ACT III
Scene 1
Tristán: But that's him now! He's coming right this way! Don García: I don't believe it. Tristán: Neither do I! How could You lie to your own secretary! (Aside) And I Believed him, knowing that he lies! I swear He makes his stories up so well that he Could fool...well, anyone! Don García: There's only one Way to explain it. A spell, they used a spell To cure him. Tristán: They cured a wound that spilled his brains And with some magic spell? Don García: Why not? I know A spell they used in Salamanca where They grafted back an arm some man had lost. And he was better in about a week! Tristán: Go on. Don García: I saw it all, with these two eyes. Tristán: Now that is just about enough. Don García: I swear, On my life, that what I'm telling you is true. Tristán: I think he's lost it. He's deceived himself! Aside (To García). If you will teach that spell to me, I'll never Ask for anything again. I'll work For free. Don García: The words are in Hebrew, I'm afraid, And unless you know that language, you could not Pronounce it well. Tristán: And you know Hebrew?! Don García: Yes, And ten other languages as well, my friend. Tristán: Ten tongues are not enough for all your lies. Aside And you, a man of reason and of truth! Aloud I don't believe he knows what truth is, now, Aside Since everything he says is obviously a pack of lies. Don Beltrán: Can you tell me anything? (To don Juan) Don Juan de Sosa: Why, yes. No one by that name lives in Salamanca, And I'm sure. Don Beltrán: (Aside) Obviously, García lied. I'd best not let on that I know. (Aloud) Oh, yes, I hear congratulations are in order. You have been chosen to receive a trust From the Knights of Calatrava. Is that so? Don Juan Believe me, sir, that I am in your debt For ever, no matter what good fortune comes My way. Will you excuse me now? I must Go thank those men you see there waiting for me. I cannot see you home. Excuse me, please. (Exit.) Scene ix Beltrán, García and Tristán. Don Beltrán: Good Lord, I think that my son's lies have caused Aside My friends to distrust me! How could he lie Right to my face when I was reprimanding him For that very thing? How could I have believed What he was saying, knowing that he lies? He lied to me when I was warning him! No judge expects a thief to steal from him. To García. Tristán: You really think you ought to speak to him? Don García: He is my father. Yes, Tristán. Tristán: Good luck. Don García: Oh, Dad... Don Beltrán: How dare you speak to me! I'm not Your father. You are not like me at all. Get out of my sight. I swear, if I were younger... Tristán: The sea is stormy. Wait a little while. To García Don Beltrán: What have I done? Do I deserve this? Well? How could the Lord give me a son so different From myself. I love the truth. I keep my word. I protect our family's honor. My Gabriel Is gone, and in the prime of his youth. He brought Me joy. He brought us honor. You, what have You brought with you petty, childish vice of lying? I swear, if I did not believe in.... Don García: What Aside Is going on? I do not understand. Tristán: Get out of here. You'd better leave right now! Don Beltrán: You'd better leave, Tristán. But no, come back. Perhaps if he sees that you know what he Has done, his shame will have more influence On him than his respect for me. The shame May not correct his ways. But maybe it Will be some kind of punishment for him. So tell me, worthless little man, just what You get from telling all these lies? And why? How could you lie to me as well? You led Me to believe that you had married while You lived in Salamanca. Was your purpose To discredit me as well? Now how can I Look all those people in the eye whom I Had told you married Sancha de Herrera? There is no Sancha de Herrera!! You made A liar out of me. The only way I see to regain my friends' trust in me Is to tell them that you lied. But that would make Me out as something worse: a man who betrays His family by broadcasting their faults. If you were so in love, you did not have To lie to me. I am your father and I'm not so old that I don't know how hot The flame of love can burn. I never made Cruel threats to force you to be anything But human. I do know what being a young Man means. I am your father, after all. Don García: Well, since you are, and since you know what love is, You have to understand. I lied to you Because I couldn't obey your wish for me To marry Jacinta. It was not a crime. It was just a plain mistake, stupidity, And not my fault or wish to do you harm. And since you know I lied, let me explain The cause. I think that we can make it right. Lucretia, the daughter of Don Juan de Luna, Is the girl I love. You know her family well. They have no other children and all we need Is your consent. You only need to say The rumor I was married is not true. Don Beltrán: You won't fool me a second time, my boy. You think that I'll believe you when I know You lie? Don García: Of course I don't. But actions always Speak louder than words. Tristán can explain it all. He knows what I've been going through. Ask him. You do trust him, don't you? Tristán, explain. Tristán: Sir, everything he says is true. Beltrán: Have you No shame? You have to have your secretary Vouch for you? I'll have to speak to Juan De Luna. I'll ask if you can marry his daughter Lucretia. At least, she'll be the only one deceived By you from here on out. But first, I must Write friends in Salamanca. I still am not Convinced you have not lied. I knew the truth Before I spoke to you, but since you said That what I knew is actually the truth, I can't be certain any more...because You said it's true. Do you understand? (Exit.) Don García: Well, that was not too bad. Tristán: What do you mean? I thought for sure that you were going to need To use that magic spell, or beg and plead! (Exeunt.) Scene x A sitting room in Juan de Luna's house with a window opening onto the garden patio. Don Juan de Luna and Don Sancho. Don Juan: It looks as if the night is turning cold. Don