Stop, come—come this way, you Alguazils!
Don Melchior (aside)
Let’s avoid the laws against dueling.
(aloud, staggering)
Wounded— Ah! I am dying!
(he falls as if dead.)
Don Melchior (aside)
I killed him! How to escape, then?
(aloud)
Struck through the heart!
(staggers)
This is my last moment.
(he falls as if dead)
Griselda
Both dead! Mercy!
Head of the Alguazils
We arrive too late. We must inform the mayor—the alcalde.
(The Alguazils leave.)
Griselda
(Falling into an armchair.)
Now here’s a nice how-do-you-do. Two bodies in my room—and after midnight—! Scandal will, perhaps, say they are living.
Don Melchior (rising)
I have that advantage over my enemy.
Griselda (uttering a scream and rising)
Just heaven! What a scare you gave me—you are the conqueror!
Don Melchior
I am the invincible.
(Picking up his sword and addressing Don Gaspar.)
You are dead, audacious fellow! Ah—how big he is, and I’m the one who killed him! Let’s go now and fascinate Doña Beatrix—I no longer fear to proclaim myself savior of the Queen to the face of Europe.
(He leaves proudly, hat on his ear.)
Griselda (kneeling near Gaspar.)
Poor young man!
(Don Gaspar kisses her hand; Griselda rises with a scream)
Great God! You are not dead?
Don Melchior
The dead don’t go to a ball, and I’m heading there.
(He picks up his sword, takes his hat and his cloak.)
Griselda
To seek out your rival again?
Don Melchior
No—rather, my fiancée. Guide me into the palace, Griselda.
Griselda (taking him by the hand.)
Let’s avoid the Alguazils—this way, my hero, this way.
(She drags him to the door of the hidden stairway—after a moment the mayor-alcalde and the Alguazils appear at the door.)
C U R T A I N
ACT III
THE THIRD DAY
A ballroom giving on splendid illuminated gardens.
Doña Beatrix
Why, he was charming, the monster—but it’s he that was speaking to me with an air of sincerity, the liar! Everyone will be deceived by it. Who will believe henceforth if the voice that says, “I love you,” is a lying voice—and if the eye that passion seems to illuminate renders itself an accomplice in the imposture?
Queen
Dear innocent, I can see you don’t know the ways of our young folks of fine manners. Don Melchior is one of those asses of the worst sort. At the same time he was pursuing you with his banal protestations, he had the incomparable boldness to speak to me of love—ME—The Queen of Spain—
Doña Beatrix
The traitor! For that audacious sacrilege, he deserves to be burned at the next auto-de-fé! I am sweet, I am nice, but such conduct screams out for vengeance.
Queen
I’ve shown too much patience. I ought to have warned the King. Because of you, I’ve been more indulgent than my dignity permits, but since you are no longer interested in Don Melchior, don’t worry; he will be punished. I am going to complain to Don Philippe.
Doña Beatrix
To Don Philippe! Good God, Madame, oh, don’t do it. The King would regard this outrage as a crime.
Queen
Console yourself, my tearful beauty, I am going to grant your request— The criminal is very dear to you, and the punishment would fall on you. Your smitten heart has not ceased to beat for Don Melchior.
Doña Beatrix
Ah! Señora! I will prove to you that Beatrix d’Astorga has plenty of pride and blushes for this weakness.
Queen
What are you going to do?
Doña Beatrix
I am rushing to find the Count de San Lucas to inform him of the odious conduct of his nephew—and to make plain to him that I renounce the hand of a dishonest gentleman.
(She leaves)
Queen (alone)
It’s useless to deny it, Beatrix, Don Melchior is still dear to you. Well—! My capacity as queen is not going to make me forget the duties of a friend. I intended to bring back to you this ingrate who is abandoning you by means of prudent advice.
Don Melchior (entering)
I’ve messed up the steps of a dance, I’ve knocked over a platter of sorbets, I’ve disturbed an amorous private conversation, I’ve absorbed three flasks of sherry, and I’ve tread on the foot of the Grand Inquisitor who apologized to me. Such is my impatience to find my lover! Here she is. Let’s change our approach. Perhaps that will succeed for me. We shall pass from boldness to timidity.
Queen
It’s him!
Don Melchior
She’s noticed me. Let’s utter some sighs made to turn the head of a young girl.
Queen
What a languishing air!
Don Melchior
Oh!
Queen
Don Melchior.
Don Melchior
It’s you who speak to, me, Señora. Alas! I don’t even dare raise my eyes to you.
Queen
That’s about right.
Don Melchior
Don’t worry anymore that I will address the least word to you which may seem inconvenient.
Queen
Better and better.
Don Melchior
I feel too well the respect I owe a person of your birth, of your rank.
Queen
There now—you see you’ve become better behaved—and you are right, my young cavalier—
(aside)
Let’s speak to him of Doña Beatrix.
(aloud)
Don’t you know that there’s a woman in the world who thinks only of you?
