ACT III
Locale : A room in DON PEDRO’s house DOÑA BEATRIZ and INEZ enter
BEATRIZ: What happened?
INEZ: As I was saying…
BEATRIZ: Good Lord! Inez, were they hurt?
INEZ: Like fallen angels they lay in the dirt.
Two men came to do some fighting.
There was blood and lots of shouting.
They managed to rout the men
but servant and master, both upset,
were carried off to see the doctor:
a broken foot for his helper
and the master with a wounded head.
BEATRIZ: Tell me, Inez, who told you?
INEZ: A friend of the one who’s limping now,
told me the story all about how
it happened. It’s really true.
He was the worse hurt of the two
when they jumped from the balcony.
Today I went to their house to see.
BEATRIZ: Who do they think is at fault?
INEZ: That they don’t know at all.
BEATRIZ: He’s not still afflicted, is he?
INEZ: He is, but the cut on the head
and broken foot they got here
are getting better it appears.
BEATRIZ: Has the claudication kept him abed?
INEZ: What’s that “Claudication” you said?
Won’t you ever quit that vice?
BEATRIZ: What a cretin! Where’s your mind?
Isn’t it clear that to claudicate
means to stagger as you ambulate
alternating your feet?
INEZ: That’s fine,
but how should I know or not know?
I do know that, full of fear,
they were hurt getting out of here,
and I went to find out, although…
BEATRIZ: I suffer too because of their woe.
That man came into my room
already aware of me, enlightened,
resolved, persevering, and determined,
he evidently intended my doom.
As fast as the danger loomed,
–if love can be called a danger–
I tried to provide myself a shelter,
construing defense as an obligation,
even while making an observation
on the compatibility of his nature.
To make it worse, my father entered.
That almost led to tragedy,
but the intruder acted with courtesy
and did exactly as I ordered.
For me, he hid as it occurred,
for me, he fell and was hurt.
And since I was able to discern
that a certain equality exists
between gratitude and self-respect,
I don’t know which to prefer.
INEZ: What’s this troubling you now?
What’s wrong? What’s making you sad?
BEATRIZ: What more do you want me to have?
INEZ: Don’t waste your tears right now,
don’t drop those pearls about.
You may need them another time.
BEATRIZ: Oh, Inez, Inez! How can I hide
my secret feelings from you?
You’d help me if you only knew
the torments controlling my mind.
INEZ: You can tell me whatever you wish.
wish.
Saint Secret’s Feast is a working day
but I hope to make it a holiday
as soon as I can canonize him.
Your secret is as safe as my promise.
BEATRIZ: Well if that’s the way it has to be,
I’ll believe you if you believe me
I want to show how grateful I am
to that gentleman, the injured man
for what he suffered for me.
But I don’t want him to sense
exactly what it is I feel.
If now I show him some pity
later I can still be cruel.
I must maintain my self-respect
but also respond to the obligation
to know more about his situation.
I can do that and straddle the line,
doing it not for his sake but mine.
INEZ: It could be done in appreciation.
(Ladies and gentlemen, she’s been had.)
BEATRIZ: I’d like you to go visit him now
as if on your own account
and learn if the wound were bad.
INEZ: Anything else?
BEATRIZ: This ribbon that I have,
take it to him. Tell him that you
stole it… You know what to do.
INEZ: I can play that role very well,
just as if you did it yourself
and you know I can do it, too.
Give me the ribbon. Anything more?
You’ll see how I make my feet move.
BEATRIZ: Here’s the ribbon, now make it soon,
but don’t you ever tell Leonor
where you’re going or what it’s for.
INEZ: I won’t tell her anything at all.
BEATRIZ exits. LEONOR enters
Good Lord, we’re having a ball!
LEONOR: Why are you so happy, Inez?
INEZ: Later there’ll be time to tell…
but the sooner I take the fall
the greater the fun. I’m pleased
because,–by God and my conscience!–
all we did with such diligence
has had its effect on Beatriz.
LEONOR: What’s that?
INEZ: Well, she told me
that she was keeping a secret
and then asked me to tell it
to someone not letting him know
I was sent by her, even though
it was true and she meant it.
Already Beatriz, in fantasy,
has given herself to Don Alonso.
The language with which he spoke
overcame her immovability.
She’s letting him know through me.
At last, at last! As it turns out,
that woman’s a woman without a doubt.
Now I’ll go to take him the news.
But careful now, although I told you,
you can’t ever tell how you found out.
LEONOR: I’ll pretend that I never heard.
