ACT THREE
Scene One
Madrid. A room in Doña ANA’s house. Dawn is breaking; there is little light in the room.
Doña ANA and CELIA enter, with the DUKE and Don JUAN, still dressed as coachmen, Don JUAN hiding behind the DUKE
ANA: But don’t you see what you have done?
How can you be so calm?
DUKE: Please,
Put your lovely heart at ease,
No need to fear for us now–none!1960
That gentleman won’t make a fuss;
Once we provide the evidence
That he intended violence–
I’m sure the verdict will favor us.
Besides it might be better for1965
His reputation not to speak.
Don’t think a gentleman must seek
For satisfaction when there’s more
At stake than justice. Don’t you see
How badly it would sound if such1970
A glorious lord–who owns so much
And can command so many–would be
Forced to confess to the world that he
Was wounded by the arm–most base!–
Of a lowly coachman? In such a case,1975
Silence is the safest remedy.
ANA: I feel so deeply in your debt
For your uncommon bravery,
The fear that you’re in jeopardy
From him has made me quite upset.1980
DUKE: Don’t be.
ANA: A heart that’s true must be
Prepared to suffer.
DUKE: But if a man
Has wounded Mendo once, he can
Defend himself quite easily.
CELIA: (Their deeds are of such gallantry, To ANA1985
Their speech so courteous and judicious
That I begin to be suspicious
Of these coachmen.)
ANA: (Then try to see To CELIA
Their hands. Their hands will tell us true.)
CELIA: Indeed, señora, surely you know1990
You must repay the debt you owe
Them for their loyalty to you.
Your fate was in these hands, and there
Your honor was defended and
Kept safe.1995
(Upon my life, that hand, To ANA
Señora, was smooth as silk, I swear!
And I could tell when I was near,
How sweetly both of them did smell.)
ANA: (Sweet odors and sweet hands as well– To CELIA
I think the evidence is clear.2000
But don’t let on.)
CELIA: (The other one To ANA
Just hides inside his cloak and stares–
I’ll try to catch him unawares.
Here comes the sun–it’s almost dawn
And bright enough to see his face.)2005
ANA: My friends, you’ve risked so much for me,
Though not obliged to do it–be
My guests–all my estate I place
At your disposal. My house it at
Your service.2010
DUKE: I’m honored to have been
Your servant–but I can’t come in.
Besides, you’re wrong in thinking that
We weren’t obliged. It is the duty
Of all the world–in a way–
To honor, worship, and obey2015
Your extraordinary beauty.
You give to him who comes to see
Your face such joy, that though he pay
You with his life, yet must he stay
Your debtor in perpetuity.2020
CELIA: (And you there, coachman–nothing to say? To JUAN
Why be so sad? Get over it!
Come on, cheer up–and learn a bit
Of courage from your partner today!
A man who fought so fearlessly–2025
Are you now too weak to fight your fear?)
DUKE: You’re wasting your time with this one here–
The man’s a mute.
CELIA: (He may well be– Aside
But now I think I recognize
Don Juan de Mendoza–absolutely!2030
Poor thing–he’d rather stand there mutely
Than lose the pleasure his disguise
Allows him to enjoy like this!)
(Who do you think that this might be, To ANA
Señora–the quiet one?2035
ANA: You tell me.
CELIA: No, really, who do you think it is?
ANA: I have no idea.
CELIA: I wonder who–
Who’d stoop to be a coachman, though
He’s nobly born and bred, just so
He might get one good look at you?2040
Who’d fight with so much bravery
In such a dangerous escapade,
Baring his breast unto the blade
Just to preserve your honesty?
Who’d joy in suffering for your love?2045
Who’d seek the scorn he dotes upon?
Who could it be? Who but Don Juan
De Mendoza could we be speaking of?
ANA: You’re right–of course. Who else would go
To such extremes of courtesy?2050
CELIA: Which earns a reward–it seems to me.
ANA: He won’t be disappointed, you know.
DUKE: The sun now rises in the sky;
Since you who were so kind to be
The whole world’s shining sun while he2055
Reposed, now take your rest. Good-bye.
And may the gracious heavens deign
To give you length of life, as they
Have given you loveliness; and may
Don Mendo’s wounds cause you no pain.2060
The DUKE withdraws
ANA: After he tried to dishonor me,
I cannot suffer the slightest pains,
Since now not even a spark remains
Of the love I felt for him formerly.
(Detain Don Juan, I want to talk To CELIA2065
With him.)
CELIA: (Señora, as you say.)
ANA: (And while I’m here with him, you may
Take his companion for a walk.)
Don JUAN starts to withdraw with the DUKE
CELIA: Excuse me, Mister Make-believe
Coachman? My mistress calls–hold on.2070
JUAN: Um.
