Don Melchior
Agreed! We will reach the gardens of the palace more
swiftly using this secret stairway.
(goes to the door at the left)
Pass—
Don Melchior
After you—
Don Melchior
I beg you—
Don Melchior
I won’t do it! Two gentlemen can cut each other’s throats, but cannot fail in the laws of civility.
Don Melchior
Let’s go!
Don Melchior
Let’s go.
(They again bow to each other, Don Gaspar ends by leaving first, Don Melchior at first takes a step to follow him, and suddenly locks the door)
Don Melchior (alone)
Bully! Ruffian! What a furious type! Could he be a husband in the category of the late Menelaus? Go wait for me under the beautiful stars! I’m in no hurry to get carved up. This braggart picks his time ill. I have no envy to fight a duel when I’m on the eve of marrying Doña Beatrix—seductive fiancée—rich like a treasure ship—I intend at least to undertake the conquest of this pretty-faced millionaire and virgin—two precious qualities—but rare. She cannot fail to come after receiving my gallant message. By Jove! She adores me before having seen me— What will she do after she does? A woman!
(A door opens and the Queen appears.)
Queen
Is it you, Don Melchior?
Don Melchior (aside)
It’s she.
(aloud)
Don Melchior Claudio Narcissio Figueiro de Sandoval y Carvajal Peralta Hernández de Bovadilla— You guessed it—it’s myself. I bear with as little as I can these names that have linked me to my ancestors.
Queen
I am meeting you, at last— How happy I am.
(Don Melchior pulls up a chair for her.)
Don Melchior
Lovely person; charming character.
Queen
I can express my sentiments to you regarding you.
(Don Melchior sits near the Queen, she makes a motion of surprise)
Don Melchior (aside)
I’ve produced my customary effect. She idolizes me.
Queen
I regard you as the most perfect gentleman that ever can be.
Don Melchior
One of the most perfect would suffice, Señora—my humility suffers from such praise.
Queen
You’ve shown a devotion that was heroic, chivalrous—divine.
Don Melchior
I have but one virtue—that’s modesty—your praise is going to ruin it—spare me—mercy—
Queen
El Cid himself couldn’t have done better.
Don Melchior
He would have done as well. Grant me that or I will be forced to blush. I appreciate what I am worth.
Queen
Noble and generous young man! To come to the aid of the Queen, you didn’t hesitate to brave death and the scaffold. How to reward such a fine action?
Don Melchior
The action wasn’t bad, I agree since you insist on it—I am not teasing. As for the reward, I will content myself with the impression I dare flatter myself to have produced on your heart.
Queen (rising)
On my heart! What does this extravagance signify?
Don Melchior
You are beautiful and I am a hero—you said so just now, for I am incapable of giving myself such denominations—beauty must crown valor!
Queen
Don Melchior!
Don Melchior
Never has the myrtle of love been placed on a more submissive face. You have vanquished the invincible—my soul is yours—
Queen (aside)
The wretch—was it for me then that he insinuated himself into the Park of Aranjuez?
Don Melchior
O my star! I thank you! There was only one way to please her and you gave it to me— The savior of the Queen—they tell me—has all possible rights to your favor.
Queen
To my favor—I don’t deny it.
Don Melchior
To your esteem.
Queen
No question! He deserved it. But just now you employed language to me that—
Don Melchior
Did I use improper terms? Have I committed some grammatic offense? It seems to me I employed only honest words and respectful formulas—to outrage modesty is not my custom.
Queen (aside)
Now this is peculiar!
(aloud)
Sir, be careful!—I don’t know if you are joking or speaking seriously—but you are playing a hazardous game—such insolence—that nothing authorizes.
Don Melchior
To tell a pretty woman that one loves her has never passed for insolence—especially if the declaration is given a graceful turn—and mine—
Queen
Oh—shut up—
Don Melchior
Why—
Queen
Not another word! Anyone else would already have been punished—but your bravery pleads for your folly—a trait I cannot forget suspends my wrath.
Don Melchior
You see in me the most speechless cavalier on earth—I fall from my height—I no longer understand a thing—the manner in which you are greeting me causes me profound stupefaction. I express to you delicate feelings in a flowery style I dare say—poetic— I accompany my speech with gestures in good taste and you seem indignant, outraged as if a man dressed in out-of-fashion and threadbare clothes, with clumsy hands, had the audacity to meddle in your conversation. What in me can shock you? Don’t I have cultivated manners? Irreproachable dress—facile speech—but pure? Perhaps, I haven’t from respect—depicted my tenderness under sufficiently vivid colors—? No! I do not love you—get back—languishing words—too cold expressions—I adore you—I idolize you—my head is burning, my heart flames—I am just a vast conflagration!
Queen
Wretch!
