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diff --git a/6740-8.txt b/6740-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..92fd309 --- /dev/null +++ b/6740-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2530 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Don Garcia of Navarre, by Moliere + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Don Garcia of Navarre + +Author: Moliere + +Posting Date: April 17, 2013 [EBook #6740] +Release Date: October, 2004 +First Posted: January 20, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DON GARCIA OF NAVARRE *** + + + + +Produced by David Moynihan, D Garcia, Charles Franks and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + + + + + +[Proofreader's Note: The scenes in Act III are misnumbered in the +original, they are labeled I, II, III, VI, and VII. This has been +retained in the text.] + + + + +DON GARCIE DE NAVARRE; + +OU, + +LE PRINCE JALOUX. + +COMEDIE HÉROÏQUE EN CINQ ACTES. + + * * * * * + + +DON GARCIA OF NAVARRE + +OR, + +THE JEALOUS PRINCE. + +A HEROIC COMEDY IN FIVE ACTS. + +(_THE ORIGINAL IN VERSE_.) + + + + +INTRODUCTORY NOTICE. + +Nothing can be more unlike _The Pretentious Young Ladies_ or +_Sganarelle_ than Molière's _Don Garcia of Navarre_. The Théâtre du +Palais-Royal had opened on the 20th January, 1661, with _The Love-Tiff_ +and _Sganarelle_, but as the young wife of Louis XIV., Maria Theresa, +daughter of Philip IV., King of Spain, had only lately arrived, and as a +taste for the Spanish drama appeared to spring up anew in France, +Molière thought perhaps that a heroic comedy in that style might meet +with some success, the more so as a company of Spanish actors had been +performing in Paris the plays of Lope de Vega and Calderon, since the +24th of July, 1660. Therefore, he brought out, on the 4th of February, +1661, his new play of _Don Garcia of Navarre_. It is said that there +exists a Spanish play of the same name, of which the author is unknown; +Molière seems to have partly followed an Italian comedy, written by +Giacinto Andrea Cicognini, under the name of _Le Gelosie fortunata del +principe Rodrigo_; the style, loftiness and delicacy of expression are +peculiar to the French dramatist. + +_Don Garcia of Navarre_ met with no favourable reception, though the +author played the part of the hero. He withdrew it after five +representations, but still did not think its condemnation final, for he +played it again before the King on the 29th of September, 1662, in +October, 1663, at Chantilly, and twice at Versailles. He attempted it +anew on the theatre of the Palace-Royal in the month of November, 1663; +but as it was everywhere unfavourably received, he resolved never to +play it more, and even would not print it, for it was only published +after his death in 1682. He inserted some parts of this comedy in the +_Misanthrope_, the _Femmes Savantes_, _Amphitryon_, _Tartuffe_ and _Les +Fâcheux, where they produced great effect. + +Though it has not gained a place on the French stage, it nevertheless +possesses some fine passages. Molière wished to create a counterpart of +_Sganarelle_, the type of ridiculous jealousy, and to delineate +passionate jealousy, its doubts, fears, perplexities and anxieties, and +in this he has succeeded admirably. However noble-minded Don Garcia may +be, there rages within his soul a mean passion which tortures and +degrades him incessantly. When at last he is banished from the presence +of the fair object of his love, he resolves to brave death by devoting +himself to the destruction of her foe; but he is forestalled by his +presumed rival, Don Alphonso, who turns out to be the brother of his +mistress, and she receives him once again and for ever in her favour. +The delineation of all these passions is too fine-spun, too +argumentative to please the general public; the style is sometimes +stilted, yet passages of great beauty may be found in it. Moreover the +jealousy expressed by Don Garcia is neither sufficiently terrible to +frighten, nor ridiculous enough to amuse the audience; he always speaks +and acts as a prince, and hence, he sometimes becomes royally +monotonous. + +Some scenes of this play have been imitated in _The Masquerade_, a +comedy, acted at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, 1719, London, "printed +for Bernard Linton, between the Temple Gate," which was itself partly +borrowed from Shirley's _Lady of Pleasure_. The comedy was written by +Mr. Charles Johnson, who "was originally bred to the law, and was a +member of the Middle Temple; but being a great admirer of the Muses, and +finding in himself a strong propensity to dramatic writing, he quitted +the studious labour of the one, for the more spirited amusements of the +other; and by contracting an intimacy with Mr. Wilks, found means, +through that gentleman's interest, to get his plays on the stage without +much difficulty ... he, by a polite and modest behaviour formed so +extensive an acquaintance and intimacy, as constantly ensured him great +emoluments on his benefit night by which means, being a man of economy, +he was enabled to subsist very genteelly. He at length married a young +widow, with a tolerable fortune; on which he set up a tavern in Bow +Street, Covent Garden, but quitted business at his wife's death, and +lived privately on an easy competence he had saved.... He was born in +1679 ... but he did not die till March 11, 1748." [Footnote: Biographia +Dramatica, by Baker, Reed and Jones, 1812, Vol. I. Part i.] + +_The Masquerade_ is a clever comedy, rather free in language and +thought, chiefly about the danger of gambling. Some of the sayings are +very pointed. It has been stated that the author frequented the +principal coffee-houses in town, and picked up many pungent remarks +there; however this may be, the literary men who at the present time +frequent clubs, have, I am afraid, not the same chance. As a specimen of +free and easy--rather too easy--wit, let me mention the remarks of Mr. +Smart (Act I.) on the way he passed the night, and in what manner. "Nine +persons are kept handsomely out of the sober income of one hundred +pounds a year." I also observe the name of an old acquaintance in this +play. Thackeray's hero in the Memoirs of Mr. Charles J. Yellowplush is +"the Honourable Algernon Percy Deuceace, youngest and fifth son of the +Earl of Crabs," and in _The Masquerade_ (Act III. Sc. i) Mr. Ombre says: +"Did you not observe an old decay'd rake that stood next the box-keeper +yonder ... they call him _Sir Timothy Deuxace_; that wretch has play'd +off one of the best families in Europe--he has thrown away all his +posterity, and reduced 20,000 acres of wood-land, arable, meadow, and +pasture within the narrow circumference of an oaken table of eight +foot." _The Masquerade_ as the title of the play is a misnomer, for it +does not conduce at all to the plot. We give the greater part of the +Prologue to _The Masquerade_, spoken by Mr. Wilks:-- + + The Poet, who must paint by Nature's Laws, + If he wou'd merit what he begs, Applause; + Surveys your changing Pleasures with Surprise, + Sees each new Day some new Diversion rise; + Hither, thro' all the Quarters of the Sky, + Fresh Rooks in Flocks from ev'ry Nation hye, + To us, the Cullies of the Globe, they fly; + French, Spaniards, Switzers; This Man dines on Fire + And swallows Brimstone to your Heart's Desire; + Another, Handless, Footless, Half a Man, + Does, Wou'd you think it? what no Whole one can, + A Spaniard next, taught an Italian Frown, + Boldly declares he'll stare all Europe down: + His tortured Muscles pleas'd our English Fools; + + +[Footnote: In the rival House, Lincoln's-Inn-Fields Theatre, Rich was +bringing out Pantomimes, which, by the fertility of his invention, the +excellency of his own performance, and the introduction of foreign +performers, drew nightly crowded houses--hence the allusion.] + + Why wou'd the Sot engage with English Bulls? + Our English Bulls are Hereticks uncivil, + They'd toss the Grand Inquisitor, the Devil: + 'Twas stupidly contrived of Don Grimace, + To hope to fright 'em with an ugly Face. + And yet, tho' these Exotick Monsters please, + We must with humble Gratitude confess, + To you alone 'tis due, that in this Age, + Good Sense still triumphs on the British Stage: + Shakespear beholds with Joy his Sons inherit + His good old Plays, with good old Bess's Spirit. + Be wise and merry, while you keep that Tether; + Nonsense and Slavery must die together. + + + + + +DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. + + +DON GARCIA, _Prince of Navarre, in love with Elvira_. + +[Footnote: In the inventory taken after Molière's death mention is made +of "Spanish dress, breeches, cloth cloak, and a satin doublet, the whole +adorned with silk embroideries." This is probably the dress in which +Molière played _Don Garcia_.] + +DON ALPHONSO, _Prince of Leon, thought to be Prince of Castile, under +the name of Don Silvio_. + +DON ALVAREZ, _confidant of Don Garcia, in love with Eliza_. + +DON LOPEZ, _another confidant of Don Garcia, in love with Eliza_. + +DON PEDRO, _gentleman usher to Inez_. + +A PAGE. + +DONNA ELVIRA, _Princess of Leon_. + +DONNA INEZ, _a Countess, in love with Don Silvio, beloved by Mauregat, +the usurper of the Kingdom of Leon_. + +ELIZA, _confidant to Elvira_. + + +_Scene_.--ASTORGA, _a city of Spain, in the kingdom of Leon_. + + + + +DON GARCIA OF NAVARRE; + +OR, THE JEALOUS PRINCE. + +(_DON GARCIE DE NAVARRE, OU LE PRINCE JALOUX_.) + + * * * * * + + + + + +ACT I. + +SCENE I.--DONNA ELVIRA, ELIZA. + + +ELVIRA. No, the hidden feelings of my heart were not regulated by +choice: whatever the Prince may be, there is nothing in him to make me +prefer his love. Don Silvio shows, as well as he, all the qualities of a +renowned hero. The same noble virtues and the same high birth made me +hesitate whom to prefer. If aught but merit could gain my heart, the +conqueror were yet to be named; but these chains, with which Heaven +keeps our souls enslaved, decide me, and, though I esteem both equally, +my love is given to Don Garcia. + +ELIZA. The love which you feel for him, seems to have very little +influenced your actions, since I, myself, madam, could not for a long +time discover which of the two rivals was the favoured one. + +ELV. Their noble rivalry in love, Eliza, caused a severe struggle in my +breast. When I looked on the one, I felt no pangs, because I followed my +own tender inclination; but when I thought I sacrificed the other, I +considered I acted very unjustly; and was of opinion, that Don Silvio's +passion, after all, deserved a happier destiny. I also reflected that a +daughter of the late King of Leon owed some obligation to the house of +Castile; that an intimate friendship had long knit together the +interests of his father and mine. Thus, the more the one made progress +in my heart, the more I lamented the ill success of the other. Full of +pity, I listened to his ardent sighs, and received his vows politely; +thus in a slight degree I tried to make amends for the opposition his +love met with in my heart. + +EL. But since you have been informed he previously loved another, your +mind ought to be at rest. Before he loved you, Donna Inez had received +the homage of his heart. As she is your most intimate friend, and has +told you this secret, you are free to bestow your love upon whom you +wish, and cover your refusal to listen to him under the guise of +friendship for her. + +ELV. It is true, I ought to be pleased with the news of Don Silvio's +faithlessness, because my heart, that was tormented by his love, is now +at liberty to reject it; can justly refuse his addresses, and, without +scruple, grant its favours to another. But what delight can my heart +feel, if it suffers severely from other pangs; if the continual weakness +of a jealous prince receives my tenderness with disdain, compels me +justly to give way to anger, and thus to break off all intercourse +between us? + +EL. But as he has never been told that you love him, how can he be +guilty if he disbelieves in his happiness? And does not that which could +flatter his rival's expectations warrant him to suspect your affection? + +ELV. No, no; nothing can excuse the strange madness of his gloomy and +unmanly jealousy; I have told him but too clearly, by my actions, that +he can indeed flatter himself with the happiness of being beloved. Even +if we do not speak, there are other interpreters which clearly lay bare +our secret feelings. A sigh, a glance, a mere blush, silence itself, is +enough to show the impulses of a heart. In love, everything speaks: in a +case like this, the smallest glimmer ought to throw a great light upon +such a subject, since the honour which sways our sex forbids us ever to +discover all we feel. I have, I own, endeavoured so to guide my conduct, +that