by Lope de Vega
MARQUIS. Concern for your ladyship
Has kept us in a state of deep
-188-
And constant anguish. We give our thanks 555
To God we've found you safe and sound
At last.
CASANDRA. After God you'd better thank
This brave young man. His arms
And courtesy were quite enough
To carry me to perfect safety. 560
MARQUIS. My noble Count, who better than
Yourself could give assistance to
A lady who shall soon be justly known
To you as your mother!
FEDERICO. Marquis,
I'd be like Jupiter* himself 565
And turn into an eagle, king
Of birds, and dare to burn my wings
Close to the sun, in imitation of
Bold Phaethon's pride.* I'd hold her tightly in
These claws, a golden fleece,* and fly 570
With her to where my father waits,
To place her gently at his side.
MARQUIS. My lord, I do believe that Heaven
Abets what we have seen today,
So that Casandra owes to you 575
A debt of constant gratitude,
And never more can people say
That those adversaries of old --
A stepson and his mother -- cannot live
As one in perfect love and harmony. 580
This most unusual and rare
Event shall be acclaimed by all of Italy.
[They speak together. CASANDRAand LUCRECIAalso converse
CASANDRA. While they are talking, Lucrecia,
What's your opinion of Federico?
LUCRECIA. With your permission, my lady, 585
I'll give you my opinion.
-189-
CASANDRA. In that case,
Reluctantly, you have it.
LUCRECIA. I think . . .
CASANDRA. Yes?
LUCRECIA. If he changed places with his father,
You'd be happier.
CASANDRA. I think you may
Be right, Lucrecia. My fortune goes 590
Against me. But it is settled now.
If I go home to Mantua
And try to fool my father with
Some story, he'll most likely kill me.
My foolishness would soon become 595
A topic for the idle tongues*
Of Italy. Besides, it would
Not mean that I could then expect
To marry Federico; and so
There is no reason to go back 600
To Mantua. I shall go on
To where the Duke awaits me in
Ferrara; though if the stories I
Have heard about his wayward life
Are true, they are for any wife-to-be 605
A source of some anxiety.
MARQUIS. If everyone is now assembled here,
It's best we leave this wood before
Some other accident occurs.
Rutilio, you shall go ahead 610
Of us and let Ferrara know
Of our good news, unless the news
Arrives ahead of you; though it's
More likely only bad news travels fast,
And good news last of all. My lady, 615
Come. See to it a horse is ready for
The Count.
CASANDRA. I think you'll find, my lord,
-190-
My coach provides a smoother ride
By far.
FEDERICO. Then I agree, so that
It can't be said I ever willingly 620
Refused a lady.
[The MARQUIStakes CASANDRAby the hand.
FEDERICOand BATÍNalone
BATÍN. I think this Duchess is
Astonishing!
FEDERICO. So you approve, Batín?
BATÍN. I'd say she is a lily* that,
As gentle dawn arrives, sticks out
Its snow-white stamens, begging it 625
To let it have, in fair exchange
For golden pollen, dewy pearls;
Which means to say I think she is
A pretty girl. On top of that,
My lord -- but now she's getting in 630
Her coach, you can't delay her more --
There's something else that I could say
To you.
FEDERICO. In that case, say no more,
Batín. The sharpness of your eyes
Perceives the darkest thoughts within 635
My soul and so awakens and deceives
My appetites.
BATÍN. But wouldn't it
Be right for you to have her for
Yourself, my lord? This fresh carnation?
This lovely orange-blossom? This piece 640
Of tasty decoration sweet
As sugar? This Venus? This Helen?*
Why should the sodding custom of
The world give her to him?
FEDERICO. Let's go, before suspicion falls 645
-191-
On us. I'll be the only stepson
To have claimed a stepmother as beautiful
As this.
BATÍN. I reckon, master, what
You really need is lots of patience.
If only her outstanding attribute 650
Was good old-fashioned ugliness!
Exit both. Enter the DUKE OF FERRARA
and AURORA, his niece
DUKE. If what the servants say is true,
And Federico left no earlier,
He will have met her on the way.
AURORA. I think he was at fault, my lord, 655
If he delayed so long. When we
Received the news, he should have gone
At once and made quite sure that he'd
Escort her all the way from Mantua.