INEZ exits. DON JUAN enters
JUAN: Well, I’ve certainly heard plenty:
enough to be warned, and adequately,
of how little is to be inferred
about the future from your words;
of how little I can expect
from your love and faithfulness.
There are limits to what Love can do.
In order to make up for you,
Beatriz suffered Cupid’s effect.
LEONOR: Tell me when I was unfaithful.
JUAN: Leonor, I’ve about lost my patience
although I’ve suffered in silence
up to now, thinking it’d be possible
to verify the source of the trouble
without ever mentioning it to you.
But you’ve made that impossible to do
and since I’m the one who’s suffering,
I won’t give up without speaking
and getting the vengeance I’m due.
At your request and pleasure,
Don Alonso came to court Beatriz.
I won’t argue since it wasn’t for me,
whether that was a proper measure
to take. To avoid displeasure
and safeguard your reputation,
he escaped an open confrontation
by jumping from your balcony window
to the street where I waited to know
the end result on that occasion.
I saw that, while I was waiting,
two other men were waiting, too.
I stepped aside, not knowing who
or what it was they were expecting.
While still hiding, I heard fighting
and came as quickly as I could
to where the two men had stood;
as fast as I was, it wasn’t enough.
Don Alonso had called their bluff
and the two had left for good.
I saw that my friend was injured.
To help you, he got in this pickle
now I see that you are fickle.
My jealousy may at first seem absurd,
but think about what you’ve heard.
Heaven is witness to the pain
I felt when I realized the stain
on our love. Those men were there
ready to fight anyone who dared
call on you. That much is plain.
As I said, I tried to dissemble
until I could come here, Leonor,
to find out who was outside your door,
but it has been quite impossible
for me to do so. My trouble
and attempts have been in vain.
So my jealousy wouldn’t be plain
and cause open gossip about our love,
I came here tonight so that my tongue
could speak and make my complaint.
Here you are, listening silently,
and I have made my allegations.
You can see why I’m disillusioned.
LEONOR: Don’t I have a sister who could be
the cause?….
JUAN: But if it were she
who had a lover, you wouldn’t try
to fool her. It wouldn’t be right,
either in truth or in jest,
to put her to a fraudulent test
unless it were to save your hide.
Even supposing that were true,
if she really had a true lover,
you wouldn’t invent one as a cover.
Why reject the old and devise the new?
LEONOR: May heaven help me!
JUAN: It won’t do
to find excuses now, Leonor.
LEONOR: I wouldn’t give them, what’s more.
I have never done anything wrong.
JUAN: Since you were stringing me along,
I swear now I don’t love you anymore.
LEONOR and DON JUAN exit separately Locale : A room in DON ALONSO’s house DON ALONSO and MOSCATEL enter
MOSCATEL: Sir, what’s that? What’s the matter?
Where are you thoughts and your mind?
Why are you worried? What’s going on?
Why are you sad all the time?
You absent-minded? You dejected?
What has brought on this change?
A little sword-play, a minor fall
can cause you to be so strange?
A stay in the closet, a balcony leap,
can stop you from taking a joke?
ALONSO: I don’t know what there is I can say
to explain what I feel in my soul.
Every pleasure seems to cause worry;
everything good seems bad.
MOSCATEL: You said you hadn’t been as affected
as Don Juan thought you had.
ALONSO: That’s true.
MOSCATEL: And didn’t you praise
her beauty?
ALONSO: Indeed I did.
MOSCATEL: And when you ran into those men,
weren’t you somewhat upset?
ALONSO: I won’t deny it but I had good cause.
MOSCATEL: You admit to jealousy then?
ALONSO: Not at all. That’s not enough reason:
even if there were two men,
even if they tried to make me jealous
and succeeded in making me sick.
After all, when I went to see her
it was only to play a trick.
If the result is my being tricked,
truth has turned to error.
I went to help a friend with a problem.
Maybe that’s why they were there.
MOSCATEL: At the plaza once, a bullfight novice
decided to give it a try,
backed up by one of his friends
who handled a cape with style.
He gallantly tipped his hat to the ladies,
and he bravely took the lance.
A bull came forward, and face to face
with the horse, the bull advanced.
Although it might be better to say
the animals were back to back
because, noisily lifting their tails,
each left a pile on the track.
The gentleman fell landing on the bull
and his backer took out his sword,
but instead of giving the bull a whack
he stuck the friend, who roared.
Being well-bred, the friend arose
and asked in voice that was full,
“Does anyone know who he was guarding,
was it me, or was it the bull?”
The moral? Backed up by Don Juan,
you went to visit Beatriz.
You had a problem but no one can tell
the backer from the backee.
