Free Three Major Plays by Lope de Vega, Gwynne Edwards Page A

we do not,
The risk is clear.

KING . We can rely
505

On both Navarre and Aragon for our
    -20-

Support. When I have managed to control
Castile, our victory will be
Assured.
    ISABEL . I know, my lord, all this
Will guarantee our triumph.
MANRIQUE . Your Majesty,
510

Two aldermen who represent
Ciudad Real. Will you see them?
    KING . Of course. You'll show them in.
    Enter two ALDERMEN from Ciudad Real .
    FIRST ALDERMAN . Most Catholic King Fernando,
Whom Heaven has sent from Aragon
515
To be our help and saviour in
Castile, we come as spokesmen from
Ciudad Real to seek in all
Humility your royal favour.
To be your subjects was for us
520
The greatest happiness, but now
We are deprived of that by cruel fate.
Rodrigo Téllez Girón, renowned,
Though still so young, for such great bravery,
And see KING to enhance his name
525

As Master of Calatrava, attacked
Our city. We fought as best we could;
Resisted him till all our streams
Ran red with our blood. At last

Without the help and good advice
Of Fernán Gómez. And so he has
Possession of the town and we
Will be his vassals soon unless
Your majesty decides to help us.
535

    KING . Where is Fernán Gómez?
    FIRST ALDERMAN . I think
In Fuente Ovejuna. He is
    -21-

Its overlord and has his house
And seat of power there. He rules
The place just as he wishes, denying
540
His subjects any kind of happiness.
    KING . Do you have a leader?
    SECOND ALDERMAN . We do not,
Your Majesty. Every nobleman
Was captured, hurt, or killed.
    ISABEL . Then we
Should not delay. To do so is
545
To give the enemy encouragement
And greater heart. Extremadura* is
The door whereby the King of Portugal
Can now advance and damage us.

KING . Don Manrique, prepare to leave.
550

You'll take two companies and curb
The enemy's excesses. Not
A moment's respite, understand?
The Count of Cabra goes with you.
A man of valour, Córdoba.*
555
The whole world knows how brave he is.
In the circumstances, this is the best
Way forward.
    MANRIQUE . A bold decision, my lord.
I'll put an end to their arrogance,
As long as I have breath in me.
560

    ISABEL . Your presence there will guarantee
Our triumph.
    Exit all . Enter LAURENCIA and FRONDOSO.
    LAURENCIA . I had to leave the stream,
My clothes half done, because of you!
You are too bold, FRONDOSO , yet well
You know how people love to talk.*
565
'She fancies him', 'He fancies her',
All over town, their eyes on stalks
    -22-

To see if it is true or not.
And since you are . . . well . . . better loo KING than
The rest, and dress more smartly, there's not
570
A single person in the place*
Who doesn't think we're as good as spliced
Already, and waiting for the day
When Juan Chamorro, our sacristan,
Stops playing his bassoon to announce
575
Instead our marriage-bans. But they,
As far as I'm concerned, would be
Much better occupied in stoc KING up
Their barns with golden grain, their vats
With wine, than harbouring such wild
580
Imaginings. To tell the truth,
I never gave this marriage thing
A second thought.
    FRONDOSO . This coldness* does
Me such an injury, Laurencia,
I risk my life each time I look
585
At you. If you already know
I want to marry you, does my
Good faith deserve such scant reward?
    LAURENCIA . There is no other I can give.

FRONDOSO . Does not the state I'm in succeed
590

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

FRONDOSO . But you,
595

    LAURENCIA , are my cure. When we
Get married, we'll be like turtle-doves,*
Our little beaks together, ma KING sweet
And soothing music.
    LAURENCIA . Go tell it to
    -23-

My uncle John! You know full well
600

I'm not in love with you, but maybe there's . . .
Well . . . just a little spark . . .
    FRONDOSO . Look there!
The Commander!
    LAURENCIA . He must be hunting deer.
Hide in the trees!
    FRONDOSO . I shall, and burn
With jealousy!
    The Commander enters .

COMMANDER . Well