Locale 1: At night on the Prado1
DORISTEO and FINARDO enter with GERARDA, and FABIO and LISEO,
musicians
DORISTEO: How cool!
FINARDO: And pleasant!
GERARDA: I'm delighted
by the fountains.
DORISTEO: No place more alive
in all of Spain.
GERARDA: What lovely pools...
DORISTEO: Wonderful!
GERARDA: ...greeting us with jewels.
DORISTEO: The water in them is beautifully clear.
Are you glad you came?
GERARDA: It's enough, my dear,
to be at your side.
DORISTEO: Sit here and rest.
FINARDO: Of all places to be, the Prado's the best.
DORISTEO: So I've heard people say. You two,
haven't you tuned up yet?
LISEO: I would,
but my G-string is loose.
GERARDA: Twist the pin.
DORISTEO: That's what I say.
FABIO: Ready?
DORISTEO: Begin.
FABIO: What shall I sing?
DORISTEO: Lope's new song.
LISEO: "I Sigh With Desire?"
FINARDO: That's a good one!
The MUSICIANS play and sing
MUSIC: When your beauty stands before me,
I sigh with love;
and when you are no longer seen
I sigh with desire.
When I note the warmth of your fire,
I thrill with love;
but when icy disdain is in your eyes,
I sigh and retire.
When your beauty stands before me,
I sigh with love;
and when you are no longer seen
I sigh with desire.
LUCINDO and HERNANDO enter2
LUCINDO: They said they were going to hire musicians.
HERNANDO: There's singing over there in that direction.
LUCINDO: The song's not bad if it's not too long.
HERNANDO: Just like birds, they stop their song
when anyone approaches.
LUCINDO: Go get a better look.
HERNANDO: I wish you'd stop acting like a fool.
LUCINDO: What does it matter? It's only for fun.
It's not time yet for the other one.
HERNANDO: "Jealousy laughs when lovers cry."
I'll play my part and pass them by.
Wait for me here.
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?
DORISTEO: He must be looking for something he's lost,
or someone that got away.
GERARDA: A song?
LISEO: Another one?
GERARDA: Yes, but don't stop to tune.
HERNANDO: I know her voice.
LUCINDO: Is it Gerarda?
HERNANDO: For sure!
LUCINDO: Ohhh!
HERNANDO: Are you hurt?
LUCINDO: And the man?
Is it him?
HERNANDO: Yes, it is.
LUCINDO: Oh, damn!
HERNANDO: It hurts like hell to judge from your squeal.
LUCINDO: The more distance between us, the closer I feel.
HERNANDO: If you keep that up, she'll see you. Calm down.
LUCINDO: Is he holding her close?
HERNANDO: And how!
LUCINDO: I know I'm drinking from Jealousy's cup
for inside I feel like I'm burning up.
The poison's too bitter! It enters the eyes
and attacks the soul where love resides.
I wish I'd never come!
HERNANDO: Then leave.
A better angel's waiting, isn't she?
LUCINDO: What angel?
HERNANDO: Fenisa.
LUCINDO: I'm in no mood
to talk to angels.
HERNANDO: But she adores you.
Isn't it right that you return her love?
LUCINDO: There's no danger in putting her off.
This must be a first love for her.
Like Hero she'll wait alone in her tower,
but this one who's in the arms of a lover,
if I leave her alone, I'll suffer.
She'll rip my soul to shreds. You brought
the manto?
HERNANDO: I did.
LUCINDO: Then put it on.
HERNANDO: Something could go wrong.
LUCINDO: From your cape,
you can make a skirt.
HERNANDO: Me, be your date?
A woman?
LUCINDO: In the bushes over there,
disguise yourself in women's wear.
HERNANDO: I'm going, but I'm afraid.
LUCINDO: You sot,
get going!
HERNANDO: I'm off, but I'll tell you what:
You're my defense. If you don't come,
you'll be shocked to smell what I've done.
HERNANDO exits. LUCINDO is afoot, at a distance from the others who are
seated
LUCINDO: Love is never cured with good intentions!
The mistake is made in treating the hurt
since deep within gray ash, still there burns
the amber sign of passions's resurrection.
Ardor and Disdain, Anger, Indiscretion,
the soul at times retains while yet asleep;
but what lethargic spirit does not leap
wakened by the force of doubt's inventions?
Oh Suspicion! How rightly you've been compared
to a swarm of gnats drawn to love, whose flames
provide the fumes in which you are conceived.
What matter, since whenever I'm relieved
by sleep, fatigued by playing love's games,
Jealousy's trumpet awakens me with its blare?
HERNANDO enters dressed in manto and cape as a woman
HERNANDO: How do I look?3
LUCINDO: Good enough I hope
for it all to work out.
HERNANDO: You think I can cope
with this skirt?
LUCINDO: Well enough.
HERNANDO: And the veil?
LUCINDO: That too.
HERNANDO: How about my...sex appeal?
LUCINDO: Let's start the play.
HERNANDO: Does my slip show?
LUCINDO: Come on!
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.