CELIA: No ‘ums’ about it. Don Juan,
We know who you are–don’t you dare leave!
JUAN: Well, this must be my lucky day.
CELIA leaves, taking the DUKE with her in conversation
ANA: So what’s all this, Don Juan?2075
JUAN: It’s love.
ANA: It’s madness, rather, you’re speaking of.
JUAN: And when is love not madness, pray?
ANA: Ah, yes. But still may I inquire
What this disguise of yours is for?
JUAN: It’s how I serve whom I adore;2080
It’s how I see whom I desire.
ANA: I think not, sir–dissimulation
Is but a mask to hide your treasons.
JUAN: You misconstrue our real reasons–
To free yourself of obligation.2085
ANA: I’ll prove what I said–and easily, too,
If you will hear.
JUAN: I’m listening then.
ANA: Who was that other gentleman,
And why did he come along with you?
To bring some man to speak love in my ear,2090
And then to eavesdrop in disguise–
How could you not characterize
Such plots as treasons–plain and clear?
JUAN: Clear wide of the mark is what you’d be,
If you would brand the finest deed2095
Of courtesy that love could breed
As treason or as treachery!
ANA: Then name it, sir, and teach me how
To thank, if not reward, you–pray.
JUAN: I’ll speak then only to obey,2100
Not to obligate you now.
Caught between my adoration
And the sense of my unworth,
My poor laboring thoughts gave birth
To true and total desperation.2105
But then love found a way for me,
In my misfortune and my grief,
To give my illness some relief,
Though not, of course, a remedy:
You should be loved by someone who2110
Deserves to have you. I love you so,
And the effect of that, you know,
Is that I wish the best for you.
I gave the Duke, to this intent,
A full account of all your charms–2115
As easily hold the sea in one’s arms,
Or count the stars in the firmament!
And moved by this report of you,
And bound to honor your reserve,
He chose this guise that it might serve2120
To help him see and hear you, too.
And would to God, now that he knows
The simple perfectness of you,
That he might take your hand to woo,
And thus achieve what I propose;2125
That I, by seeing you attain
A station equal your desert,
May find, if not a cure for hurt,
At least some freedom from my pain.
But this alone was all I meant;2130
And if I listened in, disguised,
It’s just that being recognized,
I feared, might spoil out intent.
Now judge me, pray, from what you’ve seen,
Was it a sin or sample of2135
The purest form of selfless love,
That I became your go-between?
ANA: I thank you for your wish for me,
But of your plot I can’t approve;
You do me harm to make me move2140
Higher than I deserve to be.
The Duke’s estate and eminence
Is more than I am worthy of;
I’m not deceived by my self-love,
Where there’s so great a difference.2145
My father was, in his own age,
A gentleman of note; yet he,
I’m sure, would think that it would be
An honor to serve this Duke as a page.
And so I can’t be lured at all2150
Into such crazy fantasies–
Certainly not by flatteries;
I know pride goeth before a fall.
JUAN: You do yourself an injury;
Even apart from your noble name,2155
Your loveliness alone lays claim
To more, much more, than this would be!
No man deserves a joy so great!
No Duke, no King, no Emp-
ANA: Enough!
The burning fever of your love2160
Is making you hallucinate.
You brain’s so love-besotted, you can’t
Help giving me more than is my due!
Teach but the Duke to love like you,
I might well give him what you want!2165
JUAN: But how could anyone love you less,
Once he has seen your dear perfection?
ANA: In short, you’re using your heart’s affection
To judge some stranger’s tenderness.
Everyone knows how that error starts:2170
Just because you’re dying of love,
You forget that Cupid’s got plenty of
Different arrows for different hearts.
What if his love were true–what he
Desires, Don Juan, is just a fling;2175
Rather than mistress to a King–
I’d wive some farmer honorably.
However advantageous life
Could be with him, I know for sure
I’m grand enough for a paramour,2180
But much too paltry for a wife.
JUAN: No man could have so little care,
To offend your nobleness this way!
ANA: Take my advice, no longer play
The middle man in this affair;2185
For in the end, to be quite plain,
Far greater hope may that man take
Who dares to speak for his own sake
Than one who seeks another’s gain.
Doña ANA leaves
JUAN: My ears are hardly worthy of2190
The joyous news that they just heard!
How blest the sufferings I’ve incurred!
How sweet the victory of love!
For at the end, she was quite plain:
“Far greater hope may that man take2195
Who dares to speak for his own sake
Than one who seeks another’s gain!”
To my love, sure, she did allude–
My heart is not deceiving me!
And a woman who consents to be2200
Beloved is willing to be wooed.
BELTRÁN enters
BELTRÁN: Señor, the Duke is waiting for you;
I’m afraid the sun’s not doing the same.
