Authors: Lope de Vega,Gwynne Edwards
Tags: #Fiction, #Drama, #Classics, #English; Irish; Scottish; Welsh, #Continental European
It to the ground. I shall obliterate | 425 |
SOLDIER. It's best you calm yourself, my lord. They now obey the King. It would Not do to anger him.
MASTER. How can
They serve the King when they have sworn | 430 |
SOLDIER. The courts Would have to settle it.
MASTER. No court
Will give to me what was initially
Within his power. The King is sovereign,
I must accept it. And if they swear | 435 |
My saviour and salvation. I feel | 440 |
They leave. Enter
LAURENCIA.
LAURENCIA. When we're in love, our fear for
The one we love becomes true anguish, | 445 |
And haunt us with the dreadful thought | 450 |
I only think of his well-being; | 455 |
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And yet I die when he's not with me.
Enter
FRONDOSO.
*
FRONDOSO. Laurencia!
LAURENCIA. My dearest husband! It isn't safe. You shouldn't be here!
FRONDOSO. Am I to think my love for you | 460 |
LAURENCIA. Your life's at risk. You must stay hidden.
FRONDOSO. Heaven forbid I ever give you cause to grieve.
LAURENCIA. You've seen how cruelly the rest
Are treated, how furiously this judge | 465 |
FRONDOSO. You think I could
Behave like that? Turn my back on all
My friends when they most need me? Leave | 470 |
[
Cries off-stage
Listen! Someone | 475 |
Is being tortured. Listen!
JUDGE [
off
]. Speak! Old man, I want the truth!
FRONDOSO. Laurencia, They are torturing one of the old men!
LAURENCIA. They show no mercy.
-71-
ESTEBAN [
off
]. All right! All right
JUDGE [ off ]. So let him speak! Who killed Fernando? | 480 |
ESTEBAN [
off
]. Fuente Ovejuna!
LAURENCIA. Such a noble father!
FRONDOSO. The bravest of men!
JUDGE [
off
]. The boy!
Still tighter! I know you know.
Say who it was. Why won't you speak?
Pull tighter still!
BOY [ off ]. Fuente Ovejuna! | 485 |
JUDGE [
off
]. In the King's name, I'll hang you all With my own hands. Who killed the Commander?
FRONDOSO. They torture a mere boy and still He will not tell them!
LAURENCIA. Such brave people!
FRONDOSO. Each one courageous!
JUDGE [ off ]. Bring the girl! Stretch | 490 |
LAURENCIA. He's blind with anger!
JUDGE [
off
]. Believe me, the rack Will see to all of you! Who killed The Commander?
PASCUALA [
off
]. Fuente Ovejuna!
JUDGE [
off
]. Once more. Tighten!
FRONDOSO. He's wasting his time. | 495 |
LAURENCIA. Pascuala refuses to tell him.
FRONDOSO. Why be surprised? The children do So too.
JUDGE [
off
]. You're only tickling them!
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Much harder!
PASCUALA [
off
]. Oh, God, have mercy!
JUDGE [
off
]. Again! Are you deaf?
PASCUALA [ off ]. Fuente Ovejuna! | 500 |
JUDGE [
off
]. The fat one there, the one half-naked. On the rack with him!
LAURENCIA. It must be Mengo!
FRONDOSO. I'm afraid he'll tell them!
MENGO [
off
]. No! No!
JUDGE [
off
]. Now tighter!
MENGO [
off
]. No!
JUDGE [
off
]. Do you need assistance?
MENGO [
off
]. No, please!
JUDGE [ off ]. Then tell me, peasant! Who killed | 505 |
MENGO [
off
]. All right, I'll tell you.
JUDGE [
off
]. Ease off a little.
FRONDOSO. He's going to tell him!
JUDGE. Apply more pressure!
MENGO. No more, no more! I'll tell you.
JUDGE. Who killed the Commander?
MENGO. Fuente Ovejuna! Our little town! * | 510 |
JUDGE. Who ever saw such scoundrels? They mock
Their pain. The very one I thought
Would crack is most defiant. Release them!
This has become most tiresome.
-73-
FRONDOSO. God bless you, Mengo! I was scared | 515 |
Enter
MENGO, BARRILDO,
and the
ALDERMAN.
BARRILDO. You were brilliant, Mengo!
ALDERMAN. Oh, very good indeed!
BARRILDO. A star!
MENGO. Oh, ah!
BARRILDO. Here, have a drink! Take this!
MENGO. Oh, ah! What is it?
