noise.
1475
I was afraid and lost my poise.
1476
I got out of bed as best I could.
1477
Without lights I couldn't find my robe,
1478
but I finally found my manto all right.
1479
I went to the window and there...but why
1480
are you trembling so?
1481
CAPTAIN
It's anger, dear wife,
at my son's indiscretion.
1482
FENISA
...and what did I find
in the space between the shutters and bars?
1483
A note!
1484
CAPTAIN
Now that's really going too far.
I'll have to become a rabid beast
1485
to deal with him.
1486
FENISA
You catch that disease
1487
by being a father. Please calm down.
1488
CAPTAIN
I can't. I have to go find him now.
1489
(The CAPTAIN exits.)
FENISA
How nicely I've succeeded in letting him know
1490
just where to come and find my note.
1491
I'll take this chance to write a letter
1492
so he can be warned about my mother,
1493
how I've managed to get her to say
1494
that he's to be her husband. That way,
1495
his planned departure will be delayed.
1496
My mother will arrange a trade
1497
that'll calm the storm, and impede the anger
1498
that's at the root of his departure.
1499
Because, if my lover goes away,
1500
my happiness also swiftly sets sail.
1501
(FENISA exits.)
(Locale 5:The street)
(HERNANDO and LUCINDO enter.)
HERNANDO
Did all that really happen?
1502
LUCINDO
If you had only seen!
1503
I was on my knees
1504
before Fenisa, and then...
1505
You surely would have said
1506
it was a pretty sight.
1507
HERNANDO
No doubt I would have died
1508
from laughing.
1509
LUCINDO
Just reflect
on Tantalus in chains
1510
standing in the water.
1511
You should be able to gather
1512
how we are the same.
1513
He could never reach
1514
either fruit or water;
1515
the lips for which I hunger
1516
were there for me to see
1517
but not for me to touch.
1518
HERNANDO
But you held her hand!
1519
LUCINDO
My love's fiery blast
1520
starts to cool somewhat
1521
as her snowy hand
1522
approaches my eager lips.
1523
My soul, from deep within,
1524
arises in eager demand
1525
of the moisture it needs
1526
to quench the flames of desire.
1527
Love's volcano sends its fire
1528
in search of final peace.
1529
What do you think occurred
1530
as my lips touched her fingers?
1531
HERNANDO
You bit them?
1532
LUCINDO
How do you figure?
Don't be completely absurd.
1533
Ivory from the Indies?
1534
Or crystal? I should bite?
1535
It's enough I'm sure I'm right
1536
since this is all an image,
1537
that we should say "a kiss".
1538
HERNANDO
Your father is coming here.
1539
LUCINDO
Be quiet as he comes near.
1540
He mustn't know about this.
1541
(The CAPTAIN enters.)
CAPTAIN
You ought to hang your head when you see
1542
me! As if you didn't know that I was [coming.]
1543
LUCINDO
If I thought that I meant that little to
1544
you..., I'd have gone to Japan rather than [to Portugal.]
1545
CAPTAIN
I shouldn't wonder, but worse is yet to
1546
come. Didn't I tell you that Fenisa was [to be my wife?]
1547
LUCINDO
Didn't you also tell me to kiss her hand,
1548
to greet her as my mother? Are you still
1549
upset because I said that her hand was [beautiful?]
1550
CAPTAIN
You said "beautiful and white! "What a
1551
sly dandy you've turned out to be!
1552
LUCINDO
Such little things get you going! It's as
1553
if you were hunting for a shady spot under
1554
a twig. Good God! What have I done to offend [you?]
1555
CAPTAIN
Do you think what you've done is nothing?
1556
Fenisa told me that you were at her window
1557
last night and that you left a note there for
1558
her between the bars and the shutters.
1559
LUCINDO
Me?
1560
CAPTAIN
Yes, you!
1561
LUCINDO
Didn't you ask her to let you see it so that
1562
you would know if it were in my handwriting [or not?]
1563
CAPTAIN
Just stop and think how much worse it would
1564
be if it weren't.
1565
(HERNANDO and LUCINDO speak aside.)
LUCINDO
Hernando!
1566
HERNANDO
Yes sir.
1567
LUCINDO
Did you hear that?
1568
HERNANDO
I understand. Undoubtedly she wants to write
1569
to you and is letting you know to look between
1570
the bars and the shutters of her window.
1571
CAPTAIN
Come over here and listen to me. Somebody
1572
is coming this way and I wouldn't like to
1573
have my marriage become the subject of gossip
1574
all over Madrid.
1575
(DORISTEO and FINARDO enter.)
DORISTEO
He's talking to his father.
1576
FINARDO
Fine,
but this is important. Call him aside.
1577
(To LUCINDO.)
DORISTEO
I'd like to have a word with you.
1578
LUCINDO
I'm with my father now, but look...
1579
Tell me what it is that brought
1580
you here in anger, why you sought
1581
me out as if I were surely to blame.
1582
(To the CAPTAIN.)
Later we'll have to find a place
1583
where we can be alone together
1584
and I can furnish you with my answer.
1585
(LUCINDO goes off to talk with DORISTEO.)
CAPTAIN
Hernando, what do those men want?
1586
HERNANDO
They're friends.
1587
CAPTAIN
Could it be he's lost
at cards?
1588
HERNANDO
That's just what I suspect.
CAPTAIN
No good ever comes of such a debt.
1589
(To LUCINDO.)
DORISTEO
I owed you nothing, not even knowing you.
1590
You had just arrived and were quite new.
1591
So having set foot in Gerarda's place,
1592
I felt no need to guard my face.
1593
LUCINDO
If Gerarda's your only complaint,
1594
she's yours alone after today.
1595
DORISTEO
That's not all!
1596
LUCINDO
What do you mean?
Is there another?
1597
DORISTEO
So I believe,
one who means the world to me.
1598
One thing alone keeps me on my leash:
1599
your venerable father standing here.
1600
LUCINDO
You've been tricked by that woman, I fear.
1601
DORISTEO
You were gored when you thought you saw
1602
my love win over yours, and thought
1603
to get revenge attacking my honor.
1604
Then you thought of using my sister
1605
and she, not being overly smart
1606
and still somewhat young, played her part
1607
by going to the Prado with you last night.
1608
LUCINDO
What a strange story you have devised!
1609
Your sister and I have never met,
1610
nor would I ever make an attempt
1611
to ruin your honor, nor do I know
1612
where you live. Good God! And so...
1613
FINARDO
The source is suspicious. You were deceived,
1614
by God!
1615
DORISTEO
Deceived! What do you mean?
It was my sister Estefania she named,
1616
widow of a soldier killed in New Spain.
1617
LUCINDO
Now I understand your mistake.
1618
That lady, sir, has a different name.
