THE WALLS HAVE EARS
(Las paredes oyen)
by Juan Ruiz de Alarcón
Translated by Dakin Matthews
The Walls Have Ears is a new American translation by Dakin Matthews of Ruiz de Alarcón’s Las paredes oyen. (Dakin is an actor, playwright, director, and Emeritus English Professor; Smith and Kraus published his earlier verse translation of Moreto’s El desden con el desden, called Spite For Spite.) Because this is a performance-oriented translation and because it is in rhyming verse echoing when possible the original rhyme schemes of the the Spanish, it is necessarily somewhat looser and more colloquial than a typical academic translation might be. At the same time, it is exactly as many lines long as the original and tries to maintain an approximate line for line correspondence between the English and the Spanish both in meaning and in verse form. This translation is copyrighted, and a more complete version with introduction, notes, and appendices is available from Andak Theatrical Services, 4916 Vineland Ave., North Hollywood, CA 91601 (818 506-5436). The text provided by Dakin Matthews was transcribed in HTML by Vern G. Williamsen in March 1998.
- A PAGE
ACT ONE
Scene One
Madrid. A Street, and then the house of Doña ANA.
Enter JUAN, a gallant, and BELTRÁN, his servant
JUAN: Beltrán, I’m in a desperate case,
There’s such a huge disparity–
Though not in birth–between her and me,
But in our gifts and social place.
Her loveliness is past compare,5
Her shape so graceful and refined,
It stirs sweet envy in Diana’s mind,
And dares the Spring to be as fair.
Just take one look at her–how can
I even hope–a man like me–10
So poor, so plain–so totally
Without a face? How, Beltrán?
BELTRÁN: For a hunded years, a lovely lass
Resisted the advances of
Her gorgeous wooer, then fell in love15
At last, wrapped in the arms of an ass.
The classical authors, I think, were right
To give us these tales; and we should trust
The lessons they teach (I may be just
A servant, but I can read and write)–20
And what they say is that Love is blind;
The Empress Faustina, says one narrator,
Fell in love with a gladiator–
So to be in love’s to be out of your mind.
Or think of Hippia, a lady well-bred25
And beautiful, who driven mad
By a thousand base desires, had
Ugly commoners brought to her bed!
JUAN: How you can match women like these–
More full of lust than loveliness–30
With Doña Ana I cannot guess–
No more such comparisons, please!
It would be madness to expect
Of her that kind of waywardness,
Her beauty may be miraculous,35
But even more so’s her self-respect.
BELTRÁN: You’re a Mendoza, are you not?
In marrying you, where would there be
A loss for her?
JUAN: The fortune she
Enjoys so far exceeds my lot40
In life, the little that I bring
Would make me feel inferior.
BELTRÁN: And that, you think, would injure her!
So now you’ve named the real thing
That’s troubling you. But don’t you see?45
If Lady Luck comes to assist you,
It’s really because she can’t resist you
When you’re in this state of “disparity.”
Fortune goes along for the ride
When Cupid shoots his shafts of love;50
There’s a Temple in Greece that I’ve heard of
Where the two were worshiped side by side.
If love’s your aim, and money won’t make
It happen, and good looks can’t ensnare it,
Then I’d trade centuries of merit55
For just a single lucky break.
JUAN: But that’s the thing that disheartens me–
I’ve never been a fortunate man.
BELTRÁN: You can still be lucky in love–you can!
Just keep both eyes open and both hands free.60
JUAN: But if she gives Don Mendo that glance
Of favor, what hope is there for me?
BELTRÁN: All that should do is make you see
That love is purely a matter of chance.
They all love him–it’s just a game:65
Doña Ana and Dorothea;
Doña Lucrecia wants to be a
Slave to his love; at the sound of his name
They drop down dead–they all adore him!
JUAN: He’s rich, he’s gorgeous, he’s a real swell!70
BELTRÁN: So was Apollo–and a god as well–
But Daphne managed to ignore him.
And though she had no knowledge of
Another man whose quality
Could equal his, does that mean she,75
In rejecting him, was deficient in love?
JUAN: Why are you carping at me like this?
BELTRÁN: I’m only saying what’s on my mind.
JUAN: Not every thought need be refined
Into a full-blown analysis.80
BELTRÁN: But saying something–
JUAN: Don’t talk to me!
And remember this–above everything:
A man who’s always nattering
Holds in his mouth an enemy!
BELTRÁN: Well, be as desperate as you want,85
You’re going to her house. A love
This deep can make a mockery of
Your hopes. You won’t give up–you can’t!
In a desert waste one still would roar
To the sands for help; in the midst of the sea,90
And death by drowning a certainty,
A man still paddles for the shore.
JUAN: What takes an eternity to do,
Love can accomplish in just one day–
And all resistance melts away.
BELTRÁN: I know exactly what’s happening to you–95
I knew a gambler once who when
He was losing bet after bet after bet,
Would always say, “I’m not that upset”–
Over and over and over again.
You tell me you’re in complete despair;100
And in the midst of that hopelessness,
You keep on trying nonetheless;
What more would you do if hope were there?
What exactly do you think hope is?
Some kind of exotic marzipan105
That we’re importing from Japan?
I’ll tell you what hope is–it’s simply this:
It’s thinking that you might actually
Get hold of something that appeals to you;
When a man behaves as if something were true,110
He actually thinks it might well be.