I should behold their merits with an unprejudiced eye. But how +vainly do we strive against our inclinations! How easy is it to perceive +the difference between those favours that are bestowed out of mere +politeness, and such as spring from the heart! The first seem always +forced; the latter, alas! are granted without thinking, like those pure +and limpid streams which spontaneously flow from their native sources. +Though the feelings of pity I showed for Don Silvio moved the Prince, +yet I unwittingly betrayed their shallowness, whilst my very looks, +during this torture, always told him more than I desired they should. + +EL. Though the suspicions of that illustrious lover have no +foundation--for you tell me so--they at least prove that he is greatly +smitten: some would rejoice at what you complain of. Jealousy may be +odious when it proceeds from a love which displeases us; but when we +return that love, such feelings should delight us. It is the best way in +which a lover can express his passion; the more jealous he is the more +we ought to love him. Therefore since in your soul a magnanimous +Prince.... + +ELV. Ah! do not bring forward such a strange maxim. Jealousy is always +odious and monstrous; nothing can soften its injurious attacks; the +dearer the object of our love is to us, the more deeply we feel its +offensive attempts. To see a passionate Prince, losing every moment that +respect with which love inspires its real votaries; to see him, when his +whole mind is a prey to jealousy, finding fault either with what I like +or dislike, and explaining every look of mine in favour of a rival! + +[Footnote: Molière has expressed the same thoughts differently in _The +Bores_, Act ii. scene 4.] + +No, no! such suspicions are too insulting, and I tell you my thoughts +without disguise. I love Don Garcia; he alone can fascinate a generous +heart; his courage in Leon has nobly proved his passion for me; he dared +on my account the greatest dangers, freed me from the toils of cowardly +tyrants, and protected me against the horrors of an unworthy alliance by +placing me within these strong walls. Nor will I deny but that I should +have regretted that I owed my deliverance to any other; for an enamoured +heart feels an extreme pleasure, Eliza, in being under some obligations +to the object beloved; its faint flame becomes stronger and brighter +when it thinks it can discharge them by granting some favours. Yes, I am +charmed that he assisted me and risked his life for me, for this seems +to give his passion a right of conquest; I rejoice that the danger I was +in threw me into his hands. If common reports be true, and Heaven should +grant my brother's return, I wish fervently, and with all my heart, that +his arm may aid my brother to recover his throne, and punish a traitor; +that his heroic valour may be successful, and thus deserve my brother's +utmost gratitude. But for all this, if he continues to rouse my anger; +if he does not lay aside his jealousy, and obey me in whatever I +command, he in vain aspires to the hand of Donna Elvira. Marriage can +never unite us; for I abhor bonds, which, undoubtedly, would then make a +hell upon earth for both of us. + +EL. Although one may hold different opinions, the Prince, Madam, should +conform himself to your desires; they are so clearly set down in your +note that, when he sees them thus explained, he... + +ELV. This letter, Eliza, shall not be employed for such a purpose. It +will be better to tell him what I think of his conduct. When we favor a +lover by writing to him, we leave in his hands too flagrant proofs of +our inclination. Therefore take care that that letter is not delivered +to the Prince. + +EL. Your will is law; yet I cannot help wondering that Heaven has made +people's minds so unlike, and that what some consider an insult should +be viewed with a different eye by others. As for me I should think +myself very fortunate if I had a lover who could be jealous, for his +uneasiness would give me satisfaction. That which often vexes me is to +see Don Alvarez give himself no concern about me. + +ELV. We did not think he was so near us. Here he comes. + + + + +SCENE II.--DONNA ELVIRA, DON ALVAREZ, ELIZA. + + +ELV. Your return surprises me. What tidings do you bring? Is Don +Alphonso coming, and when may we expect him? + +ALV. Yes, Madam; the time has arrived when your brother, brought up in +Castile, will get his own again. Hitherto, the cautious Don Louis, to +whom the late King, on his death-bed, entrusted the care of Don +Alphonso, has concealed his rank from every one, in order to save him +from the fury of the traitor Mauregat. Though the miserable but +successful tyrant has often inquired after him, under pretence of +restoring him to the throne, yet Don Louis, who is full of prudence, +would never trust to Mauregat's pretended feelings for justice, with +which he tried to allure him. But as the people became enraged at the +violence which a usurper would have offered you, generous old Don Louis +thought it time to try what could be done after twenty years' +expectation. He has sounded Leon; his faithful emissaries have sought to +influence the minds of great and small. Whilst Castile was arming ten +thousand men to restore that Prince so wished for by his people, Don +Louis caused a report to be noised abroad that the renowned Don Alphonso +was coming, but that he would not produce him save at the head of an +army, and completely ready to launch the avenging thunderbolts at the +vile usurper's head. Leon is besieged, and Don Silvio himself commands +the auxiliary forces, with which his father aids you. + +ELV. We may flatter ourselves that our expectations will be realized, +but I am afraid my brother will owe Don Silvio too heavy a debt. + +[Footnote: Donna Elvira is afraid that Don Alphonso will owe Don Silvio +a debt so heavy, that he will only be able to repay it by the gift of +her hand.] + +ALV. But, Madam, is it not strange that, notwithstanding the storm which +the usurper of your throne hears growling over his head, all the advices +from Leon agree that he is going to marry the Countess Inez? + +ELV. By allying himself to the high-born maiden, he hopes to obtain the +support of her powerful family. I am rather uneasy that of late I have +heard nothing of her. But she has always shown an inveterate dislike to +that tyrant. + +EL. Feelings of honour and tenderness will cause her to refuse the +marriage they urge upon her, for... + +ALV. The Prince is coming here. + + + + +SCENE III.--DON GARCIA, DONNA ELVIRA, DON ALVAREZ, ELIZA. + + +GARC. I come, Madam to rejoice with you in the good tidings you have +just heard. Your brother, who threatens a tyrant stained with crimes, +allows me to hope that my love may one day be returned, and offers to my +arm an opportunity to acquire glory in fresh dangers for the sake of +your lovely eyes. If Heaven proves propitious I will gain amidst these +dangers a victory, which divine justice owes to you, which will lay +treachery at your feet, and restore to your family its former dignity. +But what pleases me still more amidst these cherished expectations is +that Heaven restores you this brother to be King; for now my love may +openly declare itself, without being accused of seeking to gain a crown +whilst striving to obtain your hand. Yes, my heart desires nothing more +than to show before the whole world that in you it values but yourself; +if I may say so without giving offence, a hundred times have I wished +you were of less rank. Loving you as I do I could have desired that your +divine charms had fallen to the lot of some one born in a humbler +station, that I might unselfishly proffer my heart, and thus make amends +to you for Heaven's injustice, so that you might owe to my love the +homage due to your birth. + +[Footnote: The sentence from "Yes, my heart," &c., until "your birth" is +nearly the same as the words addressed by Alceste to Celimène in the +_Misanthrope_, Act iv. Sc. 3 (see Vol. II.)] + +But since Heaven has forestalled me, and deprives me of the privilege of +proving my love, do not take it amiss that my amorous flames look for +some slight encouragement when I shall have killed the tyrant, whom I am +ready to encounter; suffer me by noble services favourably to dispose +the minds of a brother and of a whole nation towards me. + +ELV. I know, Prince, that by avenging our wrongs you can make a hundred +deeds of daring speak for your love. But the favour of a brother and the +gratitude of a nation are not sufficient to reward you; Elvira is not to +be obtained by such efforts; there is yet a stronger obstacle to +overcome. + +GARC. Yes, Madam, I know what you mean. I know very well that my heart +sighs in vain for you; neither do I ignore the powerful obstacle against +my love, though you name it not. + +ELV. Often we hear badly when we think we hear well. Too much ardour, +Prince, may lead us into mistakes. But since I must speak, I will. Do +you wish to know how you can please me, and when you may entertain any +hope? + +GARC. I should consider this, Madam, a very great favour. + +ELV. When you know how to love as you ought. + +GARC. Alas! Madam, does there exist anything under the canopy of heaven +that yields not to the passion with which your eyes have inspired me? + +ELV. When your passion displays nothing at which the object of your love +can feel offended. + +GARC. That is its greatest study. + +ELV. When you shall cease to harbour mean unworthy sentiments of me. + +GARC. I love you to adoration. + +ELV. When you have made reparation for your unjust suspicions, and when +you finally banish that hideous monster which poisons your love with its +black venom; that jealous and whimsical temper which mars, by its +outbreaks, the love you offer, prevents it from ever being favourably +listened to, and arms me, each time, with just indignation against it. + +GARC. Alas, Madam, it is true, that, notwithstanding my utmost effort, +some trifling jealousy lingers in my heart; that a rival, though distant +from your divine charms, disturbs my equanimity. Whether it be whimsical +or reasonable, I always imagine that you are uneasy when he is absent, +and that in spite of my attentions, your sighs are continually sent in +search of that too happy rival. But if such suspicions displease you, +alas, you may easily cure them; their removal, which I hope for, depends +more on you than on me. Yes, with a couple of love-breathing words you +can arm my soul against jealousy, and disperse all the horrors with +which that monster has enshrouded it, by encouraging me to entertain +some expectation of a successful issue. Deign therefore to remove the +doubt that oppresses me; and, amidst so many trials, let your charming +lips grant me the assurance that you love me,--an assurance, of which, I +know, I am utterly unworthy. + +ELV. Prince, your suspicions completely master you. The slightest +intimation of a heart should be understood; it does not reciprocate a +passion that continually adjures the object beloved to explain herself +more clearly. The first agitation displayed by our soul ought to satisfy +a discreet lover; if he wishes to make us declare ourselves more +plainly, he only gives us a reason for breaking our promise. If it +depended on me alone, I know not whether I should choose Don Silvio or +yourself; the very wish I expressed for you not to be jealous, would +have been a sufficient hint to any one but you; I thought this request +was worded agreeably enough without needing anything further. Your love, +however, is not yet satisfied, and requires a more public avowal. In +order to remove any scruples, I must distinctly say that I love you; +perhaps even, to make more sure of it, you will insist that I must swear +it too. + +GARC. Well, Madam, I own I am too bold; I ought to be satisfied with +everything that pleases you. I desire no further information. I believe +you feel kindly towards me, that my love inspires you even with a little +compassion; I am happier than I deserve to be. It is over now; I abandon +my jealous suspicions; the sentence which condemns them is very +agreeable; I shall obey the decision you so kindly pronounce, and free +my heart from their unfounded sway. + +ELV. You promise a great deal, Prince, but I very much doubt whether you +can restrain yourself sufficiently. + +GARC. Ah! Madam, you may believe me; it is enough that what is promised +to you ought always to be kept, because the happiness of obeying the +being one worships ought to render easy the greatest efforts. May Heaven +declare eternal war against me; may its thunder strike me dead at your +feet; or, what would be even worse than death, may your wrath be poured +upon me, if ever my love descends to such weakness as to fail in the +promise I have given, if ever any jealous transport of my soul...! + + + + +SCENE IV.