1619
She's the one I'm planning to marry
1620
and so we wouldn't have to worry
1621
about gossip before the wedding is done,
1622
I christened her with the first name to come
1623
into my mind. To me it made no difference
1624
what she was called in Gerarda's presence:
1625
Inez, Francesca, Antoni[a], or Ruth.
1626
As God is my witness, that's the truth.
1627
DORISTEO
You have said it, and that is fine;
1628
but I'd be more clearly satisfied,
1629
I'd be happier, if the truth were known,
1630
to hear the name she calls her own.
1631
LUCINDO
We're to be wed soon. Fenisa's her name.
1632
I love her. She feels the same.
1633
We are neighbors on the Street of the Vines.
1634
My father is getting restless. It's time
1635
for me to join him. Please excuse me.
1636
DORISTEO
The demands of honor, as you must agree,
1637
force us to make such investigations.
1638
My good wishes and congratulations.
1639
(LUCINDO exits.)
CAPTAIN
Where's he going?
1640
HERNANDO
I don't know.
1641
CAPTAIN
Could it be a duel?
1642
HERNANDO
You could ask those two.
1643
CAPTAIN
Just a minute, gentlemen. If my intuition
1644
is telling me the truth, I think you are
1645
looking for a fight. You should know that
1646
the man who just left here is my son. He's
1647
gone off alone and I see that you two are
1648
armed and going off after him. I'll join
1649
you and we can have at it, two on two. He
1650
and I were soldiers together in Flanders.
1651
I was Captain and he was my Lieutenant.
1652
Let's go.
1653
FINARDO
We'd both be happy to serve you, sir, as
1654
soldiers who've returned from the field;
1655
but from today on we're the best of friends.
1656
We did come to see him on a matter of some
1657
importance, but he told us that he wasn't
1658
after the lady we had thought. We know now
1659
who the lady is that he's courting. He told
1660
us that her name is Fenisa.
1661
CAPTAIN
Fenisa? What's that you say?
1662
FINARDO
He said that they love one another and
1663
that he wants to marry her.
1664
CAPTAIN
(You'll see him dead at my feet first!)
1665
DORISTEO
Is there anything else we can do for you?
1666
CAPTAIN
That lady is to be my wife, not his.
1667
DORISTEO
The coward lied to us!
1668
FINARDO
It's your fault if he did.
1669
DORISTEO
By heaven above! He is after Estefania.
1670
FINARDO
Let's cover this up and then go after him.
1671
DORISTEO
To think that
1672
a soldier could be such a coward!
1673
FINARDO
To think he's the son of an honorable father!
1674
(DORISTEO and FINARDO exit.)
CAPTAIN
To think that the traitor is after my wife!
1675
He knew that our marriage had been arranged,
1676
and still he's bragging about marrying her
1677
himself.
1678
HERNANDO
(To think he said that! How strange!)
1679
CAPTAIN
Right now! You pack his things. He can't
1680
stay here even one more day. He's off to
1681
Portugal tonight.
1682
HERNANDO
(To think that Lucindo was so indiscreet!)
1683
CAPTAIN
To think that he kept on trying! Bothering
1684
her by night at her window! Kissing her
1685
hand and saying “mother” out loud. I'll
1686
(I can't
1687
take it any more.)
1688
he's to leave immediately. Get your traveling
1689
boots on.
1690
HERNANDO
He can't even stay for your wedding?
1691
CAPTAIN
I don't want to give him any reason for
1692
delaying his departure. I want him to serve
1693
(not Fenisa)
1694
to Madrid as long as I'm alive.
1695
HERNANDO
Please calm down, for you own sake.
1696
CAPTAIN
Get going or I'll give you a good one. I
1697
know how to take care of fools.
1698
(Locale 1:The street near BELISA's house, at night.)
(LUCINDO and HERNANDO enter.)
LUCINDO
My father told them she was his wife,
1699
not mine?
1700
HERNANDO
Why should I tell a lie?
Wasn't I Estefania?
1701
LUCINDO
His sister's name!
So that fool thinks I'm to blame.
1702
HERNANDO
Your father is so mad he's almost blind;
1703
he's about to disown you. Their minds
1704
are made up; they're out looking for you.
1705
They're absolutely sure, those two,
1706
that you told that story out of fear,
1707
as a way of escaping the trouble that's near.
1708
Why did you say Fenisa?
1709
LUCINDO
To reassurethe man.
How he knew the name I didn't understand.
1710
HERNANDO
Are you that ready to go to Portugal?
1711
LUCINDO
But Fenisa tells me it's possible
1712
her mother Belisa will be able to help.
1713
HERNANDO
You went to her window?
1714
LUCINDO
I did.
HERNANDO
And then?
You found the note?
1715
LUCINDO
It was there.
I found it between the bars, just where
1716
she told my father it would be
1717
when she tricked him into telling me.
1718
I read it quickly. It says that I
1719
should pretend to love her mother, and why...
1720
HERNANDO
The old lady?
1721
LUCINDO
Exactly!
HERNANDO
That's odd.
LUCINDO
There's more
she said I must do.
1722
HERNANDO
What?
LUCINDO
Ask for...
...her hand as my wife.
1723
HERNANDO
Your wife!
LUCINDO
Calm down!
1724
She's almost certain to come out now.
1725
She'll hear you.
1726
HERNANDO
It was a way to impede
your departure. The woman is discreet!
1727
LUCINDO
Notably so!
1728
HERNANDO
So you'll talk to her?
LUCINDO
You go in my place; you be the master.
1729
While you are talking of love with Belisa,
1730
as the note says, I'll be with Fenisa.
1731
HERNANDO
What will I talk about?
1732
LUCINDO
Life and love.
HERNANDO
She knows too much! Good heaven above!
1733
Sometimes I wonder. Could she be...
1734
LUCINDO
Who?
HERNANDO
...the witch of Endor?
1735
LUCINDO
Today will try you.
We'll soon see if you know how to speak.
1736
HERNANDO
After today you can call me unique.
1737
LUCINDO
I'll admit you are smarter than I
1738
if you manage to succeed in this lie.
1739
HERNANDO
My clothes are really nothing but rags.
1740
What's the use of being a man
1741
if you can't dress for the role?
1742
LUCINDO
So?
HERNANDO
Give me your cape. It’s edged with gold.
1743
LUCINDO
Hernando, I'd give you a treasure.
1744
Take my hat too.
1745
HERNANDO
You can have the pleasure
of my hat and cape.
1746
LUCINDO
Don't I look great?
HERNANDO
See how clothes make for worth and shape!
1747
LUCINDO
They're on the balcony. Quiet now, please.
1748
(FENISA and BELISA come out.)
BELISA
Fenisa, I want Lucindo to feel free
1749
to speak his mind, so leave us alone.
1750
FENISA
What has he done to let you know
1751
he's here?
1752
BELISA
I see two men who've stopped
to look our way.
1753
FENISA
Yes, they've paused
to make a sign. Now, I'll go,
1754
with your permission. You know I hope
1755
you get your wish. If it's all right,
1756
I'd like to talk with Hernando a mite.