He takes out a letter
JUAN: In this note I have all confessed;
If there’s no change in her disdain,
Although my hopes may live again,
All my attempts I lay to rest.115
BELTRÁN: A greedy merchant owned a ship,
And every time he put to sea
He always swore that this would be
His absolutely final trip.
Like you. At last you admit defeat–120
I think!–you’ve seen the light–but no!
With renewed vigor there you go,
Marching down the middle of the street!
So tell me something–what in the world
Made you write down this confession of love?125
When you could pay a member of
Her household to do it? A servant girl’d
Be only too glad to speak for you;
Why do it yourself? it doesn’t make sense.
JUAN: I don’t want to risk giving offense130
To the lady that I’m trying to woo.
It’s a delicate thing, one’s reputation–
A woman can even lose her honor
If it’s known some man has designs upon her,
And she’s the object of solicitation.135
I mean to protect my honor and hers–
And whether I fare well or ill,
And whether she’s pliant or stubborn still–
From the wagging tongues of slanderers.
I would have kept what I intend140
Even from you, my dear Beltrán,
But I don’t really think of you as my man,
I think of you as my good friend.
BELTRÁN: Good Lord, is this the house she’s got?
One little widow lives in here?145
JUAN: She has six thousand ducats a year;
If she can afford a palace, why not?
BELTRÁN: Here comes Celia–
CELIA enters
CELIA: Your servant, sir.
JUAN: Celia, my dear, if you would be
So kind as to allow me to see150
Your mistress–I’d like to tender her
My most profound respects.
CELIA: I know
That won’t be possible, señor,
Since Doña Ana’s preparing for
A trip to Alcalá. We go155
To make a novena there–tomorrow.
JUAN: You mean she’s leaving the court! But this
Is the time of festival. She’ll miss
The feast of San Juan.
CELIA: In this time of sorrow
There won’t be any celebration.160
JUAN: But this is important! I’ll only be
A minute, Celia. It’s vital for me
To give her this–communication–
The packet just arrived today–
And the man who sent it said to me165
That I was the only one that he
Could trust with the job.
CELIA: I’m on my way.
Exit CELIA
BELTRÁN: You can’t get any respect when you’re poor;
Now if you were rich, and a scoundrel–I swear–
She’d never have left you standing there,170
You would have been hustled right through that door.
JUAN: Well, I accept her explanation,
If she’s really on the verge of leaving.
BELTRÁN: And I say seeing is believing–
JUAN: A typically nasty interpretation.
BELTRÁN: Has she ever seen you when you came?175
JUAN: A man who attempts a difficult deed,
Shouldn’t be hurt when he doesn’t succeed.
She’s very courteous, all the same.
BELTRÁN: So now what are we supposed to do,
While she goes off to the shrine to pray?180
JUAN: I’ll spend the whole time she’s away
Waiting for her–and suffering, too.
BELTRÁN: Going with her would be better for you.
JUAN: If I were the kind of man who could,
I’d have to go–I really would–185
If I could get her to ask me to.
But I can’t do that–try as I might,
And she’s not likely to encourage me,
Because of the scandal there could be
If the event ever came to light.190
BELTRÁN: And here she comes!
JUAN: Oh, look, Beltrán!
She is Aurora, lovely and bright!
Enter Doña ANA, a widow, with CELIA
ANA: (My God, Celia, what a horrible sight! Aside
Look at the face on that Don Juan!)
JUAN: Señora, Celia made it very clear195
How busy you were with your preparation–
So now I have less justification
For daring to interrupt you here–
Except–
He gives her the letter
what’s written down inside
Is a matter of such urgency200
I must be excused.
ANA: I can never be,
My dear Don Juan, too occupied
When a friend drops in, or better,
When a noble gentleman comes by.
JUAN: Madam, I’m yours–I await your reply.205
Please–don’t mind me–read the letter.
ANA: What kind of hostess would you make of me?
JUAN: Read it. It’s a matter of life and death;
Some poor soul breathes his final breath,
Unless you supply a remedy.210
ANA: If there is anything I can do,
You have no reason to worry or fear.
JUAN: It’s serious–they needn’t hear–
Tell them to leave me alone with you;
These matters deserve your full attention,215
And they require secrecy.
ANA: Leave us, go.
BELTRÁN: (So love, I see, Aside
Is the real mother of invention.
BELTRÁN and CELIA leave
JUAN: So now at last we are alone!
If my discretion you would see,
She starts to read the letter; he stops her
Don’t read the letter, listen to me–220
I am that letter, blood and bone!
Let not my boldness earn your scorn,
We are alone here, you and I,
And a charge, without a witness by,
Dies in the cradle where ’tis born.225
Since the first time I saw you here,
Dazzling as the sky so bright,
The sun has twice bestowed his light
Upon the signs that round his sphere.
And like Hippolytus, who stole230
Jove’s lightning and was struck down dead,
And after ages in an earthy bed,
Was suddenly made alive and whole,
Or like that other Greek, who tried
To look upon the Gorgon’s face,235
And found himself frozen in place,
And his whole being petrified,
That’s how I felt when first I saw
Your face–all wonder, admiration,
Ecstasy and fascination–240
Beyond desire–perfect awe;
Ah, such beauties I was seeing,
And shown glories so amazing,
In an instant they were blazing
Through my eyes to seize my being.245
ANA: Hold there, Don Juan. All this, it’s go-
ing to end with saying you’re in love?