--DONNA ELVIRA, DON GARCIA, DON ALVAREZ, ELIZA, A PAGE +_presenting a letter to Donna Elvira_. + + +ELV. I was very anxious about this letter, I am very much obliged to +you; let the messenger wait. + + + + +SCENE V.--DONNA ELVIRA, DON GARCIA, DON ALVAREZ, ELIZA. + + +ELV. (_Low and aside_). I see already by his looks that this letter +disturbs him. What a wonderfully jealous temper he has! (_Aloud_). What +stops you, Prince, in the midst of your oath. + +GARC. I thought you might have some secret together; I was unwilling to +interrupt you. + +ELV. It seems to me that you reply in a much altered voice; I see all of +a sudden a certain wildness in your looks; this abrupt change surprises +me. What can be the cause of it? May I know? + +GARC. A sudden sickness at heart. + +ELV. Such illnesses have often more serious consequences than one +believes; some immediate remedy would be necessary; but, tell me, have +you often such attacks? + +GARC. Sometimes. + +ELV. Alas, weak-minded Prince! Here, let this writing cure your +distemper; it is nowhere but in the mind. + +GARC. That writing, Madam! No, I refuse to take it. I know your thoughts +and what you will accuse me of, if... + +ELV. Read it, I tell you, and satisfy yourself. + +GARC. That you may afterwards call me weak-minded and jealous? No, no, I +will prove that this letter gave me no umbrage, and though you kindly +allow me to read it, to justify myself, I will not do so. + +ELV. If you persist in your refusal, I should be wrong to compel you; it +is sufficient, in short, as I have insisted upon it, to let you see +whose hand it is. + +GARC. I ought always to be submissive to you; if it is your pleasure I +should read it for you, I will gladly do so. + +ELV. Yes, yes, Prince, here it is; you shall read it for me. + +GARC. I only do so, Madam, in obedience to your commands, and I may +say... + +ELV. Whatever you please; but pray make haste. + +GARC. It comes from Donna Inez, I perceive. + +ELV. It does, and I am glad of it, both for your sake and mine. + +GARC. (_Reads_). "_In spite of all that I do to show my contempt for the +tyrant, he persists in his love for me; the more effectually to +encompass his designs, he has, since your absence, directed against me +all that violence with which he pursued the alliance between yourself +and his son. Those who perhaps have the right to command me, and who are +inspired by base motives of false honour, all approve this unworthy +proposal. I do not know yet where my persecution will end; but I will +die sooner than give my consent. May you, fair Elvira, be happier in +your fate than I am_. DONNA INEZ." A lofty virtue fortifies her mind. + +ELV. I will go and write an answer to this illustrious friend. +Meanwhile, Prince, learn not to give way so readily to what causes you +alarm. I have calmed your emotion by enlightening you, and the whole +affair has passed off quietly; but, to tell you the truth, a time may +come when I might entertain other sentiments. + +GARC. What? you believe then... + +ELV. I believe what I ought. Farewell, remember what I tell you; if your +love for me be really so great as you pretend, prove it as I wish. + +GARC. Henceforth this will be my only desire; and sooner than fail in +it, I will lose my life. + + + + +ACT II. + +SCENE I.--ELIZA, DON LOPEZ. + + +EL. To speak my mind freely to you, I am not much astonished at anything +the Prince may do; for it is very natural, and I cannot disapprove of +it, that a soul inflamed by a noble passion should become exasperated by +jealousy, and that frequent doubts should cross his mind: but what +surprises me, Don Lopez, is to hear that you keep alive his suspicions; +that you are the contriver of them; that he is sad only because you wish +it, jealous only because he looks at everything with your eyes. I repeat +it, Don Lopez, I do not wonder that a man who is greatly in love becomes +suspicious. But, that a man who is not in love should have all the +anxieties of one who is jealous--this is a novelty that belongs to none +but you. + +LOP. Let everybody comment on my actions as much as they please. Each +man regulates his conduct according to the goal he wishes to reach; +since my love was rejected by you, I court the favour of the Prince. + +EL. But do you not know that no favour will be granted to him if you +continue to maintain him in this disposition? + +LOP. Pray, charming Eliza, was it ever known that those about great men +minded anything but their own interest, or that a perfect courtier +wished to increase the retinue of those same grandees by adding to it a +censor of their faults? Did he ever trouble himself if his conversation +harmed them, provided he could but derive some benefit? All the actions +of a courtier only tend to get into their favour, to obtain a place in +as short a time as possible; the quickest way to acquire their good +graces is by always flattering their weaknesses, by blindly applauding +what they have a mind to do, and by never countenancing anything that +displeases them. That is the true secret of standing well with them. +Good advice causes a man to be looked upon as a troublesome fellow, so +that he no longer enjoys that confidence which he had secured by an +artful subservience. In short, we always see that the art of courtiers +aims only at taking advantage of the foibles of the great, at cherishing +their errors, and never advising them to do things which they dislike. + +EL. These maxims may do well enough for a time: but reverses of fortune +have to be dreaded. A gleam of light may at last penetrate the minds of +the deceived nobles, who will then justly avenge themselves on all such +flatterers for the length of time their glory has been dimmed. Meanwhile +I must tell you that you have been a little too frank in your +explanations; if a true account of your motives were laid before the +Prince, it would but ill serve you in making your fortune. + +LOP. I could deny having told you those truths I have just unfolded, and +that without being gainsaid; but I know very well that Eliza is too +discreet to divulge this private conversation. After all, what I have +said is known by everyone; what actions of mine have I to conceal? A +downfall may be justly dreaded when we employ artifices or treachery. +But what have I to fear? I, who cannot be taxed with anything but +complaisance, who by my useful lessons do but follow up the Prince's +natural inclination for jealousy. His soul seems to live upon +suspicions; and so I do my very best to find him opportunities for his +uneasiness, and to look out on all sides if anything has happened that +may furnish a subject for a secret conversation. When I can go to him, +with a piece of news that may give a deadly blow to his repose, then he +loves me most: I can see him listen eagerly and swallow the poison, and +thank me for it too, as if I had brought him news of some victory which +would make him happy and glorious for all his life. But my rival draws +near, and so I leave you together; though I have renounced all hope of +ever gaining your affection, yet it would pain me not a little to see +you prefer him to me before my face; therefore I will avoid such a +mortification as much as I can. + +[Footnote: Don Lopez bears a distant resemblance to "honest Iago" in +Othello, though Molière has only faintly shadowed forth what Shakespeare +has worked out in so masterly a manner.] + +EL. All judicious lovers should do the same. + + + + +SCENE II.--DON ALVAREZ, ELIZA. + + +ALV. At last we have received intelligence that the king of Navarre has +this very day declared himself favourable to the Prince's love, and that +a number of fresh troops will reinforce his army, ready to be employed +in the service of her to whom his wishes aspire. As for me, I am +surprised at their quick movements... but... + + + + +SCENE III.--DON GARCIA, DON ALVAREZ, ELIZA. + + +GARC. What is the Princess doing? + +EL. I think, my Lord, she is writing some letters; but I shall let her +know that you are here. + +GARC. (_In a low voice and aside_). How well she dissembles. + +ELV. We have just now heard that the King, your father, approves your +designs, and consents that his son should restore us to our subjects. I +am extremely rejoiced at this. + +GARC. Yes, Madam, and my heart is rejoiced at it too; but.... + +ELV. The tyrant will doubtless find it difficult to defend himself +against the thunderbolts which from all sides threaten him. I flatter +myself that the same courage which was able to deliver me from the +brutal rage of the usurper, to snatch me out of his hands, and place me +safe within the walls of Astorga, will conquer the whole of Leon, and by +its noble efforts cause the head of the tyrant to fall. + +GARC. A few days more will show if I am successful. But pray let us +proceed to some other subject of conversation. If you do not consider me +too bold, will you kindly tell me, Madam, to whom you have written since +fate led us hither? + +ELV. Why this question, and whence this anxiety? + +GARC. Out of pure curiosity, Madam, that is all. + +ELV. Curiosity is the daughter of jealousy. + +GARC. No; it is not at all what you imagine; your commands have +sufficiently cured that disease. + +ELV. Without endeavouring further to discover what may be the reasons +for your inquiry, I have written twice to the Countess Inez at Leon, and +as often to the Marquis, Don Louis, at Burgos. Does this answer put your +mind at rest? + +GARC. Have you written to no one else, Madam? + +ELV. No, certainly, and your questions astonish me. + +GARC. Pray consider well, before you make such a statement, because +people forget sometimes, and thus perjure themselves. + +ELV. I cannot perjure myself in what I have stated. + +GARC. You have, however, told a very great falsehood. + +ELV. Prince! + +GARC. Madam! + +ELV. Heavens; what is the meaning of this! Speak! Have you lost your +senses? + +GARC. Yes, yes, I lost them, when to my misfortune I beheld you, and +thus took the poison which kills me; when I thought to meet with some +sincerity in those treacherous charms that bewitched me. + +ELV. What treachery have you to complain of? + +GARC. Oh! how double-faced she is! how well she knows to dissimulate! +But all means for escape will fail you. Cast your eyes here, and +recognize your writing. + +[Footnote: The lines, "Heavens! what is the meaning of this?" till "and +recognize your writing" have been employed again by Molière in the +_Misanthrope_, Act iv., Scene 3, (see vol. II). The misanthrope Alceste +has also in his hand the written proofs of the faithlessness of the +object of his love: but his suspicions are well founded, whilst those of +Don Garcia are inspired only by jealousy.] + +Without having seen the other part of this letter, it is easy enough to +discover for whom you employ this style. + +ELV. And this is the cause of your perturbation of spirits? + +GARC. Do you not blush on beholding this writing? + +ELV. Innocence is not accustomed to blush. + +GARC. Here indeed we see it oppressed. You disown this letter because it +is not signed. + +ELV. Why should I disown it, since I wrote it? + +[Footnote: The words, "And this is the cause" until "since I wrote it," +are, with a few slight alterations, found also in the _Misanthrope_, Act +iv., Scene 3.] + +GARC. It is something that you are frank enough to own your handwriting; +but I will warrant that it was a note written to some indifferent +person, or at least that the tender sentiments it contains were intended +only for some lady friend or relative. + +ELV. No, I wrote it to a lover, and, what is more, to one greatly +beloved. + +GARC. And can I, O perfidious woman...? + +ELV. Bridle, unworthy Prince, the excess of your base fury. Although you +do not sway my heart, and I am accountable here to none but myself, yet +for your sole punishment I will clear myself from the crime of which you +so insolently accuse me. You shall be undeceived; do not doubt it. I +have my defence at hand. You shall be fully enlightened; my innocence +shall appear complete. You yourself shall be the judge in your own +cause, and pronounce your own sentence. + +GARC. I cannot understand such mysterious talk. + +ELV. You shall soon comprehend it to your cost. Eliza come hither! + + + + +SCENE VI.