1757
BELISA
You know he's crazy.
1758
FENISA
That may be,
but his silliness pleases me.
1759
I want to give him a message for the Captain.
1760
BELISA
You go to your window.
1761
(FENISA exits.)
HERNANDO
They can listen
from where they are standing.
1762
LUCINDO
Fenisa's not here.
HERNANDO
Belisa sent her off.
1763
BELISA
Lucindo, my dear?
HERNANDO
I don't know who I am, since I made you mine.
1764
But I have adored you for a very long time.
1765
Madam, the love you've showered upon me
1766
has had the effect, as you can see,
1767
of lifting me above my humble station.
1768
(How am I doing so far?)
1769
LUCINDO
(Damnation!
I do believe you speak with discretion!)
1770
HERNANDO
(A Cicero reborn, a great rhetorician.)
1771
BELISA
I must admit it doesn't seem right,
1772
as Fenisa's mother to make you mine.
1773
She's to marry your father; I love you.
1774
If you love me as you say you do,
1775
I'll confess an attraction to your youth.
1776
Can you want me? Please tell me the truth.
1777
(FENISA appears at the street-level window.)
FENISA
Psst! Lucindo.
1778
LUCINDO
Who's that?
FENISA
You know.
The one who gave you her heart and soul.
1779
You come closer, let Hernando entertain
1780
that silly mother of mine.
1781
HERNANDO
If indeed,
my elderly father can be pleased
1782
by Fenisa's tender years and levity,
1783
I can certainly adore your gravity,
1784
your seriosity...
1785
FENISA
(My sides will split.
I'll die of laughing just thinking of this!)
1786
HERNANDO
That reverend manner of dress;
1787
those stupendous widow's weeds;
1788
those virile, manly breasts
1789
whose form is proof of their deeds;
1790
those clogs whose darkened depths
1791
know the size of the feet
1792
whose greatness is only compared
1793
with those of a Belgian mare;
1794
that voice, composed and fine;
1795
that breath, a spur to love,
1796
whose odor is sugar and spice
1797
to the rice of the weeds above;
1798
those glasses shading the eyes
1799
covering what they will become:
1800
a home to passions reign
1801
once love has set them aflame;
1802
that manto within whose folds
1803
Cupid consents to be stilled;
1804
that ruddy, incarnate nose
1805
through which love distills
1806
amber, pitch, and pills,
1807
the Arabian myrrh that flows:
1808
weeds, feet, nose and dress,
1809
voice, clogs, manto and breast
1810
I have as you might say
1811
collected in a literary way.
1812
LUCINDO
Did you hear that?
1813
FENISA
I'm almost afraid
she's smart enough to understand the play.
1814
LUCINDO
If he makes a mistake, I lose;
1815
I win if he does it right. You too.
1816
But what's to become of our love, sweetheart,
1817
if my father succeeds in keeping us apart?
1818
Tell me you won't be careless at least.
1819
He's really pushing for me to leave.
1820
FENISA
Don't worry or let your fears upset you.
1821
My silly, vain mother knows what to do.
1822
She's so much in love, she'll find a way.
1823
LUCINDO
Yes, but I'm threatened by your wedding day.
1824
As you can see, it's coming near
1825
and if that happens, isn't it clear
1826
that I'll have to go, to fight and to die?
1827
Even knowing your discretion and wiles,
1828
not even you can bring new life
1829
to a dead man after he's gone.
1830
FENISA
You're right.
But I'm all yours, for you I was born.
1831
That is true, I'm meant to be yours,
1832
and you must be mine. We'll find a way out.
1833
We should elope. Have no doubts.
1834
You've got the money and the friends we'll need.
1835
I'll go with you wherever you lead.
1836
She's IN LOVE BUT DISCREET,
1837
is what I've heard you say about me,
1838
but a woman determined's all I want to be.
1839
LUCINDO
If you have decided, it's all right with me.
1840
I'll arrange things so we can elope,
1841
my love. I have what it takes; my hope.
1842
You pack your clothes and jewels for tonight.
1843
I could even come in broad daylight
1844
in spite of how your mother might fume,
1845
in spite of my father, though it meant my doom.
1846
FENISA
Lucindo, if first you make me your wife,
1847
later my mother can have my life.
1848
BELISA
Has he finally decided to send you away?
1849
HERNANDO
To Portugal he says. He must be insane.
1850
The old man won't let up on the theme
1851
of my love for Fenisa. He says I scheme,
1852
and he complains I'm here all the time;
1853
to keep him from sleeping. He says that I
1854
follow her to church and even write letters.
1855
He's so jealous he'll have me in fetters.
1856
BELISA
Do you love her, my sweet?
1857
HERNANDO
Fenisa? My soul!
May God order the earth to swallow me whole,
1858
or get six villagers to hack me to bits.
1859
There's no worse death. Just stop to think!
1860
May He have me shot while cleaning my gun
1861
(that is if I had one)
1862
if ever I've had the slightest intention
1863
of chasing, loving or paying her attention.
1864
I've never spoken of love, I swear,
1865
nor offered her marriage, nor would I dare.
1866
LUCINDO
He sure knows how to swear an oath!
1867
BELISA
I'm satisfied, my love.
1868
HERNANDO
Let's drop that bone.
Is there anything around for me to eat?
1869
When I swear an oath or anger takes me,
1870
I suffer a hunger that burns like fire.
1871
Right now I feel pregnant with rabid desire.
1872
BELISA
Really, you want to eat?
1873
HERNANDO
I'm starved.
BELISA
There's nothing in the house fit to carve.
1874
Tomorrow I'll cook you something fine.
1875
I'm good at making sweets. What kind
1876
of conserve or dessert do you like most?
1877
My cherry preserves yield a fine compote,
1878
my pears are tasty and easy to take,
1879
and the melon is ready. What shall I make?
1880
HERNANDO
Nothing's as good as a well-cleaned tripe
1881
served with parsley.
1882
BELISA
It's tripe you'd like?
Why mine's the cleanest and tastiest of all.
1883
HERNANDO
Now that we've agreed on what we want,
1884
let's have some in the morning.
1885
LUCINDO
How gross!
BELISA
I'll make some tripe. You'll like it I hope.
1886
HERNANDO
Something to enjoy that won't make you fat!
1887
BELISA
You really eat tripe?
1888
HERNANDO
(No doubt about that.
Anyone who loves a widow is obliged,
1889
since she comes second-hand, to eat tripe.)
1890
LUCINDO
Psst! They're coming!
1891
BELISA
Who's that?
HERNANDO
Hernando,
my servant, talking to Fenisa.
1892
BELISA
Ah, so!
What a rogue!
1893
HERNANDO
Tremendous! Someone's here,
he says, and so good-bye.
1894
BELISA
My dear.
(BELISA exits.)