GERARDA: Look at how she moves. What a display!
That has to be seen to be believed.
DORISTEO: What do you mean?
GERARDA: Just what I see,
and a nice smell, too.
DORISTEO: In leaving the house
she must have taken a mint.4
FINARDO: A trip out
and to the Prado, with minty breath!
That means she's a lady of...
DORISTEO: ...of that bent!
FINARDO: Professional!
DORISTEO: She wants to sit next to you.
GERARDA: How heavy!
FINARDO: She could be sitting for two.
LUCINDO: Beautiful Estefania, what do you think
of the breeze out here?
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
if only you'd ask me. It's you I adore.
LUCINDO: Please go on singing.
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.
It must have been true --without a doubt--.
He was after the lady he asked about.
That reaction I thought he was faking
turned out to be true. My heart is breaking!
"Love often comes in flattering shades;
of Treason and Error its clothes are made."
He discovered my trick and learned a lesson).
HERNANDO: She's disturbed, having tasted the medicine.
What do you think?
LUCINDO: We might just make it.
GERARDA: (What fun to dish it out! How awful to take it).
Doristeo, please bring me some water.
DORISTEO: And something to go with it. I never falter
in trying to please you;. You wait here
while I go for refreshments.
GERARDA: I wouldn't hear
of your going by yourself.
FINARDO: Shall I?
GERARDA: Yes, do.
I'm not alone.
DORISTEO: Let's go.
FINARDO: Tootle-oo!
DORISTEO and FINARDO exit
GERARDA: (I can't wait for us to be left alone).
LISEO: Shall we sing?
GERARDA: I'd rather you go.
FABIO: She's up to something.
LISEO: She did a good job
getting rid of the others.
FABIO: Well, I don't want
to disturb them, Liseo.
LISEO: Fabio, let's leave.
The MUSICIANS leave
GERARDA: Oh, miss!
HERNANDO: Are you talking to me?
GERARDA: I would like to see and to talk with you, too.
HERNANDO: See and talk to me? Why do you...
GERARDA: Because I'm a neighbor!...5
HERNANDO: For pity's sake,
what's wrong?
GERARDA: Is that all it takes
to make you cross?
HERNANDO: It's hot around here,
Lucindo, let's go.
LUCINDO: Calm down, my dear.
To get so angry is quite severe.
Take off your manto so the lady here
can see the beauty, by God endowed,
the radiance that's the talk of the town.
Uncover those beautiful eyes, my dove,
the cause of envy, the cause of love.
HERNANDO: I'm not in the mood. My eyes are all tears,
a sea of jealousy because it appears
you've been seeing Gerarda. I'm told
she's generous to a fault.
LUCINDO: Oh, no!
How could Gerarda make you jealous?
I don't know how you could be suspicious.
May God never cure the love that's killing me6
if I care for her one whit.
May God keep us from joining in love's embrace
if I respect her one bit.
May God not allow me to taste of your lips
if I have loved her ever.
May God forbid the two of us to marry
if I should even see her...
GERARDA: (How can I stand this? Why do I stay?)
HERNANDO: Dear Lord! What curses!
GERARDA: (May they come my way
if I take any more of this, you louse.
Such nonsense!)
HERNANDO: They say you went to her house
and that's what got me all unnerved.
LUCINDO: There's really no reason to be concerned,
so calm yourself, take heart, my dove.
You're the one that has my love.
GERARDA: Not as long as I'm alive!7
GERARDA attacks HERNANDO, and LUCINDO steps between them
LUCINDO: What do you think you are doing?
HERNANDO: Why?
Are you attacking me?
GERARDA: I don't care
if you are Estefania.
LUCINDO: Don't you dare.
HERNANDO: A lady like me?
GERARDA: I'll kill her!
LUCINDO: You stay!
HERNANDO: She wants to hurt me!
LUCINDO: And you, get away!
HERNANDO leaves
GERARDA: Who was that woman?
LUCINDO: One who adores me.
You've made a terrible mistake. Let her be.
She's a lady with powerful friends.
It could cost you plenty in the end.
GERARDA: What worse than what she's already done?
Get out of my way!
LUCINDO: I never let anyone
who hates me order me around that way.
GERARDA: Me? Hate you?
LUCINDO: Do you mean to say
that you love me?
GERARDA: Oh, sweetheart,
everything I told you was only pretend,
so was everything you heard me say.
You, I love; Doristeo, I hate.
Lucindo, I'm yours all over. Take me.
LUCINDO: God in heaven! What's this I see?
GERARDA: As proof that I love you alone,
sweet lover, come with me. Come home.
LUCINDO: Punishment gives you the will to go on.
Like animals, you women are easily taught.
But it's over now, forevermore.
Estefania's the woman that I adore.
GERARDA: Why are you leaving, light of my life?
LUCINDO: Because your day has turned into night.8
GERARDA: Come with me. Come on, to my house.
LUCINDO: Not on your life.
GERARDA: Why not now?
LUCINDO: Doristeo will be here in due time;
let him keep you warm if you like.