--DON GARCIA, DONNA ELVIRA, ELIZA. + + +EL. Madam. + +ELV. (_to Don Garcia_). At least observe well whether I make use of any +artifice to deceive you; whether by a single glance or by any warning +gesture I seek to ward off this sudden blow. (_To Eliza_). Answer me +quickly, where did you leave the letter I wrote just now? + +EL. Madam, I confess I am to blame. This letter was by accident left on +my table; but I have just been informed that Don Lopez, coming into my +apartment, took, as he usually does, the liberty to pry everywhere, and +found it. As he was unfolding it, Leonora wished to snatch it from him +before he had read anything; and whilst she tried to do this, the letter +in dispute was torn in two pieces, with one of which Don Lopez quickly +went away, in spite of all she could do. + +ELV. Have you the other half? + +EL. Yes; here it is. + +ELV. Give it to me. (_To Don Garcia_). We shall see who is to blame; +join the two parts together, and then read it aloud. I wish to hear it. + +GARC. "_To Don Garcia_." Ha! + +ELV. Go on! Are you thunderstruck at the first word? + +GARC. (_Reads_). "_Though your rival, Prince, disturbs your mind, you +ought still to fear yourself more than him. It is in your power to +destroy now the greatest obstacle your passion has to encounter. I feel +very grateful to Don Garcia for rescuing me from the hands of my bold +ravishers; his love, his homage delights me much; but his jealousy is +odious to me. Remove, therefore, from your love that foul blemish; +deserve the regards that are bestowed upon it; and when one endeavours +to make you happy, do not persist in remaining miserable_." + +ELV. Well, what do you say to this? + +GARC. Ah! Madam, I say that on reading this I am quite confounded; that +I see the extreme injustice of my complaints, and that no punishment can +be severe enough for me. + +ELV. Enough! Know that if I desired that you should read the letter, it +was only to contradict everything I stated in it; to unsay a hundred +times all that you read there in your favour. Farewell, Prince. + +GARC. Alas, Madam! whither do you fly? + +ELV. To a spot where you shall not be, over-jealous man. + +GARC. Ah, Madam, excuse a lover who is wretched because, by a wonderful +turn of fate, he has become guilty towards you, and who, though you are +now very wroth with him, would have deserved greater blame if he had +remained innocent. For, in short, can a heart be truly enamoured which +does not dread as well as hope? And could you believe I loved you if +this ominous letter had not alarmed me; if I had not trembled at the +thunderbolt which I imagined had destroyed all my happiness? I leave it +to yourself to judge if such an accident would not have caused any other +lover to commit the same error; if I could disbelieve, alas, a proof +which seemed to me so clear! + +ELV. Yes, you might have done so; my feelings so clearly expressed ought +to have prevented your suspicions. You had nothing to fear; if some +others had had such a pledge they would have laughed to scorn the +testimony of the whole world. + +GARC. The less we deserve a happiness which has been promised us, the +greater is the difficulty we feel in believing in it. A destiny too full +of glory seems unstable, and renders us suspicious. As for me, who think +myself so little deserving of your favours, I doubted the success of my +rashness. + +[Footnote: Molière has with a few alterations placed this phrase +beginning with "the less," and ending with "my rashness," in the mouth +of _Tartuffe_ in the play of the same name, Act iv., Sc. 5, (see Vol. +II).] + +I thought that, finding yourself in a place under my command, you forced +yourself to be somewhat kind to me; that, disguising to me your +severity... + +ELV. Do you think that I could stoop to so cowardly an action? Am I +capable of feigning so disgracefully; of acting from motives of servile +fear; of betraying my sentiments; and, because I am in your power, of +concealing my contempt for you under a pretence of kindness? Could any +consideration for my own reputation so little influence me? Can you +think so, and dare to tell it me? Know that this heart cannot debase +itself; that nothing under Heaven can compel it to act thus: if it has +committed the great error of showing you some kindness, of which you +were not worthy, know that in spite of your power, it will be able now +to show the hatred it feels for you, to defy your rage, and convince you +that it is not mean, nor ever will be so. + +[Footnote: This scene beginning from "Well," until the end, has, with +several alterations rendered necessary by change of metre, been treated +by Molière in his _Amphitryon_, Act ii., Sc. 6, (see Vol. II.).] + +GARC. Well, I cannot deny that I am guilty: but I beg pardon of your +heavenly charms, I beg it for the sake of the most ardent love that two +beautiful eyes ever kindled in a human soul. But if your wrath cannot be +appeased; if my crime be beyond forgiveness; if you have no regard for +the love that caused it, nor for my heart-felt repentance, then one +propitious blow shall end my life, and free me from these unbearable +torments. No, think not that having displeased you, I can live for one +moment under your wrath. Even whilst we are speaking, my heart sinks +under gnawing remorse; were a thousand vultures cruelly to wound it, +they could not inflict greater pangs. Tell me, madam, if I may hope for +pardon; if not, then this sword shall instantly, in your sight, by a +well-directed thrust, pierce the heart of a miserable wretch; that +heart, that irresolute heart, whose weakness has so deeply offended your +excessive kindness, too happy if in death this just doom efface from +your memory all remembrance of its crime, and cause you to think of my +affection without dislike. This is the only favour my love begs of you. + +ELV. Oh! too cruel Prince! + +GARC. Speak, Madam. + +ELV. Must I still preserve some kind feelings for you, and suffer myself +to be affronted by so many indignities? + +GARC. A heart that is in love can never offend, and finds excuses for +whatever love may do. + +ELV. Love is no excuse for such outbursts. + +GARC. Love communicates its ardour to all emotions, and the stronger it +is, the more difficulty it finds... + +ELV. No, speak to me no more of it; you deserve my hatred. + +GARC. You hate me then? + +ELV. I will at least endeavour to do so. But alas! I am afraid it will +be in vain, and that all the wrath which your insults have kindled, will +not carry my revenge so far. + +GARC. Do not endeavour to punish me so severely, since I offer to kill +myself to avenge you; pronounce but the sentence and I obey immediately. + +ELV. One who cannot hate cannot wish anybody to die. + +GARC. I cannot live unless you kindly pardon my rash errors; resolve +either to punish or to forgive. + +ELV. Alas! I have shown too clearly my resolution; do we not pardon a +criminal when we tell him we cannot hate him? + +GARC. Ah! this is too much. Suffer me, adorable Princess... + +ELV. Forbear, I am angry with myself for my weakness. + +GARC. (_Alone_). At length I am... + + + + +SCENE VII.--DON GARCIA, DON LOPEZ. + + +LOP. My Lord, I have to communicate to you a secret that may justly +alarm your love. + +GARC. Do not talk to me of secrets or alarms, whilst I am in such a +blissful rapture. After what has just taken place, I ought not to listen +to any suspicions. The unequalled kindness of a divine object ought to +shut my ears against all such idle reports. Do not say anything more. + +LOP. My Lord, I shall do as you wish; my only care in this business was +for you. I thought that the secret I just discovered ought to be +communicated with all diligence; but since it is your pleasure I should +not mention it, I shall change the conversation, and inform you that +every family in Leon threw off the mask, as soon as the report spread +that the troops of Castile were approaching; the lower classes +especially show openly such an affection for their true King, that the +tyrant trembles for fear. + +GARC. Castile, however, shall not gain the victory without our making an +attempt to share in the glory; our troops may also be able to terrify +Mauregat. But what secret would you communicate to me? Let us hear it? + +LOP. My Lord, I have nothing to say. + +[Footnote: Compare Iago's reticence in Shakespeare's _Othello_ (iii. +3).] + +GARC. Come, come, speak, I give you leave. + +LOP. My Lord, your words have told me differently; and since my news may +displease you, I shall know for the future how to remain silent. + +GARC. Without further reply, I wish to know your secret. + +LOP. Your commands must be obeyed; but, my Lord, duty forbids me to +explain such a secret in this place. Let us go hence, and I shall +communicate it to you; without taking anything lightly for granted, you +yourself shall judge what you ought to think of it. + + + + +ACT III. + +SCENE I.--DONNA ELVIRA, ELIZA. + + +ELV. What say you, Eliza, to this unaccountable weakness in the heart of +a Princess? What do you say when you see me so quickly forego my desire +for revenge, and, in spite of so much publicity, weakly and shamefully +pardon so cruel an outrage. + +EL. I say, Madam, that an insult from a man we love is doubtless very +difficult to bear; but if there be none which makes us sooner angry, so +there is none which we sooner pardon. If the man we love is guilty, and +throws himself at our feet, he triumphs over the rash outbreak of the +greatest anger; so much the more easily, Madam, if the offence comes +from an excess of love. However great your displeasure may have been, I +am not astonished to see it appeased; I know the power which, in spite +of your threats, will always pardon such crimes. + +ELV. But know, Eliza, however great the power of my love may be, I have +blushed for the last time; if henceforth the Prince gives me fresh cause +for anger, he must no longer look for pardon. I swear, that in such a +case, I will never more foster tender feelings for him: for in short, a +mind with ever so little pride is greatly ashamed to go back from its +word, and often struggles gallantly against its own inclinations; it +becomes stubborn for honour's sake, and sacrifices everything to the +noble pride of keeping its word. Though I have pardoned him now, do not +consider this a precedent for the future. Whatever fortune has in store +for me, I cannot think of giving my hand to the Prince of Navarre, until +he has shown that he is completely cured of those gloomy fits which +unsettle his reason, and has convinced me, who am the greatest sufferer +by this disease, that he will never insult me again by a relapse. + +EL. But how can the jealousy of a lover be an insult to us? + +ELV. Is there one more deserving of our wrath? And since it is with the +utmost difficulty we can resolve to confess our love; since the strict +honour of our sex at all times strongly opposes such a confession, ought +a lover to doubt our avowal, and should he not be punished? Is he not +greatly to blame in disbelieving that which is never said but after a +severe struggle with one's self? + +[Footnote: The words "since it is" until "one's self" have been used by +Molière with some slight alteration in the _Misanthrope_, Act iv., Scene +3, (see vol. II.)] + +EL. As for me, I think that a little mistrust on such an occasion should +not offend us; and that it is dangerous, Madam, for a lover to be +absolutely persuaded that he is beloved. If... + +ELV. Let us argue no more. Every person thinks differently. I am +offended by such suspicions; and, in spite of myself, I am conscious of +something which forebodes an open quarrel between the Prince and me, and +which, notwithstanding his great qualities.... But Heavens! Don Silvio +of Castile in this place! + + + + +SCENE II.