JUAN: Ah, no, that would be wasteful of
Your time, señora–you already know.
ANA: That you would die for me?250
JUAN: No way.
Who could resign himself to death
When love gives him both life and breath,
As your love gives my soul today?
ANA: To ask me then to love you?
JUAN: By
No means, Señora, I would not dare255
Come here for that. What merit is there
In such a worthless thing as I?
ANA: Then tell me what you want of me.
JUAN: I want–I only know it’s you
I want–I don’t want you to do260
Anything for me. That wouldn’t be
What you deserve. As a sickly man,
Exhausted on his bed of pain,
Tosses and turns and turns again,
Only to find the familiar an-265
guish whichever side he lies upon,
And yet he’ll toss and turn and try
To end the pain which seems to lie
On every side, and on and on,
So I in my affliction come270
To you, my mistress dear. And why?
Not drawn by hope but driven by
Despair and pain, not seeking some
Relief in speaking out, although
Not speaking would be death for sure–275
Impossible to find the cure,
Impossible the pain, and so–
Be not offended by what I do,
Or at the boldness of my profession,
For joined to it comes my confession280
That I could never be worthy of you.
ANA: Is there anything more?
JUAN: What more could I
Impart to you? You know what’s true:
It all comes down to “I love you.”
ANA: Well then, Señor Don Juan, good-bye.285
JUAN: No, wait, will you not answer me?
You will not leave me in this plight?
ANA: You already said you loved me, right?
JUAN: That’s what I said, that’s what you see!
ANA: And you also said you had no intent290
Of asking me to love you back–
Since that would be too bold an attack.
JUAN: It’s what I said and what I meant.
ANA: And I believe I heard you say
You had no hope of winning me.295
JUAN: I did.
ANA: And that you’d never be
Equal to me in any way,
I think your tongue affirmed that, too–
JUAN: Yes, I spoke in exactly that way.
ANA: So if you’ve said all you came to say,300
What’s left for me to say to you?
ANA leaves
JUAN: Come, death, O come and end this life,
So cursed, so full of misery,
That only thy sword can offer me
Relief from pain and endless strife.305
What have I done, how can it be
A sin to love you, O heartless beast?
Please God– But no, God is not pleased–
For I love you more than I love me.
Enter CELIA and BELTRÁN
CELIA: Alas, poor miserable Don Juan!310
BELTRÁN: Give him some help.
CELIA: Then say a prayer
That my help gets him anywhere.
CELIA leaves
BELTRÁN: So how are we doing?
JUAN: The truth, Beltrán?
I begged of hope to keep desire alive in me
And fed myself on lies. The goal I struggle for315
Is all unreachable, I see, like to the shore
For one adrift, without a bark, upon the sea.
On love’s best wing did I sail forth, only to be
Now not a foot further, and should I strive for more,
I can but lose all I hold dear, for ’tis a war320
In which surrender is my only victory.
And thus victorious in my desperation,
I starve desire, by telling it no lies, and so
I live to breathe again when my desire dies.
How sad, that losing hope becomes my one salvation,325
And keeping hope alive but fortifies my foe,
And all my victory is in desire’s demise.
BELTRÁN: How sad, that all I get with you is exercise,
And all my victory is finding food to go,
And dinner’s just a memory–of long ago!330
They go out
Scene Two
A room in the COUNT’s house.
Enter the COUNT, Don MENDO, and ORTIZ, a page
MENDO: Here is a little note, Ortiz
For Doña Lucrecia–take it to her.
ORTIZ: God be with you.
He leaves
MENDO: I tell you, sir,
With a foolish woman there is no peace.
COUNT: How so?335
MENDO: Lucrecia’s just perverse,
She’s mad with love and jealousy.
COUNT: With reason, Don Mendo?
MENDO: Well, certainly–
But that just makes her fault the worse.
Ana’s making me blind with desire,
Which Lucrecia thinks to remedy340
By getting jealous and scolding me–
Which just adds fuel to the fire.
COUNT: (Lucrecia, if God’s will it be, Aside
May his change work a change in you!
And may my lost hopes thrive anew,345
Brought back to life by jealousy!)
So how do you respond to her?
MENDO: Deny it all! What harm can that do?
COUNT: But wouldn’t her knowing be better for you–
If you’re determined to love elsewhere?350
MENDO: Too dangerous for me to do!
Dear Count, you loved her once, which set
My heart on fire; there may be yet,
I fear, a little spark or two.
And old flames never quite grow cold;355
A man must cultivate the skill
Of starting new ones while he still
Avoids abandoning the old.
For Cupid’s just a child at play;
A thousand times you see a boy,360
Grown weary with his newest toy,
Go seek the one he tossed away.
COUNT: You’re quite the greedy lover, sir.
MENDO: But it’s Ana’s love I mostly prize.
COUNT: And she loves you?365
MENDO: For now, I surmise
That I have earned some favor with her.
COUNT: And Dorothea?
MENDO: She’s a fool–
She wants to make a husband of me!
There’s a better chance my family
Was born and bred in Istanbul.370
COUNT: No woman, surely, would behave
Like that–unless of course she’s mad–
To kill what little affection she’s had
And make herself a life-long slave!
