Three Major Plays (9 page)

Its skin. And at the
MASTER
's side
Fernán Gómez, your overlord, upon
A strong and honey-coloured steed,

Its hooves black, its mouth white. Over

370

A coat of mail in Turkish style,
Brightest armour front and back,
And an orange doublet, and set atop
All this a helmet whose white plumes

Seemed, against that orange, more

375

Like blossoms. About his arm a band
Of red and white, couching a lance
Which seemed a mighty oak before
Which all Granada* trembles. Ciudad Real

Then took to arms, its people claiming they

380

Were loyal to the Crown and would
Defend their rights to so remain.
Despite all this, the
MASTER
seized
The town, and those who had offended his

Good name soon had their heads cut off,

385

While those of lesser worth were gagged
And flogged in public view. He is
So feared there and yet so loved,
They all believe that one who, though

So young, can fight and overwhelm

390

His enemies, will one day be
The scourge of Moorish Africa, forcing
Those blue and crescent moons to yield
To his red Cross. He has displayed

Such generosity to all --

395

To our
COMMANDER
too -- the sacking of
The town seems more the plunder of
His own estate. But now the music sounds.
Receive him joyfully! Goodwill

Is easily the best reward

400

For such a triumph.

Enter the
COMMANDER
and ORTUñO; MUSICIANS;
JUAN ROJO;
and
ESTEBAN
and
ALONSO,
magistrates
.

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MUSICIANS
[sing]. All hail our great Commander,
We welcome him most warmly;
He conquers foreign lands for us,

And overcomes our enemy.

405

Long live all the Guzmanes!
Long live all the Girones!
In peace he is so gentle,
He speaks his words so sweetly;

But when it comes to killing Moors,

410

As strong as any oak-tree!
He comes now from Ciudad Real,
The great and glorious victor;
He brings his banners with him

To Fuente Ovejuna!

415

May he enjoy long life!
All hail Fernán Gómez!

COMMANDER
. People of this town, I duly thank
You for this demonstration of
Your love.

ALONSO . It is but part of what

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We feel. But since you are deserving of
Our love, why be surprised by it?

ESTEBAN
. Fuente Ovejuna and its councillors,
Whom you so honour, now request

That you receive the humble offerings

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Brought by these carts* in all due modesty,
For they, adorned by leafy boughs,
Contain not costly gifts but much
Goodwill. First, two baskets filled

With polished pots of clay. And then

430

An entire flock of geese who stretch
Their necks through nets, eager to sing
Of your warlike deeds. Ten salted hogs,
Choice animals, as well as other kinds

Of cured meats whose skins are sweet

435

As amber-scented gloves. A hundred pairs
Of hens and capons, whose widowed spouses can

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Be found in all our neighbouring villages.
They cannot offer arms or horses,

Or bridles edged with pure gold,

440

And yet your vassals' love is in
Itself the purest gold. And since
I mention 'pure', I promise you that these
Twelve wineskins would, if your troops

But drank from them, give them such strength

445

That they, though naked in the midst
Of winter, could defend a battlement
Much better than the hardest steel.
For wine can truly give a man

The extra steel he needs. As for

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The cheeses and the other smaller gifts,
I'll not describe them; merely say
They are the offerings of all
The love that you deserve. And so,

May they provide good cheer for

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Your household and yourself!

COMMANDER
. My heartfelt thanks! Good councillors,
You may depart!

ALONSO
. And you, my lord,
May take your ease. You are most welcome.

If it were possible, we'd turn

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The reeds and rushes at your door
To purest pearl, though you deserve
Much better still.

COMMANDER
. I really do
Believe you, gentlemen. God be with you.

ESTEBAN. Singers, come! The song again!

465

MUSICIANS
[sing]. All hail our great
COMMANDER
,
We welcome him most warmly;
He conquers foreign lands for us,
And overcomes our enemies . . .
[They leave

-18-

COMMANDER
. You two, stay!

LAURENCIA . What's your lordship want

470

Of us?

COMMANDER
. You were quite cool the other day,
And towards me!

LAURENCIA
. Does he mean you,
Pascuala?

PASCUALA
. Me? Oh, don't be silly!

COMMANDER
. I'm talking to you, my pretty creature,

And to your friend. You belong to me,

475

Do you not?

PASCUALA
. We do, my lord, but not
In the way you mean.
COMMANDER
. Step inside.
My men are there. Don't be afraid.

LAURENCIA
. I shall if the magistrates come too.

One of them's my father, but otherwise . . .

480

COMMANDER
.
FLORES
!

FLORES
. Yes, sir?

COMMANDER
. Why aren't they doing what
I say?

FLORES
. Get in there!

LAURENCIA
. Get your hands
Off us!

FLORES
. Come on, you stupid girls!

PASCUALA
. Whoa now!* For you to lock the stable-door?