Don Melchior (aside)
Charming confession in a charming mouth.
Queen
Is it necessary to unveil the depth of her feelings regarding you—?
Don Melchior
Unveil, Señora, unveil!
Queen
Well—! She experiences towards you the most lively sympathy.
Don Melchior
And it’s you who tell me that?
Queen
Myself—
Don Melchior
Why then—I cannot doubt it—
Queen
Why, certainly—!
Don Melchior
Ah! Señora—had I but known it sooner—
Queen
You would not have addressed a certain speech to me.
Don Melchior
Assuredly not—I would have spared myself the expense of useless elocution.
Queen
Think carefully, Don Melchior, that it’s up to you to become the happiest of men—what is lacking to your happiness? You are going to have a lovable, gracious, charming wife.
Don Melchior (aside)
For goodness sake! She’s got a nice enough opinion of herself.
Queen
I would actually say witty—
Don Melchior
I will teach her to be more modest.
Queen
And I will add, at last, that she loves you.
Don Melchior
I hear you with ecstasy.
Queen
It’s she herself who speaks to you with my voice.
Don Melchior
No doubt, Señora, no doubt—
Queen
She says to you: renounce at once all the disorders that have plagued your youth. She says to you: it’s time to seek a calmer, more intimate happiness—this happiness I am here to offer you.
(Griselda appears without being seen by the char
acters on stage.)
Queen
What’s the use of all your mad intrigues? What woman in the world can love you like me?
Griselda
What do I hear?
Queen
Have good hope. I have no more threats to make you. I can forget a moment of distraction, and I take it upon myself to promise you life and happiness.
Don Melchior (hurling himself to the feet of the Queen.)
Allow me, in that case, Señora.
Griselda (holding him)
Stop. What are you going to do? Look—but don’t touch.
(Exit the Queen)
Don Melchior
What’s it mean?
(aside)
Marvelous! I can say, like Caesar—I came, I was seen, I conquered.
Griselda
This gentleman seems to me to be on a fine path—Let’s get in his good graces—Milord.
Don Melchior
Who’s speaking to me?
Griselda
It is I, little Griselda, that Milord deigned to compromise last night by scaling her balcony—I am very proud of having received your Excellency in my room—
Don Melchior
Truly?
Griselda
I glory in having given supper to Your Highness.
Don Melchior
Highness—Excellency, this sort of adulation resembles flattery.
Griselda
Ah! You are a very lucky man, indeed— That’s what it is to be bold!
Don Melchior
I was bold? Where? Who? How?
Griselda
I will keep my mouth shut, Milord. I understand that you don’t wish to entrust me with a secret of this importance—almost a state secret.
Don Melchior (aside)
A state secret? What’s she saying? Ah—There’s a secret.
(aloud)
And you saw? You heard?
Griselda
Hush!
Don Melchior
Hush?
(aside)
I’d really like to know.
(aloud)
And you won’t tell anyone?
Griselda
Trust yourself to me, Milord.
Don Melchior
Entirely. But since we are alone—and no one can hear us—tell me without fear and without subterfuge—what you saw, and—
Griselda
Hush!
Don Melchior
Hush?
Griselda
That lady to whom you were speaking of love—
Don Melchior
Well?
Griselda
Well—what she replied to you—
Don Melchior
She replied to my tenderness.
Griselda
You find that quite natural?
Don Melchior
Yes, indeed!
Griselda
Then you are accustomed to turn the head of Infantas and of Empresses—!
Don Melchior
What do you mean? It’s neither a question of an Infanta, nor a Empress—
Griselda
Hush!
Don Melchior
Hush?
Griselda
You are right—she’s neither an Infanta, nor an Empress—
Don Melchior.
She is—see—
(At this moment, the Queen, crown on her head, passes at the back, lords and ladies bowing as she passes.Griselda leaves.)
Don Melchior (alone)
She’s the queen, the Queen of Spain and The Indies! A chair, an armchair, a sofa. I am annihilated, petrified, my blood is freezing—my hair standing on end— I’m experiencing a convulsive trembling, a shattering panic—I’m done for—I threw myself at her feet. I wanted to kiss her hand—I wanted to take her—
—and she didn’t call her guard—she didn’t deliver me to the Inquisitor! Saints of heaven— This clemency is significant enough. But still, I cannot imagine—all vain, all vain—my modesty doesn’t make yours—if you please. Then deliver yourself to the evidence—what the devil—it’s clear enough, it seems to me. Come on, decidedly, Bovadilla, you are a great man and I am forced to admire you—even though it costs me— This is going to restore somewhat my reputation as a conqueror which began to lower! Favorite of the Queen—superb political position—and gastronomical as well—I will make ministers and five meals a day.
I will sell positions to the highest bidder, but I will only grant the position of chef to real merit— Favorite of the Queen—now there’s my real vocation—if I haven’t made anything of myself.