ALONSO: Quiet! That doesn’t make good sense.
MOSCATEL: Whether or not it’s sensible,
I thank God you’ve given up scolding me
about my love being impossible,
now that you have joined in the dance.
ALONSO: If that’s the way things are,
tell me the name of the lady you love,
she whom you’re trying to guard.
MOSCATEL: Oh, no! I couldn’t do that so soon.
It’s hard to give up bad habits
A knock is heard at the door
ALONSO: You go see who’s knocking at the door.
MOSCATEL: Who’s there? (I’ve about had it!)
INEZ answers at first from off-stage and then enters
INEZ: Isn’t your master at home, Moscatel?
MOSCATEL: (Good God! This is Inez!)
The two of them talk at the door
What a surprise! You came to see him!
INEZ: Well, what did you expect?
(I wish Moscatel would believe it’s true
just to make him a little jealous.)
I came to convince him of my reputation
for truth and keeping a promise.
MOSCATEL: That’s a distinctive point of honor!
INEZ: Now, get out of the way.
MOSCATEL: I can’t.
INEZ: Step aside now. Let me in.
ALONSO: Who’s here to visit us today?
MOSCATEL: Nobody!
INEZ: You lie! Somebody came
as you know very well.
ALONSO: A real somebody! Come here to my arms.
A hug, if you please, Inez.
INEZ: I would hug you a thousand times
if only to repay your offer.
MOSCATEL pinches INEZ
Ouch!
ALONSO: What happened?
INEZ: I was stuck
by the point of your dagger.
ALONSO: There is no doubt that your arrival
gave new life to my soul.
Although you sent an angry answer
with Moscatel, as you know,
you also know that I love you.
You shouldn’t be ungrateful.
INEZ: I didn’t do that. My very first words
told you I’d come if possible.
ALONSO: You rogue! Why did you tell me a lie?
MOSCATEL: Me, sir?
ALONSO: By the living God!
I ought to kick your lying teeth out.
MOSCATEL: (What a terrible thought!
But if she got her way, it’d be worse.)
INEZ: (If Moscatel only knew
why I had come, he wouldn’t be jealous,
but just for a minute or two…)
MOSCATEL: Why do I take this from such a hussy?
INEZ: Speak with respect. You can see
that I’ll soon enough be your mistress.
To DON ALONSO
Can we be alone, please?
MOSCATEL: (Alone!)
ALONSO: You go and guard the door.
MOSCATEL: (Good heavens! Me, guard them?)
ALONSO: What’s that babbling?
MOSCATEL: As loyal servant
I cannot possibly consent
to helping you in this infamous act,
putting your life in danger
for the sake of this sorceress Inez
just to embark on an adventure.
ALONSO: When did you start worrying about
my health? Get outside!
MOSCATEL: I wouldn’t go out there if you killed me.
I mean to save your life.
ALONSO: You’ve never been so loyal before.
MOSCATEL: Before I was saving it up
so this time I could work all the harder.
ALONSO: Now that is really enough!
DON ALONSO pushes MOSCATEL out the door
Now that we’re here alone, Inez,
come give me another embrace.
INEZ: You may think I came because of you,910
but I don’t think the same.
I’m here for my lady’s reputation,
not for you or your money.
ALONSO: Tell me what you’re trying to say.
INEZ: I’ll tell you and shortly.915
When Beatriz, heard about the fight
in the street outside their house
and that you were badly wounded,
she was sorry how things turned out.
Having been worried about your health,920
she sends you this ribbon of hers.
It comes from her even though she said
that you should never learn
it was she who sent it to you.
That’s all for now. Good-by.925
ALONSO: Wait! Listen! Do you mean to say
Beatriz remembers that I?…
Beatriz is upset about the accident?
Beatriz is sending me favors?
This has never happened to me before,930
a new experience to savor.
INEZ: Not for me! Because once I knew
your love was only pretended,
something better was bound to come of it
since she had been offended.935
Women like us get more from pretense
than we do from a love that’s true.
MOSCATEL sneaks slowly back into the room
MOSCATEL: (There is no peace for a jealous man.
Being sad and jealous too,
I’m here to watch my own degradation,940
to see what I can uncover.
ALONSO: Beautiful Inez, since Beatriz has gone
from one extreme to the other,
let me, too, make the same exchange.
What I can’t repay as a lover,945
I will as a gentleman. You wait here
while I go write her a letter.
DON ALONSO exits
MOSCATEL: (He’s gone off to the other room,
My heart can take a rest.)
You, you fricking tiger from Hyrcania!950
You stinking crocodile from Egypt!