GERARDA: On bended knee I beg you to come.
I want to explain why I did what I've done,
to clear up the reasons for my disdain.
Nothing but jealousy! Let's leave this place.
Come, Lucindo, come on. You'll see.
LUCINDO: Really and truly? You do love me?
GERARDA: I've always loved only you, my dove.
LUCINDO: Well, that'll cost you a little blood.
LUCINDO draws his dagger just as HERNANDO returns in normal dress
HERNANDO: What sacrifice is this being performed?
LUCINDO: She made me angry with her scorn.
HERNANDO: (If he wants vengeance and is that bold,
and Gerarda sits there waiting for the blow,
I must have to play the angel's role).
What are you doing, sir?
LUCINDO: Oh, Hernando,
a good thing you came!
HERNANDO: I've been in the park,
searching the Prado for you in the dark.
They found out at home this lady got out,
and two hours ago...
LUCINDO: Not this one, you lout!
HERNANDO: This isn't Estefania?
LUCINDO: For a while here
we had thunder and lightning.
HERNANDO: Gerarda, I fear.
LUCINDO: Can't you see that it is?
HERNANDO: Leave her alone.
If it is she, you'd be the one
to catch the blame.
LUCINDO: We'll talk about
this later, Gerarda.
GERARDA: Listen.
LUCINDO: Not now.
GERARDA: Wait.
HERNANDO: Now that was brave of you.
LUCINDO: Just knowing she loved me cut me loose.
LUCINDO and HERNANDO exit. DORISTEO and FINARDO return
DORISTEO: God, what bad luck! A real disgrace!
Nothing was open, not one place.
FINARDO: We even broke one door down.
GERARDA: You two must be all worn out.
DORISTEO: Were you here by yourself?
GERARDA: All alone.
DORISTEO: But the musicians?
GERARDA: They left to go home.
FINARDO: We couldn't find a thing to eat!
And they brag that every street
in Madrid, all year round, has places
where those who want can get pastries,
wines and desserts far into the night.
GERARDA: It's getting late and I don't feel right.
DORISTEO: I wonder if it's not too cool out here.
GERARDA: The trouble was the heat, my dear.
DORISTEO: Can you read the stars?
FINARDO: I only know:
"When the handle of the dipper points its toe,
it's nearly morning and time to go."
DORISTEO: If what you say is really true,
it's almost that time. Take a look.
It's already high. Let's go and rest.
What poor friends!
FINARDO: Not the best!
GERARDA: (Lucindo, now that you love me less,
I love you more. What a mess!)
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
you've managed to forget that lady loon.
LUCINDO: You're not just joking.
HERNANDO: What's the cause
of such a miracle? What has brought
you to your senses?
LUCINDO: Knowing she loves me.
God bless the idea, the plan, the jealousy,
the time, the manto, the Prado, the action,
and even her unpleasant reaction.
HERNANDO: Why not bless Estefania, too?
I still have the marks, to tell the truth,
from when Gerarda slapped my face.
LUCINDO: They've opened the window. We'll stop and wait.
FENISA appears at her window
FENISA: Oh, sir...
LUCINDO: Who's calling?
FENISA: A lady. Be quiet.
HERNANDO: (It must be Fenisa who got out of bed).
FENISA: Tell me your name and I'll talk to you.
LUCINDO: (See? Coming here was a really good move.
HERNANDO: Everyone in Madrid is now fast asleep.)
LUCINDO: It's Lucindo, dear lady, I came to see
about your complaint, not just for fun.
You do know I'm Captain Bernardo's son?
FENISA: I do.
LUCINDO: If I've never been here before,
how can you say I came here to court?
Me? Did I ever come looking for you?
Me? Did I write you a love note or two?
Me? At this window, covered with bars,
talking of love or causing alarm?
Me? Out here to keep you awake?
Me? A messenger? For pity's sake!
FENISA: Don't resent my tricks of love.
You never were here. Heavens above!
I never saw you here at my window.
My complaints weren't true as you know
although I did say that earlier today.
Never have you written or given me chase.
What this is about you know, all right.
I don't need to say it. You came tonight.
It's been hard for me to find a way
to let you know my feelings, but today
you gave me the will, love gave me the plan.
Your father came to ask for my hand,
but since my birth I've been marked for you.
With God's help it may all come true.
To use the Captain as my go-between
shouldn't be seen as insanity.
He's a neighbor, he's old, he's wise.
What's more, he loves you as much as I.
I've used this means to let you know
how much I love you, dear Lucindo.
In return I ask you to appreciate
my belief in you. If my wealth and face
--even though you deserve much more--
should lead you to...
LUCINDO: So soon, such favor!
Don't just throw it on the street.
The street is no fertile field.
Such seed is wasted when it is sown
unless it falls on a loving soul.
I have to thank my own good fortune
for finding out that I've pleased you.
How well I know I've never thought
I could ever deserve your love.
That day, that glorious jubilee,
I first saw you and you saw me,
I felt a new desire awaken.
I've not been able to sleep since then.