MENDO: Exactly! Marriage just spoils the mood!375
I get a serious case of cold feet,
And she becomes all mushy and sweet,
Which only makes me nasty and rude!
But take away that one condition,
And the girl has a wonderful time with me!380
COUNT: Mendo, you’re lucky in love, I see.
MENDO: The planets were in the right position;
I’m a Leo, and Venus and Mars
Were in conjunction at my birth;
I’m lovable. If Astrology’s worth385
Anything still, blame the stars!
Good-bye for now; I go to her!
There’s still a little daylight yet,
And Ana’s sun tonight will set
In Alcalá.390
COUNT: God keep you, sir.
The COUNT leaves. LEONARDO enters and speaks to Don MENDO
LEONARDO: Master, the coach and horses await,
I think it’s time for them to go.
MENDO: Fetch me the public coach, you know,
The one that stands at Alcalá Gate,
And have my steward leave right away,395
And for God’s sake, tell him to look alive,
I want dinner ready when we arrive
At Viveros Inn by the end of the day.
And do it so Doña Ana can see
In my thoughtfulness, my love for her.400
LEONARDO: I speak for the whole household, sir,
We live for your felicity.
They go out
Scene Three
Madrid. A room in Doña ANA’s house
Enter Doña ANA, in traveling clothes, and CELIA
ANA: Now why are you so sad? And why
Are all my women moping about?
Tell me your troubles–talk them out.405
CELIA: Since you insist, I must comply;
Madam, here is my true report:
All your women are dearly hoping
To get married, and they’re moping
Because all their lovers are at court,
And here we are, six days away410
From the Eve of St. John–from Midsummer Night,
When lovers woo with all their might
And make their intentions known that day,
And your women are sad to think that when
Their men are in court, they’ll all be out!415
ANA: O Celia, there’s nothing to worry about–
They’ll all be back in town by then;
They can take the coach, together with me;
I won’t deny them their delight,
We’ll all rush back for St. John’s Night,420
And I’ll honor the feast day secretly,
Then return to the shrine with the rays of the sun,
To finish my novena there.
CELIA: May the Heavens guard you from every care!
But wouldn’t your plan be a better one,425
If you just put off your departure a bit?
ANA: Suppose you knew that I was dying
To wed Don Mendo, and the one thing lying
Right in my way to hinder it–
Was a little promise made by me430
To make a novena at St. James’ Shrine–
Should I still delay–since the case is mine–
My heartache’s only remedy?
For once I pay these final dues,
I put away my widow’s weeds.435
CELIA: May Heaven bless you in all your deeds!
I’m going to tell the girls the news.
ANA: No, as I hope for happiness,
Don’t breathe a word.
CELIA: As you advise;
Don Mendo’s here.440
CELIA goes out
ANA: May our good-byes
Give me good omen of success.
Enter Don MENDO, brightly dressed, to ANA
MENDO: The fields of Alcalá no longer sue
To have from Flora’s hand their coloring,
And Summer they eschew
And all his beauties, for they have their Spring445
Now, in the blessed hope that they possess
Of seeing you in all your loveliness.
The streams, eager to be the glasses where
Those two celestial suns, your eyes, might see
Their own reflections fair,450
Transform to crystal their fluidity;
And water, for one kiss from them so sweet,
Builds silver bridges for your snow-white feet.
And in the verdant branches of the trees,
The birds lift up their voices to the air,455
And blend their harmonies
Like choirs, to greet the rising of your sun;
The glory of this day they all profess,
And sing melodious songs of thankfulness.
She leaves–a new Europa!–and amorous Jove460
Entreats the winds to charm the seas before
Her craft–a treasure-trove
Of all the riches from the Indian shore;
For all its glories Spain does now transfer
From Manzanar to Alcalá in her.465
She leaves–prime mover of my heart’s devotion!
And I speed after, though not recklessly,
In following her motion,
For ’tis my center that I chase in thee–
That I, dear glory, may deserve to play470
The morning-star to this your coming day.
ANA: For colors strewn by hope on every field,
Or for the birds’ enchanting harmonies,
Or crystal that’s congealed,
Or for the charming sweetness of the breeze,475
I nothing care, nor wish a morning star
Beyond what runs before Apollo’s car.
However much the heart desires it,
Love dare not give you such acknowledgement;
My honor won’t permit,480
Nor will my state in life give its consent.
MENDO: Your presence like a magnet draws my gaze.
ANA: The truest test of love is how it obeys.
MENDO: Would you deprive me of yourself?
ANA: I go
Without you, sir.485
MENDO: Alas, how can you be
So cool, and leave me so
On fire?
ANA: I also burn, but would be free
Of harm!
MENDO: Don’t let your fear keep us apart.
ANA: I have a longing, but a cautious, heart.
MENDO: Did you not say I was your lord?490
ANA: My eyes
Disclose my deepest soul–you know it’s true.
MENDO: Who is it terrifies
You then? I love and I am loved by you.
ANA: Until you say “I do”–I fear. The sea
Of love is tossed with changeability;495
And even as I share with family
My blest decision to accept your hand,
And pray religiously
In Alcalá that God grant my demand
That my decision cause me no regret,500
Even as I repay my sacred debt
With this novena, your love may lose
Its ardor, and I thereby my reputation;
People are quick to accuse,
And give our acts the worst interpretation.505
MENDO: You think I’ll change!