LUCINDO
People are coming and it's getting late.
1895
Good-bye.
1896
FENISA
Until tonight. You were great!
You kept her busy.
1897
(FENISA exits.)
HERNANDO
It was a good job!
LUCINDO
Come on. What did you ask for, you sot?
1898
HERNANDO
A tripe.
1899
LUCINDO
How gruesome! But I guess it's all right.
HERNANDO
You got the meat, so I settled for tripe.
1900
(LUCINDO and HERNANDO exit.)
(Locale 2:At GERARDA's house.)
(DORISTEO and GERARDA enter.)
GERARDA
Calm down! I'll find out if it's true.
1901
We'll know much more after I do.
1902
DORISTEO
I suspected he was afraid
1903
of what we might do; so he said
1904
he'd invented Estefania by chance.
1905
His father let the cat out of the bag
1906
when he told me that Fenisa was to be his.
1907
GERARDA
Perhaps the Captain was thinking of him,
1908
thinking you wanted Fenisa for yourself.
1909
DORISTEO
Me?
1910
GERARDA
And in order to put you on the shelf,
to save Lucindo from an open fight,
1911
he told you she was to be his wife.
1912
DORISTEO
I don't understand.
1913
GERARDA
Why not? If he thought
it was a duel with Lucindo you sought,
1914
how wise it would be for him to claim
1915
Fenisa as his own.
1916
DORISTEO
So that was his game!
You are right. But I need some proof.
1917
GERARDA
And my love demands that we know more too.
1918
DORISTEO
That thought leads me from worry to fear.
1919
GERARDA
Don't you agree that the two of us here
1920
should find out which is to be her spouse?
1921
DORISTEO
I do.
1922
GERARDA
Let's go together to her house.
DORISTEO
Won't the two of us look like fools
1923
if we come right out and ask for the truth?
1924
GERARDA
Did I say we'd do that?
1925
DORISTEO
What did you say?
GERARDA
I'll rush in like I'm running away.
1926
DORISTEO
From whom?
1927
GERARDA
From you, who are after my life
as a jealous husband. You pull your knife...
1928
DORISTEO
All right!
1929
GERARDA
They'll try to calm things down.
I'll stay behind and tell her how
1930
I fell in love with Lucindo; that's why
1931
you're out to kill me. And then I'll try
1932
to get her to help me.
1933
DORISTEO
What a plot!
Only a woman could pull it off.
1934
GERARDA
That's high praise of what women can do.
1935
DORISTEO
You women really are like demons.
1936
GERARDA
That you can say about Spanish women.
1937
DORISTEO
Let's go.
1938
GERARDA
I know she'll tell me the truth.
DORISTEO
"A woman who wants to get something done,
1939
is as constant in motion as waves on an ocean".
1940
(DORISTEO and GERARDA exit.)
(Locale 3:A room in BELISA's house.)
(The CAPTAIN, FENISA, and BELISA enter.)
CAPTAIN
If I had known why he was hanging around,
1941
I wouldn't have sent him away.
1942
BELISA
But now,
I've told you about it.
1943
CAPTAIN
I'm very pleased
about the marriage. Can't you see?
1944
I'd like to offer congratulations.
1945
BELISA
Instead, you'll offer consolation
1946
if he's already gone. What did you do?
1947
CAPTAIN
If I'd only known that he loved you,
1948
I didn't dream he was ready yet
1949
to settle down I'd have tried myself
1950
to arrange the marriage. Such an exchange
1951
is welcome, Belisa, as is plain,
1952
since it would most surely bring
1953
our families closer by increasing our holdings.
1954
If my son is to marry the mother of my wife,
1955
as you've told me he would like,
1956
my son will become my father-in-law;
1957
stepfather and stepson, if I'm not wrong,
1958
to your daughter Fenisa. The world will treasure
1959
the happy exchange of ages and pleasures.
1960
BELISA
I'm truly upset that you sent him away.
1961
Get word to him now. Please don't delay.
1962
Bring him back home.
1963
FENISA
You've been too severe.
CAPTAIN
I couldn't help myself.
1964
FENISA
What did you fear?
What was behind it? Jealousy? Good Lord!
1965
CAPTAIN
Worry for his life. I give you my word.
1966
Two men were after him with blood in their eyes.
1967
A girl, Estefania, has him so blind
1968
he didn't see them. It's lucky I was there.
1969
BELISA
He loves another woman?
1970
FENISA
(He wouldn't dare!)
What did I hear?
1971
CAPTAIN
That's what I heard.
It must be a lie. It's too absurd.
1972
I forgot you love him, Belisa.
1973
Pardon me. Excuse me now, Fenisa,
1974
and I'll go get him.
1975
(The CAPTAIN exits.)
BELISA
I'm all confused.
FENISA
You're thinking the same thing I am too.
1976
BELISA
If, already, he's showing interest
1977
in a woman for a little love nest,
1978
we've let ourselves in for a lot of trouble.
1979
FENISA
(You don't know the half. My problem is double.
1980
If he tricked you, he had me fooled,
1981
pretending to love me and tell me the truth.)
1982
BELISA
What was that you said?
1983
FENISA
We shouldn't believe
what the old man said, he's so jealous of me
1984
that he'd make up a thousand such tales.
1985
BELISA
Wouldn't that be a very strange way
1986
for Lucindo to give offense? But how...
1987
Someone is coming into our house!
1988
FENISA
The Captain must not have shut the door.
1989
BELISA
Another woman! And after he swore...
1990
(GERARDA enters fleeing from DORISTEO who has his dagger in hand.)
GERARDA
Help me! Ladies, help me please!
1991
That wild man is trying to kill me.
1992
DORISTEO
Who'd want to help you, you cheating whore?
1993
BELISA
Stop! Don't kill her. No blood, I implore...
1994
FENISA
Why are you after her? Calm down, sir.
1995
GERARDA
Me? A whore?
1996
BELISA
Don't kill her.
Please show respect for these widow's weeds.
1997
DORISTEO
If your noble presence weren't here to see...
1998
To reclaim my honor, if only in part,
1999
I'd already have put this through her heart.
2000
GERARDA
And you'd be killing a part of yourself.
2001
DORISTEO
Now you talk of love, but then...
2002
you vile, false, foresworn witch...
2003
God in heaven!...
2004
FENISA
Please, just quit!
You're obviously out of control, and it seems
2005
a green-eyed monster, a real fiend
2006
has taken charge of your tongue and hands.
2007
BELISA
You can't stay here and be a man.
2008
Come to my room and you can speak
2009
about it and put your mind at ease.
2010
DORISTEO
I do want to obey you and even to talk
2011
about it to ease my troubled thoughts.
2012
BELISA
This lady will stay here with my daughter.
2013
What is her name?
2014
DORISTEO
She's called Estefania.
(BELISA and DORISTEO exit.)
FENISA
Heaven delivered you from a very great danger.