My own lack of native wit
seemed to prevent my seeing it;
what I hear my father saying.
But when he stubbornly kept insisting,
I finally came to see what you meant.
FENISA: Then you know what it is I dreamt.
LUCINDO: "A debt acquired is a debt to pay".
Once I knew, I looked for a way
to pay what I owed. But if they persist
in your marriage to my father, can I resist?
What will happen to me and to you?
FENISA: Don't believe in the power of those two,
because it's we, their own two children,
whose marriage is clearly destined.
You've yet to comprehend the wiles
of a woman in love, as decided as I.
LUCINDO: I know that you are discreet and vital.
That's obvious from your wit and style.
FENISA: I've done nothing yet.
LUCINDO: I can only repeat:
Fenisa's a lady IN LOVE BUT DISCREET.
FENISA: May your father forgive me for using him so,
sending word through him to let you know
what my mother prefers to keep indoors.
What I want to say --that I'll be yours--,
I'll say by complaining. Whenever we can,
we'll see each other. If you hear I can't stand
any more, pay attention to the talk.
LUCINDO: I say, dear lady, I had the same thought.
FENISA: That way you'll know what's going on
inside this house. We'll tie the knot
while he's making plans to take a spouse.
We'll be wed before he finds out.
LUCINDO: We need all the help we can get
to conceal our reason for worry, and then,
can you plan things so that we can meet?
After all, you're the one who's discreet.
FENISA: I have a plan that'll work. I'll plead
with your father to sent you to me
so that I can give you my blessing.
that way you can come without upsetting
my mother. But disillusion me now
or tell me I'm standing on solid ground.
LUCINDO: I gave you my soul of my own free will.
It's yours to command.
HERNANDO: Listen! Be still!
Hear the larks singing to the morning;
there, a quail is whistling its warning.
The morning star has risen high.
The time for love has passed us by.
FENISA: Go now, my love, the dawn is here.
I don't want my mother to miss me, dear.
LUCINDO: You ask for permission from my father
for me to see you.
HERNANDO: It's getting brighter!
LUCINDO: Give me something, if you please,
to take to my bed.
FENISA: I wish it were me!
HERNANDO: Tell her to wind things up. It's late.
FENISA: For this ribbon, what will you trade?
LUCINDO: What do you want?
FENISA: Your heart.
HERNANDO: Enough!
LUCINDO: It's already yours.
FENISA: Good night, my love.
FENISA exits
LUCINDO: She left!
HERNANDO: At last!
LUCINDO: What luck!
HERNANDO: I see
that you're in love.
LUCINDO: Shouldn't I be?
HERNANDO: And Gerarda?
LUCINDO: That's over.
HERNANDO: How come?
LUCINDO; You saw. Fenisa's prettier, she's fun,
she's noble...
HERNANDO: And has hot Spanish blood!
LUCINDO: This ribbon alone, now that it's won,
is better than Gerarda when all's said and done.
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.
Speak freely to me; tell me the truth.
Why do you treat me with such contempt?
Do you still love Lucindo?
GERARDA: No, but then
last night...
DORISTEO: Go on.
GERARDA: It's my bad luck
that his disdain, it seems, was enough
to set fire to the snow covering my heart.
Did you see that woman, that ugly tart,
who sat next to me?
DORISTEO: Then it must have been
Lucindo who brought her.
GERARDA: So it seems.
DORISTEO: That's all I need to know from you,
Gerarda. See what jealousy can do!
GERARDA: Jealousy's stronger than love as you say.
It can triumph over disdain.
I swear that I'm as good as dead.
Everything that Lucindo said
seemed to be already prepared.
So did her questions. I was snared.
But then I did find out the lady's name,
Estefania,9
and also that she
came
from a good family. a footman appeared
like greased lightning and I could hear
what he said: that there was no doubt,
they knew at home that she had gone out.
DORISTEO: (How could this happen? Is it all a game?)
What's that? What was the woman's name?
GERARDA: What reason do you have for being so shaken?
DORISTEO: I was wondering about the woman
you were denouncing.
GERARDA: Estefania, she said.
DORISTEO: Estefania!
GERARDA: That's right!
DORISTEO: It must be!
It would be a way to get even, you see,
if because I came to visit your house
Lucindo got into mine.
GERARDA: But how?
DORISTEO: A sister of mine --Don't you see?--
is named Estefania.
GERARDA: It must be she!
DORISTEO: What's to keep me from defending my honor,
from seeking revenge on that traitor?
GERARDA: He is after her! He said one day
he'd get even with you if he found a way.10
DORISTEO: And he did! She told me last night
that she'd been out to see the sights
on the Prado. Estefania! My honor is lost!
Good night, Gerarda. (At what a cost!)
GERARDA: That was more than I wanted to know.
DORISTEO: He's certainly dishonored my already, so...
they'll have to get married.
GERARDA: Married!
That's not fair. You'll have me buried.
DORISTEO: What have I done?
GERARDA: You might as well kill me
as marry him to another.
DORISTEO: How else can it be?
(Now that's a case!)
GERARDA: My heart is broken!