ANA: These are the fears of love.
MENDO: The tricks inconstancy is guilty of!
If you’re already bored with your new beau,
Then why pretend it’s fear or modesty?
You hate me–tell me so!510
It’s not the disappointment but the inconstancy
That hurts me. Fine–be safe! I’ll fill each day
With jealousy and weep my nights away.
ANA: If you mistrust, you impugn my loyalty;
But if you would be cured of your mistake,515
Put secret spies on me,
And test my faith; my truth you cannot shake.
MENDO: I trust you; what I lack is patience, dear,
To bear the torture of your leaving here.
CELIA comes in
CELIA: Doña Lucrecia’s here for a brief
Visit with you, señora.520
ANA: Who?
CELIA: Your cousin. . . .
MENDO: (She comes upon her cue, Aside
To thwart my good and bring me grief!
Enter LUCRECIA, veiled, and ORTIZ
LUCRECIA: Cousin, I didn’t want to miss
The chance to see you off today.
ANA: My dear, I’d never go away525
Without first stopping off to vis-
it you at home–not when the sight
Of that sweet face as I depart
Would be such an auspicious start
To the trip I have to make tonight.530
LUCRECIA speaks aside to MENDO
LUCRECIA: Traitor, deny it if you dare–
The ugly truth that I see here!
ANA: What are you whispering in Don Mendo’s ear?
LUCRECIA: I simply wondered why he would wear
Such fancy clothes to visit you–535
To keep you company as you go?
The time and place suggest it’s so–
It’s the sort of thing a suitor would do.
ANA: It would not suit my modesty–
An honor so magnificent!540
And far from being a compliment,
The thought does me an injury.
Besides, my dear, it seems to me
If he had any plans to go,
Since I’m in black from head to toe,545
He wouldn’t have dressed so colorfully.
CELIA: Madam, it’s time for you to go–
The coaches are already here.
ANA: I pray you, don’t forget me, dear.
LUCRECIA: I’ll write you every hour or so.
ANA: Good-bye, Don Mendo.550
MENDO: Let me bring
You to your coach, Señora.
ANA: No.
If anyone should see us go,
They would suspect the very thing
My cousin just accused us of.
MENDO speaks aside to ANA
MENDO: Don’t leave just yet, make some delay.555
Aloud
I am your servant, and I obey,
But my soul follows, slave to your love.
ANA and CELIA go out. LUCRECIA produces a note, which she shows to Don MENDO
LUCRECIA: This note–do you know what it is?
MENDO: I wrote the thing, Lucrecia dear.
LUCRECIA: Then tell me how your being here560
Agrees with what you say in this!
Deceiver! traitor! hypocrite!
Liar! And do you bear the name
Guzmán? and do you dare proclaim
Yourself a gentleman? Is it565
Possible noble blood can flow
Within a traitorous heart, or can
It be an honorable feat for a man
To abuse and cheat a woman so?
MENDO: Señora, listen–570
LUCRECIA: Spare me, please,
Those venemous lips, which but produce
Another fanciful excuse
To deal me further injuries.
MENDO: What do you want? Would you condemn
Me then unheard? and with suspicion575
Damn all my deeds on supposition?
LUCRECIA: What can you say to pardon them?
You dare to call it supposition,
Clear proof of your inconstancy–
You traitor!–and of my injury?580
MENDO: That on which you base your suspicion
Shall be as well my vindication.
Your page spoke to you, didn’t he?
And asked if you would meet with me
That I might find a fit occasion585
To acquit myelf and unburden you
Of these misgivings that were so
Consuming you? They let me know–
You servants–that you were going to
Visit your cousin, so I came too,590
To wait for you–as fast as I could–
Before you came–so no one would
Suspect that I was following you.
And that’s what you would damn me for!
LUCRECIA: And that is how you would explain–595
Which only aggravates my pain
And multiplies your sins the more!
Ana’s the cause of all this wrong–
And finding you in conversation
Is supposed to give me consolation?600
MENDO: Her presence here would be the strong-
est way to prove how wrong you were!
LUCRECIA: What proof? You didn’t say a thing!
MENDO: Because you hid your suffering;
I couldn’t speak in front of her605
And risk offending you. But be
Surer than surety, have done
With jealousy, the sun and moon
May change their course, but never me!
For I am yours.610
LUCRECIA: It’s what you do
That I’ll believe.
MENDO: At once! Just get
Your family’s consent–I’ll let
My passion prove its truth to you.
The COUNT comes in
COUNT: (Where there is jealousy can there Aside
Be sanity?) Lucrecia dear!615
Don Mendo!
MENDO: Fortune brought you here,
I know, in answer to my prayer!
Dear Count, Lucrecia needs to know
From you what we today spoke of
Between ourselves–about her love?620
COUNT: I’ll be your witness then.
MENDO: I’ll go;
And you two talk alone. I see
By staying I might pressure you.
MENDO leaves
LUCRECIA: (Oh, please! Some witness! All you’ll do
Is plead for your own cause to me!)625
COUNT: So–shall I tell you truthfully?
LUCRECIA: Isn’t that why you chose to stay?
COUNT: Just hear me out, and then repay–
Or don’t repay–my loyalty.