--DONNA ELVIRA, DON ALPHONSO, _under the name of Don Silvio_, +ELIZA. + + +ELV. Ah! my Lord, what chance has brought you here? + +ALPH. I know, Madam, that my arrival must surprise you. To enter quietly +this town, to which the access has become difficult through the orders +of a rival, and to have avoided being seen by the soldiers, is an event +you did not look for. But if, in coming here, I have surmounted some +obstacles, the desire of seeing you is able to effect much greater +miracles. My heart has felt but too severely the blows of merciless fate +which kept me away from you; to allay the pangs which nearly kill me, I +could not refuse myself some moments to behold in secret your +inestimable person. I come, therefore, to tell you that I return thanks +to Heaven, that you are rescued from the hands of an odious tyrant. But, +in the midst of that happiness, I feel that I shall always be tortured +with the thought that envious fate deprived me of the honour of +performing such a noble deed, and has unjustly given to my rival the +chance of venturing his life pleasantly to render you so great a +service. Yes, Madam, my readiness to free you from your chains was +undoubtedly equal to his; I should have gained the victory for you, if +Heaven had not robbed me of that honour. + +ELV. I know, my Lord, that you possess a heart capable of overcoming the +greatest dangers; I doubt not but this generous zeal which incited you +to espouse my quarrel, would have enabled you, as well as any one else, +to overcome all base attempts; but even if you have not performed this +noble deed--and you could have done it--I am already under sufficient +obligations to the house of Castile. It is well known what a warm and +faithful friend the Count, your father, was of the late King, and what +he did for him. After having assisted him until he died, he gave my +brother a shelter in his states; full twenty years he concealed him, in +spite of the cowardly efforts to discover him, employed by barbarous and +enraged enemies; and now to restore to his brow a crown, in all its +splendour, you are marching in person against our usurpers. Are you not +satisfied, and do not these generous endeavours place me under strong +obligations to you? Would you, my Lord, obstinately persist in swaying +my whole fate? Must I never receive even the slightest kindness unless +from you? Ah! amidst these misfortunes, which seem to be my fate, suffer +me to owe also something to another, and do not complain that another +arm acquired some glory, when you were absent. + +ALPH. Yes, Madam, I ought to cease complaining; you are quite right when +you tell me so; we unjustly complain of one misfortune, when a much +greater threatens to afflict us. This succour from a rival is a cruel +mortification to me: but, alas! this is not the greatest of my +misfortunes; the blow, the severe blow which crushes me, is to see that +rival preferred to me. Yes, I but too plainly perceive that his greater +reputation was the reason that his love was preferred to mine; that +opportunity of serving you, the advantage he possessed of signalizing +his prowess, that brilliant exploit which he performed in saving you, +was nothing but the mere effect of being happy enough to please you, the +secret power of a wonderful astral influence which causes the object you +love to become famed. Thus all my efforts will be in vain. I am leading +an army against your haughty tyrants; but I fulfil this noble duty +trembling, because I am sure that your wishes will not be for me, and +that, if they are granted, fortune has in store the most glorious +success for my happy rival. Ah! Madam, must I see myself hurled from +that summit of glory I expected; and may I not know what crimes they +accuse me of, and why I have deserved that dreadful downfall? + +ELV. Before you ask me anything, consider what you ought to ask of my +feelings. As for this coldness of mine, which seems to abash you, I +leave it to you, my Lord, to answer for me; for, in short, you cannot be +ignorant that some of your secrets have been told to me. I believe your +mind to be too noble and too generous to desire me to do what is wrong. +Say yourself if it would be just to make me reward faithlessness; +whether you can, without the greatest injustice, offer me a heart +already tendered to another; whether you are justified in complaining, +and in blaming a refusal which would prevent you from staining your +virtues with a crime? Yes, my Lord, it is a crime, for first love has so +sacred a hold on a lofty mind, that it would rather lose greatness and +abandon life itself, than incline to a second love. + +[Footnote: The words "Yes my Lord" until "second love" are also, with +some alterations, found in _The Blue Stockings_, Act iv. Scene 2, (see +Vol. III).] + +I have that regard for you which is caused by an appreciation of your +lofty courage, your magnanimous heart; but do not require of me more +than I owe you, and maintain the honour of your first choice. In spite +of your new love, consider what tender feelings the amiable Inez still +retains for you; that she has constantly refused to be made happy for +the sake of an ungrateful man; for such you are, my Lord! In her great +love for you, how generously has she scorned the splendour of a diadem! +Consider what attempts she has withstood for your sake, and restore to +her heart what you owe it. + +ALPH. Ah, Madam, do not present her merit to my eyes! Though I am an +ungrateful man and abandon her, she is never out of my mind; if my heart +could tell you what it feels for her, I fear it would be guilty towards +you. Yes, that heart dares to pity Inez, and does not, without some +hesitation follow the violent love which leads it on. I never flattered +myself that you would reward my love without at the same time breathing +some sighs for her; in the midst of these pleasant thoughts my memory +still casts some sad looks towards my first love, reproaches itself with +the effect of your divine charms, and mingles some remorse with what I +wish most fervently. And since I must tell you all, I have done more +than this. I have endeavoured to free myself from your sway, to break +your chains, and to place my heart again under the innocent yoke of its +first conqueror. But, after all my endeavours, my fidelity gives way, +and I see only one remedy for the disease that kills me. Were I even to +be forever wretched, I cannot forswear my love, or bear the terrible +idea of seeing you in the arms of another; that same light, which +permits me to behold your charms, will shine on my corpse, before this +marriage takes place. I know that I betray an amiable Princess; but +after all, Madam, is my heart guilty? Does the powerful influence which +your beauty possesses leave the mind any liberty? Alas! I am much more +to be pitied than she; for, by losing me, she loses only a faithless +man. Such a sorrow can easily be soothed; but I, through an unparalleled +misfortune, abandon an amiable lady, whilst I endure all the torments of +a rejected love. + +ELV. You have no torments but what you yourself create, for our heart is +always in our own power. It may indeed sometimes show a little weakness; +but, after all, reason sways our passions... + + + + +SCENE III.--DON GARCIA, DONNA ELVIRA, DON ALPHONSO, _under the name of +Don Silvio_. + + +GARC. I perceive. Madam, that my coming is somewhat unseasonable, and +disturbs your conversation. I must needs say I did not expect to find +such good company here. + +ELV. Don Silvio's appearance indeed surprised me very much; I no more +expected him than you did. + +GARC. Madam, since you say so, I do not believe you were forewarned of +this visit; (_to Don Silvio_) but you, sir, ought at least to have +honoured us with some notice of this rare happiness, so that we should +not have been surprised, but enabled to pay you here those attentions +which we would have liked to render you. + +ALPH. My Lord, you are so busy with warlike preparations, that I should +have been wrong had I interrupted you. The sublime thoughts of mighty +conquerors can hardly stoop to the ordinary civilities of the world. + +GARC. But those mighty conquerors, whose warlike preparations are thus +praised, far from loving secrecy, prefer to have witnesses of what they +do; their minds trained to glorious deeds from infancy, make them carry +out all their plans openly; being always supported by lofty sentiments, +they never stoop to disguise themselves. Do you not compromise your +heroic merits in coming here secretly, and are you not afraid that +people may look upon this action as unworthy of you? + +ALPH. I know not whether any one will blame my conduct because I have +made a visit here in secret; but I know, Prince, that I never courted +obscurity in things which require light. Were I to undertake anything +against you, you should have no cause to remark you were surprised. It +would depend upon yourself to guard against it; I would take care to +warn you beforehand. Meanwhile let us continue upon ordinary terms, and +postpone the settlement of our quarrels until all other affairs are +arranged. Let us suppress the outbursts of our rather excited passions, +and not forget in whose presence we are both speaking. + +ELV. (_To Don Garcia_). Prince, you are in the wrong; and his visit is +such that you... + +GARC. Ah! Madam, it is too much to espouse his quarrel You ought to +dissemble a little better when you pretend that you were ignorant he was +coming here. You defend him so warmly and so quickly, that it is no very +convincing proof of his visit being unexpected. + +ELV. Your suspicions concern me so little, that I should be very sorry +to deny your accusation. + +GARC. Why do you not go farther in your lofty pride, and, without +hesitation, lay bare your whole heart? You are too prone to +dissimulation. Do not unsay anything you once said. Be brief, be brief, +lay aside all scruples; say that his passion has kindled yours, that his +presence delights you so much... + +ELV. And if I have a mind to love him, can you hinder me? Do you pretend +to sway my heart, and have I to receive your commands whom I must love? +Know that too much pride has deceived you, if you think you have any +authority over me; my mind soars too high to conceal my feelings when I +am asked to declare them. I will not tell you whether the Count is +beloved; but I may inform you that I esteem him highly; his great +merits, which I admire, deserve the love of a Princess better than you; +his passion, the assiduity he displays, impress me very strongly; and if +the stern decree of fate puts it out of my power to reward him with my +hand, I can at least promise him never to become a prey to your love. +Without keeping you any longer in slight suspense, I engage myself to +act thus, and I will keep my word. I have opened my heart to you, as you +desired it, and shown you my real feelings. Are you satisfied, and do +you not think that, as you pressed me, I have sufficiently explained +myself? Consider whether there remains anything else for me to do in +order to clear up your suspicions. (_To Don Silvio_). In the meanwhile, +if you persist in your resolution to please me, do not forget, Count, +that I have need of your arm, and that whatever may be the outbreaks of +temper of an eccentric man, you must do your utmost to punish our +tyrants. In a word, do not listen to what he may say to you in his +wrath, and in order to induce you so to act, remember that I have +entreated you. + + + + +SCENE IV.--DON GARCIA, DON ALPHONSO. + + +GARC. Everything smiles upon you, and you proudly triumph over my +confusion. It is pleasant to hear the glorious confession of that +victory which you obtain over a rival; but it must greatly add to your +joy to have that rival a witness to it. My pretensions, openly set +aside, enhance all the more the triumph of your love. Enjoy this great +happiness fully, but know that you have not yet gained your point; I +have too just cause to be incensed, and many things may perhaps ere then +come to pass. Despair, when it breaks out, goes a great way; everything +is pardonable when one has been deceived. If the ungrateful woman, out +of compliment to your love, has just now pledged her word never to be +mine, my righteous indignation will discover the means of preventing her +ever being yours. + +ALPH. I do not trouble myself about your antagonism. We shall see who +will be deceived in his expectations. Each by his valour will be able to +defend the reputation of his love, or avenge his misfortune. But as +between rivals the calmest mind may easily become irate, and as I am +unwilling that such a conversation should exasperate either of us, I +wish, Prince, you would put me in the way of leaving this place, so that +the restraint I put upon myself may be ended. + +GARC. No, no, do not fear that you will be compelled to violate the +order you received. Whatever righteous wrath is kindled within me, and +which no doubt delights you, Count, I know when it should break forth. +This place is open to you; you can leave it, proud of the advantages you +have gained. But once more I tell you that my head alone can put your +conquest into your hands. + +ALPH. When matters shall have reached that point, fortune and our arms +will soon end our quarrel. + + + + +ACT IV. + +SCENE I.--DONNA ELVIRA, DON ALVAREZ. + + +ELV. You can go back, Don Alvarez, but do not expect that you shall +persuade me to forget this offence. The wound which my heart received is +incurable; all endeavours to heal it make it but fester the more. Does +the Prince think I shall listen to some simulated compliments? No, no, +he has made me too angry; and his fruitless repentance, which led you +hither, solicits a pardon which I will not grant. + +ALV. Madam, he deserves your pity. Never was any offence expiated with +more stinging remorse; if you were to see his grief, it would touch your +heart, and you would pardon him. It is well known that the Prince is of +an age at which we abandon ourselves to first impressions; that in fiery +youth the passions hardly leave room for reflection. Don Lopez, deceived +by false tidings, was the cause of his master's mistake. An idle report +that the Count was coming, and that you had some understanding with +those who admitted him within these walls, was indiscreetly bruited +about. The Prince believed it; his love, deceived by a false alarm, has +caused all this disturbance. But being now conscious of his error, he is +well aware of your innocence; the dismissal of Don Lopez clearly proves +how great his remorse is for the outburst of which he has been guilty. + +ELV. Alas! He too readily believes me innocent; he is not yet quite sure +of it. Tell him to weigh all things well, and not to make too much +haste, for fear of being deceived. + +ALV. Madam, he knows too well.... + +ELV. I pray you, Don Alvarez, let us no longer continue a conversation +which vexes me: it revives in me some sadness, at the very moment that a +more important sorrow oppresses me. Yes, I have received unexpectedly +the news of a very great misfortune; the report of the death of the +Countess Inez has filled my heart with so much wretchedness, that there +is no room for any other grief. + +ALV. Madam, these tidings may not be true; but when I return, I shall +have to communicate to the Prince a cruel piece of news. + +ELV. However great his sufferings may be, they fall short of what he +deserves. + + + + +SCENE II.