In fact he’s about to expose your whole game,
By racing his cart through the heavenly blue.2205
JUAN: I could spend a year where my true love was,
And it would feel like a moment, I think.
BELTRÁN: Whoever said you needed a drink
To give yourself a nice warm buzz?
JUAN: You understand me then?2210
BELTRÁN: Your eyes
Are sloshing over with happiness.
JUAN: They’re celebrating their success.
BELTRÁN: So perseverance wins the prize!
CELIA enters
JUAN: My dearest Celia, may God bless you!
CELIA: And give you all you hope for, sir.2215
JUAN: And since you helped in winning her,
May fortune grant your wishes, too.
CELIA: If it were in my power to give,
Your happiness would have been mine.
But persevere, sir, toe the line,2220
That your love may not be lost, but live.
JUAN goes out
BELTRÁN: Would you give the same advice to me?
Do you have a line for these poor toes?
CELIA: Are you in love?
BELTRÁN: Oh, I suppose–
But just to keep him company.2225
Doña ANA comes in
ANA: (Oh, Celia’s with his servant there, Aside
That’s Don Juan’s man, and I can’t rest
Until I talk to him! My breast
Still burns with what it did declare.)
CELIA: My lady! To BELTRÁN2230
BELTRÁN: I’m going then.
ANA: O, sir!
Come back here. What’s your name?
BELTRÁN: Beltrán.
I’m Don Juan de Mendoza’s man,
Señora.
ANA: What did you want with her?
BELTRÁN: I was just saying how eagerly
I look forward to serving you;2235
You see, I think I’m in love, too–
But just to keep him company.
ANA: Are you being sarcastic?
BELTRÁN: That wouldn’t be smart.
That’s a profession that’s only fit
For those with nothing to lose from it,2240
Or those who claim to be pure of heart.
But as for me, why ever would I
Want to give sermons when I’m no saint?
Or about some speck, lodge a loud complaint
When I’ve got a beam stuck in my own eye?2245
ANA: Well, that’s a very clever excuse,
But it does no credit to your taste.
For conversation is a waste,
When the sauce of wit’s not put to use.
BELTRÁN: If wit’s a sauce, it’s very pricey.2250
Sarcasm, señora, rarely wins;
It’s the least productive of all the sins,
And of all the faults it’s the most dicey.
After a slanderer has his say,
Those in the best position to hear him2255
Now have the surest reason to fear him;
What good can ever come his way?
For each man to himself must say,
After he’s heard such scurrility,
“Why, this is how he’ll speak of me2260
The instant that I walk away!”
And if the man of whom he’s said
Such things finds out–as he surely must–
How can he dine without distrust,
Or sleep securely in his bed?2265
There are thousands of sinners on this earth
That people put up with without a care,
But once they see a slanderer,
They all give him a very wide berth.
When a hardened criminal comes to grief,2270
We sometimes feel a touch of pity;
But a man who’s cruel when he thinks he’s witty,
We’d send to hell with a sigh of relief.
At court there’s this one gentleman
I’ve listened to quite frequently–2275
(Now here’s a perfect place to see Aside
Whether her love’s completely gone–)
This man’s so vicious and so cruel,
And such a nasty vilifier,
That if he were to catch on fire,2280
The entire court would throw on fuel.
His name’s Don Mendo de Guzmán,
D’you know him, ma’am?
ANA: That’s enough from you;
In attacking slander as you do,
You’re slanderous yourself, Beltrán!2285
The man’s above your ridicule–
Are you so glib a moralizer?
BELTRÁN: To criticize a criticizer
I think’s the exception to the rule.
A man who robs a thief, they say,2290
May be forgiven for that crime.
ANA: Then they are wrong. Go, in good time.
BELTRÁN: Forgive my ignorance, I pray,
If I have caused you any pain.
(A lover makes an awful liar.) Aside2295
BELTRÁN leaves
CELIA: (I think perhaps she’s quenched the fire, Aside
But plenty of embers still remain.)
If you’re offended by his spite,
It’s obvious that love has not
Erased the memory from your thought2300
Of what you suffered through last night.
ANA: Stop there, Celia, hold your tongue.
You do my honor great offense
To think my heart has lost the sense
To know how deeply it was stung.2305
I’ve not forgotten a single word
That foul-mouthed Mendo said of me;
That filth he planned I almost see,
As if tonight it had occurred.
And even more clearly do I see2310
How little I must mean to him,
That just to satisfy his whim
He’d plot so to dishonor me.
So much so now that I have not
Just doused the flames of burning love,2315
But built as hot a bonfire of
Hatred for him, here in my thought.
But let no servant think that that
Gives him the slightest liberty
To criticize in front of me2320
A man who’s an aristocrat.
As it would be a great disgrace
If noble rivals locked in hate
Forgot each other’s high estate–
No servant should forget his place.2325
This only, Celia, is why I thought
I had to reprimand Beltrán,
And certainly not because Don Juan
Is absent from my heart–he’s not.