You sneaky snake, you Albanian lion!
What nasty words can I use,
what evil thoughts can find expression
bad enough to talk about you?955
INEZ: None!
MOSCATEL: Since there are no such words,
let my hands do the talking.
A slap or two wouldn’t be amiss.
INEZ: Don’t even think of slapping.
This has only been fooling around.960
Now let’s stop playing tricks.
MOSCATEL: When you play with cheats and tricksters,
you learn to shuffle the deck.
Come to my arms.
INEZ: I’d like to do that.
DON ALONSO enters with a letter in hand
ALONSO: What is happening here?965
INEZ: It’s called a hug where I come from.
MOSCATEL: Isn’t it perfectly clear?
It made me happy just to find out
Beatriz had finally been tamed,
–Excuse me for having such huge ears–970
I gave this gentle embrace,
to thank Inez for bringing good news.
ALONSO: You take this letter, please,
and give it to Beatriz. And for you,…
I want you to have these.975
INEZ: May you live forever, longer at least
than does the fabled Phoenix of Arabia,
although it may not be true that it lives
longer than a mother-in-law.
INEZ exits
MOSCATEL: Look here, sir, let’s settle accounts980
now that I’m leaving too.
ALONSO: What’s that, Moscatel?
MOSCATEL: You heard. I quit.
I won’t have a master like you,
in love, one who’ll forget about me
in order to care for another.985
ALONSO: So this is how you mean to repay
the trouble you’ve made me suffer?
MOSCATEL: That’s how it is.
DON JUAN enters
JUAN: What’s how it is?
ALONSO: He wants to quit his trade.
JUAN: Why, Moscatel?990
MOSCATEL: This man has committed
the worst, the foulest shame,
the most abominable, heinous crime,
committed the most infamous deed,
the very greatest…
JUAN: Stop! Enough!
What was it? You can tell me.995
MOSCATEL: It seems my master has fallen in love.
You can see that I’m in the right.
ALONSO: The rogue is only acting this crazy
because of what happened tonight
when I went over to visit Beatriz1000
in order to help you out.
JUAN: Well I thank God that worry’s over
the trouble’s been turned around.
ALONSO: What do you mean the worry’s over?
JUAN: I’m not in love anymore.1005
ALONSO: And how about Leonor?
JUAN: I don’t care.
My mind is free from Leonor.
Since love is a product of Fortune,
it’s subject to violent change.
ALONSO: You have to go there with me now.1010
JUAN: I’ll never speak to her again.
ALONSO: I have to go back to see Beatriz,
to be where I can speak.
All day long and far into the night
out there on her street.1015
I’m the one with the wounded head;
yours is supposedly sane.
Are you sure you won’t go?
JUAN: No, never.
My jealousy’s far too great.
Its tyrannical and penetrating hurt1020
has wounded my very soul.
ALONSO: I’d trade wounds with you any time.
Think about why and you’ll know.
Whether the hurt be mortal or venial
I’d rather have a wounded soul,1025
than be here in the condition you see,
lacking a head that’s whole.
My reasoning is quite clear: a wound,
unless the remedy is correct,
is apt to kill but a cure, even if faked,
is good enough for a jealous fit.1030
JUAN: I promise, no matter what the cause
that I’ll never, Don Alonso,
put you in a dangerous spot again.
ALONSO: You shouldn’t hesitate to do so;
it makes no difference to me.1035
JUAN: That business I will conclude,
because the hurt you suffered was enough
for me as well as for you.
ALONSO: One small kick from a receptive mare
wouldn’t deter a real stud.1040
JUAN: I’ll never go back to her house again
after what she has done.
ALONSO: Well, even if it isn’t for you,
I must return to find out
who threatened me with his sword.1045
JUAN: We could inquire about
who it was, without ever going close
if it’s a matter of your name.
ALONSO: Don Juan, it’s more important to me
that women respect my fame1050
than what other men might think.
When there’s cause for one as proud
as Beatriz is to even imagine….
JUAN: I’ll clear that up right now.
ALONSO: Don Juan, Don Juan, let’s be frank.1055
Let’s put our cards on the table.
Somehow, I’ve got to see Beatriz.
MOSCATEL: (He’ll go as soon as he’s able.
And he’ll swear that I’ve been lying.)
JUAN: Well, if it means that much.1060
what’s keeping you here? Go ahead.
I wish you the best of luck.
ALONSO: How can I, unless you are there
to help me with Leonor?
JUAN: But.. you know I can’t do that.1065
I can’t go see her anymore.
ALONSO: This is one thing you must do for me.