Don Melchior
I am throwing myself at your feet—I’m dragging myself to your knees—I kiss the tracks of your steps.
Queen
Fool—
Don Melchior
What’s got to be said—What must be done to calm you?
Queen
Come to your senses—and leave— Thanks to your devotion, I actually intend to regard you merely as a madman.
Don Melchior
Mad with love.
Queen
Don’t irritate me further—I will try to forget this moment of delirium—I pity you—
Don Melchior
You pity me? In that case—
Queen (starting to leave)
Thank me for so much clemency—
Don Melchior
You are fleeing? Oh! I am going to pursue you!
Queen
Remember well, sir, if you again use such bold language to me—it’s death that awaits you—
Don Melchior
Death?
Queen
Death!
(She leaves)
Don Melchior (alone)
Death?—that conclusion lacks kindness. What’s it mean? Could she have a handy knife in her virginal garter? I remain paralyzed—so greatly am I struck by surprise! There are two things I’ll never comprehend: the Apocalypse and women! This one declares herself a fanatic about the queen’s savior. I present myself as such—and the capricious creature casts thunderous glances of rage and disdain at me!
Ah—who’s that?
(Don Gaspar enters)
Don Melchior
The hired killer again. We are going to cut each other up like two dividers—it’s become inevitable.
Don Melchior
I’ve been waiting for you for an hour at the rendez-vous!
Don Melchior
I wanted to allow you time to commend your soul to God.
Don Melchior
This time you won’t escape me.
(He cas
ts away his cloak and his hat.)
Don Melchior
What are you doing?
Don Melchior (hand on his sword.)
These torches will give us better light than the stars.
Come on! Draw!
Don Melchior
What an enragé! I don’t fight with no exit.
Don Melchior
Watch out! I’ll force you to if you have courage.
Don Melchior
Dueling is punished by death, think about it carefully!
Don Melchior
You’re getting pale, valiant hero.
Don Melchior (aside)
What an unchained tiger— How to impose on him? Let’s assume the manners of a captain!
Don Melchior
You are trembling, dubious conqueror!
Don Melchior
No, by all the saints! You know ill Don Melchior de Bovadilla. If I touch—he’s a dead man—if I come down, it’s on the bold—if I advance, these are my conquests—if I write, it’s a challenge—if I read, it’s a death warrant—if I win, it’s a battle—if I ruin, they are my enemies; if I enter, it’s through the breach—if I emerge, it’s from combat.
Don Melchior
No idle words.
Don Melchior
Bold man! I intend to spare you in the interest of your mistress and you push me to extremes. One explains oneself before cutting each others’ throats—and you are not telling me why you want to cross swords?
Don Melchior
Why? We both love the same woman!
Don Melchior
Ah? Bah!
Don Melchior
Doña Beatrix d’Astorga.
Don Melchior
Doña Beatrix—
(aside)
It’s this braggart who has stolen her heart from me!
(The Count enters abruptly.)
Count de San Lucas
You here, my nephew?
Don Melchior (aside)
True God! He comes perfectly.
Count de San Lucas
I learned you were here, I’m rushing to congratulate you.
Don Melchior
Me?
Count de San Lucas
The Queen by the power of her solicitations has obtained mercy for her savior.
Don Melchior (aside)
Let’s listen. This interests me.
Don Melchior
Hooray! I will not be cut down in the flower of my youth.
Count de San Lucas
The most beautiful future awaits you. The Queen will answer for making you succeed. Do you have ambition, young man?
Don Melchior
Sure!
Count de San Lucas
Great!
Don Melchior
I would like to be a Marquis.
Count de San Lucas
You will perhaps become chamberlain—camerero.
Don Melchior
Chamberlain! Camerero! That idea exalts me!
Count de San Lucas
Fortune is smiling on you, listen I’ve just seen Doña Beatrix.
Don Melchior (aside)
Attention! That interests me, also.
Don Melchior
Don’t joke, uncle.
Count de San Lucas
I never joke. I am Castilian and grave. Why, Don Melchior! You’ve turned the head of your cousin!
Don Melchior (aside)
What do I hear—! It was me she took for him?
Don Melchior
This time, you are jesting, uncle.
Count de San Lucas
I never jest, I tell you. I am grave and Castilian.
Don Melchior
Doña Beatrix displays an indifference to me—
Count de San Lucas
She affirms a tenderness for you.
Don Melchior (aside)
This is delightful to hear.
Don Melchior
She can’t stand me.
Count de San Lucas
She’s going crazy about you—
Don Melchior (aside)
My happiness is becoming intoxicating.
Don Melchior
I can only repeat to you: no.
Count de San Lucas
And as for me, I will prove to you—it’s yes.
Don Melchior
Ah! Why—I ask nothing better!