--DONNA ELVIRA, ELIZA. + + +EL. I waited, Madam until he was gone, to tell you something that will +free you from your anxiety, since this very moment you can be informed +what has become of Donna Inez. A certain person, whom I do not know, has +sent one of his servants to ask an audience of you, in order to tell you +all. + +ELV. Eliza, I must see him; let him come quickly. + +EL. He does not wish to be seen except by yourself; by this messenger he +requests, Madam that his visit may take place without any one being +present. + +ELV. Well, we shall be alone, I will give orders about that, whilst you +bring him here. How great is my impatience just now! Ye fates, shall +these tidings be full of joy or grief? + + + + +SCENE III.--DON PEDRO, ELIZA. + + +EL. Where.... + +PED. If you are looking for me, Madam, here I am. + +EL. Where is your master.... + +PED. He is hard by; shall I fetch him? + +EL. Desire him to come; tell him that he is impatiently expected, and +that no one shall see him. (_Alone_). I cannot unravel this mystery; all +the precautions he takes ... But here he is already. + + + + +SCENE IV.--DONNA INEZ, _in man's dress_, ELIZA. + + +EL. My Lord, in order to wait for you, we have prepared.... But what do +I see? Ah! Madam, my eyes.... + +INEZ. Do not tell any one, Eliza, I am here; allow me to pass my sad +days in peace. I pretended to kill myself. By this feigned death I got +rid of all my tyrants; for this is the name my relatives deserve. Thus I +have avoided a dreadful marriage; rather than have consented, I would +really have killed myself. This dress, and the report of my death, will +keep the secret of my fate from all, and secure me against that unjust +persecution which may even follow me hither. + +EL. My surprise might have betrayed you, if I had seen you in public; +but go into this room and put an end to the sorrow of the Princess; her +heart will be filled with joy when she shall behold you. You will find +her there alone; she has taken care to see you by herself, and without +any witnesses. + + + + +SCENE V.--DON ALVAREZ, ELIZA. + + +EL. Is this not Don Alvarez whom I see? + +ALV. The Prince sends me to entreat you to use your utmost influence in +his favour. His life is despaired of, unless he obtains by your means, +fair Eliza, one moment's conversation with Donna Elvira; he is beside +himself ... but here he is. + + + + +SCENE VI.--DON GARCIA, DON ALVAREZ, ELIZA. + + +GARC. Alas. Eliza, feel for my great misfortune; take pity on a heart +full of wretchedness, and given up to the bitterest sorrow. + +EL. I should look upon your torments, my Lord, with other eyes than the +Princess does; Heaven or our mood is the reason why we judge differently +about everything. But, as she blames you, and fancies your jealousy to +be a frightful monster, if I were in your place I should obey her +wishes, and endeavour to conceal from her eyes what offends them. A +lover undoubtedly acts wisely when he tries to suit his temper to ours; +a hundred acts of politeness have less influence than this unison, which +makes two hearts appear as if stirred by the same feelings. This +similarity firmly unites them; for we love nothing so much as what +resembles ourselves. + +GARC. I know it, but alas! merciless fate opposes such a well +intentioned plan; in spite of all my endeavours, it continually lays a +snare for me, which my heart cannot avoid. It is not because the +ungrateful woman, in the presence of my rival, avowed her love for him, +and not for me; and that with such an excess of tenderness, that it is +impossible I can ever forget her cruelty. But as too much ardour led me +to believe erroneously that she had introduced him into this place, I +should be very much annoyed if I left upon her mind the impression that +she has any just cause of complaint against me. Yes, if I am abandoned, +it shall be only through her faithlessness; for as I have come to beg +her pardon for my impetuosity, she shall have no excuse for ingratitude. + +EL. Give a little time for her resentment to cool, and do not see her +again so soon, my Lord. + +GARC. Ah! if you love me, induce her to see me; she must grant me that +permission; I do not leave this spot until her cruel disdain at +least.... + +EL. Pray, my Lord, defer this purpose. + +GARC. No; make no more idle excuses. + +EL. (_Aside_). The Princess herself must find means to send him away, if +she says but one word to him. (_To Don Garcia_). Stay here, my Lord, I +shall go and speak to her. + +GARC. Tell her that I instantly dismissed the person whose information +was the cause of my offence, that Don Lopez shall never... + + + + +SCENE VII.--DON GARCIA, DON ALVAREZ. + + +GARC. (_Looking in at the door which Eliza left half open_). What do I +see, righteous Heavens! Can I believe my eyes? Alas! they are, +doubtless, but too faithful witnesses; this is the most terrible of all +my great troubles! This fatal blow completely overwhelms me! When +suspicions raged within me, it was Heaven itself, vaguely but ominously +foretelling me this horrible disgrace. + +ALV. What have you seen, my Lord, to disturb you? + +GARC. I have seen what I can hardly conceive; the overthrow of all +creation would less astonish me than this accident. It is all over with +me ... Fate ... I cannot speak. + +[Footnote: The words from "What have you seen" till "I cannot speak," +are with some slight alterations, found in the _Misanthrope_, Act iv., +Scene 2 (see Vol. II).] + +ALV. My Lord, endeavour to be composed. + +GARC. I have seen... Vengeance! O Heaven! + +ALV. What sudden alarm...? + +GARC. It will kill me, Don Alvarez, it is but too certain. + +ALV. But, my Lord, what can... + +GARC. Alas! Everything is undone. I am betrayed, I am murdered! + +[Footnote: The last sentences of Don Alvarez and Don Garcia are also +found in the _Misanthrope_, Act iv., Scene 2 (see Vol. II).] + +A man, (can I say it and still live) a man in the arms of the faithless +Elvira! + +ALV. The Princess, my Lord, is so virtuous... + +GARC. Ah, Don Alvarez, do not gainsay what I have seen. It is too much +to defend her reputation, after my eyes have beheld so heinous an +action. + +ALV. Our passions, my Lord, often cause us to mistake a deception for a +reality; to believe that a mind nourished by virtue can.... + +GARC. Prithee leave me, Don Alvarez, a counsellor is in the way upon +such an occasion; I will take counsel only of my wrath. + +ALV. (_Aside_). It is better not to answer him when his mind is so +upset. + +GARC. Oh! how deeply am I wounded! But I shall see who it is, and punish +with my own hand.... But here she comes. Restrain thyself, O rage! + + + + +SCENE VIII.--DONNA ELVIRA, DON GARCIA, DON ALVAREZ. + + +ELV. Well, what do you want? However bold you may be, how can you hope +for pardon, after the way you have behaved? Dare you again present +yourself before me? And what can you say that will become me to hear? + +GARC. That all the wickedness of this world is not to be compared to +your perfidy; that neither fate, hell, nor Heaven in its wrath ever +produced anything so wicked as you are. + +[Footnote: The above words of Don Garcia are also in the _Misanthrope_, +Act iv., Scene 3 (see Vol. II).] + +ELV. How is this? I expected you would excuse your outrage; but I find +you use other words. + +GARC. Yes, yes, other words. You did not think that, the door being by +accident left half open, I should discover the caitiff in your arms, and +thus behold your shame, and my doom. Is it the happy lover who has +returned, or some other rival to me unknown? O Heaven! grant me +sufficient strength to bear such tortures. Now, blush, you have cause to +do so; your treachery is laid bare. This is what the agitations of my +mind prognosticated; it was not without cause that my love took alarm; +my continual suspicions were hateful to you, but I was trying to +discover the misfortune my eyes have beheld; in spite of all your care, +and your skill in dissembling, my star foretold me what I had to fear. +But do not imagine that I will bear unavenged the slight of being +insulted! I know that we have no command over our inclinations; that +love will everywhere spring up spontaneously; that there is no entering +a heart by force, and that every soul is free to name its conqueror; +therefore I should have no reason to complain, if you had spoken to me +without dissembling; you would then have sounded the death-knell of my +hope; but my heart could have blamed fortune alone. But to see my love +encouraged by a deceitful avowal on your part, is so treacherous and +perfidious an action, that it cannot meet with too great a punishment; I +can allow my resentment to do anything. No, no, after such an outrage, +hope for nothing. I am no longer myself, I am mad with rage. + +[Footnote: The whole of this speech, from "Now blush," until "mad with +rage," has, with few alterations, been used in the _Misanthrope_. Act +iv., Scene 3 (see Vol. II).] + +Betrayed on all sides, placed in so sad a situation, my love must avenge +itself to the utmost; I shall sacrifice everything here to my frenzy, +and end my despair with my life. + +ELV. I have listened to you patiently; can I, in my turn, speak to you +freely? + +GARC. And by what eloquent speeches, inspired by cunning.... + +ELV. If you have still something to say, pray continue; I am ready to +hear you. If not, I hope you will at least listen for a few minutes +quietly to what I have to say. + +GARC. Well, then, I am listening. Ye Heavens! what patience is mine! + +ELV. I restrain my indignation, and will without any passion reply to +your discourse, so full of fury. + +GARC. It is because you see... + +ELV. I have listened to you as long as you pleased; pray do the like to +me. I wonder at my destiny, and I believe there was never any thing +under Heaven so marvellous, nothing more strange and incomprehensible, +and nothing more opposed to reason. I have a lover, who incessantly does +nothing else but persecute me; who, amidst all the expressions of his +love, does not entertain for me any feelings of esteem; whose heart, on +which my eyes have made an impression, does not do justice to the lofty +rank granted to me by Heaven; who will not defend the innocence of my +actions against the slightest semblance of false appearances. Yes, I +see ... (_Don Garcia shows some signs of impatience, and wishes to +speak_). Above all, do not interrupt me. I see that my unhappiness is so +great, that one who says he loves me, and who, even if the whole world +were to attack my reputation, ought to claim to defend it against all, +is he who is its greatest foe. In the midst of his love, he lets no +opportunity pass of suspecting me; he not only suspects me, but breaks +out into such violent fits of jealousy that love cannot suffer without +being wounded. Far from acting like a lover who would rather die than +offend her whom he loves, who gently complains and seeks respectfully +to have explained what he thinks suspicious, he proceeds to extremities +as soon as he doubts, and is full of rage, insults, and threats. However, +this day I will shut my eyes to everything that makes him odious to me, +and out of mere kindness afford him an opportunity of being reconciled, +though he insulted me anew. This great rage with which you attacked me +proceeds from what you accidentally saw; I should be wrong to deny what +you have seen; I own you might have some reason to be disturbed at it. + +GARC. And is it not... + +ELV. Listen to me a little longer, and you shall know what I have +resolved. It is necessary that our fates should be decided. You are now +upon the brink of a great precipice; you will either fall over it, or +save yourself, according to the resolution you shall take. If, +notwithstanding what you have seen, Prince, you act towards me as