2015
GERARDA
I'm still shivering, I'm trembling all over.
2016
Where can I go?
2017
FENISA
Don't be afraid.
Tell me what's wrong.
2018
GERARDA
I will if I may.
Dear lady, I am an unfortunate souls,
2019
but that is something you already know.
2020
I was born in the noble city of Burgos.
2021
My parents, may they rest as suits God's purpose,
2022
brought me to Madrid while still a babe
2023
in my nurse's arms. Once here they raised
2024
me well and took care of all my needs
2025
until that man whom you have seen,
2026
taken by my looks and carriage
2027
insistently asked for my hand in marriage.
2028
They gave me to him against my wish.
2029
In marrying me to one I couldn't relish,
2030
they put a burden on me beyond all measure.
2031
My life was completely lacking in pleasure,
2032
so terrible that often I was on the verge
2033
of suicide.
2034
FENISA
How dare you say that word?
GERARDA
Such things do happen.
2035
FENISA
Nothing's that bad.
A Christian woman, unless she's mad,
2036
can't even think of it.
2037
GERARDA
You lack experience.
You don't know what it is to feel the offense
2038
of an enemy at your table in broad daylight,
2039
a frightening phantom in your bed at night.
2040
My despair was somewhat tempered
2041
by the sight of a bright young soldier,
2042
a gallant lieutenant whose looks were such
2043
my eyes burned as if staring at the sun.
2044
It occurred to me to remedy the trouble
2045
my husband was giving me, if possible,
2046
be getting the lieutenant to take his place.
2047
He liked me and my love was repaid
2048
in word and deed. We did as we pleased
2049
for nearly two years. But whenever he sees
2050
Love marching by, Envy beats his drums.
2051
My husband heard the resulting commotion
2052
and, afraid of damage to his reputation,
2053
he became wary. To our consternation
2054
he set up an owl to watch over the house,
2055
to keep his eyes open and frighten the mouse
2056
nibbling away at the master's cheese.
2057
To solve the problem, I searched for a key
2058
to open the door, or the heart of of neighbor.
2059
If a couple wants and is willing to labor,
2060
they manage. Things can be arranged.
2061
But to shorten my story, there was no way
2062
to keep someone from spoiling my hope.
2063
The sight of my husband's sword, I was told,
2064
had made Lucindo —the lieutenant's name—
2065
change his mind about playing the game.
2066
I recently heard he was to wed
2067
a certain Fenisa whom they have said
2068
is beautiful, wealthy, and quite discreet.
2069
I lost control and went out to see
2070
if I could find the snake. As you saw,
2071
my husband found me. I ran off.
2072
He followed me here near where she lives.
2073
Do you know her house or where she is?
2074
Is she at the root of my distress?
2075
I hope you can help get me out of this mess.
2076
Now that I've taken refuge with you
2077
and you've saved my life, what can I do?
2078
FENISA
You say that Lucindo loved you well?
2079
GERARDA
You know him?
2080
FENISA
I wish we'd never met.
I wish to God I didn't know him,
2081
that he didn't know me. I wish...
2082
GERARDA
It's you? How strange, how unexpected
2083
to find by chance what I'd only suspected.
2084
FENISA
You can't know the trouble you've caused.
2085
I am Fenisa. It's only because
2086
I was not aware of what he had done
2087
that I was deceived and gave him my love.
2088
That ingrate! I am the one who agreed,
2089
in secret, to marry him. I didn't believe
2090
he could be so evil. But I found out,
2091
in plenty of time. Believe me now
2092
when I say I'm grateful that you have come.
2093
I'll marry the Captain and not the son.
2094
You can have him. I'll make him feel
2095
the heat of the fire he set for me.
2096
He's yours, I hope you enjoy him forever.
2097
GERARDA
You did this to me? Well, I never!
2098
It's you who made me want to die?
2099
You are Fenisa?
2100
FENISA
I'm sure that I...
Lucindo's all yours! I want nothing to do...
2101
GERARDA
Let my example be a warning to you.
2102
He's the most treacherous man, I believe,
2103
the most fickle the world has seen.
2104
FENISA
I don't need more warnings about his game.
2105
Farewell to pleasure! What was your name?
2106
GERARDA
Estefania.
2107
FENISA
(The Captain knew! That's clear!
He told me that before leaving here.)
2108
You were right to worry. Your name I knew.
2109
Now I know the rest of it too.
2110
GERARDA
If you're as smart as you seem to be,
2111
you'll never see him again. Be discreet.
2112
He'll ruin your reputation for sure.
2113
FENISA
Don't worry about that. I've taken the cure.
2114
GERARDA
I can escape from my husband now.
2115
May I leave to go to my sister's house?
2116
FENISA
Would you like to come back and see me again?
2117
GERARDA
I hope that we can become good friends.
2118
Is there another way out?
2119
FENISA
If you want to play
with Lucindo, there's always a way.
2120
GERARDA
That's a good one!
2121
FENISA
Come back soon.
GERARDA
(How easy it was to learn what to do!
2122
How simple to stop his upcoming marriage!
2123
Beautiful woman! What heart and courage!
2124
I'm dying of envy. Heaven help Lucindo.
2125
When I find him, I'll lay him low.)
2126
(GERARDA exits.)
FENISA
When love's violent flame finally goes,
2127
quitting my soul, leaving cold ashes behind,
2128
it will be as if this verdant hope of mine
2129
were a tall palm tree under mountain snows.
2130
It was in full bloom when the wind that blows
2131
bringing northern cold came to shatter its pride;
2132
a change in the weather takes so little time
2133
to turn once glorious hopes to wilted woes.
2134
No more sweet pleasures. They are the charm
2135
with which our hearts and our reason are teased.
2136
My soul must no longer endure their harm.
2137
Give me no goods for which I pay such a fee!
2138
But how can I refuse love, in spite of my alarm,
2139
if Cupid's treasure is enriched by such means?
2140
(LUCINDO enters.)
LUCINDO
Now that we have made up our minds,
2141
Fenisa, you to become my wife,
2142
and I your husband Oh, happy
2143
I having given the promised security,
2144
have come to your room, leaving the coach
2145
that I ordered in the street below
2146
where it will soon become a chamber,
2147
a nest, molded to fit your figure.
2148
Come to that coach without delay
2149
because on this my happiest day
2150
I want you to become Proserpina
2151
as I play the role of Pluto. Fenisa,
2152
what's wrong? Why do you hesitate?
2153
FENISA
Why shouldn't I? What do you mean to say?
2154
Are you joking? Who are you talking to?
2155
LUCINDO
Sweet heart of my soul, isn't it you?
2156
What are you aiming at? Who is here
2157
that needs your help? I want to hear.
2158
Isn't it time right now that we go
2159
as we agreed last night?
2160
FENISA
Oh, so?
Tell me who agreed to what.
2161
Tell me again. Can't you talk?
2162
LUCINDO
Last night, didn't you talk to me?