DORISTEO: Get out of my way!
GERARDA: I shouldn't have spoken.
GERARDA exits
DORISTEO: My sister! Who could plan such revenge!
I must find Finardo so we can challenge
Lucindo to a duel. He'll come
to settle the matter. Justice will be done.
He'll die or he'll marry to satisfy me.
Such a vile sister! How could she?
But the law that condemns me is very just;
rather than duty I catered to lust.
"Home fires must be tended with care
before fanning a new flame anywhere."
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:
bring you son here since I'm his mother.
CAPTAIN: I think you're right.
FENISA: All will be clear
as soon as we exchange our greeting here.
BELISA: This house is yours, you should let him come.
CAPTAIN: He can come now; he knows what I've done.
Fulminato!
FULMINATO: Yes sir?
CAPTAIN: You go and call
my son the lieutenant.
FULMINATO: Yes sir. I'm off.
FULMINATO exits
FENISA: (He has sent for Lucindo. That's good.
Heaven help me! Before we are through
these walls will witness my true affections.)
CAPTAIN: (Although she seems to resent his attentions,
her wish to see him has aroused my fears.
He's youthful and wise beyond his years.
His presence, buy contrast, makes me seem senile.
She might think it better to become his wife.
Who'd doubt that he's more appealing
or that our marriage would be more distressing.
Should she be condemned to a man of my age?
There's no need for him right away.
In the presence of an adult son, I'll appear
even older. He must never come here
a second time to raise such doubts.)
LUCINDO in fine clothes and FULMINATO enter
FULMINATO: The Lieutenant is here.
LUCINDO: (So this is her house!
How could I be so lucky?) You called?
CAPTAIN: His appearance offends me.) Where's the ball?
LUCINDO: What do you mean?
CAPTAIN: To put it simply:
you're overdressed and came too quickly.
LUCINDO: But sir, didn't you ask me to come?
CAPTAIN: To greet your mother.
LUCINDO: I came.
CAPTAIN: And it's done.
LUCINDO: But father...
FENISA: (He makes me laugh)
LUCINDO: He told me
I was to greet you as mother-to-be
and to kiss your beautiful, white hand.
CAPTAIN: That's too courteous! It's enough to say "hand".
You needn't add "beautiful".
LUCINDO: My tongue wants
to add the epithet.
FENISA: It is more gallant.
BELISA: Why does that displease you?
CAPTAIN: Get up now.
LUCINDO remains kneeling before FENISA, holding her hand
I won't allow any epithets in this house.
BELISA: Don't be so hard. Let him greet her.
LUCINDO: There's no harm since you're my father.
CAPTAIN: Don't call me father!
LUCINDO: But if I'm to speak
to a young woman as mother, tell me
what's wrong with "father"?
CAPTAIN: "Father" sounds fine
when one is younger, but it's very unkind
to say it to one who is older, unless
he's a priest or a hermit. Finish that kiss.
FENISA: (I'm happy.)
LUCINDO: I kiss the hand that bestows
such fortune. (My love, accept this note.)
LUCINDO puts a not into her hand
FENISA: (I've got it.)
LUCINDO: Now give me a blessing
as your faithful child.
CAPTAIN: (The child is expecting
her to buy him a regiment.)
FENISA: (What glory I feel.)
May God bless you and fill you with cheer.11
May God find you a wife you desire,
exactly the kind you mother would like.
May God give you what's now in your heart
adding his blessing to mine at the start.
May God make you so obedient to my will
that you never displease me or deny my wish.
May God give you peace and understanding
so you save your father from ever worrying.
May he give you such good sense
when it come to love and obedience
that I can give you the very same homage
I would to a husband...
CAPTAIN: What book about marriage,
what manual, taught you that tripe?
Stop it!
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?
BELISA: What do you want?
FENISA: Do you see this note?
BELISA: Yes, I see it.
FENISA: Well, it's a list of the dresses and other
things the Captain has ordered for me. I
want to read it over, but I don't want the
Captain to see me read it because he might
think I'm more interested in the presents than
in the bridegroom. Please, mother, will you
keep him busy for a minute?
BELISA: It would make me happy to do so.
FENISA: (Good heavens! What I have to go through to
read the note that Lucindo gave me as he
kissed my hand! It might be important and
need an immediate answer.)
BELISA: Will you lend me your ear for a minute, Captain?
FENISA read the note aside
FENISA: "My love, my father, who is jealous because
of what you told him about me, plans to send
me off to Portugal. See if you can do something
about this or I'm as good as dead. I wrote
this knowing that I'd see you soon. God be
with you and make you my wife."
(What else could possibly go wrong?
How crazy and jealous! I hope that God
will help me succeed in speaking to him
right here and now, in front of them).
Lucindo, I read your note and I hope
that heaven won't mistreat us so
as to send you off to Portugal
or separate us for even one hour.
They say the girls there are made for love,
and men who go there have lots of fun;
have your fun with me, Lucindo, please.
When it comes to love, I'm pure Portuguese.
LUCINDO: Oh, God! If only we could talk!