FLORES . Inside! He wants to show you all

485

The spoils of war.

COMMANDER
[aside, as he exits]. Ortuño, once
Inside, you'll lock them in.

-19-

LAURENCIA
.
FLORES
,
Get out of our way!

ORTUÑO
. But you are part
Of all his presents.

PASCUALA
. I don't believe it!
Move yourself, or you'll get it!

FLORES . Alright,

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They are too excitable.

LAURENCIA
. Your master's had
Enough flesh for today!

ORTUÑO
. It's yours
He fancies most!

LAURENCIA
. Let's hope he chokes!
[They leave

FLORES
. Wait till we give him this good news!

Imagine what he'll say when we

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Turn up without them!

ORTUÑO
. That's the way
Things are for those who serve. If you want
To get on, put up with it; otherwise,
Best out of it, and quick!
[They leave

Enter
KING FERNANDO, QUEEN ISABEL, MANRIQUE,
and
ATTENDANTS.

ISABEL . My lord, there must be no delay

500

In this. Alfonso is well placed
And even now prepares his troops.
Before he strikes at us, it's best
We strike at him. If we do not,
The risk is clear.

KING . We can rely

505

On both Navarre and Aragon for our

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Support. When I have managed to control
Castile, our victory will be
Assured.

ISABEL
. I know, my lord, all this
Will guarantee our triumph.

MANRIQUE . Your Majesty,

510

Two aldermen who represent
Ciudad Real. Will you see them?

KING
. Of course. You'll show them in.

Enter two
ALDERMEN
from Ciudad Real
.

FIRST ALDERMAN
. Most Catholic King Fernando,

Whom Heaven has sent from Aragon

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To be our help and saviour in
Castile, we come as spokesmen from
Ciudad Real to seek in all
Humility your royal favour.

To be your subjects was for us

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The greatest happiness, but now
We are deprived of that by cruel fate.
Rodrigo Téllez Girón, renowned,
Though still so young, for such great bravery,

And see KING to enhance his name

525

As Master of Calatrava, attacked
Our city. We fought as best we could;
Resisted him till all our streams
Ran red with our blood. At last
Without the help and good advice
Of Fernán Gómez. And so he has
Possession of the town and we
Will be his vassals soon unless

Your majesty decides to help us.

535

KING
. Where is Fernán Gómez?

FIRST ALDERMAN
. I think
In Fuente Ovejuna. He is

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Its overlord and has his house
And seat of power there. He rules

The place just as he wishes, denying

540

His subjects any kind of happiness.

KING
. Do you have a leader?

SECOND ALDERMAN
. We do not,
Your Majesty. Every nobleman
Was captured, hurt, or killed.

ISABEL
. Then we

Should not delay. To do so is

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To give the enemy encouragement
And greater heart. Extremadura* is
The door whereby the King of Portugal
Can now advance and damage us.

KING . Don Manrique, prepare to leave.

550

You'll take two companies and curb
The enemy's excesses. Not
A moment's respite, understand?
The Count of Cabra goes with you.

A man of valour, Córdoba.*

555

The whole world knows how brave he is.
In the circumstances, this is the best
Way forward.

MANRIQUE
. A bold decision, my lord.
I'll put an end to their arrogance,

As long as I have breath in me.

560

ISABEL
. Your presence there will guarantee
Our triumph.

Exit all
.
Enter
LAURENCIA and FRONDOSO.

LAURENCIA
. I had to leave the stream,
My clothes half done, because of you!
You are too bold,
FRONDOSO
, yet well

You know how people love to talk.*

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'She fancies him', 'He fancies her',
All over town, their eyes on stalks

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To see if it is true or not.
And since you are . . . well . . . better loo
KING
than

The rest, and dress more smartly, there's not

570

A single person in the place*
Who doesn't think we're as good as spliced
Already, and waiting for the day
When Juan Chamorro, our sacristan,

Stops playing his bassoon to announce

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Instead our marriage-bans. But they,
As far as I'm concerned, would be
Much better occupied in stoc
KING
up
Their barns with golden grain, their vats

With wine, than harbouring such wild

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Imaginings. To tell the truth,
I never gave this marriage thing
A second thought.

FRONDOSO
. This coldness* does
Me such an injury, Laurencia,

I risk my life each time I look

585

At you. If you already know
I want to marry you, does my
Good faith deserve such scant reward?

LAURENCIA
. There is no other I can give.

FRONDOSO . Does not the state I'm in succeed

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In moving you at all? Or knowing that,
Because of you, I cannot eat
Or drink or sleep? How can an angel's face*
Contain such coldness? By God, I shall
Go mad!

LAURENCIA
. Then see a doctor.

FRONDOSO . But you,

595

LAURENCIA
, are my cure. When we
Get married, we'll be like turtle-doves,*
Our little beaks together, ma
KING
sweet
And soothing music.

LAURENCIA
. Go tell it to

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