There’s really nothing new
about a friend helping out another
making love to lady number two.1070
JUAN: All right, Alonso, I’ll do it for you,
even though I swore I wouldn’t.
But before we go, remember what happened
when you were in her closet.
ALONSO: What does that matter?1075
MOSCATEL: And the balcony!
ALONSO: So what?
MOSCATEL: And the swordplay?
ALONSO: Not that! But Cupid made it happen.
Only the occasion was a fake.
Now that pretense has turned into truth
what more can he do about it?1080
Do what he will. Bring on his troops!
We’re off to balcony and closet!
DON ALONSO, DON JUAN, and MOSCATEL all exit.Locale : The street outside DON PEDRO’s house DON DIEGO and DON LUIS enter
DIEGO: Don Luis, you know how hard
I’ve tried to be your friend.
LUIS: I know that very well.1085
Our friendship had its start
in your willingness to help.
DIEGO: You won’t hold it against me
if I make a suggestion?
LUIS: Not at all.1090
DIEGO: I have a question…
LUIS: You mean to say I was crazy.
I’m willing to make that confession.
There is no justification
for having pulled my sword
to start an altercation1095
with a man whose opposition
I could afford to ignore.
But now to find a remedy
for the problem. Once somebody
thinks he’s beaten the competition,1100
and has no reason for jealousy,
you can’t predict his reaction.
DIEGO: So now what will you do
to satisfy your appetite?
Don Pedro may have some insight1105
on why it is that you
were waiting outside last night.
LUIS: I have no reason to be afraid.
If a man can get a divorce
even after a marriage is made,1110
its consummation can be stayed
until I’m satisfied, of course.
DON PEDRO enters.
PEDRO: Upset by this burning frost,
this fire that chills my bones,
this danger that I see approach1115
my honor, seeking its loss,
I leave them safe but alone.
I want to speak to Don Luis
and bring this marriage about,
in order to stop the other lout1120
and give me hope for some peace
by keeping him out of my house.
That’s Don Luis over there.
I’m glad to find him so near.
He’ll be her husband, I swear.1125
He’s noble and has a flare…
DIEGO: Don Pedro’s coming over here.
LUIS: (I’d rather not, at this time,…)
PEDRO: Don Luis, your family has told me
of your desire to honor mine,1130
and being grateful and happy
about it, I came to find
you and speak of the pleasure
it gives me to welcome you…
LUIS: Don Pedro, that good news1135
is something I’ll always treasure
in spite of what I must do.
I must confess that I tried
to make such an arrangement
and was fortunate in that I1140
was able to obtain your consent,
an honor both generous and kind.
But… unhappily sir.
something now has occurred.
A new debt. A matter of honor1145
at present has me so disturbed
it’s impossible to marry her.
PEDRO: A matter of honor so important
as to upset this proposal?
LUIS: Yes.1150
PEDRO: But how? What happened?
Has Beatriz done something awful?
LUIS: Nothing that was significant;
nothing to make you angry.
It’s a point of my honor
that causes this, you see.1155
PEDRO: Tell me how that can be.
LUIS: I just now found out, sir,
that his royal majesty,
–May heaven keep him safe,
may his light forever be seen–1160
called by his Catholic zeal,
has decided on a Spring campaign.
I knew that a certain lord,
a relative, by my good fortune,
was forming a new battalion1165
I asked him to make use of my sword
allowing me to be his companion.
He made me Captain of a company.
So I can’t marry your daughter
since he who’d be both soldier1170
and husband, as everyone agrees,
always winds up being neither.
If I should some day return, sir
an example of greater valor,
then you can make me happy.1175
Right now I can’t marry Beatriz
without endangering my honor.
DON LUIS and DON DIEGO exit
PEDRO: “Right now I can’t marry Beatriz
without endangering my honor!”
May heaven guard and help me!1180
What in the world did he mean?
What did he see or discover?
Is the truth what I feel
or what he said to me first?
Why did he say that to me?1185
When I wonder what to believe,
do I have to think the worst?
DON PEDRO exitsLocale : A room in DON PEDRO’s house DOÑA BEATRIZ and INEZ enter
BEATRIZ: Why did you take the letter?
INEZ: I take anything that’s free.
BEATRIZ: I’d be willing to bet1190
you said you were doing it for me.
INEZ: You have no reason to suspect
any such thing, as you’ll see.
I kept quiet about the present
and the letter, as quiet as can be.1195
I kept your secret just as well
as any you’ve ever told me.
BEATRIZ: Tell me, Inez, your reason,
for bringing this letter to me,
if things are as you say.1200
INEZ: (Good God! She caught me!
but I’ll get out of this
if I have to pay the fee.)