If I could hold you in my arms!
FENISA: I know how to manage that trick.
LUCINDO: How can you do that?
FENISA: By pretending to slip.
Then you can come to pick me up.
While I'm in your arms, we'll manage a hug.
LUCINDO: Are you ready?
FENISA: Oh, I'm falling! Help!
FENISA falls and LUCINDO picks her up in his arms
CAPTAIN: What's going on?
LUCINDO: My mother tripped
and I am helping her back on her feet.
CAPTAIN: That's my job as you can see.
Get out of here now, get out of my sight!
LUCINDO: But she was falling and it's only polite...
BELISA: Did you hurt yourself, my dear?
CAPTAIN: Clear out of this room, now! Did you hear?
LUCINDO: I'm on my way.
CAPTAIN: Immediately! Go!
LUCINDO; Why are you throwing me out?
CAPTAIN: Hit the road!
LUCINDO: (Oh divine Fenisa, sweet comprehension!
Such extremes of heavenly discretion!
You have shown us the marvelous feats
performed by a woman IN LOVE BUT DISCREET.)
LUCINDO exits
FENISA: I'm not at all hurt as you can see.
CAPTAIN: Now that I can believe.
FENISA: My son has left!
CAPTAIN: He's gone at last.
FENISA: I'm sorry about that.
BELISA: Did you want to see more of him? Beatriz,12
go quickly and call him.
FENISA: No, not on your life.
CAPTAIN: That clumsy ox must have caused your fall.
I won't let him stay around here any longer.
He'll never come into this house again as
long as I'm alive.
BELISA: How little love you must have for your son!
I thought he was a very nice young man. If
I were as young as I was once, I'd certainly
like to have him for a husband.
FENISA: (Opportunity, I've got a hold on you!)
CAPTAIN: You liked that idiot?
FENISA: Mother, listen to me for a minute.
BELISA: Since you are a captain, you think everyone's
after your hide.
To FENISA
You're always asking me to listen.
FENISA takes her mother aside to talk with
her
FENISA: The note I told you about... It really had nothing to
do with dresses and... the Captain didn't give it to me.
BELISA: What are you saying?
FENISA: It came from Lucindo.
BELISA: He has his nerve, writing to you!
FENISA: It's enough to make you want to laugh.
BELISA: Well, don't keep me in suspense.
FENISA: He says that he want to get married.
BELISA: To whom?
FENISA: To you.
BELISA: To me? What do you mean?
FENISA: Just what I said. He says that he likes your
looks. Your seriousness and wisdom please
him more than my qualities do his father.
What's more, if you get married. the property
will then all stay in the family and your
children will both be rich. If only you could
read, you'd see that he says even more. But
most important of all, he asks you not to let
his father send him off to Portugal. He's
sure that he'd be killed.
BELISA: To Portugal? Never! Child, it's clear you
know that good, honorable children find their
pleasure in pleasing their parents. You also
know that I'm not too old. I would be better
off with a husband of my own and you certainly
have found one for me! One that nearly pulls
my eyes out of my head whenever I look at him.
How pleasant! How sweet! How gallant! And,...
What a body!)
FENISA: (That kind of reaction to the hope for a
chance! What would she do if it were for
real?)
BELISA: What are you saying?
FENISA: You have to keep him from leaving.
BELISA: Leaving? What leaving? Just you get Lucindo
to come talk to me tonight --but secretly now.
FENISA: You go and let me talk to my husband-to-be.
BELISA: (I wasn't prepared to that, but it doesn't
matter. I'll take off these widow's weeds.
I'll check myself in the mirror. Oh, Lucindo!
If only you do love me, you can have all that
I own.)
BELISA exits
CAPTAIN: A real miracle has happened, Fenisa.
We've been left alone by Belisa.
Since there's nobody here to see,
sweet, generous Fenisa, please let me
hold your hand.
FENISA: (That'll be the day!)
You presume too much for a mere fiance.
CAPTAIN: I'm sorry my jealousy got you upset.
Won't you give me your hand as a friend?
FENISA: Not without witnesses to our vows.
CAPTAIN: We have three of them present right now:
Jealousy, Love, and Desire are all here.
FENISA: The jealousy's truly warranted, I fear.
CAPTAIN: Is Lucindo continuing in his pursuit?
FENISA: And wearing me out.
CAPTAIN: As I presumed.
FENISA: Las night, at my window, I hear a noise.
I was afraid and lost my poise.
I got out of bed as best I could.
Without lights I couldn't find my robe,
but I finally found my manto all right.
I went to the window and there... but why
are you trembling so?
CAPTAIN: It's anger, dear wife,
at my son's indiscretion.
FENISA: ...and what did I find
in the space between the shutters and bars?
A note!
CAPTAIN: Now that's really going too far.
I'll have to become a rabid beast
to deal with him.
FENISA: You catch that disease
by being a father. Please calm down.
CAPTAIN: I can't. I have to go find him now.
The CAPTAIN exits
FENISA: How nicely I've succeeded in letting him know
just where to come and find my note.