you +ought, and ask no other proof but that I tell you you are wrong; if you +readily comply with my wishes and are willing to believe me innocent +upon my word alone, and no longer yield to every suspicion, but blindly +believe what my heart tells you; then this submission, this proof of +esteem, shall cancel all your offences; I instantly retract what I said +when excited by well-founded anger. And if hereafter I can choose for +myself, without prejudicing what I owe to my birth, then my honour, +being satisfied with the respect you so quickly show, promises to reward +your love with my heart and my hand. But listen now to what I say. If +you care so little for my offer as to refuse completely to abandon your +jealous suspicions; if the assurance which my heart and birth give you +do not suffice; if the mistrust that darkens your mind compels me, +though innocent, to convince you, and to produce a clear proof of my +offended virtue, I am ready to do so, and you shall be satisfied; but +you must then renounce me at once, and for ever give up all pretensions +to my hand. I swear by Him who rules the Heavens, that, whatever fate +may have in store for us, I will rather die than be yours! I trust these +two proposals may satisfy you; now choose which of the two pleases you. + +GARC. Righteous Heaven! Was there ever anything more artful and +treacherous? Could hellish malice produce any perfidy so black? Could it +have invented a more severe and merciless way to embarrass a lover? Ah! +ungrateful woman, you know well how to take advantage of my great +weakness, even against myself, and to employ for your own purposes that +excessive, astonishing, and fatal love which you inspired. + +[Footnote: The phrase "Ah! ungrateful woman" until "inspired" is also +found in the _Misanthrope_, Act iv., Scene 3 (see Vol. II).] + +Because you have been taken by surprise, and cannot find an excuse, you +cunningly offer to forgive me. You pretend to be good-natured, and +invent some trick to divert the consequences of my vengeance; you wish +to ward off the blow that threatens a wretch, by craftily entangling me +with your offer. Yes, your artifices would fain avert an explanation +which must condemn you; pretending to be completely innocent, you will +give convincing proof of it only upon such conditions as you think and +most fervently trust I will never accept; but you are mistaken if you +think to surprise me. Yes, yes, I am resolved to see how you can defend +yourself; by what miracle you can justify the horrible sight I beheld, +and condemn my anger. + +ELV. Consider that, by this choice, you engage yourself to abandon all +pretensions to the heart of Donna Elvira. + +GARC. Be it so! I consent to everything; besides, in my present +condition, I have no longer any pretensions. + +ELV. You will repent the wrath you have displayed. + +GARC. No, no, your argument is a mere evasion; I ought rather to tell +you that somebody else may perhaps soon repent. The wretch, whoever he +may be, shall not be fortunate enough to save his life, if I wreak my +vengeance. + +ELV. Ha! This can no longer be borne; I am too angry foolishly to +preserve longer my good nature. Let me abandon the wretch to his own +devices, and, since he will undergo his doom, let him--Eliza!... (_To +Don Garcia_). You compel me to act thus; but you shall see that this +outrage will be the last. + + + + +SCENE IX.--DONNA ELVIRA, DON GARCIA, ELIZA, DON ALVAREZ. + +ELV. (_To Eliza_). Desire my beloved to come forth ... Go, you +understand me, say that I wish it. + +GARC. And can I... + +ELV. Patience, you will be satisfied. + +EL. (_Aside, going out_). This is doubtless some new trick of our +jealous lover. + +ELV. Take care at least that this righteous indignation perseveres in +its ardour to the end; above all, do not henceforth forget what price +you have paid to see your suspicions removed. + + + + +SCENE X.--DONNA ELVIRA, DON GARCIA, DONNA INEZ, ELIZA, DON ALVAREZ. + + +ELV. (_To Don Garcia, showing him Donna Inez_). Thanks to Heaven, behold +the cause of the generous suspicions you showed. Look well on that face, +and see if you do not at once recognize the features of Donna Inez. + +GARC. O Heavens! + +ELV. If the rage which fills your heart prevents you from using your +eyes, you can ask others, and thus leave no room for doubt. It was +necessary to pretend she was dead, so that she might escape from the +tyrant who persecuted her: she disguised herself in this manner the +better to profit by her pretended death. (_To Donna Inez_). You will +pardon me, Madam, for having consented to betray your secrets and to +frustrate your expectations; but I am exposed to Don Garcia's insolence; +I am no longer free to do as I wish; my honour is a prey to his +suspicions, and is every moment compelled to defend itself. This jealous +man accidentally saw us embrace, and then he behaved most disgracefully. +(_To Don Garcia_). Yes, behold the cause of your sudden rage, and the +convincing witness of my disgrace. Now, like a thorough tyrant, enjoy +the explanation you have provoked; but know that I shall never blot from +my memory the heinous outrage done to my reputation. And if ever I +forget my oath, may Heaven shower its severest chastisements upon my +head; may a thunderbolt descend upon me if ever I resolve to listen to +your love. Come, Madam, let us leave this spot, poisoned by the looks of +a furious monster; let us quickly flee from his bitter attacks, let us +avoid the consequences of his mad rage, and animated by just motives, +let us only pray that we may soon be delivered from his hands. + +INEZ. (_To Don Garcia_). My Lord, your unjust and violent suspicions +have wronged virtue itself. + + + + +SCENE XI.--DON GARCIA, DON ALVAREZ. + + +GARC. What gleam of light clearly shows me my error, and, at the same +time, involves my senses in such a profound horror that, dejected, I can +see nothing but the dreadful object of a remorse that kills me! Ah! Don +Alvarez, I perceive you were in the right; but hell breathed its poison +into my soul; through a merciless fatality I am my worst enemy. What +does it benefit me to love with the most ardent passion that an amorous +heart ever displayed, if this love continually engenders suspicions +which torment me, and thus renders itself hateful! I must, I must justly +revenge by my death the outrage committed against her divine charms. +What advice can I follow now? Alas! I have lost the only object which +made life dear to me! As I relinquished all hope of ever being beloved +by her, it is much easier to abandon life itself. + +ALV. My Lord... + +GARC. No, Don Alvarez, my death is necessary. No pains, no arguments +shall turn me from it; yet my approaching end must do some signal +service to the Princess. Animated by this noble desire, I will seek some +glorious means of quitting life; perform some mighty deed worthy of my +love, so that in expiring for her sake she may pity me, and say, it was +excess of love that was my sole offence. Thus she shall see herself +avenged! I must attempt a deed of daring, and with my own hand give to +Mauregat that death he so justly deserves. My boldness will forestall +the blow with which Castile openly threatens him. With my last breath, I +shall have the pleasure of depriving my rival of performing such a +glorious deed. + +ALV. So great a service, my Lord, may perhaps obliterate all remembrance +of your offence; but to risk.... + +GARC. Let me fulfil my duty, and strive to make my despair aid in this +noble attempt. + + + + +ACT V. + +SCENE I.--DON ALVAREZ, ELIZA. + + +ALV. No, never was anyone more astonished. He had just planned that +lofty undertaking; inspired by despair, he was all anxiety to kill +Mauregat; eager to show his courage, and to reap the advantage of this +lawful deed; to endeavour to obtain his pardon, and prevent the +mortification of seeing his rival share his glory. As he was leaving +these walls, a too accurate report brought him the sad tidings, that the +very rival whom he wished to forestall had already gained the honour he +hoped to acquire: had anticipated him, in slaying the traitor, and urged +the appearance of Don Alphonso, who will reap the fruits of Don Silvio's +prompt success, and come to fetch the Princess, his sister. It is +publicly said and generally believed, that Don Alphonso intends to give +the hand of his sister as a reward for the great services Don Silvio has +rendered him, by clearing for him a way to the throne. + +EL. Yes, Donna Elvira has heard this news, which has been confirmed by +old Don Louis, who has sent her word that Leon is now awaiting her happy +return and that of Don Alphonso, and that there, since fortune smiles +upon her, she shall receive a husband from the hands of her brother. It +is plain enough from these few words that Don Silvio will be her +husband. + +ALV. This blow to the Prince's heart... + +EL. Will certainly be severely felt. I cannot help pitying his distress; +yet, if I judge rightly, he is still dear to the heart he has offended; +it did not appear to me that the Princess was well pleased when she +heard of Don Silvio's success, and of the approaching arrival of her +brother, or with the letter; but... + + + + +SCENE II.--DONNA ELVIRA, DONNA INEZ, ELIZA, DON ALVAREZ. + + +ELV. Don Alvarez, let the Prince come hither. (_Don Alvarez leaves_). +Give me leave, Madam, to speak to him in your presence concerning this +piece of news, which greatly surprises me; and do not accuse me of +changing my mind too quickly, if I lose all my animosity against him. +His unforeseen misfortune has extinguished it; he is unhappy enough +without the addition of my hatred. Heaven, who treats him with so much +rigour, has but too well executed the oaths I took. When my honour was +outraged, I vowed openly never to be his; but as I see that fate is +against him, I think I have treated his love with too great severity; +the ill success that follows whatever he does for my sake, cancels his +offence, and restores him my love. Yes, I have been too well avenged; +the waywardness of his fate disarms my anger, and now, full of +compassion, I am seeking to console an unhappy lover for his +misfortunes. I believe his love well deserves the compassion I wish to +show him. + +INEZ. Madam, it would be wrong to blame the tender sentiments you feel +for him. What he has done for you ... He comes; and his paleness shows +how deeply he is affected by this surprising stroke of fate. + + + + +SCENE III.--DON GARCIA, DONNA ELVIRA, DONNA INEZ, ELIZA. + + +GARC. Madam, you must think me very bold in daring to come here to show +you my hateful presence... + +ELV. Prince, let us talk no more of my resentment; your fate has made a +change in my heart. Its severity, and your wretched condition have +extinguished my anger, and our peace is made. Yes, though you have +deserved the misfortunes with which Heaven in its wrath has afflicted +you; though your jealous suspicions have so ignominiously, so almost +incredibly, sullied my fame, yet I must needs confess that I so far +commiserate your misfortune, as to be somewhat displeased with our +success. I hate the famous service Don Silvio has rendered us, because +my heart must be sacrificed to reward it; I would, were it in my power, +bring back the moments when destiny put only my oath in my way. But you +know that it is the doom of such as we are, to be always the slaves of +public interests; that Heaven has ordained that my brother, who disposes +of my hand, is likewise my King. Yield, as I do, Prince, to that +necessity which rank imposes upon those of lofty birth. If you are very +unfortunate in your love, be comforted by the interest I take in you; +and though you have been overwhelmed by fate, do not employ the power +which your valour gives you in this place: it would, doubtless be +unworthy of you to struggle against destiny; whilst it is in vain to +oppose its decrees, a prompt submission shows a lofty courage. Do not +therefore resist its orders; but open the gates of Astorga to my brother +who is coming; allow my sad heart to yield to those rights which he is +entitled to claim from me; perhaps that fatal duty, which I owe him +against my will, may not go so far as you imagine. + +GARC. Madam, you give me proofs of exquisite goodness in endeavouring to +lighten the blow that is prepared for me, but without such pains you may +let fall upon me all the wrath which your duty demands. In my present +condition, I can say nothing. I have deserved the worst punishments +which fate can inflict; and I know that, whatever evils I may suffer, I +have deprived myself of the right to complain of them. Alas, amidst all +my misfortunes, on what grounds can I be bold enough to utter any +complaint against you? My love has rendered itself a thousand times +odious, and has done nothing but outrage your glorious charms; when by a +just and noble sacrifice, I was endeavouring to render some service to +your family, fortune abandoned me, and made me taste the bitter grief of +being forestalled by a rival. After this, Madam, I have nothing more to +say. I deserve the blow which I expect; and I see it coming, without +daring to call upon your heart to assist me. What remains for me in this +extreme misfortune is to seek a remedy in myself, and, by a death which +I long for, free my heart from all those tribulations. Yes, Don Alphonso +will soon be here; already my rival has made his appearance; he seems to +have hurried hither from Leon, to receive his reward for having killed +the tyrant. Do not fear that I shall use my power within these walls to +offer him any resistance. If you allowed it, there is no being on earth +which I would not defy in order to keep you; but it is not for me, whom +you detest, to expect such an honourable permission. No vain attempts of +mine shall offer the smallest opposition to the execution of your just +designs. No, Madam, your feelings are under no compulsion; you are +perfectly free. I will open the gates of Astorga to the happy conqueror, +and suffer the utmost severity of fate. + + + + +SCENE IV.