by Lope de Vega
And our King Fernando,
They suit each other very well,
Their love is strong, their love is true;
One day Saint Michael* at the gates, 340
Will welcome them and let them in;
Till then long life to both of them,
And punish tyrants for their sins!
LAURENCIA. Barrildo, your turn.
BARRILDO. Alright,
Here goes. I've put some effort into this. 345
PASCUALA. Just sing it clearly. It'll be fine.
BARRILDO. Long life to both the Catholic Kings,
For theirs is the victory;
We welcome them as our Lords
To rule our lands successfully. 350
Whatever battles lie ahead,
We know they'll be triumphant,
Their enemies both great and small,
And down with cruel tyrants!
MUSICIANS. Long life to King Fernando, 355
Long life to Isabel;
A cruel death to tyrants,
And let them rot in Hell.
LAURENCIA. Now Mengo!
FRONDOSO. Yes, come on! Let's hear you!
MENGO. You know I've a gift for poetry. 360
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PASCUALA. Let's hear about the other gift, On the backside of your belly!
MENGO. One Sunday morning recently,
He ordered me a whipping;
I promise you it really hurt, 365
My backside's still complaining.
But then we put them on our spit
And gave them all a roasting. *
Long life to both our Catholic Kings,
An end to the tyrants' boasting. 370
MUSICIANS. Long life to King Fernando, Long life to Isabel;
A cruel death to tyrants,
And let them rot in Hell.
ESTEBAN. Take the head down now.
MENGO. He looks as if 375
He's just been hanged.
Enter JUAN ROJO with the royal coat of arms.
ALDERMAN. He's brought the coat Of arms.
ESTEBAN. Let's see.
JUAN ROJO. Where shall I put it?
ALDERMAN. Why, there, outside the Council Chamber. *
ESTEBAN. It looks magnificent!
BARRILDO. A joy To behold!
FRONDOSO. As bright as any sun, * 380
It marks the dawn of our new day!
ESTEBAN. Long live León and old Castile,
The bars of Aragón, and death
To tyranny! But listen now,
People of Fuente Ovejuna. 385
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I may be old but my advice
Can do no harm. The King and Queen
Will want to know what's happened here,
Not least because our town is on
The route they take. You'd best 390
Agree on what you are to say to them.
FRONDOSO. So what is your advice?
ESTEBAN. On pain Of death you all say 'Fuente Ovejuna', And stick to it.
FRONDOSO. I think you're right. Fuente Ovejuna did it! *
ESTEBAN. Are you all 395
Agreed? ALL. Agreed!
ESTEBAN. Imagine, then, that I'm The judge. We'd best rehearse what we Must do. Mengo's to be tortured * first.
MENGO. There must be someone less strong-willed Than me!
ESTEBAN. We're only pretending, Mengo! 400
MENGO. All right, get on with it!
ESTEBAN. Who killed The Commander?
MENGO. Fuente Ovejuna!
ESTEBAN. You dog, you shall be tortured!
MENGO. Ahhhhh! You can kill me! I'll not confess!
ESTEBAN. Confess, you wretch!
MENGO. All right, all right! 405
ESTEBAN. Who killed him, then?
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MENGO. Fuente Ovejuna!
ESTEBAN. Turn The screw! *
MENGO. I shan't confess!
ESTEBAN. To hell With the trial!
Enter the ALDERMAN. *
ALDERMAN. What are you doing here?
FRONDOSO. What's happened, Cuadrado?
ALDERMAN. A judge Has just arrived.
ESTEBAN. Let's go! The other way! 410
ALDERMAN. He's brought a captain with him.
ESTEBAN. Who cares If he's brought the devil himself! All of you know what you have to say.
ALDERMAN. They're arresting everyone.
ESTEBAN. No need
To be afraid. Mengo, who killed 415
The Commander?
MENGO. Fuente Ovejuna!
All exit. Enter the MASTER OF CALATRAVA and a SOLDIER.
MASTER. You mean this really happened? I can't
Believe it. The poor man! For news
Like this you could be put to death! *
SOLDIER. My lord, I'm just the messenger. 420
I didn't mean to make you angry.
MASTER. How can a mere village, though Incensed, commit this dreadful crime? I'll take five hundred men and raze
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It to the ground. I shall obliterate 425
The memory of their names.
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
Allegiance * to the Order?
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
Their loyalty to him, I must
Control my rage * and now submit
To his authority. If I
Have made mistakes, my youth will be
My saviour and salvation. I feel 440
A sense of shame, but even so
My honour is what matters most.
I know full well my obligations.
They leave. Enter LAURENCIA.
LAURENCIA. When we're in love, our fear for
The one we love becomes true anguish, 445
And adds to love a greater care
When it concerns the one we cherish.
Although our love be strong and true,
Our fears affect our sense of trust,
And haunt us with the dreadful thought 450
The one we love may be lost to us.
I worship my beloved husband.
I know my life will be as nothing
If fortune does not favour him.
I only think of his well-being; 455
His presence here adds to my worry,
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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
Deserves such coolness?
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
Proceeds to punish them. You have
To save yourself, avoid the risk,
Not seek it out.
FRONDOSO. You think I could
Behave like that? Turn my back on all
My friends when they most need me? Leave 470
You here to face the danger? No!
Don't ask me to! It isn't right
For me to save my skin and not
Concern myself with all of you
At such a time.
[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.
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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
Her on the rack! Tighten the screw!
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
The Commander?
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.
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FRONDOSO. God bless you, Mengo! I was scared 515
Beyond belief, but you have overcome My fear!
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.
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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
Who was it killed the Commander?
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
Who killed him?
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
I wasn't expecting you.
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
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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
Fernán Gómez and my self-interest.
I humbly beg that you forgive me.
If I am worthy of such favour,
I swear that from this moment on
I am your loyal and obedient servant. 570
The great campaign you plan against
Granada * . . . I promise you you'll see
The valour of my sword. Before
It's even drawn, the Moors shall know
What fear is and see my crimson cross 575
Fly from their battlements.
Five hundred soldiers now in my
Command shall fight on your behalf.
You have my word that I shall not
Offend again.
KING. Rise, Master. You are 580
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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
Your speech.
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
Be done with these assassins.
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
Will be in yours, my lord, God willing.
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
Of proof as to the murder; the evidence
Is not enough to fill a single page.
The citizens are all of one accord,
United in their fortitude,
For when I asked who was to blame, 605
They all replied: 'Fuente Ovejun
a'.
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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
From force to flattery, had no
Effect. And so, your Majesty, all
Of them must now be pardoned or
Be put to death. They come before you.
They wish to state their case and let 615
You question them.
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
Your Majesty: your humble and
Obedient servants. The tyranny,
The cruelty, the insults of
The dead Commander, they were the cause
Of all the trouble. He robbed us of 625
Our own possessions, raped our women,
And showed us not the slightest mercy.
FRONDOSO. This girl . . . Heaven favoured me with her,
So making me the happiest of men . . .
Was seized and carried off by him 630
On our wedding-night, as if
She were his property. What would
Have happened is quite plain if she'd
Not fought him off and showed how virtuous
She is.
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MENGO. If I may have my say, now. 635
I doubt you'll credit what he did
To me. I tried to save a girl