2163
FENISA
Yes.
2164
LUCINDO
Then tell me what we agreed.
FENISA
That you were to marry my mother
2165
since I am the wife of your father.
2166
LUCINDO
Your mother? But that was just a pretext!
2167
FENISA
No longer. There's no such thing as pretend.
2168
There are witnesses to your marriage offer.
2169
LUCINDO
Then you were deceiving me about your mother?
2170
FENISA
You're the one who was practicing deception.
2171
You can't continue your attentions
2172
to me since I'm your father's wife;
2173
my mother is yours. For your whole life!
2174
LUCINDO
How can your mother be my wife?
2175
You must be a devil in disguise.
2176
Don't you remember you first loved me?
2177
You made my father the go-between.
2178
He brought me the news at your behest
2179
and I came to talk on your request.
2180
It was only to achieve our ends
2181
that we talked of marriage and pretense.
2182
What are you saying now about your mother?
2183
FENISA
I am now the wife of your father.
2184
I'm sorry but that is the real truth.
2185
If my mother isn't pleasing to you,
2186
remember, she is more of a lady,
2187
much more honorable in every way,
2188
than your mistress Estefania!
2189
Go look for her and keep on trying.
2190
Stolen fruit is so much sweeter.
2191
But keep your eyes open if you meet her,
2192
her husband is loose and looking for you.
2193
LUCINDO
You sound as if you're jealous, too.
2194
Someone deceived you with that silly name.
2195
Hernando, my servant, was Estefania. A fake!
2196
I took him to the Prado to play that role.
2197
My love, don't refuse any longer to show
2198
you return my love. I swear it's the truth!
2199
If I've seen Estefania or been under her roof,
2200
may heaven strike me dead, the sun never shine,
2201
may day never come, may I be buried alive,
2202
may I lose all hope of gaining your love.
2203
They fooled you. You see what they've done?
2204
Hernando in disguise is the Estefania I know.
2205
FENISA
You're too late. I know you Lucindo.
2206
An hour from now, you'll be my stepfather.
2207
Don't make me lose the respect or honor
2208
I feel I must hold for my mother's spouse.
2209
You'll replace my father here in this house.
2210
LUCINDO
What are you saying?
2211
FENISA
Only the truth!
LUCINDO
Have you lost your mind?
2212
FENISA
No more than you.
LUCINDO
One of us is out of his head. Dear Lord!
2213
FENISA
That's it. Stamp your foot and roar.
2214
My husband's coming soon.
2215
LUCINDO
God help me!
FENISA
I hope He can.
2216
LUCINDO
I'm dead. Don't you see?
FENISA
Don't be foolish.
2217
LUCINDO
But what'll I do?
FENISA
Get married.
2218
LUCINDO
Can't you see that I love you?
Can't you see how fickle you are?
2219
Can't you see how I came so far,
2220
how I did as we had agreed?
2221
Can't you see how the woman you used to be
2222
was a real woman, but not for me?
2223
Can't you see how right we men must be
2224
when we say all women are fickle?
2225
Can't you see that I've been faithful,
2226
prepared, and compliant in our agreement?
2227
I hope to God you soon repent,
2228
and then your anguish will be my revenge.
2229
Since, when it comes to my defense
2230
my life is yours, do as you wish.
2231
Enjoy my father, enjoy and relish.
2232
He is my father and, therefore, my better.
2233
How discreet it is for me to render
2234
the woman I love to become my mother.
2235
He's sending me off so I can suffer
2236
for committing the sin of loving you.
2237
I'm off to Portugal where, it's true,
2238
I should regain the freedom I lost.
2239
I loved you, indeed, but look what it cost!
2240
(LUCINDO exits.)
FENISA
Oh, God! Please stop! But no...but no...
2241
He's the traitor, so let him go.
2242
(HERNANDO enters.)
HERNANDO
Psst! Listen.
2243
FENISA
What do you want?
HERNANDO
So cold?
On this occasion? Didn't Lucindo
2244
come here like he said, to get you?
2245
Why be that way with me?You two...
2246
FENISA
Right now we aren't getting along very well.
2247
HERNANDO
What's that?
2248
FENISA
He has a married mistress,
and that doesn't suit my fancy.
2249
Who is that Estefania he's been seeing?
2250
HERNANDO
So the plot has come that far?
2251
FENISA
What plot?
2252
HERNANDO
I can tell you. In the park,
I was that lady for just one day.
2253
FENISA
A lady?
2254
HERNANDO
In disguise, in skirt and veil,
I sat beside a woman in the dark
2255
to make her jealous...Don't repeat this part
2256
since Lucindo can't know I told about her.
2257
He loved her... before he met you I swear.
2258
Since then she's like a dog on his trail;
2259
following, begging, and wagging her tail.
2260
FENISA
I'm only sure that someone's been deceiving me.
2261
HERNANDO
I know there's no one he cares to see
2262
but you, Fenisa. What else can I say?
2263
FENISA
I don't know. Here's my mother. Away
2264
with you.
2265
HERNANDO
I'll get out going this way.
(HERNANDO exits. BELISA enters.)
BELISA
Finally, Fenisa, I got rid of that man.
2266
FENISA
How did it go?
2267
BELISA
I don't know if I can,
without laughing, tell you what happened.
2268
FENISA
Tell me, mother, everything he said.
2269
BELISA
He saw you and fell in love.
2270
FENISA
And then?
BELISA
He said he wanted to marry you.
2271
FENISA
He's already married!
2272
BELISA
A plot by those two.
The woman planned it.
2273
FENISA
She's jealous I fear.
BELISA
She probably is. He said they came here
2274
after they had agreed that he'd pretend to be her husband.
2275
There was reason to suspect
2276
a man was after his younger sister,
2277
the very same man who had tricked her.
2278
FENISA
Who were they after?
2279
BELISA
Lucindo.
FENISA
Do tell!
They were jealous of Lucindo?
2280
BELISA
I am as well.
FENISA
Her jealous feelings were put to rest
2281
by her truth and by my contempt.
2282
(I lost that chance for a life of pleasure
2283
but I'll plan another inventive measure.
2284
I'll marry Lucindo with her blessing today,
2285
right here at home and without delay.)
2286
Pay attention, mother, to what happened here.
2287
After that cunning woman appeared,
2288
running for her life, and jealous of me,
2289
to ruin our hopes for a chance to be happy,
2290
Lucindo came to say it's you he adores.
2291
BELISA
Is that true?
2292
FENISA
Such things have happened before.
But, he tells me that talking to his father
2293
about you, he felt the Captain was bothered
2294
by your marriage and so he felt a need
2295
for a secret wedding.
2296
BELISA
I thought that might be!
The Captain certainly wouldn't want his son
2297
to marry me. The gossips would say the one
2298
he was after had the youth and the beauty,
2299
and to get you, Lucindo did obnoxious duty.