CELIA: His faith made you a convert then?2330
ANA: Last night Don Mendo fell from grace,
And Don Juan rose to take his place,
And the wheel of love has turned again.
CELIA: So did you tell him of your love?
ANA: What–would you have me speak so free?2335
Wasn’t it quite enough for me
To show him all the radiance of
My favor?
CELIA: Oh, you call that free?
For two whole years, or thereabout,
Your love has turned him inside out!2340
It’s very clear you didn’t see
That play about the Princess of France
And what she did.
ANA: What? What?
CELIA: She fell in love
At first sight, and then regardless of
Scandal or danger, she took a chance!2345
She chased her man, she changed their clothes,
And serving her lord as a lowly page,
Exposed her legs to the winter’s rage
Clad only in her doublet and hose!
And she was a princess! And you are just2350
A lady–but a lady he
Has loved so long and loyally
You ought to pay him back. You must
Find out some honorable way
To speak your mind, with care and skill,2355
And without the fear some writer will
Lampoon you in a scandalous play.
ANA: But isn’t it better, bit by bit?
CELIA: D’you love him?
ANA: Celia–of course I do!
CELIA: And are you certain he loves you?2360
ANA: I know he does–I’m sure of it!
CELIA: Well, if you’re really sure about
The truth in such a case, I’d say
It far more cruel to delay
Than it is forward to speak out.2365
Now is the time to speak your love,
Now is the time to make it known;
It would be foolish to postpone,
Because there’s nothing more to prove.
ANA: O Celia, you are much too smart–2370
Whatever you say I have to do!
CELIA: It’s no great feat persuading you
To follow the dictates of your heart.
They go out
Scene Two
Madrid. A room in Don Mendo’s house.
Enter Don MENDO, bandaged and swordless; with him, the COUNT
MENDO: “My coachmen have played false with me!”
No sooner had she spoke these words–2375
My dearest enemy–but they exchanged
Their reins and whips for knives and swords,
And like some savage, speechless beasts–
How well their rage is thus expressed,
As if the power denied the tongue2380
Appeared redoubled in the breast–
They set upon us, two on two,
With such a force and violence,
That I thought, seeing such a storm
Of courage and of puissance,2385
That Jove himself and been transformed
Into a coachman for her sake,
And with his flaming thunderbolts
His vengeance for her wrongs did take–
So many and so valiant were2390
The blows they struck–so fast, so quick–
Not even in Vulcan’s stithy had
There rained down hammerblows so thick!
At last, dear coz–to whom alone
I dare confess my deep disgrace–2395
The sword of one of these base men
Managed to wound me in the face,
And so much blood came gushing out,
Although it was a glancing blow,
My eyes were thereby blinded, and2400
He stopped the fight and let me go.
So I went back to Alcalá–
A mile away–to seek relief,
Not so much from the physical pain
As from my fury and my grief.2405
This had to be on Ana’s side
A groundless cause to pick a fight–
And this is the thanks that I receive
For praising her on Midsummer Night!
COUNT: An unexpected consequence!2410
And did you ever figure out
Who those courageous coachmen were?
MENDO: I’m trying to be cautious about
The whole affair, to keep it mum,
You know, for the sake my position.2415
So that might be hard to ascertain–
Although I do have one suspicion:
You know how these young widows are,
They’re hypocrites and plaster saints,
They take their servants as their lovers,2420
Since no one knows, there are no complaints.
That kind of courage in a coachman
Is only born of jealousy;
Base men don’t ever risk their lives
From any sense of loyalty.2425
Look, these things happen–it’s the way of the world
If it weren’t true, would I say so?
I’m not a man who pokes his nose
In other people’s lives, you know.
COUNT: (And long live you to think so, sir!) Aside2430
Well, I can’t believe what you suggest.
Your anger’s driving you to act
Against your own best interest.
And it’s not right to speak that way
About someone who still might be2435
Your wife.
MENDO: I’ve lost my patience and
My hopes with her. She’s not for me.
COUNT: So soon?
MENDO: I’m going back to my
Lucrecia–I can count on her.
COUNT: (God grant you only bad news there!) Aside2440
You’re showing signs of weakness, sir.
If Doña Ana’s got it wrong,
Then you can make her see it right.
MENDO: But she won’t give my voice a hearing.
COUNT: Go in and make her listen–fight!2445
For once you’ve had the upper hand,
You never lose that liberty.
And in the meantime don’t assume
That’s she’s changed irretrievably.
When she’s annoyed, she blames you, but2450
She might not want to part with you.
Or write down your excuses in
A note to her.
MENDO: That’s what I’d do,
If I thought she’d accept the thing.