And to protect yourself from grief,630
If you perhaps mistrust my word,
Then keep it secret what you’ve heard,
And test if it is worth belief
Yourself. For since he ordered me
To tell you just what he expressed,635
If I should honor his request,
I can’t be charged with treachery.
And even though he really meant
For me to back him in his lies,
I’m not obliged to compromise640
Myself, by serving his intent.
You know that note he gave Ortiz
Today? He’d barely passed it off
When with a spiteful and a scoff-
ing tone he said, “There is no peace645
With a foolish woman, Count. I had
Just pledged to Ana my devotion,
When Lucrecia, jealous and emotion-
ally unstable, goes quite mad!”
“Then wouldn’t it be best,” said I,650
“To stop deceiving her?” Says he,
“So often love has a tendency
To seek again what it tossed by;
And fearing this might happen to me,
I’ve nothing to lose by keeping a spare.”655
LUCRECIA: Be quiet! So that’s the kind of snare
You’d set for me! Do you think he
Would talk like that? You’re hoping to
Oblige me with your thoughtfulness;
And if I hate Don Mendo, you guess660
I’d have to fall in love with you!
COUNT: But listen–
LUCRECIA: No! No more! Be still!
COUNT: Test it yourself, now that you know.
And if I’m wrong, punish me so;
If right, reward me how you will.665
And if, because I’m so in love
With you, you doubt my honesty,
Then don’t take this as proof, but see
For yourself what it’s a symptom of:
He’s going to follow her, you know,670
To Alcalá–that should be strong
Enough to prove to you you’re wrong–
But order someone else to go,
Someone disinterested, and smart
Enough to follow secretly,675
And then, if you’re obliged to me,
You can repay a loyal heart.
For what an awful thing to do–
If you should favor with your love
A man who’s proven guilty of680
Deceit, over one whose love is true.
LUCRECIA: You’re telling me the truth, I know,
And if I still deny it’s true,
It’s not that I don’t trust in you,
It’s that your words have hurt me so.685
O liar! O gentleman low-bred!
I pray to God, as deep in love
As disillusion, that you prove
This viciousness that strikes me dead!
I pray to God upon his throne,690
That just this once the power of
Completely altering one’s love
Resides in one’s free will alone;
For, if it’s true what you have said,
Be certain, Count, that what my love695
Would hold from you, the power of
My will will surely give instead.
COUNT: That boon is all I hope to get.
LUCRECIA: The greater you oblige me to,
The more I’ll force myself to do700
Whatever will repay that debt.
They go out
Scene Four
The Calle Mayor in Madrid, and on it, Doña ANA’s house. [Six days later.]
Enter Don JUAN and BELTRÁN, in evening clothes
BELTRÁN: If you can do it without reproach,
Tonight it might be best for you,
To avoid the Duke.
JUAN: Why? what will he do?
BELTRÁN: He’ll make you join him in his coach!705
He’ll strap you down on a hard wooden seat
To keep you from having any fun,
While words and deeds unfettered run
Amok though every city street.
On Midsummer Night, it seems to me,710
One footsoldier with a talent for
The sneak attack can win far more
Than thirty mounted cavalry.
There are some women out there, I hear,
With tricks they’ve prepared just for tonight,715
Who mean to unleash for sheer delight
The passions they’ve hoarded up all year.
A man could get in a coach packed tight
With heavenly angels in all their array,
And though he’s only a lackey by day,720
They’ll receive him like a marquis all night;
Or unawares find himself waylaid
By a woman decked out in widow’s weeds,
Who satisfies her conjugal needs
With this matrimonial masquerade.725
Or he could get lucky and happen to meet
A string of girls with beautiful hands,
Encircled all with silver bands,
And one by one knock them off their feet.
Or he might fall in with a rowdier faction,730
With ladies whose boyfriends are busy with booze,
Oh, there are a thousand moves he could use
To cut himself in on a piece of that action.
JUAN: Go looking for action in that kind of joint,
You’re bound to crap out on the very next throw.
BELTRÁN: Now, that’s not necessarily so,735
Some women won’t quit till you’ve made your point.
Is that what you’re afraid of then–
Some woman who’ll ask too much of you?
Wherever you live, that’s what people do:
They want things–women as well as men.740
You hear a linen merchant cry,
“Linen, linen” the livelong day,
Well, he’s not giving it away,
He’s saying, “I’ll sell it, if you buy.”
Without a word, when merchants flaunt745
Their wares, they’re saying very clearly,
“Take out your money and pay me dearly,
And you can have whatever you want.”
The way I look at it today,
You’ve got to sell to stay alive,750
You buy and sell just to survive,
Each one of us in his own way.
The sexton sells the cross retail,
The priest, his prayers and magic charms,
The workman sells his legs and arms,755
The hunchback’s got his hump for sale.
Writers auction off their books,
Policemen barter with their sticks,
Officials with their politics,
And lovely ladies with their looks.760
Now women always ask the most–
And they’re justified in doing so;
They pay the highest price, although
They rarely can afford the cost.
And when (alas!) the quid pro quo765
Becomes a burden for the likes of me–
For women want habitually–
I have a habit of just saying no.
From the day they’re born, it seems to me,
Women have asked and wanted and sought;770
So now they do it without a thought,
They’re begging for it unconsciously.