BARRILDO. Lemon curd. * | 520 |
MENGO. Aaahh!
FRONDOSO. Get it down you!
BARRILDO. That's the way.
FRONDOSO. He's drunk it all. Now he'll be fine.
LAURENCIA. Give him some food.
MENGO. Oh, ah!
BARRILDO. Have this On me!
LAURENCIA. He only wants the wine!
FRONDOSO. A man who's said 'no' should have some, yes? | 525 |
BARRILDO. Do you want another?
MENGO. Ah, no, yes, yes!
FRONDOSO. And you deserve it, Mengo!
LAURENCIA. Just look At him knocking them back!
FRONDOSO. Give him
Some clothes. He must be freezing.
-74-
BARRILDO. Do you want Some more?
MENGO. Three or four? Fine, fine! | 530 |
FRONDOSO. He really means 'wine, wine'!
BARRILDO. Here, drink It down. A man who's said 'no' deserves His wine. What's wrong with it?
MENGO. It's rough, That's what. And it's gone to my head.
FRONDOSO. The best place for you is in your bed! | 535 |
MENGO. Fuente Ovejuna! Our little town!
[
Exit all, except
FRONDOSO
and
LAURENCIA
FRONDOSO. They do right to praise him. So tell me, My sweet, who killed the Commander?
LAURENCIA. Why, Fuente Ovejuna!
FRONDOSO. The truth! | 540 |
LAURENCIA. Oh, my sweet, you don't Half scare me! Fuente Ovejuna!
FRONDOSO. Then tell me! How did I kill you?
LAURENCIA. By making me love you to death, that's how!
Exit both. Enter the
KING
and
QUEEN.
ISABEL. This is a true surprise, my lord. | 545 |
KING. And such A joy to see you once again!
*
I was on my way to Portugal. I couldn't resist breaking my journey.
ISABEL. I trust you will never resist, my lord, | 550 |
-75-
Such welcome opportunities.
KING. What news of Castile?
ISABEL. At last it is At peace. Everything seems calm enough.
KING. I'm not surprised. You are the one
Who fought to bring that peace. | 555 |
Enter
MANRIQUE.
MANRIQUE. The Master of Calatrava attends you. He is outside and seeks an audience.
ISABEL. Then show him in. I wish to speak with him.
MANRIQUE. I would point out that though he's young
In years, he is a valiant soldier. | 560 |
Enter the
MASTER OF CALATRAVA.
MASTER. Rodrigo Téllez Girón, Master
Of Calatrava. I come to seek
Forgiveness, knowing that I was
Deceived and ill-advised in causing you
Displeasure. I was misled both by | 565 |
I am your loyal and obedient servant. | 570 |
What fear is and see my crimson cross | 575 |
KING. Rise, Master. You are | 580 |
-76-
Most welcome here and always shall be.
MASTER. Your words, your Majesty, provide True comfort to the penitent.
ISABEL. Young man, you show true spirit. In that
Respect, your deeds are equalled by | 585 |
MASTER. Your majesties, you are The lovely Esther, the mighty Xerxes.
*
Enter
MANRIQUE.
MANRIQUE. The judge who went to Fuente Ovejuna . . . He has returned and wishes to report, Your Majesty.
KING. You shall decide what's to | 590 |
MASTER. If it
Were up to me, your Majesty,
They'd get what they deserve. How dare
They murder the Commander!
KING. The matter is
No longer in your hands.
ISABEL. But soon | 595 |
Enter the
JUDGE.
JUDGE. I went, as you instructed me,
To Fuente Ovejuna, and there
Made every effort to investigate
The crime. I could not find a scrap | 600 |
For when I asked who was to blame, | 605 |
-77-
I tortured them, three hundred on
The rack, including boys of ten
Years old, but none would tell me more.
Whatever method I employed, | 610 |
They wish to state their case and let | 615 |
KING. Then let them enter.
Enter the two
MAGISTRATES, FRONDOSO,
the
WOMEN,
and a group of
PEASANTS.
LAURENCIA. Is that the King and Queen?
FRONDOSO. Rulers Of all Castile.
LAURENCIA. I swear they are
The finest couple. Saint Anthony
*
bless them!
ISABEL. Are these the villains?
*
ESTEBAN. Fuente Ovejuna, | 620 |
Of all the trouble. He robbed us of | 625 |
FRONDOSO. This girl . . . Heaven favoured me with her,
So making me the happiest of men . . .
Was seized and carried off by him | 630 |
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