COUNT: I guarantee she’ll read it, sir.2455
MENDO: But how?
COUNT: Just give the note to me.
And I will hand it right to her.
MENDO: I’ll go and write it right away.
MENDO goes out
COUNT: And I’ll go ask Lucrecia to
Fulfill her promises to me;2460
She must have seen the crimes that you
Recounted–she was in the coach
With Doña Ana when they went
From Alcalá–she saw it all–
To her own disillusionment.2465
She’ll also have to see your note,
I won’t have anything retracted;
And then I’ll make up some excuse,
When Mendo finds out how I’ve acted.
If I achieve what I intend,2470
Whatever happens–let it be!
No man sees every twist and turn
When love makes him as blind as me!
Scene Three
Madrid. A room in the DUKE’s house.
Don JUAN and BELTRÁN come in
BELTRÁN: It’s a good time, now, isn’t it, sir?
JUAN: It’s time to end my cares.2475
BELTRÁN: Then praise
Be to God I’m living in the days
When miracles can still occur!
So you’ve put Ana in misery?
And is poor old Don Adonis de
Guzmán forgot? This is the day2480
That Jeremiah longed to see!
I’ve heard the same thing said, I guess,
About each year that comes along,
But this one’s really starting strong–
With an unparalleled success!2485
She loves you then?
JUAN: Undoubtedly!
She told me so, Beltrán, and I
Am sure that angels never lie!
BELTRÁN: The world’s turned upside down, I see.
With any luck I may discover2490
That bald is beautiful someday.
The times are a-changin’. What did it say
In that old song of the captive lover?
“Was it, oh, was it the month of May,
When the sun burned bright and the day was hot,2495
And every amorous suitor brought
His lovely lady a bouquet?”
But now it’s hot the whole way through
September–and beyond. Señor?
Somehow I get the feeling you’re2500
Still going through some changes, too.
How in the world have you changed so fast
And gotten so totally depressed?
Lovers are gamblers at best,
Whose happiness can never last.2505
This is just weakness, don’t you see–
JUAN: Leave me alone, Beltrán, with my woe!
BELTRÁN: Is this part of the scenario?
Sir, this plays more like a tragedy!
JUAN: My mood has changed, Beltrán, it’s true–2510
It’s turned totally inside out;
Because the thing I was happy about
Has been completely altered, too.
The Duke has fallen so in love
With her that I’m afraid that he2515
Might even give up his liberty
To gain what he’s desirous of.
BELTRÁN: He’d marry her?
JUAN: The Duke might well!
BELTRÁN: If your beloved should ever see
That that’s a possibility,2520
No need to ask for whom the bell
Tolls now! What woman wouldn’t do
The same, to be called Your Excellency?
JUAN: That’s why I feel I have to free
Myself of hope–and patience, too.2525
BELTRÁN: Or find yourself a remedy, sir.
JUAN: If you can see one, tell it to me!
BELTRÁN: Well, if he’s in love, it wouldn’t be
To confide in him that you love her.
But if your lady’s declared her love2530
To you already–then surely, sir,
What you have to do is marry her
Before the Duke can make his move.
JUAN: But how can I manage to pin her down
On such short notice?2535
BELTRÁN: You can pretend
That the injury you gave Don Mend-
o is common knowledge all over town–
And with the news, that people are now
Gossiping about her reputation;
From there it’s a simple calculation,2540
I think, to figure the best way how
To stop their mouths: she has to say
After the fact, that earlier she
Had always intended that she would be
Your wife. And meanwhile, you display
How confused and uncertain you are inside–2545
How you’re not sure that she is true–
Why then she’ll have to marry you
Just to make sure you’re satisfied.
For since she’s clearly been implying
That she loves you–and you love her–2550
She either does what you prefer,
Or else confesses that she’s been lying.
JUAN: She’s going to the Gardens today;
I’ll get a chance to talk to her,
And follow your advice.2555
BELTRÁN: And sir–
You can only win if you don’t run away.
Here comes the Duke.
The DUKE and FABIO come in
JUAN: Señor.
DUKE: My dear
Don Juan, I’m dying.
JUAN: Dying? What of?
DUKE: Of the savage war being waged by love,
Disdain, and jealousy–in here!2560
To that ungrateful wretch I love–
Beautiful angel though she be–
I’ve written today a letter–
JUAN: (Ay, me!) Aside
DUKE: Which she has taken no notice of!
JUAN: (My soul just hopped right back in there!) Aside2565
How can she be so hard of heart?
DUKE: Such cruel disfavor on her part
Can only mean she loves elsewhere.
JUAN: It’s being loved that I suspect
Is behind her show of cruelty.2570
DUKE: Well, either way, it’s killing me–
Let’s not fight over cause and effect.
What’s certain is, I’m dying of this!
Don Juan, give me some consolation.