He asked me to bring it here
in order to give it to you1205
as soon as I found a chance.
I thought it was something to do
so he’d believe I was on his side.
Because the ribbon I took
I supposedly stole for him,1210
he’d obviousy assume
I’d do him the favor
of bringing his letter to you.
BEATRIZ: Well, I’m pleased to hear that.
INEZ: And I’m glad you’re satisfied.1215
Watch out, Leonor’s coming.
BEATRIZ: I can’t let her enter and find
me with this letter from him.
DOÑA LEONOR enters
LEONOR: I could, if I were of a mind
to do so, say here and now,1220
that really I’m not blind:
“What idiomatic missive is that
written on paper that’s lined,
you’re shamefully hiding from me?”
BEATRIZ: And I could as easily remind1225
you you’re asking in vain:
“If you refused to hear from me
when I tried to tell you all,
now that I’ve a secret to keep
you think you’ve a right to know.”1230
Your words quoted exactly!
DOÑA BEATRIZ exits but remains hidden behind the door
LEONOR: What’s up?
INEZ: I’m dying to tell you.
LEONOR: That letter, tell me quickly,
where did it come from?
INEZ: Why be like that with me?1235
Couldn’t you wait one minute
and give me a chance to tell?
The secret, in spite of my promise,
is something I’m willing to sell.
BEATRIZ: ( I don’t know what’s going on,1240
so I’ll hear what those two intend.)
INEZ: I went to see him and right away
I told him that I was sent
by Beatriz.
LEONOR: That was good work.
BEATRIZ: (I thought I could depend on Inez,1245
but she’s too close to Leonor.)
INEZ: I gave him her ribbon next
telling him that it was from her.
BEATRIZ: (Heavens! What’s that she said?)
LEONOR: I heard a noise from over there.1250
INEZ: It’s only Don Juan as you’ll see.
LEONOR: I don’t… How it that possible.
When he left, he swore that he
would never return in this life.
INEZ: Are you so innocent as to believe1255
such stuff? Whenever a lover says
most furiously and arrogantly
“You’ll never see me again!”
You can be doubly sure that he
is dying to come back soon.1260
BEATRIZ: (Now that I’ve managed to see
the trouble they’re planning,
I’ll stay here safely concealed.)
DON JUAN, DON ALONSO, and MOSCATEL enter
JUAN: You probably think, Leonor,
jealousy brought me here1265
to see and to talk with you,
because jealousy and fear
go hand in hand as aides to love
as it comes and it goes.
But no, Leonor, I haven’t come1270
with any wish to know
whether I was wrong to question
your love and self-respect,
or to apologize for my disdain
and speaking to you with contempt.1275
I came with a different purpose,
not to bring on my doom.
There is no lack of reason
for coming here into this room.
Don Alonso, who at your request1280
came to court Beatriz
ran into trouble on the street outside
just as he tried to leave.
He’s worried your sister will think
that his failure to reappear1285
resulted from having been warned off,
his cowardice, or abject fear.
When he asked me to come with him
to stand as guard at her door,
how could I refuse to help1290
as he had helped me before?
LEONOR: Certainly you had an obligation.
You had to return the favor.
JUAN: That’s why he’s here, but as for me,
don’t even imagine, Leonor,1295
that having suffered terrible doubts,
pain, suspicion, and adversity
has given me reason to come see you,
I’m going to wait in the street.
I’ll wait as he talks to Beatriz1300
to clear up this easy matter,
to calm his scruples and redeem himself,
so she’ll understand him better.
So, Don Alonso, do as you wish,
since the daytime sun now lies,1305
asleep and dying in the shadowy arms
of the deep and darkening night.
You’ll be safe talking with Beatriz.
Don Pedro won’t find you here.
LEONOR: Wait, Don Juan, please stop and listen.1310
JUAN: What do you want me to hear?
LEONOR: Excuses.
JUAN: None exist.
LEONOR: Apologies.
JUAN: Useless!
DON JUAN exits
LEONOR: Don Alonso, I’m going too.
I’ll be right back. Don Juan is jealous.
I’ll must what I can do.1315
DOÑA LEONOR exits
ALONSO: Didn’t I come to see Beatriz?
MOSCATEL: You should have thought before!
The same thing could happen again.
What if it’s even more?
ALONSO: Tell me, Inez, where is Beatriz?1320
We can talk while we wait.
DOÑA BEATRIZ enters
BEATRIZ: Here I am, hearing the villainies
of a sister who’s depraved,
a friend who’s false, a servant snake,
a maid who’s far too easy1325
for anyone’s good, and a supposèd lover
who makes love cautiously.