Sancho: Good friend, Don Juan de Luna, at my age, It's much too cold to ride out to the river. Don Juan: Then we shall have them serve us in the garden! It's warmer there and we'll enjoy our dinner. Don Sancho: Now that is an idea! There are warmer nights To ride along the Manzanares' banks. The cold is not the best thing for one's health. Don Juan: Lucretia, tell your lovely guest that we Are going to have our dinner, here at home. Don Sancho: Your daughter is so pretty, an angel, yes. I hope she has the life she so deserves. Don Juan: Besides her beauty and intelligence, She values goodness, more than life itself. Scene xi Don Juan, Don Sancho and a servant. Servant: Don Juan de Sosa is at the door and asks If he may see you, sir. Don Sancho: At this late hour? Don Juan: It must be quite important. Don Sancho: Ask him in. (Exit servant.) Scene xii Don Juan de Sosa with a large document. Don Juan de Luna and Don Sancho. Don Juan de Sosa:Without this charter, I would not have dared Appear before you, sir, but now that I Have got my appointment, impatience got the upper Hand and I have come to claim my prize. The Calatrava Order honored me; And if you honor your promise, I will see My victory complete. Don Sancho: Had you delayed In telling me, I would have been upset. I am delighted! I must go and tell Jacinta. Please excuse us. She's not dressed For this occasion! (Exit.) Don Juan de Luna: I knew it would come through! For Heaven helps the truth prevail at last. It may take time in coming, but it always does. Scene xiii Don García, Don Beltrán, Tristán, Don Juan de Luna, Don Juan de Sosa. Don Beltrán: But this is not the time to speak to him, Since they have guests and we must speak alone. Don García: But Juan de Sosa can tell them the truth About my life in Salamanca, whether Or not I got married there. Don Beltrán: You need A witness, that's for sure. How embarrassing. You talk to Sosa; I will talk to Luna. Juan de Luna: My friend! Don Beltrán! Don Beltrán: Don Juan, my friend! Juan de Luna: You're out quite late this evening, aren't you? Don Beltrán: Of course, because I am in love, my friend. Juan de Luna: And who's the lucky girl? Don Beltrán: You must forgive My calling on you late at night like this. The door was open, we are friends, they let Me come right in, without asking permission. Juan de Luna: No need for explanations. I am quite Concerned, however, wondering what is wrong. You never call on friends this late at night. Don Beltrán: Well, let me tell you, over here, my reasons. (They move away from the others.) [Don García speaks with Don Juan de Sosa]. Don García: Yes, envy can suppress the truth, for a while, But it will always triumph in the end. Believe me when I say how pleased I am To learn of your appointment. Juan de Sosa: Why, thank you!. Don García: Enjoy your honors. You have earned them fairly. Juan de Luna: What you've proposed will make Lucretia happy. I can't believe that this is really happening. It's almost like a dream come true. García, With Juan de Sosa's leave, I'll have a word With you. (They move away.) Your father, Don Beltrán, has said You want to marry my Lucretia. Don García: My life, My soul, my honor and my happiness Are in her hands. Juan de Luna: On her behalf, I offer You my hand on it. For she and I both know How much we have to gain. I've heard her say So many things. You make us proud, young man. Don García: You've made me happy, more than words can say. Scene xiv Don Sancho enters with Jacinta and Lucretia. García, Beltrán, Juan de Sosa and Juan de Luna. (To Jacinta) Lucretia: At last, you've reached your goal, after so long. (To Lucretia) Jacinta: I can't be happy, 'til you have reached yours. (To García) Juan de Luna: She's coming in, oblivious, with Jacinta. She looks too disheveled, not ready for Her wedding day! Let me be first to tell Her the good news. (He moves away to address Lucretia.) [Beltrán speaks to García] Don Beltrán: Here comes Don Sancho! What Am I to say to him? Don García: An error caused By love is easy to forgive. [Lucretia is speaking to don Juan de Luna] Lucretia: Then he Was never married there in Salamanca?! Juan de Luna: He made that up to keep his father from Asking him to marry some other girl. Lucretia: Then I agree to marry him. Of course! Sancho Now, gentlemen, behold your brides! They say They're honored, happy, and they love you, too. Don García: Let my actions prove the truth of all I've said! (Both García and Juan de Sosa move to take Jacinta's hand.) Don Juan de Sosa:Ho, there! Where do you think you're going? Don García: Lucretia, what is this? Don Beltrán: What's happening?!! To Jacinta Don García: Lucretia, you're the only one I love. Don Beltrán: He can't be trying to play another trick!! Don García: I know I got your name all wrong, but I Would know you any where. For you're the one I love, the one I asked to marry me. Lucretia: And what about this letter, then? It's written By your hand and signed. Is it a lie, also? (She takes out his letter.) You surely can't go back on what it says. Don Beltrán: He would not dare to put me through that again! Don Juan de Sosa:Jacinta, if you'll just give me your hand, You'll end all this confusion, once and for all. Don Sancho: Jacinta, give your hand to Juan de Sosa. Jacinta: I'm yours, Don Juan, as I have always been. Don García: I've lost my hope for happiness. Aside Don Beltrán: If you Refuse to marry Lucretia de Luna, you'll never Live in Spain again, or anywhere, I swear!! Juan de Luna: I gave my hand to you on her behalf, And if you break your word to me, you might As well give up all hope of living here. Tristán: It's all your fault, you know. If you had told The truth and from the start, Jacinta would Be yours by now. There's nothing to be done. Forgive them. Then, give your hand to her. After all, Lucretia's not too bad, is she? Don García: I suppose I have to do what's only fair. Tristán: And I suppose we all now see the light: A liar, though he tells the truth, is never right.