2300
Well, Lucindo will be my husband and soon.
2301
FENISA
He wants to spend the night with you.
2302
In your room.
2303
BELISA
How do you feel about that?
FENISA
How do I feel? Do what you can!
2304
You will be his wife.
2305
BELISA
It's getting dark.
You work it out.
2306
FENISA
(What a lark!)
BELISA
(My good fortune is driving me mad.
2307
You'd be envious of the fun I'll have
2308
if I were t tell you what we'll do.)
2309
I'll go now and ready the room,
2310
put on perfume and get done up right.
2311
FENISA
That's just what you should do. Good night!
2312
(BELISA exits.)
Now you'll see how I manage my affairs.
2313
With a new deception, I'll end my cares.
2314
(The CAPTAIN enters.)
CAPTAIN
Is Fenisa in?
2315
FENISA
Yes, I am here, and at your service.
2316
Where's Lucindo? My mother wants to settle
2317
the matter of marriage now.
2318
CAPTAIN
What marriage?
2319
FENISA
Yours, mine and theirs.
2320
CAPTAIN
Good! Let's not wait another minute; life
2321
isn't getting any longer.
2322
FENISA
You should also know, Captain, I've found
2323
out that it wasn't Lucindo who was coming
2324
to my window at night.
2325
CAPTAIN
What are you saying?
2326
FENISA
Today I found out that it was a certain
2327
friend of his; and so, I would like you to go
2328
find Lucindo and ask him to watch our door
2329
tonight along with Hernando. Last night, at
2330
ten, the friend I was telling you about got
2331
in through the garden and knocked on the door
2332
of my bedroom. I got up, thinking that it
2333
must be my mother coming to talk for a bit.
2334
If I hadn't locked the door, something terrible
2335
could have happened.
2336
CAPTAIN
Have you ever heard of such a thing? By God,
2337
I'll be the one waiting outside tonight.
2338
FENISA
No, my love, because this time I want you to
2339
be inside with me.
2340
CAPTAIN
Where?
2341
FENISA
In my room, but nobody else must know.
2342
CAPTAIN
At last!
2343
FENISA
And I want you to come well prepared. Put
2344
on your best clothes and trim your beard. I
2345
don't like it when you wear it so long. You
2346
look so much younger when it's properly shaped.
2347
CAPTAIN
Anyone with a chance at such glory would,
2348
undoubtedly, come properly prepared in every
2349
way. My beard will be trimmed just as you
2350
wish. Every new husband must watch his
2351
grooming, and I'll soon enough be yours.
2352
FENISA
It's getting late already, so talk to your son.
2353
CAPTAIN
My heaven guard you well.
2354
(The CAPTAIN and FENISA exit.)
(Locale 4:A room in the CAPTAIN's house.)
(LUCINDO and HERNANDO enter.)
LUCINDO
She's changed her mind.
2355
HERNANDO
What's that?
LUCINDO
You heard.
HERNANDO
Don't you believe it.
2356
LUCINDO
Look away and she turns.
HERNANDO
In order to hide something good from me
2357
you're using rhetorical colors, I see.
2358
By any chance, did you take her to bed?
2359
You look love-sick.
2360
LUCINDO
I'm really dead
as you can see.
2361
HERNANDO
Are you telling the truth?
LUCINDO
I went to get her and entered her room.
2362
The way she acted I wanted to scream
2363
so I came back down letting off steam.
2364
I dismissed the coach and my friends went home.
2365
HERNANDO
She's really burned up. Her anger has grown.
2366
I call on my eyes as credible witness.
2367
LUCINDO
What about?
2368
LUCINDO
The woman is savagely jealous.
LUCINDO
Of whom?
2369
HERNANDO
Estefania, of course.
LUCINDO
Is that still going on? Good Lord!
2370
Don't keep picking on me as you usually do.
2371
HERNANDO
Your father...
2372
LUCINDO
No matter, he's jealous too.
(The CAPTAIN enters.)
CAPTAIN
You're getting ready to leave?
2373
LUCINDO
Tomorrow
I'm on my way, sir.
2374
CAPTAIN
That's a good one, Lucindo!
Marrying Belisa and taking off so soon?
2375
LUCINDO
That was all a joke, a game for fools.
2376
CAPTAIN
I know your wedding is set for today,
2377
but be that as it may, I want you to stay.
2378
LUCINDO
Why is that?
2379
CAPTAIN
Because I found out now
who's bothering Fenisa by hanging around
2380
and I also learned it's a good friend of yours.
2381
LUCINDO
So they tricked you, too!
2382
CAPTAIN
She told me more.
Fenisa explained it was all her mistake.
2383
Last night someone came, climbed over the gate
2384
and through the garden to get to her room.
2385
She went to open the door when he knocked,
2386
and realizing her error, she turned the lock.
2387
LUCINDO
That was an odd mistake to have made!
2388
CAPTAIN
She screamed; he ran. She asked me to say
2389
that you must guard her house tonight.
2390
Will you do it?
2391
LUCINDO
I will, all right.
It's enough for you to give the command.
2392
CAPTAIN
I'm in an awful rush; but you're a man
2393
so arm yourself and God keep you well.
2394
(The CAPTAIN enters.)
LUCINDO
We're getting married tonight!
2395
HERNANDO
How can you tell?
LUCINDO
I understood Fenisa's suggestion:
2396
I'm to come to her room through the garden.
2397
HERNANDO
You're right! And she'll be waiting for you.
2398
Jealousy spurred her on to the deed.
2399
Today you'll get just what you need.
2400
LUCINDO
The cure for my troubles has been achieved.
2401
But by what strange, roundabout means!
2402
Let`s go get our arms, you'll come along too,
2403
to stand in the garden and guard the room.
2404
HERNANDO
(Beatriz, up to now, has been under cover.
2405
Exactly where I expect to find her.)
2406
(LUCINDO and HERNANDO exit.)
(Locale 5:The street in front of BELISA's house.)
(DORISTEO and FINARDO enter.)
FINARDO
I'm not sure it was worthwhile finding out
2407
about your sister, because I see it turned
2408
out badly when you fell in love with Fenisa.
2409
DORISTEO
Gerarda planned that plot very well. I went
2410
in after her, pretending to be her husband;
2411
but as soon as I saw Fenisa, I was blinded,
2412
I was set on fire as if by lightning. I went
2413
off to the other room with her mother and, to
2414
tell you the truth, I told her what was going
2415
on. Then I asked for Fenisa's hand in marriage.
2416
FINARDO
These are their windows, so speak softly now.
2417
DORISTEO
Oh, divine, fortunate lodging of that tenth
2418
muse of Parnassus, the most beautiful woman,
2419
the most brilliant Phoenix that Apollo ever
2420
saw flying in swiftest flight.
2421
FINARDO
What's that? Are you still thinking of marriage?
2422
DORISTEO
If she'll have me.
2423
FINARDO
Are they from a good family?