I'll take this chance to write a letter
so he can be warned about my mother,
how I've managed to get her to say
that he's to be her husband. That way,
his planned departure will be delayed.
My mother will arrange a trade
that'll calm the storm, and impede the anger
that's at the root of his departure.
Because, if my lover goes away,
my happiness also swiftly sets sail.
FENISA exits
Locale 5: The street
HERNANDO and LUCINDO enter
HERNANDO: Did all that really happen?
LUCINDO: If you had only seen!
I was on my knees
before Fenisa, and then...
You surely would have said
it was a pretty sight.
HERNANDO: No doubt I would have died
from laughing.
LUCINDO: Just reflect
on Tantalus in chains
standing in the water.
You should be able to gather
how we are the same.
He could never reach
either fruit or water;
the lips for which I hunger
were there for me to see
but not for me to touch.
HERNANDO: But you held her hand!
LUCINDO: My love's fiery blast
starts to cool somewhat
as her snowy hand
approaches my eager lips.
My soul, from deep within,
arises in eager demand
of the moisture it needs
to quench the flames of desire.
Love's volcano sends its fire
in search of final peace.
What do you think occurred
as my lips touched her fingers?
HERNANDO: You bit them?
LUCINDO: How do you figure?
Don't be completely absurd.
Ivory from the Indies?
Or crystal? I should bite?
It's enough --I'm sure I'm right--
since this is all an image,
that we should say "a kiss".
HERNANDO: Your father is coming here.
LUCINDO: Be quiet as he comes near.
He mustn't know about this.
The CAPTAIN enters
CAPTAIN: You ought to hang your head when you see
me! As if you didn't know that I was
coming.
LUCINDO: If I thought that I meant that little to
you..., I'd have gone to Japan rather than
to Portugal.
CAPTAIN: I shouldn't wonder, but worse is yet to
come. Didn't I tell you that Fenisa was
to be my wife?
LUCINDO: Didn't you also tell me to kiss her hand,
to greet her as my mother? Are you still
upset because I said that her hand was
beautiful?
CAPTAIN: You said "beautiful and white!" What a
sly dandy you've turned out to be!
LUCINDO: Such little things get you going! It's as
if you were hunting for a shady spot under
a twig. Good God! What have I done to offend
you?
CAPTAIN: Do you think what you've done is nothing?
Fenisa told me that you were at her window
last night and that you left a note there for
her between the bars and the shutters.
LUCINDO: Me?
CAPTAIN: Yes, you!
LUCINDO: Didn't you ask her to let you see it so that
you would know if it were in my handwriting
or not?
CAPTAIN: Just stop and think how much worse it would
be if it weren't.
HERNANDO and LUCINDO speak aside
LUCINDO: Hernando!
HERNANDO: Yes sir.
LUCINDO: Did you hear that?
HERNANDO: I understand. Undoubtedly she wants to write
to you and is letting you know to look between
the bars and the shutters of her window.
CAPTAIN: Come over here and listen to me. Somebody
is coming this way and I wouldn't like to
have my marriage become the subject of gossip
all over Madrid.
DORISTEO and FINARDO enter
DORISTEO: He's talking to his father.
FINARDO: Fine,
but this is important. Call him aside.
To LUCINDO
DORISTEO: I'd like to have a word with you.
LUCINDO: I'm with my father now, but look...
Tell me what it is that brought
you here in anger, why you sought
me out as if I were surely to blame.
To the CAPTAIN
Later we'll have to find a place
where we can be alone together
and I can furnish you with my answer.
LUCINDO goes off to talk with DORISTEO
CAPTAIN: Hernando, what do those men want?
HERNANDO: They're friends.
CAPTAIN : Could it be he's lost
at cards?
HERNANDO: That's just what I suspect.
CAPTAIN: No good ever comes of such a debt.
To LUCINDO
DORISTEO: I owed you nothing, not even knowing you.
You had just arrived and were quite new.
So having set foot in Gerarda's place,
I felt no need to guard my face.
LUCINDO: If Gerarda's your only complaint,
she's yours alone after today.
DORISTEO: That's not all!
LUCINDO: What do you mean?
Is there another?
DORISTEO: So I believe,
one who means the world to me.
One thing alone keeps me on my leash:
your venerable father standing here.
LUCINDO: You've been tricked by that woman, I fear.
DORISTEO: You were gored when you thought you saw
my love win over yours, and thought
to get revenge attacking my honor.
Then you thought of using my sister
and she, not being overly smart
and still somewhat young, played her part
by going to the Prado with you last night.
LUCINDO: What a strange story you have devised!
Your sister and I have never met,
nor would I ever make an attempt
to ruin your honor, nor do I know
where you live. Good God! And so...
FINARDO: The source is suspicious. You were deceived,
by God!
DORISTEO: Deceived! What do you mean?
It was my sister Estefania she named,
widow of a soldier killed in New Spain.
LUCINDO: Now I understand your mistake.
That lady, sir, has a different name.