JUAN: I don’t foresee any alteration2575
When her resolve’s as firm as it is;
So my advice is to let it go,
Before your love gets any stronger.
DUKE: It can’t get stronger–
JUAN: Well, then, the longer
You love, the more your pain will grow.2580
MARCELO comes in
MARCELO: Can I talk to you?
DUKE: Marcelo–yes.
MARCELO: Reward me first, sir.
DUKE: This delay
Is killing me.
MARCELO: You’ve found today
Safe haven for your happiness.
Today your cruel mistress, sir,2585
Goes to the Gardens, and her page–
Money’s got such leverage–
Will let you in to speak with her.
DUKE: Embrace me then.
MARCELO: (How about my dough?) Aside
DUKE: Don Juan, won’t you accompany me?2590
JUAN: The sweetest opportunity
Comes when a man’s alone–you go.
DUKE: Well said, but look for me all the same–
After the golden sun has set–
To know what fortune I have met.2595
The DUKE leaves, and his Servants with him
JUAN: You can’t get honor or a good name,
By taking advantage of one another–
That kind of vicious self-serving is curst!
BELTRÁN: What the Bible says is, get there first
And steal the blessing from your brother!2600
They go out
Scene Four
Madrid. The Gardens.
The COUNT and Doña LUCRECIA come in
COUNT: But surely you will not deny,
My lady, what you said to me!
LUCRECIA: I don’t deny it.
COUNT: You had to see
The ugly truth behind the lie,
The night that Doña Ana came2605
From Alcalá.
LUCRECIA: I don’t deny
That either–the fire is out, yet I
Still feel the burning from its flame.
COUNT: Well then, that you may rid your poor heart of
The embers that still smolder there,2610
Look at this letter which I bear
From Mendo, of his frantic love,
Written to melt the stubborn will
Of Doña Ana de Contreras.
If you permit him to embarrass2615
You further, you’re not in love–you’re ill!
He gives her the letter, which she reads
LUCRECIA: “If you without a hearing could
Condemn me, with a hearing I know
You might condemn me, too–and so
What remedy is any good2620
To cure this pain? But if Heaven would,
Will you hear me–just a moment or two?
If guiltily I ask this, do
Your worst, inflict more pain–
Unless it hurts to hear me explain2625
That I have never offended you.”
COUNT: You recognize the style?
LUCRECIA: I do.
COUNT: You see how you’re betrayed?
LUCRECIA: I see,
Dear Count, and I will remedy
The pain that I have put you through.2630
For such a steadfast loyal heart
Must be rewarded; it’s not just right–
It will give my father such delight
Who in this always took your part.
I pray you, hide in the garden–do!2635
I would not have my cousin see
You here.
COUNT: My soul seeks but to be
Glorified by obeying you.
He hides
Doña ANA comes in, and CELIA speaking to her
CELIA: So how does it feel, may I inquire?
ANA: Oh–once my love had been expressed,2640
The more I tried to be self-possessed
And cool, the more I caught on fire!
And I am sure that if anyone
Were behind that tree, he could see how bright
The flames are now.2645
CELIA: “What a horrible sight!
Look at the face on that Don Juan!”
Now do you see the value of
Honest dealing and a good disposition?
So much so, that I make this admission:
There’s no Adonis that can match my love!2650
They draw near to LUCRECIA
What are you reading, cousin?
LUCRECIA: It’s just
A letter from Don Mendo to me;
I’d like to show it to you–to see
If you think he’s worthy of trust.
CELIA: I don’t believe one word–not one–2655
Or even listen–I promise you.
LUCRECIA: I only pray that God will do
Unto him as I would have him done;
All I intend is for you to see
From it what Mendo thinks of you.2660
(I’ll do him all the harm I can do– Aside
The letter’s my opportunity.)
Don JUAN enters and stands alongside Doña ANA
CELIA: (Boldly he enters, and right on cue!) Aside
JUAN: (She’s reading something–it’s a note– Aside
Some letter than Don Mendo wrote!)2665
May a jealous man beg leave of you–
A man that you have called your lord–
To read that letter? May I see?
ANA: If this concern or jealousy,
Don Juan, is caused by any word2670
That’s written here, what you must do
Is ask my cousin’s leave–and you may.
JUAN: Then will you give me leave to say
To her as well that I love you?
ANA: It’s the perfect opportunity–2675
Since I love you with all my heart.
JUAN: Dear lady, I beg you take my part–
Out of my love or jealousy–
And give me leave to read this note.
LUCRECIA: My pleasure rests in Ana’s care.2680
ANA: So now you know–that letter there–
It was to her that Mendo wrote.
JUAN: Don Mendo to Lucrecia?
ANA: It is–
My cousin can tell you that it’s true.
JUAN: If he so highly values you,2685
He’ll surely say much more than this.