2424
DORISTEO
So virtuous that the younger one is better
2425
than any woman around here and, Finardo, the
2426
mother is a real saint.
2427
FINARDO
Do they have money?
2428
DORISTEO
Be that as it may, a dowry in virtue is better
2429
than most. Their virtue and their carefully
2430
guarded reputation is truly the only dowry I want.
2431
(The CAPTAIN enters, trimmed and well-dressed, with FULMINATO.)
CAPTAIN
You can go home now.
2432
FINARDO
Somebody's coming.
DORISTEO
They don't want to be seen.
2433
FINARDO
They're stopping.
I didn't see them get any closer.
2434
FULMINATO
Shall I wait here, or call the others?
2435
CAPTAIN
No, my guards are over there in the shadows.
2436
I'm going in now, so you can go home.
2437
FULMINATO
Who are they?
2438
CAPTAIN
Lucindo and Hernando.
(The CAPTAIN exits.)
FULMINATO
I'll see.
I'll go over to talk.
2439
FINARDO
Who's he?
The first one went in!
2440
DORISTEO
Anything else?
FINARDO
Such virtue! A real saint!
2441
FULMINATO
Do you need a friend?
FINARDO
You can leave.
2442
FULMINATO
Pardon me.
DORISTEO
You're excused.
2443
FULMINATO
I thought I knew you, you see.
(FULMINATO exits.)
DORISTEO
Now I'm getting angry. Good Lord!
2444
FINARDO
Great dowry! Virtue is its own reward!
2445
DORISTEO
I really hope God will even the score.
2446
FINARDO
Get quiet!
2447
DORISTEO
What now?
FINARDO
Here come two more!
(LUCINDO and HERNANDO enter.)
LUCINDO
Feet, help me to carry out my intention.
2448
DORISTEO
A ladder?
2449
FINARDO
They're already climbing.
DORISTEO
Damnation!
What kind of house is this anyway?
2450
FINARDO
I don't really know. A fort you might say
2451
since it seems that now it's about to fall
2452
to enemies who've gone over the wall.
2453
DORISTEO
They both went over!
2454
FINARDO
On the very first try!
DORISTEO
There must be hordes of women inside.
2455
FINARDO
More men are coming now; but then,
2456
the house must not be glutted yet.
2457
(GERARDA enters dressed as a man.)
GERARDA
(I've come to see if my enemy is set
2458
to hang around here. I've come dressed
2459
as a man, with love as my only witness.
2460
I don't believe that I'm in error;
2461
that must be he and Hernando over there
2462
on the corner. I've arrived in time!)
2463
Is that you, you monster, you unkind...
2464
DORISTEO
Who're you?
2465
GERARDA
It's me, Lucindo.
DORISTEO
Who?
GERARDA
It's me.
2466
DORISTEO
Gerarda, my dear!
GERARDA
You fool!
I'm no longer yours. I love Doristeo.
2467
DORISTEO
But I'm Doristeo.
2468
GERARDA
I didn't know.
Why are you here?
2469
DORISTEO
I was looking for you.
GERARDA
For me?
2470
FINARDO
You want the same thing, you two.
You came looking for Lucindo probably,
2471
and you wanted to see Fenisa.
2472
DORISTEO
Undoubtedly!
GERARDA
You're right.
2473
DORISTEO
Today we've been acting as spies.
But see what happened in front of our eyes:
2474
they've got three men in there.
2475
GERARDA
Three men?
FINARDO
They could be expecting five or ten.
2476
GERARDA
(That Fenisa is an honorable woman,
2477
but what she's done is only human.)
2478
Let's call them out. She's gone too far.
2479
Let's find out just who they are.
2480
FINARDO
A fire! We'll yell their house is on fire.
2481
DORISTEO
And not without reason.
2482
FINARDO
Fire! Fire!
DORISTEO
Fire!
2483
GERARDA
Fire! Fire!
(Voices from offstage.)
BELISA
A fire in the house?
Somebody, help!
2484
DORISTEO
A fire!
BELISA
Right now!
Fenisa, get up! Somebody, help!
2485
Fenisa, hurry!
2486
FENISA
Mother, there's a fire!
DORISTEO
The house is on fire!
2487
LUCINDO
Get some light!
(The CAPTAIN, BELISA, LUCINDO, FENISA, HERNANDO and BEATRIZ enter.)
CAPTAIN
There's a fire in the house?
2488
BELISA
What now?
LUCINDO
A fire in the house?
2489
FENISA
A fire in the house?
HERNANDO
Tell me, sir, where's the fire?
2490
GERARDA
Look around. Do you need to inquire?
2491
Obviously among you, but none can see
2492
since love is blind. Will you tell me
2493
why these two men are in the house
2494
of such an honorable woman?
2495
DORISTEO
Now,
only two? There are three!
2496
HERNANDO
(What a meat-pie!)
BELISA
This is my husband.
2497
CAPTAIN
She's my wife?
BELISA
But I thought that you...
2498
CAPTAIN
I've been made
husband to a woman not to my taste.
2499
BELISA
Fenisa, what is all this you've done?
2500
FENISA
I've married Lucindo.
2501
BELISA
How did you come
to fool me that way? Tell me, don't stall.
2502
But then your smile is telling me all.
2503
CAPTAIN
Tell me, Lucindo, can this be true?
2504
Do good children now turn parents into fools?
2505
LUCINDO
I adore Fenisa, and she loves me.
2506
What she said to you, as strange as it seems,
2507
was a ruse she invented to arrange our marriage.
2508
All those present here can manage,
2509
though they be enemies, to judge our case.
2510
Isn't it better he marry, at his age,
2511
this honorable lady, the mother of my wife?
2512
She's his equal in quality and in life.
2513
That we marry, too —souls and bodies entwined?
2514
Forgive me Gerarda and now, speak your mind.
2515
GERARDA
Although I was jealous when I got here, Lucindo,
2516
together with Doristeo and Finardo,
2517
who came with me as judges to your trial,
2518
you're right, your father is properly styled
2519
for Belisa, I hope that you and your lady
2520
enjoy many happy years. Amen.
2521
DORISTEO
And I say:
A well-delivered sentence and I confirm it.
2522
FINARDO
And I.
2523
LUCINDO
Man and wife!
FENISA
I so affirm it.
CAPTAIN
You can give me your hand, too.
2524
BELISA
It's an honor. Of course I do.
2525
HERNANDO
("One saddle's as good as any other
2526
for a horse of his age and condition".)
2527
GERARDA
And you two can come to my house.
2528
DORISTEO
We'll take you there.
2529
CAPTAIN
Hernando, right now,
warn them at my house we'll eat over there.
2530
HERNANDO
(But later beware!)
2531
LUCINDO
I beg you believe, if this farce seems too sweet,
2532
Fenisa's the one IN LOVE BUT DISCREET.
2533
END OF ACT THREE