She's the one I'm planning to marry
and so we wouldn't have to worry
about gossip before the wedding is done,
I christened her with the first name to come
into my mind. To me it made no difference
what she was called in Gerarda's presence:
Inez, Francesca, Antonio, or Ruth.
As God is my witness, that's the truth.
DORISTEO: You have said it, and that is fine;
but I'd be more clearly satisfied,
I'd be happier, if the truth were known,
to hear the name she calls her own.
LUCINDO: We're to be wed soon. Fenisa's her name.
I love her. She feels the same.
We are neighbors on the Street of the Vines.
My father is getting restless. It's time
for me to join him. Please excuse me.
DORISTEO: The demands of honor, as you must agree,
force us to make such investigations.
My good wishes and congratulations.
LUCINDO exits
CAPTAIN: Where's he going?
HERNANDO: I don't know.
CAPTAIN: Could it be a duel?
HERNANDO: You could ask those two.
CAPTAIN: Just a minute, gentlemen. If my intuition
is telling me the truth, I think you are
looking for a fight. You should know that
the man who just left here is my son. He's
gone off alone and I see that you two are
armed and going off after him. I'll join
you and we can have at it, two on two. He
and I were soldiers together in Flanders.
I was Captain and he was my Lieutenant.
Let's go.
FINARDO: We'd both be happy to serve you, sir, as
soldiers who've returned from the field;
but from today on we're the best of friends.
We did come to see him on a matter of some
importance, but he told us that he wasn't
after the lady we had thought. We know now
who the lady is that he's courting. He told
us that her name is Fenisa.
CAPTAIN: Fenisa? What's that you say?
FINARDO: He said that they love one another and
that he wants to marry her.
CAPTAIN: (You'll see him dead at my feet first!)
DORISTEO: Is there anything else we can do for you?
CAPTAIN: That lady is to be my wife, not his.
DORISTEO: The coward lied to us!
FINARDO: It's your fault if he did.
DORISTEO: By heaven above! He is after Estefania.
FINARDO: Let's cover this up and then go after him.
DORISTEO: To think13 that
a soldier could be such a coward!
FINARDO: To think he's the son of an honorable father!
DORISTEO and FINARDO exit
CAPTAIN: To think that the traitor is after my wife!
He knew that our marriage had been arranged,
and still he's bragging about marrying her
himself.
HERNANDO: (To think he said that! How strange!)
CAPTAIN: Right now! You pack his things. He can't
stay here even one more day. He's off to
Portugal tonight.
HERNANDO: (To think that Lucindo was so indiscreet!)
CAPTAIN: To think that he kept on trying! Bothering
her by night at her window! Kissing her
hand and saying «mother¼ out loud. I'll
bet he was whispering «my love¼. I can't
take it any more.) Hernando, you tell him
he's to leave immediately. Get your traveling
boots on.
HERNANDO: He can't even stay for your wedding?
CAPTAIN: I don't want to give him any reason for
delaying his departure. I want him to serve
the King (not Fenisa). He's not to return
to Madrid as long as I'm alive.
HERNANDO: Please calm down, for you own sake.
CAPTAIN: Get going or I'll give you a good one. I
know how to take care of fools.
END OF ACT TWO
1. The Prado, in 1608, was located in the
outskirts of Madrid, outside the city walls as it were. It
formed a long walk or promenade populated with fountains and was
the location not only for many love trysts, but a place to see
and be seen. Back to document
2. The darkness in which this scene is
performed makes the equivocation at its base more believable. Back to document
3. This scene is one of the not too common
appearances of the man in womanly disguise for humorous purposes.
In the Spanish theater of the time actresses, not young men, did
play the female roles in contrast with English theatrical
practice. This added to the humor inherent in the transvestitism
involved here. Back to document
4. Rather than exactly referring to a mint,
the Spanish indicates a sweet smelling candy that could be used
to cover bad breath. Back to document
5. This line is obviously spoken in an
impatient tone because of the reaction it arouses. Back to document
6. Note that there is no danger whatsoever
of the punishments invoked becoming true. Lucindo is playing
with truth and illusion. Back to document
7. The humor resides in the irony of this
scene. Nothing is more likely to arouse a public to laughter
than the sight of two women in open battle. The humor is
increased because the public is quite aware that one of the
ladies is a male in disguise who, by convention, cannot fight
back. Back to document
8. Lucindo shows that all he wanted was to
win the battle, he cared nothing at all for the reward for having
won. Back to document
9. Doristeo must react with shock when he
first hears this name as is clear from what is said below. Back to document
10. Note the emphasis on the double standard
involved: not with my sister! Back to document
11. Note the double meaning and ironic
content of each of these "blessings." Back to document
12. Here we find more evidence of
the presence on stage of a servant in the household of
Belisa and Fenisa. Although this is not a speaking role,
Beatriz must be present on stage in several scenes as
will be noted below. Back to document
13. The anaphora here should be a source of humor. Back to document
Electronic text by Vern G. Williamsen
and J T Abraham
Additional formatting by Matthew D. Stroud
Most recent update: 28 Jun 2002