But let the note have the final word,
It’s the best witness there can be.
LUCRECIA: In it he tries to make up with me,
And begs permission to be heard.2690
She give him the letter which he reads
JUAN: “If you without a hearing could
Condemn me, with a hearing I know
You might condemn me, too–and so
What remedy is any good
To cure this pain? But if Heaven would,2695
Will you hear me–just a moment or two?
If guiltily I ask this, do
Your worst, inflict more pain–
Unless it hurts to hear me explain
That I have never offended you.”2700
Oh, Doña Ana, what’s driving you
To treat me so deceitfully?
How little you must care for me–
A man unloved and now lied to!
These pleas in here are meant for you–2705
You are the subject of what I’ve read.
It’s very clear from what is said–
The event that he’s referring to.
ANA: If I am the one he wrote it to,
Does he thank me, or does he complain2710
Rather of my cold disdain?
By letting you read it, I’m doing you
A favor.
JUAN: A better one would be
For you not to have read the thing.
It’s hard to keep from pardoning2715
An offender once you hear his plea.
Will you accept a communication
From another man, and yet confess
That you are mine? Which do you value less–
Myself, or your own reputation?2720
I now know that it’s best for me
To live unloved, the object of
Your scorn, than to enjoy your love
And be subject to injury.
I’ll never go where your love may2725
Once more turn me into a fool
And flout at me.
ANA: Are you so cruel
To murder me?
JUAN: You’re shameless!
ANA: Stay–
And hear me out. Dear cousin, give me
Your hand, help me to hold him tight!2730
JUAN: Let go! Let go!
It’s just not right–
You’ve lost all sense of propriety!
CELIA: Don Mendo’s in the shrubbery.
ANA: Don Mendo?
CELIA: He forced his way in.
ANA: I’m
So glad. He’s come at a perfect time2735
For me to end your jealousy.
The two of you, hide in that grove,
Go on! And hidden there, your eyes
And ears will make you realize
Just who it is I really love.2740
JUAN: Give me your hand, for that alone
Is the satisfaction I require.
ANA: Sir, you are my heart’s desire.
There just a little job to be done.
JUAN and LUCRECIA hide themselves, and CELIA moves back near them. Don MENDO enters
MENDO: It’s not for pardon that I beg,2745
It’s not for favor that I pray.
If I should ask for either of these,
Then shut your ears to what I say.
I only wish that you will hear,
Dear Doña Ana, my heartfelt plea–2750
Only to let me make my case
Not to accuse your inconstancy.
For if one night I told the Duke
You had a little fault or two,
It was because I feared your fame2755
Would make him fall in love with you.
It was because Don Juan was so
Outspoken in his praise of you–
A young man’s like a powder keg,
Even a little spark will do.2760
For your sake did I write your cousin,
Insulting her right to her face,
To disabuse her of her love
And magnify your every grace.
If she has told you otherwise,2765
You’ll see how you have been misled;
I have a copy of my letter–
Hear exactly what I said:
“You but increase your agony
When you refuse to hear me plead.
If you find fault where there’s no need,2770
You needs must suffer equally.
If your own worth you could but see,
Then would you see how violence
Has clouded your intelligence,
How in your madness you strike out,2775
Wronging your beauty with your doubt,
And with your jealousy, your sense.
“Between Lucrecia and Doña Ana
Who knows not the difference?
It is the day’s pre-eminence2780
To night. Or life’s to death. What, can a
Star be mistaken for Diana,
Chaste Goddess of the Moon? No fur-
ther be my unjust slanderer,
And calm your fears–for I have eyes,2785
And a soul as well, to recognize
Which lady is the lovelier.”
How can I have made it clearer?
What more have done to make her see?
If she has got it backwards, then2790
The fault is surely not in me.
Then why use force out in the fields,
You’ll say–but that is so unfair!
You were the woman I meant to marry,
Not some stranger I ambushed there.2795
It was a peccadillo, perhaps,
A rural folly, and I protest
I paid the penalty in advance
With Cupid’s arrows in my breast.
These are your charges, these are my faults;2800
Then calm your fury, and from that face,
That heaven on earth, banish the cloud
Of your disapproval and disgrace,
For heaven, and air, and earth itself
Will witness my unhappiness;2805
And there is none who doubts my truth,
Save you, the source of my distress.
Here is my hand, a husband’s hand–
And here so clear my not-guilty plea,
You must believe in my good faith,2810
Or confess your own inconstancy.
LUCRECIA: (No doubt she’ll marry him right here. To JUAN
JUAN: (She’ll marry him right here–no doubt!) Aside
(Should I leave now?) To CELIA
CELIA: (Don’t let her down,
When you’re supposed to help her out.)2815
The DUKE enters with a PAGE, and the two hide behind the curtain
PAGE: From here you’ll have a perfect view
Of what Don Mendo’s trying to do.