So turning them down is as easy as pie.
It’s a fair deduction, you have to admit,
Since they don’t know that they’re selling it,775
They don’t really notice when you don’t buy.
JUAN: Come up with all the reasons you can,
You still won’t rid me of my fear–
Not that the cost may be too dear,
But that I don’t have it in me, Beltrán.780
More so, if the woman that I adore
Should deign to take what I have to give.
BELTRÁN: I see those feelings are still alive,
JUAN: Her coldness makes me burn the more.
BELTRÁN: Here comes the Duke.785
Enter the DUKE and Don MENDO, in evening clothes
DUKE: Well, well, Don Juan.
JUAN: I’m at your service, Excellency.
DUKE: I feared you were avoiding me
Just now. If Don Mendo de Guzmán,
Whose good sense blazes like the sun,
Deigns to be at our side, how can790
We be avoided by a man,
Who shines forth in comparison
Not quite so bright as a single star?
MENDO: Your Excellency’s too kind to me.
DUKE: It is a miracle of courtesy,795
That you are friends, as I know you are.
JUAN: I pray you, what is your intention
In summoning us here like this?
MENDO: We both owe you our services.
DUKE: Then pay me close attention.800
A man who’s newly come to court
With his inheritance, a neophyte,
A ship just venturing from port,
A fledgling on its maiden flight,
A man who in the eyes of the King,805
And in the eyes of the people, too,
Dare not seem weak in anything,
Nor yet can hide himself from view,
A man unused to sail, depends
On guides experienced at sea,810
Who care for him like his own friends,
Are bound to him like family;
This is the trust I place in each
Of you, the bond that binds you two,
My seasoned captains both, to teach815
This raw recruit what he should do.
The two of you stay close to me,
And tell me what I need to know,
The name, estate, and quality,
Of all I meet, wherever I go.820
And in the matter of courtesy,
You are my first and last resort;
I’d shun all impropriety,
With anyone who’s of the court.
A gentleman is always so,825
Just as the sun is ever the sun,
Though in mean lodgings he should go
To shed his beams on everyone.
A kindly face, a courtly ease,
A gracious tongue, a noble heart–830
Why, any man may master these
To serve his turn and take his part;
Show me the reefs and sandbars, where
Another man might meet his end;
Which is the traitor Sinon there?835
And which the trusty Trojan friend?
And keep me safe from flattering,
That poison in a golden cup;
When in my ears the sirens sing,
Then teach me how to stop them up.840
For finally, you must be the thread
To lead me through this monstrous maze,
The Court. When I turn wrong instead
Of right, you two must guide my ways.
MENDO: My light’s too weak, I must confess,845
To be the North Star in your sky,
But what I lack in lustiness,
My good intentions will supply.
JUAN: ‘Tis my unhappy destiny
To be no Roman conqueror,850
But what I am, obediently
I place at your disposal, sir.
DUKE: Assured of this, in God’s own name,
I launch my bark upon the sea.
Let’s walk the streets, and I will frame855
My questions, and you’ll enlighten me.
MENDO: This street, sir, is the Calle Mayor.
JUAN: Our “El Dorado,” of world-wide fame.
MENDO: If El Dorado can make you poor,
Then El Dorado’s a perfect name.860
JUAN: A purveyor of pleasure and of passion,
MENDO: And of commercial piracy.
JUAN: Where ladies come to shop for fashion.
MENDO: And drive us all to bankruptcy.
DUKE: Who lives in that house?865
JUAN: A young grandee,
Don Lope de Lara, a man of some
Wealth, but of greater nobility.
MENDO: But not half as noble as he is dumb.
DUKE: Wait, listen–they’re dancing up there.
JUAN: St. John’s is a sacred feast for all.870
MENDO: I’d say it’s less a time for prayer,
And more an excuse for having a ball.
DUKE: And who lives there?
JUAN: A widow, sir,
Whose honor and beauty none can deny.
MENDO: And since no one’s propositioned her,875
She’s chaste–but she’s got a roving eye.
BELTRÁN: (And he’s got the nicest mouth in town!) Aside
Good Lord alive, the man’s a clown!
JUAN: That lovely shrine was put up there
By a pilgrim who came from out of town.880
MENDO: And every time he said a prayer
God turned the wretched sinner down.
JUAN: That councilman lives there, you see,
That built that hospital for the poor.
MENDO: Once he’d reduced them to poverty.885
BELTRÁN: (My God, with him no one’s secure!) Aside
Enter Doña ANA and CELIA at the window
ANA: O Celia, three years has it been
Since my husband–this very night–
Ended his days and my delight,
And made my miseries begin.890
CELIA: The only reason that you had
For leaving Alcalá was to
Enjoy the pleasures awaiting you
In Madrid today–so why be sad?
Why try to use this memory,895
Señora, to wage a war that’s so
Unfair, against the joy you owe
To a night of such festivity.
And even if your mourning grief
Keeps you from leaving home today,900
When modesty itself may stray
A little, in search of some relief;
Even if you feel an obligation
To stay inside, although tonight
Visiting altars is the right905
Of maidens of highest reputation,
At least distract yourself a bit
From your misfortunes with the view
Of people passing by–here, through
These blinds, which shield and yet admit.910
It’s midnight, lady, the hour of
Foretelling. Listen, and you shall hear
The sound of your next husband dear.