It’s because I was good only for this—monarchic position. First of all, I’ll make myself Minister of Finances—that way I’ll be able to pay my creditors. Ah! Fie, Melchior, prosperity is already beginning to make you stupid— Does one pay folks like that?— I intend to have in my cellars the most delicious French wines. In my stables the most magnificent Andalousians; moreover, a pack of English hounds to hunt the stag and a pack of poets to celebrate my perfections—
Count de San Lucas (entering)
Well! Melchior—well!—was I right, and your fiancée, Doña Beatrix—
Don Melchior
It is indeed a question of Doña Beatrix—I renounce her.
Count de San Lucas
What do I hear?
Don Melchior
Return this ring to her—
Count de San Lucas
Is it possible?
Don Melchior
She’s only a maid of honor—
Count de San Lucas
Well?
Don Melchior
Don Melchior de Bovadilla aspires now to a more illustrious conquest. I cannot say more to you than that—I run—I fly to fortune on the path enameled with roses and—sensuality!
(He exits.)
Count de San Lucas
Well! Now what’s wrong with him? Return this ring to Doña Beatrix— He’s given me an agreeable task—it’s she.
Doña Beatrix
Here he is! Uncle, I am very unhappy. Your nephew is the most perfidious of men.
Count de San Lucas
We are there.
Doña Beatrix
How I suffer—if you knew—! Have you ever loved?
Count de San Lucas
Often.
Doña Beatrix
Have you ever been deceived?
Count de San Lucas
Always.
Doña Beatrix
Then you understand what I’m enduring—a broken heart—I’ve just seen the Queen and she’s unveiled to me the abominable conduct of Don Melchior.
It’s a crime that has no name.
Count de San Lucas
A crime!
Doña Beatrix
Don Melchior dared to make—declarations to her—
Count de San Lucas
To the Queen?
Doña Beatrix
Yes—to the Queen!
Count de San Lucas
He forgot morality and etiquette—to that degree?
Doña Beatrix
But what do I see? I am not deceived! It’s the ring that I charged you with for that flighty lover.
Count de San Lucas
Alas, my dear Beatrix, how to apprise you of this unworthy news—
Doña Beatrix
I divine it—Don Melchior is sending me back my ring—behold his Spanish gallantry!
Count de San Lucas (giving her the ring.)
It’s the fatal truth!
Doña Beatrix
Ah—! I am humiliated enough! I really hope that Don Melchior will never reappear before me! And yet I would like to give it to him! Where is he, uncle, where is he?
Count de San Lucas
How you remind me! What an idea crosses my mind. You say that Don Melchior dares to love a certain person—I fear peeking into a horrible mystery—I am forming conjectures which make me shiver—
Doña Beatrix
Get to the point!
Count de San Lucas
No, no—more I cannot tell you—I run to watch—as my duty demands it.
Doña Beatrix
Watch what?
Count de San Lucas
The circulation of sorbets at the ball!
(He exits frantically.)
Doña Beatrix (alone)
What’s he imagine? Oh! Men! Men! What deceivers they are! Don Melchior, what a cruel game have you played here! If you felt nothing for me, for what reason did you disguise your indifference in love, why ask on your knees for the hand you had no wish to obtain. It’s him!
Don Melchior (aside}
Doña Beatrix! Finally I have found her. Let’s not delay to make this confession to her that honesty dictates I do—!
(aloud)
Señora—
Doña Beatrix
It’s you, sir—you dare again offer yourself to my sight?
Don Melchior
What change!
Doña Beatrix
You have sought this interview—It will be the last between us.
Don Melchior
What do I hear?
Doña Beatrix
And by addressing an eternal goodbye to you, Doña Beatrix will have the sad satisfaction of expressing to you the feelings your odious conduct inspires in her!
Don Melchior
What do you mean?
Doña Beatrix
You ought to understand—lover without honor—without delicacy, gentleman without fidelity. But I won’t be the dupe any more of your fine sentiments of, your perfidious protestations—I know you too well now.
Don Melchior
What are you saying? Have you discovered who I am?
Doña Beatrix
An ingrate, who sends me with disdain my engagement ring! An audacious man who actually dares to address his homage to his sovereign!
Don Melchior
Me! Great God! Me!
Doña Beatrix
Ah—may I never see you again! Adieu forever, Don Melchior!
Don Melchior
Stop! I can now reveal to you joyfully the name I bear—the name that just now I was fearfully going to reveal to you.
Doña Beatrix
Who are you?
Don Melchior
Captain Don Gaspar—
Doña Beatrix
Don Gaspar—
Don Melchior
A soldier of fortune who found himself garrisoned in Burgos, six months ago—and who noticed you for the first time through the grilled door of the choir at the monastery of Las Huelgas where you were being raised by your tutor. An obscure lover who, since that time spent many a feverish, insomniac night thinking of the uncrossable distance that separated him from you— A simple officer who loves you—but not at least, the gentleman who outrages you.
Saving the Queen Page 5