Put them together, Don Juan and Leonor,
Inez and her friend Moscatel,
and you’ll understand why I’m troubled1330
and excuse me for being upset.
My only demand just now is the right
to complain as the injured party,
to deplore the way that I was offended,
to mourn such churlish barbarity.1335
Is my station in life so low,
is my merit so small,
is my appearance so repulsive,
–I blush to say this at all–
that any man would dare look at me1340
with treason in his heart,
make love to me to play a trick?
And do all this as part…..
ALONSO: Beatriz, you’re gorgeous when angry,
even prettier when calmed down…1345
I can repay the trouble we caused
by clearing things up right now.
BEATRIZ: Can it be easy to clear things up
after what you have done?
ALONSO: Just listen and you will hear the facts1350
about the strategms of love:
A man can feasibly make the attempt
to conquer the open sea
never dreaming that the subtle foam
was a dangerous place to be.1355
Suddenly the sea may take its toll,
and his hopes can lie defunct.
If you can’t fool the seas with tricks,
there is no trifling with love.
A man can feasibly make the attempt,
using some chemical powders,1360
to emulate a lightning bolt
and feel the effect of its power.
He can be killed by that violent fire.
Love’s work like lightning is done.
If you can’t play with chemical powders1365
there is no trifling with love.
A man can feasibly make the attempt
to practice at swords with a friend,
an accident happens and he gets hurt
just like a real opponent.
His very dexterity causes the error.1370
Love is just as perilous.
If you mustn’t use an unsheathed sword,
there is no trifling with love.
A man can feasibly make the attempt
to tame the wildest of beasts,
and just when it seems a playful pet,1375
he’s a victim of its teeth.
A beast, who can’t control his acts,
is accustomed to playing rough.
If there’s no frolic with an untamed brute,
there is no trifling with love.
For fun I tried to conquer the sea,1380
for fun I lit the flame,
an unsheathed sword I tried to use,
a beast I tried to tame;
and so it is I drowned at sea,
and felt the effects of fire,1385
I knew the fury of steel and beast.
There’s nothing in this to admire.
If all of these are able to kill,
I wish to heaven above
I’d learned my lesson not to play.1390
There is no trifling with love.
BEATRIZ: To that argument….
DOÑA LEONOR enters, quite flustered
LEONOR: Lord help us now!
Don Juan fled to the street,
when I followed to talk with him,
about his unfounded jealousy,
and I saw my father coming this way.1395
Right now! We have to hide…
BEATRIZ: Not this time, Leonor, it’s too late.
LEONOR: Don Alonso…
BEATRIZ: Not tonight!
my father must know what’s going on
or how he’s being fooled.1400
LEONOR: If you try to tell him all that,
I’ll put the blame on you.
Now, since we are both in danger,
we both must find a remedy.
BEATRIZ: Just to show you how to do it right,1405
reluctantly I’ll agree.
MOSCATEL: I claim the closet as safe asylum.
ALONSO: I wouldn’t do that. Before….
INEZ: He’s coming!
BEATRIZ: You go hide in that room.
MOSCATEL: And I will be your escort.1410
ALONSO: (What a bother this love making is!)
MOSCATEL: You go to the street, Inez,
and tell Don Juan that we are hidden
but about to lose our heads.
DON ALONSO and MOSCATEL hide. DON PEDRO enters
PEDRO: It’s so dark. Where are the lights?1415
Inez, you bring some candles.
INEZ: I’ll be right back. I’ve got them ready.
INEZ leaves
PEDRO: (To me! So disrespectful!
Such an insult and right to my face!
Heaven have pity on me.1420
Give me patience or give me death.)
BEATRIZ: What’s wrong?
LEONOR: Why the grief?
PEDRO: Because of honor, I brought troubles…
although that may be a lie,
I didn’t bring them, they came to me.1425
Something to ruin my life!
LEONOR: (Lord help us! He must know everything.)
BEATRIZ: Well, won’t you tell me, sir,
what gave rise to such agitation?
PEDRO: Beatriz, it’s your errors.1430
I’m forced to say an arrogant youth
today made an open attempt
to ruin the honor of this, our house,
because of you, as I said.
LEONOR: (Now I can do anything I wish.)1435
BEATRIZ Of me?
MOSCATEL speaks from his hiding place
MOSCATEL: (Things aren’t going well.)
PEDRO: Yes, indeed. It’s because of you
that Don Luis has no repect
for either this family or this house.