DUKE. I am convinced his sadness was 660
The cause of such discourtesy.
The boy has long believed that one
Day he'll inherit my estates,
And with good cause, for, as you know,
He is my only son. I love 665
Him dearly. But now I am
Embarked upon this marriage, he
Believes I do it of my own accord
And thinks it is some treachery
That I deliberately do 670
To him, when, if the truth be known,
My subjects are the ones to blame
For forcing me to marry and,
In consequence, offending him.
They say they'd have him as their lord -- 675
Perhaps for love of him, perhaps
Of me -- and yet are overawed
By other members of my family
-192-
Who, when I die, consider they
Can rightly press their claims to my 680
Estate, and if they are denied,
Will be prepared to devastate
My lands by fire and by sword.
My subjects are the ones who'd suffer most
By this, and so I gave my word 685
To them that would not be. The only choice
Then left to me was marriage.
AURORA. Then you, my lord, are not the one
To blame. The fault lies clearly
With Fortune. In any case, the Count 690
Has much good sense, which leads me to believe
That if he exercises patience too
He'll find the problem will resolve
Itself. Though I, if I might be
So bold, my lord, would also offer you 695
A remedy that might well ease
The deep concern you feel for him,
As well as his anxiety.
Forgive whatever boldness I
Display. My faith in your love 700
Inspires me to say these things
As honestly as possible.
I am, my lord, the only daughter of
Your brother, who, though still so you
ng,
Was cruelly cut down by death, 705
Just as the budding flower of
The almond-tree is withered by
The north wind's cold and icy breath.
When, not long afterwards, I lost
My mother too, you took me into 710
Your house and ever since have been
To me not just a father but
The precious thread of gold to guide
And help me find my way through this
Most complicated labyrinth* 715
Of adverse fortunes. As well, you gave
-193-
Me Federico, your son,
To be my brother, cousins both,
Always together throughout our youth.
I loved him just as truly and 720
As honestly as he loved me,
Our life together one: one law,
One love, one will that joined us both
In such true harmony as now
Our marriage would make permanent 725
By giving him to me and me
To him, thereby ensuring
That only death can ever break
A bond tied so securely.
My poor father's death has also left 730
Me well provided for, which makes
Me think there is not in the rest
Of Italy a better match
For Federico's qualities,
Though it may prove the case that Spain 735
Or Flanders may provide someone
To challenge me. Moreover, if
I marry him, why should some future heir
Cause him anxiety? My fortune is
Enough to free him from such cares. 740
Tell me, my lord, if my advice is good.
DUKE. Let me embrace you, Aurora.*
You are the very light of heaven
That banishes and brightens my
Dark night; the dawn that offers me 745
My remedy; the sun that helps
Me see, as in some clear glass,
The resolution of my deep
Anxiety. You have assured me
Of honour and of life, and so, 750
If your love is equal to
Your eagerness, I now assure you
That I shall be a witness to
This perfect marriage. I have no doubt
-194-
He loves you just as honestly 755
As you deserve. If both of you
Are then of one accord, I give
My word that married you shall be.
As soon as he arrives, you'll see
Ferrara come alive with happy 760
Celebration.
AURORA. My lord, I cannot say
How much today this daughter feels
Her sense of debt and obligation.
Enter BATÍN.
BATÍN. My lord, I cannot say how much
You are today indebted both 765
To me and to the wind, nor if
I am ahead of him or him of me;
Nor if I flew upon his back
Or he more speedily upon
My feet to bring the news I bear: 770
Which is to say the Duchess fair
Will soon be here. Mind you,
There was a scare, as history
Shall one day tell, for Madam's coach
Fell over in a stream, but have 775
No fear, Federico's there,
And there he comes to rescue her
And take her cleanly in his arms!
I tell you, sir, she really warms
To him because of that, as if 780
To prove that stepmothers and step-
Sons* thrown together is not like putting fat
Upon the fire. Just wait, my lord.
The sight of them will bowl you over.
You'd think she was his real mother. 785
DUKE. This is great news, Batín. That they
Should truly like each other! Not only that;
If, as you say, the Count shows signs
Of happiness, the news must also be
-195-
Considered novelty. I pray 790
To God that Federico has
The sense to treat Casandra well.