The PAGE leaves
ANA: My dear Don Mendo, I must confess
You’ve made a very forthright plea;
And offering your hand to me2820
Could well conclude this business.
But your appeal will not reduce
Your sentence. The case is closed, the ver-
dict’s in, you’ve lost already, sir,
And it’s too late for your excuse.2825
I even accept your explanation–
That when you spoke so ill of me
To the Duke, it was to keep me free
Of any possible infatuation.
But, sir, you spoke it publicly–2830
However private your intent;
You’re judged on the record, not what you meant,
So don’t you dare complain to me.
And now at last I hope you see
How evil slander is, for though2835
The end be good, the reasons so,
It always does you injury.
And so is good intent found guil-
ty through evil means. It is all one.
An evil deed, though it be done2840
For good, is never good, but ill.
It is your tongue that does condemn
You now, and not my scorn. Go then,
Speak kindly of your fellow men–
That way you cannot injure them.2845
If you do this–and if you’re smart–
You might be able to change your ways.
MENDO: The case is closed–was that your phrase?
ANA: The case is closed–as is my heart.
MENDO: You realize what you’re saying to me?2850
ANA: I’m saying it’s useless now to act
Further–for what this is, is fact,
Don Mendo, not some penalty.
MENDO: So what people are saying seems to be
Something I can believe in then:2855
That you have degraded taste in men–
That would explain why you can’t stand me.
That fighting coachmen that took your part,
It’s him they mean; I suppose it’s true–
He gets his spirit from the favors you2860
Bestow, not from his base-born heart.
ANA: Don’t speak to me again, sir! No!
I’ll brook no further injury.
In trying to force yourself on me,
You free me of any debt I owe.2865
That coachman of mine that wounded you,
I’d like for you to meet him now.
Coachman, come out and take a bow.
Don JUAN and LUCRECIA come out from one side, the DUKE from the other. Later, BELTRÁN and the COUNT come out as well
JUAN: I am that coachman, sir.
DUKE: Me, too.
The four gentlemen all draw their swords
ANA: Gentlemen, please, put up your swords–2870
For I must suffer for what you do.
DUKE: It is enough that you tell us to.
JUAN: I only live to obey your words.
ANA: These are the coachmen here, you see,
By whom you’d ruin my good name;2875
And now to deprive the voice of shame
Of any chance to slander me,
I give my hand in marriage to
Don Juan.
JUAN: And I, dear heart, give mine.
They take hands
CELIA: Happy New Year!2880
BELTRÁN: Break out the wine!
The DUKE draws on Don JUAN
DUKE: Don Juan, is this the way that you
Deceive a friend? For shame!
JUAN: Hold, sir!
I never betrayed you, never lied.
It was not deceit, but prudence to hide
The feelings that I had for her.2885
If you will be so kind as to
Remember–I helped you only to view her,
But, sir, when you began to woo her,
I then declined to accompany you.
ANA: This hand was mine, to keep or lose,2890
You know–I had the final voice;
So arguing about my choice
Is vain, unless you let me choose.
Don Juan has won this hand of me,
For by defending me that day,2895
He earned what Mendo threw away
By speaking of me slanderously.
This is my choice, though ’tis Heaven’s will,
Which God has done–He moves in such
Mysterious ways–to show how much2900
He values those who speak no ill.
MENDO: I know now why I could never see
The value of your cousin’s love–
Because the senseless cruelty of
Your frigid heart was blinding me!2905
But in these tears of my conversion,
And in these joys her hand brings me,
I end all my dishonesty,
Your vengeful spite, and her aspersion.
LUCRECIA: Who was it told you that I still2910
Remember you at all today
Here in my heart?
BELTRÁN: (He tried to pay Aside
Before the hostess totalled the bill.)
LUCRECIA: In wooing Ana, it appears,
That you spoke very ill of me.2915
MENDO: Spoke ill of you? to Ana?
LUCRECIA: You see,
My dear Don Mendo, the walls have ears.
But since you have the audacity
To want to be the husband of
A woman like me that you don’t love2920
And that you speak of scurrilously–
I don’t think I’m that big a fool
To want to make myself the wife
Of a man who’d spend his married life
With a woman he’d only ridicule.2925
And lest you hope your penalty
Might be reduced, I here confess
The joys you lost through faithlessness
The Count shall gain for his loyalty.
She give her hand to the COUNT
I’m yours.2930
MENDO: And I’ve lost everything!
Why live, when life’s a living hell?
COUNT: And you could lose your life as well,
If you don’t stop your chattering.
BELTRÁN: With this example clearly in mind,
Ladies and gentlemen here today,2935
Remember the wall have ears, I pray;
So when you speak of us, be kind.