BEATRIZ: (Now my heart can take a rest!)1440
LEONOR: (I’m certainly glad to hear who it is,
now I can take a new breath.)
DON JUAN enters
JUAN: (Things can go wrong once on their own,
but given a second chance
you shouldn’t repeat your same mistake1445
and put your head in the sand.
I can’t just stand here and wait
for them to lock the door,
Don Alonso might be forced to jump
just as he was before.)1450
If I can count on your friendship
with my parents, Don Pedro,
as a member of that fine family….
LEONOR: (I’d really like to know
what Don Juan is trying to do.)1455
BEATRIZ: (I’m dying to hear some more.
JUAN: I’d be happy to have your help
with a problem of discord.
In the street outside your house
three men attacked me1460
I’d like to go search for them
but not alone, you see.
I know that I can count on you
because your heart I know
is like that Sicilian volcano Etna1465
a fire covered with snow.
PEDRO: Don’t go any further. I know
what my honor requires.
Even at my age, I can’t ignore
a man who’s expressed a desire1470
for the help of my sword. Let’s go.
JUAN: Your response shows the man you are.
As DON PEDRO turns to go, DON JUAN speaks aside to LEONOR
As soon as I get your father out,
you get Don Alonso to depart.
DON ALONSO speaks from the door of the room where he has hidden
ALONSO: (They must be the ones who tried1475
to kill me the other day.
There’s nothing I can do to leave
but it’s impossible to stay.)
PEDRO: Wait a moment while a get my shield
from the cabinet in my room,1480
one I have left from when I was young.
JUAN: Go ahead, but make it soon.
DON PEDRO enters the room where DON ALONSO and MOSCATEL are hiding
BEATRIZ: A quick jump from the frying pan
directly into the fire!
Speaking from inside the room
PEDRO: Who is in here? Who are you?
ALONSO: Just a man.
DON PEDRO, DON ALONSO, and MOSCATEL all enter
MOSCATEL: How nice of him to inquire.1485
His answer’s true since it’s only me,
nobody, in here with him.
PEDRO: Don Juan, I was going with you
to help you fight with them,
but this obligation is even greater1490
and you have to help me.
This man has offended my honor
he must be killed, you see.
ALONSO: Don Juan, in this urgent engagement
you know your obligation.1495
My life and those of these ladies
demand our reparation.
LEONOR: Oh, my!
BEATRIZ: Oh, no!
JUAN: (Has anyone seen
a similar situation?)
PEDRO: Why do you wait? Why the suspense?1500
ALONSO: Why the hesitation?
PEDRO: I’ll kill him without your help.
DON ALONSO and DON PEDRO start to fence. DON JUAN steps in
JUAN: Stop! And you stop, too!
PEDRO: Why are you trying to interfere?
ALONSO: What are you trying to do?
DON LUIS and DON DIEGO speak from off-stage
LUIS: I hear a sword fight inside the house.1505
DIEGO: Let’s not wait any longer.
Let’s go in, Don Luis.
LUIS: Stop fighting.
PEDRO: They’re coming!
ALONSO: More danger!
DON LUIS and DON DIEGO enter
LUIS: What’s going on here?
PEDRO: This, Don Luis,
will answer your discourtesy.1510
If you feared to lose your honor
by marrying Beatriz,
mine is being satisfied and avenged.
LUIS: Now you see the grounds
for my refusal, the result of a fight1515
I had in front of your house.
ALONSO: It must be you who wounded me.
LUIS: True enough.
ALONSO: Later I’ll get revenge.
JUAN: So that was what was going on!
My jealousy’s at an end.1520
Leonor will live forever in my heart.
She needs my protection from you.
PEDRO: Don Juan, nobody protects my daughters
here unless it’s the man who
will marry them.1525
ALONSO: You have my word.
JUAN: If the remedy’s that easy.
you have mine as well. I’ll marry Leonor
ALONSO: And I will have Beatriz.
PEDRO: And I must keep my mouth shut.
Because once the damage is done,1530
there’s nothing more a father can do.
MOSCATEL: It’s all a matter of love.
When love plays his tricks on any man,
especially one who is free,
he winds up wounded, lame, or married,1535
and that’s the worst of the three.
INEZ: When love plays his tricks on a woman,
especially one who’s conceited,
silly, and arrogant, she winds up in love,
or worse: married and defeated.1540
MOSCATEL: Inez, give me your hand in marriage
if that’s what we must do.
Let’s not think of trifling with love;
too often it turns out true.
ALONSO: No one here should play tricks on love.1545
Take your warning from me.
Watch out for Cupid and forgive the poet
for an ending that’s far too sweet.