You are quite sure he impressed
Her favourably?
BATÍN. Oh, yes, my lord.
I think they took each other's fancy. 795
AURORA. And have you news as well for me,
Batín?
BATÍN. Oh, Miss Aurora, such
A heavenly name! You make the flame
Of poetry dawn in me! What would
You have of me?
AURORA. I wish to know 800
How beautiful Casandra is.
BATÍN. I think such curiosity
Sits very awkwardly upon
Your ladyship and more befits
The Duke. You know what fame 805
Has so far said of her . . . but why
Repeat what fame has said when she
Is here?
DUKE. Batín, this golden chain
Proclaims my gratitude.
Enter, with pomp and splendour, RUTILIO,
the MARQUIS OF GONZAGA, FEDERICO,
CASANDRA, and LUCRECIA.
FEDERICO. My lady, this pavilion in 810
The garden is reserved for you,
So that the Duke may meet you there
With all the ceremony you deserve.
Meanwhile, Ferrara waits to greet
You with such pomp and majesty 815
As may to you seem miserly or mean,
But is more lavish than the whole
-196-
Of Italy has ever seen.
CASANDRA. The lack of welcome did disturb me,
I admit.
FEDERICO. Then I must hope that I've 820
Explained the cause of it. Aurora and
The Duke are here to welcome you.
DUKE. Most beautiful Casandra, mistress of
My soul and my estate, I bid
Heaven grant you long and happy life, 825
That you may bring to this great family
A greater honour as my wife.
CASANDRA. To serve you well, my lord, is all
I wish. Your glorious name confers
Both fame and privilege upon 830
My family. I only trust
That any qualities I have
May prove deserving of your own.
DUKE. My dear Marquis, let me embrace you.
I am indebted to you for 835
This loveliest of gifts.
MARQUIS. Such thanks
Repay the debt in part, my lord,
Though you'll agree your wedding-day
Must add to it substantially.
AURORA.
Casandra, let me introduce 840
Myself. I am Aurora.
CASANDRA. Amongst
The many gifts good fortune now
Confers on me, to have you as
My friend is easily the best.
AURORA. You may rely on me to serve 845
You well. Consider everything
I have at your disposal. Ferrara is
Most fortunate to have you celebrate
-197-
Its future glory.
CASANDRA. As soon as I
Arrive, I am the object of 850
Such favour and such flattery
As promises my future happiness.
DUKE. I pray, be seated. The members of
My household pay their homage.
CASANDRA. Thank
You, sir. No sooner do you speak 855
Than I obey.
[The DUKE, CASANDRA, the MARQUIS, and
AURORAsit beneath a canopy
CASANDRA. Federico, you shall sit with us.
DUKE. The boy insists he'll be the first
To kiss your hand.
CASANDRA. But this is quite
Ridiculous. Must I permit 860
Humility like this?
FEDERICO. Deny
It, madam, you insult my love
And mock my true desire to obey.
CASANDRA. But this . . .
FEDERICO. Give me your hand.
CASANDRA. Is foolishness.
FEDERICO. And this the proof that everything 865
You wish is my command. I kiss
Your hand three times: the first
Must be regarded as a sign
That I, as long as I shall live,
Intend to be the image of 870
Unrivalled loyalty; the second is
The mark of my obedience to
The Duke, whose wishes I observe
-198-
Respectfully; the third is for
Myself, for when both fatherly respect 875
And loyalty are set aside,
My soul speaks for itself and any words
That issue forth, unshaped by other wills,
Must be regarded as the gentle voice
Of true sincerity.
CASANDRA. Then let 880
These arms become a chain* to bind
The willing neck of one who promises
Such constancy.
DUKE. The boy shows signs
Of more maturity.
MARQUIS. Most beautiful
Aurora. Everything that I 885
Had heard of you inspired me
To want to see you for myself.
It falls to my good fortune now
To find myself in such proximity,
And since my deepest wishes have 890
Come true, I swear that beauty such
As you possess obliges me
To put my life at your service.
AURORA. My dear Marquis, flattery
Like this is precious spoken by 895
A man whose name throughout the whole
Of Italy is commonly
Associated with his fame
Upon the battlefield. I had not thought
Of you in terms of gallantry; 900