Don Melchior (aside)
And what about me!
Don Melchior (to Don Gaspar)
You hear him?
Don Melchior
Perfectly.
Count de San Lucas (to Don Melchior, showing him a ring.)
You see this ring?
Don Melchior
Well—?
Count de San Lucas (givng it to him)
She sends it to you as a pledge of Love.
Don Melchior
To me! She loves me!
Don Melchior (aside)
To me! She adores me!
Don Melchior (to Don Melchior)
You hear him!
Don Melchior
As well as you!
Count de San Lucas (to Don Melchior)
Do you still doubt her feelings? Is it clear enough? What do you say about that?
Don Melchior
I was too modest!
Don Melchior (aside)
What an ass!
Don Melchior
She acted so cruel!
Count de San Lucas
Pure comedy.
Don Melchior
I will take my revenge. I will force this Amazon to surrender her weapons to me.
Count de San Lucas
Come join her at the ball.
Don Melchior
Yes, let’s run to the ball!
Count de San Lucas
Don’t let yourself be intimidated: women have so many caprices—whims— Be enterprising—like a page.
Don Melchior
Like a page.
Count de San Lucas
Bold like a gallant knight.
Don Melchior
I have my own notion—come, uncle.
Don Melchior (retaining him)
Excuse me—we have a conversation to finish.
Don Melchior
He calls a duel a conversation—! Frightful ruffian!
Count de San Lucas
That’s different. I am leaving you, gentleman—
Don Melchior
Stay, uncle—
Count de San Lucas
Impossible! My duty as general Master of Ceremonies demands my presence at the ball. Till later, Melchior. I am a complaisant uncle—I will bring you Beatrix’s hand for the first minuet!
(He leaves)
Don Melchior
You still want to kill me?
Don Melchior
Much less than before.
Don Melchior
This is no doubt a joke.
Don Melchior
Why?
Don Melchior
You are unlucky in women—
Don Melchior
Who knows? Don’t yell “victory” yet. I retained you to give you a friend’s advice— Renounce Doña Beatrix.
Don Melchior
Didn’t you hear that she breathes only for me?
Don Melchior
That proves nothing!
Don Melchior
And this ring she sent me?
Don Melchior
The wisdom of nations advises us not to be confident of appearances.
Don Melchior
Are you deaf?
Don Melchior
I am the happiest of men.
Don Melchior
Are you mad?
Don Melchior
Doña Beatrix will soon belong to me.
Don Melchior
She already belongs to me.
Don Melchior
Don’t dispute her with me.
Don Melchior
You must let me have her.
Don Melchior
&n
bsp; Trust me!
Don Melchior
Don’t persist further!
Don Melchior
This is madness!
Don Melchior
This is bull-headedness!
(Griselda enters)
Griselda
What’s this uproar in my place—you again, gentlemen?
Don Melchior
Griselda, I am swimming in fog.
Don Melchior
Griselda, I’m in an ocean of happiness.
Don Melchior
Holy Virgin, what is it?
Don Melchior
To me, her fortune.
Don Melchior
To me, her love.
Griselda
It’s Doña Beatrix who’s making you rave like this. I suspected as much.
Don Melchior
The pearl of Castile.
Don Melchior
The star of the court.
Don Melchior
I am going to possess her.
Don Melchior
I am going to obtain her.
Griselda
What, the two of you!
Don Melchior
My happiness intoxicates me.
Don Melchior
My joy transports me.
Don Melchior
One last time, renounce the one who I love!
Don Melchior
One last time, think no more of my lover.
Don Melchior
She prefers me.
Don Melchior
She’s marrying me.
Don Melchior
By Saint John! Enough talking like women. We must act like men.
(Drawing his sword)
Griselda
Holy Virgin! Help! Let’s run find the Alguazils.
Don Melchior (aside)
I’m done for! I’m dead and burned.
Don Melchior
En garde!
Don Melchior (drawing his sword)
(aside)
Let’s make a good appearance— The Alguazils will separate us.
Don Melchior
At last!
Don Melchior
Yes, at last, but not yet—! I am of an ancient race—my nobility date from the Ostrogoths—and I do not fight with the first comer. Who are you?
Don Melchior
I promised to tell you sword in hand; I am Captain Gaspar! Yes, the true savior of the Queen.
Don Melchior
Why then, wretch! I am ruined—sunk—if I don’t kill you?
Don Melchior
Try!
Don Melchior (aside)
Perplexing situation.
Don Melchior
My life or yours.
Don Melchior
Hold on! Hold on! Let us make with our swords all the greetings that urbane Castilian manners exact.
(They fence in a comic way at first. They cross swords and just exchange some thrusts when Griselda appears with the Alguazils.)
Griselda
Saving the Queen Page 4