--DONNA ELVIRA, DONNA INEZ, ELIZA. + + +ELV. Madam, do not ascribe all my afflictions to the interest which I +take in his unhappy lot. You will do me but justice if you believe that +you have a large share in my heart-felt grief; that I care more for +friendship than for love. If I complain of any dire misfortune, it is +because Heaven in its anger has borrowed from me those shafts which it +hurls against you, and has made my looks guilty of kindling a passion +which treats your kind heart unworthily. + +INEZ. This is an accident caused, doubtless, by your looks, for which +you ought not to quarrel with Heaven. If the feeble charms which my +countenance displays have exposed me to the misfortune of my lover +abandoning me, Heaven could not better soften such a blow than by making +use of you to captivate that heart. I ought not to blush for an +inconstancy which indicates the difference between your attractions and +mine. If this change makes me sigh, it is from foreseeing that it will +be fatal to your love; amidst the sorrow caused by friendship, I am +angry for your sake that my few attractions have failed to retain a +heart whose devotion interferes so greatly with the love you feel for +another. + +ELV. Rather blame your silence, which, without reason, concealed the +understanding between your hearts. If I had known this secret sooner, it +might perhaps have spared us both some sad trouble; I might then coldly +and justly have refused to listen to the sighs of a fickle lover, and +perhaps have sent back whence they strayed... + +INEZ. Madam, he is here. + +ELV. You can remain without even looking at him. Do not go away, Madam, +but stay, and, though you suffer, hear what I say to him. + +INEZ. I consent, Madam; though I very well know that were another in my +place, she would avoid being present at such a conversation. + +ELV. If Heaven seconds my wishes, Madam, you shall have no cause to +repine. + + + + +SCENE V.--DON ALPHONSO (_believed to be Don Silvio_), DONNA ELVIRA, +DONNA INEZ. + +ELV. Before you say a word, my Lord, I earnestly beg that you will deign +to hear me for a moment. Fame has already informed us of the marvellous +deeds you have performed. I wonder to see, as all do, how quickly and +successfully you have changed our lot. I know very well that such an +eminent service can never be sufficiently rewarded, and that nothing +ought to be refused to you for that never-to-be-forgotten deed which +replaces my brother on the throne of his ancestors. But whatever his +grateful heart may offer you, make a generous use of your advantages, +and do not employ your glorious action, my Lord, to make me bend under +an imperious yoke; nor let your love--for you know who is the object of +my passion--persist in triumphing over a well-founded refusal; let not +my brother, to whom they are going to present me, begin his reign by an +act of tyranny over his sister. Leon has other rewards which for the +nonce, may do more honour to your lofty valour. A heart which you can +obtain only by compulsion, would be too mean a reward for your courage. +Can a man be ever really satisfied when, by coercion, he obtains what he +loves? It is a melancholy advantage; a generous-minded lover refuses to +be happy upon such conditions. He will not owe anything to that pressure +which relatives think they have a right to employ; he is ever too fond +of the maiden he loves, to suffer her to be sacrificed as a victim, even +to himself. Not that my heart intends to grant to another what it +refuses to you. No, my Lord, I promise you, and pledge you my word of +honour, that no one shall ever obtain my hand, that a convent shall +protect me against every other... + +ALPH. Madam, I have listened long enough to your discourse, and might, +by two words, have prevented it all, if you had given less credit to +false tidings. I know that a common report, which is everywhere +believed, attributes to me the glory of having killed the tyrant; but as +we have been informed, the people alone, stirred up by Don Louis to do +their duty, have performed this honourable and heroic act, which public +rumour ascribed to me. The reason of these tidings was that Don Louis, +the better to carry out his lofty purpose, spread a report that I and my +soldiers had made ourselves masters of the town; by this news he so +excited the people, that they hastened to kill the usurper. He has +managed everything by his prudent zeal, and has just sent me notice of +this by one of his servants. At the same time, a secret has been +revealed to me which will astonish you as much as it surprised me. You +expect a brother, and Leon its true master; Heaven now presents him +before you. Yes, I am Don Alphonso; I was brought up and educated under +the name of Prince of Castile; this clearly proves the sincere +friendship that existed between Don Louis and the King, my father. Don +Louis has all the proofs of this secret, and will establish its truth to +the whole world. But now my thoughts are taken up with other cares; I am +clear how to act towards you; not that my passion is opposed to such a +discovery, or that the brother in my heart quarrels with the lover. The +revelation of this secret has, without the least murmur, changed my +ardour into a love commanded by nature; the tie of relationship which +unites us has so entirely freed me from the love which I entertained for +you, that the highest favour I now long for is the sweet delights of my +first chain, and the means of rendering to the adorable Inez that which +her excessive goodness deserves. + +[Footnote: Compare the manner in which Andres, in _The Blunderer_ (Act +v., Scene 15), recognises his sister in Celia.] + +But the uncertainty of her lot renders mine miserable; if what is +reported be true, then it will be in vain for Leon to invite me, and for +a throne to wait for me; for a crown could not make me happy. I only +wished for its splendour in order to let me taste the joy of placing it +on the head of that maiden for whom Heaven destined me, and by those +means to repair, as far as I could, the wrong I have done to her +extraordinary virtues. It is from you, Madam, I expect tidings as to +what has become of her. Be pleased to communicate them, and by your +words hasten my despair, or the happiness of my life. + +ELV. Do not wonder if I delay answering you; for this news, my Lord, +bewilders me. I will not take upon me to tell your loving heart, whether +Donna Inez be dead or alive; but this gentleman here, who is one of her +most intimate friends, will doubtless give you some information about +her. + +ALPH. (_Recognising Donna Inez_). Ah, Madam, in this dilemma I am happy +to behold again your heavenly beauty. But with what eye can you look +upon a fickle lover, whose crime... + +INEZ. Ah! do not insult me, and venture to state that a heart, which I +hold dear, could be inconstant. I cannot bear the thought, and the +apology pains me. All the love you felt for the Princess could not +offend me, because her great worth is a sufficient excuse. The love you +bore her is no proof of your guilt towards me. Learn that if you had +been culpable, the lofty pride within me would have made you sue in vain +to overcome my contempt, and that neither repentance nor commands could +have induced me to forget such an insult. + +ELV. Ah, dear brother,--allow me to call you by this gentle name,--you +render your sister very happy! I love your choice, and bless fortune, +which enables you to crown so pure a friendship! Of the two noble hearts +I so tenderly love... + + + + +SCENE VI.--DON GARCIA, DONNA ELVIRA, DONNA INEZ, DON ALPHONSO, ELIZA. + + +GARC. For mercy's sake, Madam, hide from me your satisfaction, and let +me die in the belief that a feeling of duty compels you. I know you can +freely dispose of your hand; I do not intend to run counter to your +wishes. I have proved this sufficiently, as well as my obedience to your +commands. But I must confess that this levity surprises me, and shakes +all my resolutions. Such a sight awakens a storm of passion which I fear +I cannot command, though I would punish myself, if this could make me +lose that profound respect I wish to preserve. Yes, you have ordered me +to bear patiently my unfortunate love; your behest has so much influence +over my heart, that I will rather die than disobey you. But still, the +joy you display tries me too severely; the wisest man, upon such an +occasion, can but ill answer for his conduct. Suppress it, I beseech +you, for a few moments, and spare me, Madam, this cruel trial; however +great your love for my rival may be, do not let me be a wretched witness +of his felicity. This is the smallest favour I think a lover may ask, +even when he is disliked as much as I am. I do not seek this favour for +long, Madam; my departure will soon satisfy you. I go where sorrow shall +consume my soul, and shall learn your marriage only by hearsay; I ought +not to hasten to behold such a spectacle; for, without seeing it, it +will kill me. + +INEZ. Give me leave, my Lord, to blame you for complaining, because the +Princess has deeply felt your misfortunes; this very joy at which you +murmur, arises solely from the happiness that is in store for you. She +rejoices in a success which has favoured your heart's desire, and has +discovered that your rival is her brother. Yes, Don Alphonso, whose name +has been so bruited about, is her brother; this great secret has just +now been told to her. + +ALPH. My heart, thank Heaven, after a long torture, has all that it can +desire, and deprives you of nothing, my Lord. I am so much the happier, +because I am able to forward your love. + +GARC. Alas! my Lord, I am overwhelmed by your goodness, which +condescends to respond to my dearest wishes. Heaven has averted the blow +that I feared; any other man but myself would think himself happy. But +the fortunate discovery of this favourable secret, proves me to be +culpable towards her I adore; I have again succumbed to these wretched +suspicions, against which I have been so often warned, and in vain; +through them my love has become hateful, and I ought to despair of ever +being happy. Yes, Donna Elvira has but too good reason to hate me; I +know I am unworthy of pardon; and whatever success fortune may give me, +death, death alone, is all that I can expect. + +ELV. No, no, Prince, your submissive attitude brings more tender +feelings into my heart; I feel that the oath I took is no longer binding +on me; your complaints, your respect, your grief has moved me to +compassion; I see an excess of love in all your actions, and your malady +deserves to be pitied. Since Heaven is the cause of your faults, some +indulgence ought to be allowed to them; in one word, jealous or not +jealous, my King will have no compulsion to employ when he gives me to +you. + +GARC. Heaven! enable me to bear the excess of joy which this confession +produces. + +ALPH. I trust, my Lord, that after all our useless dissensions, this +marriage may forever unite our hearts and kingdoms. But time presses, +and Leon expects us; let us go therefore, and, by our presence and +watchfulness give the last blow to the tyrant's party. + + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Don Garcia of Navarre, by Moliere + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DON GARCIA OF NAVARRE *** + +***** This file should be named 6740-8.txt or 6740-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/6/7/4/6740/ + +Produced by David Moynihan, D Garcia, Charles Franks and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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