ANA: It is Don Mendo that I love.
MENDO: Don Juan de Mendoza?915
ANA: O my God!
Was that Don Mendo’s voice I heard?
CELIA: Yes, but “Don Juan” was the magic word.
ANA: Between those two, it would be too odd
To think Don Mendo’s not the one
Who’s here foretold to marry me;920
I heard Don Mendo’s voice, you see,
Before I heard the name “Don Juan.”
CELIA: But what if eternal destiny
Has pre-ordained your sweet white hand
To be preserved, by sovereign command,925
Just for Don Juan? How would that be?
ANA: Oh hush, you fool! Whoever thought
Such eminent absurdity?
And what do I care what destiny
Might want–if I should want it not!930
The stars indeed may influence me,
The yes or no remains mine still;
For in the matter of free will
Fate has no final authority.
How could I love a fellow so935
Deformed in face and figure, one
Who’s painful just to look upon?
CELIA: Love can make it happen, though!
ANA: Celia, my death’s the only thing
That could deprive Don Mendo of940
My hand. The date is near, my love
Is strong, my will unwavering.
DUKE: That terraced house–the owner’s name?
JUAN: It’s Doña Ana de Contreras.
The sun that blazes from those terrace945
Windows can set one’s heart aflame.
ANA: They’re talking of me now–do you hear?
DUKE: Fair as the widow Dido?
JUAN: Yes, sir.
DUKE: I’d like to catch a glimpse of her.
MENDO: She isn’t there today, I fear.950
(I’m not quite here myself, away Aside
From her.)
DUKE: Where is she?
MENDO: In Alcalá–
Keeping the holy vigil.
DUKE: Ah.
She’s quite the beauty–or so they say.
JUAN: Yet in my heart I know, dear sir,955
No image that her reputation
Has drawn in your imagination
In any way could equal her.
For she in beauty, grace, delight,
In virtue and in modesty,960
Exceeds the power of fantasy
As brightest day surpasses night.
MENDO: (Now God forbid this praise should drive Aside
The Duke to fall in love with her;
With him as my competitor965
My hopes in her would never thrive.
I’ll run her down a bit, and try
To throw some water on the flame.)
She’s not so grand as you proclaim;
Are you the blind man here, or I?970
Her outside’s not too bad when seen
From far away; at closer view,
I’m not so easily fooled as you–
The woman’s ugly, sir; I’ve been
Inside the house.975
DUKE: You go to see
Her then?
MENDO: Oh, once in a while, sir;
We’re sort of cousins; avoiding her
Would be the sin of snobbery.
ANA: The traitor!
MENDO: But every time she tries
To mouthe her mediocre wit,980
The barren emptiness of it
Freezes her very breath to ice.
BELTRÁN: (Give me a break! Aside
To BELTRÁN
JUAN: Do gentlemen do
Such cruel things to those they love?
BELTRÁN: And this is his lady he’s speaking of–985
Imagine what he says of you!
MENDO: Her skin has a kind of healthy glow,
But her years can’t keep up the charade–
ANA: You wretched liar! He just made
Fun of my age!990
To CELIA
Don’t you think so?
MENDO: For her complexion comes and goes
With her cleansing jars and cosmetics trays.
DUKE: Then why is Don Juan so full of praise?
MENDO: Between the two of us, I suppose
He’s a good man–and if I contend995
He’s just a little short–of wit,
It does no harm to mention it;
He is your kinsman and my friend,
And it’s not exactly slanderous.
JUAN: Why would you want to find offense1000
In a woman of such elegance?
MENDO: Even the rose most beauteous
May hide a prickly thorn inside.
JUAN: In matters of taste, to each his own;
But either my wits are overthrown,1005
Or she is beauty deified.
MENDO: You don’t know women–not a bit.
To the DUKE
JUAN: You shall see her yourself one day,
And this hard opinion will crumble away
When you see she’s quite the opposite.1010
MENDO: (This Don Juan’s trying to murder me! Aside
The very thing that I have said
To keep the Duke uninterested
Is going to cause me injury!)
To ANA
CELIA: How are you doing?1015
ANA: Mad as can be.
CELIA: Do you still love him all the same?
ANA: My heart is bursting into flame;
I’m breathing fire! Oh, how can he
Have said such things! To slander me
Who love him so? Is this the way1020
You treat someone you love?
CELIA: I’d say,
That men who speak so cruelly
Are not in love. He’s tricked you.
ANA: I know.
We can be in Alcalá by dawn
If we leave tonight, Celia. Go on–1025
Tell them to get a coach. Let’s go.
I never finished with my prayer,
And what I heard tonight was sent
By heaven to be my punishment
For breaking my novena there.1030
CELIA: Before you knew he was so cruel,
You said you’d come here for the day.
ANA: And that’s what stole my life away.
I was better off when I was a fool.
The women go out. There are sounds of swordplay off
MENDO: Oh. listen–there’s a brawl towards.1035
DUKE: I say it’s better if we chased
The ladies.
The DUKE leaves
MENDO: Ah-ha, I see his taste
Runs more to women than to swords.
Don MENDO leaves
JUAN: With his best friend, he can’t control
His carping tongue! Beltrán, take note!1040
BELTRÁN: His tongue is, as the Poet wrote,
“That which spareth no living soul.”
They go out
