Four Plays of Gil Vicente Part 38

_C._ Was that long ago, I pray?

_F._ It was but on last Sat.u.r.day.

_C._ What a villain then is he, 220 And men how full of all deceits, For he these last three years repeats That he's distraught for love of me.

Felipa, dost thou speak in jest?

I think indeed thou triflest, 225 But if with words thou wouldest play, Do not play upon my heart Since no jest is in the smart.

_F._ He came to me in the heat of the day, To the rock of the palm came he, 230 'Felipa, my life,' said he straightway, 'I am mad to marry thee.'

And I say, say I to him: 'Go away and have a swim.'

_C._ Perhaps he was but mocking thee.

235 _F._ Nay I know what's mockery And because I said him No I could see his tears downflow.

_C._ Ill be the tears that are so shed, For with me also he will weep, 240 And the crops may be eaten by his sheep, He does not even turn his head.

_F._ Well, I must go up the hill, Perhaps my flock may be in sight.

_C._ Thou leavest me in a plight so ill 245 That I've forgotten mine outright.

If one could but only know All the end in the beginning That one might have straightway so Knowledge that I now am winning!

_Enter Ferdinand, singing:_

250 With what eyes thou lookedst upon me That so fair I seemed to thee: How have other thoughts now won thee?

Who has spoken ill of me?

_C._ Good Ferdinand, art thou here 255 To see Felipa, thy lady dear?

But may thy coming even be Ill for thy flock and ill for thee.

_F._ Catherina, thus wouldst thou Deprive me of all power of speech?

260 Look straight at me, I beseech.

But if thus thou changest now With lowering and angry brow, 'Who has spoken ill of me?

With what eyes thou lookedst upon me?' etc.

265 _C._ Tell me, Ferdinand, I pray Why thou wouldest me betray?

If Felipa is thy love, Why me thus with treachery prove?

_F._ By my life, thou'rt mocking me today.

270 _C._ O no, I jest not: didst not say That thou with her wouldst gladly wed?

_F._ 'Twas but for fun the words were said.

In what I say will truth be found And believe no one else, I pray.

275 For as for me my life alway And soul and will in thee are bound.

_C._ With weeping since thy eyes were red Needs must be that thou lov'st her well.

_F._ I may have wept, I cannot tell, 280 But not for her my tears were shed.

Felipa's not unlike thee, so At sight of her I thought of thee And fell to weeping bitterly At memory of all my woe.

285 And if she thought my tears did flow For her, how should I be to blame?

For my love ever is the same On thee, thee only to bestow, And that it's thine well dost thou know.

290 _C._ How I hate thee, how I love thee, Ferdinand, were it mine to prove thee!

_F._ Now despair I utterly, Yes, I am most desperate, And good and ill come all too late.

For thy father has married thee 295 To Goncalo, and desolate I here remain, alone, deserted, Nothing of thee left to me But to be thus broken-hearted.

And another's shalt thou be, 300 Taken to another place, And I, by the Devil's grace, Promise that I instantly Will a monk become: in fine So much of thee shall be mine 305 In imagination's play As was given me on that day When thine eyes began to s.h.i.+ne.

_C._ Nay, but give me thy hand instead And I will say that I am wed.

310 _F._ Alas I have nothing now to give.

My promise is already said That I will in a convent live.

_C._ How many perils mar the peace Of this gloomy sea of love, 315 From day to day they still increase And its tempests greater prove.

If a monk then thou must be Husband mine will ne'er be seen: If a monk thou must be, for me 320 Thou leavest of necessity The fate of Dido, hapless queen.

_F._ Thou wilt find no sure escape With Goncalo not to marry, For whatever plans thou shape 325 Thou wilt never round the cape And thy father the day will carry.

_C._ O deliver us from ill!

May such never be my lot, For Goncalo loves me not, 330 And Goncalo I love less still.

But there he comes, see, Ferdinand, Above there in the mountain pa.s.s, And Madanela goes before, She it is that he searches for.

335 _F._ Behind this hedge here we will stand And listen to them as they pa.s.s And we will see what's in his mind And if to thee he be inclined Or if thou art given o'er.

340 _Enter Madanela, singing, and behind her Goncalo:_

(_Song:_)

When here below there's rain and snow What will it be on the mountain-height?

On the hills of Coimbra 'twas snowing 345 and raining, What will it be on the mountain-height?

(_Spoken:_)

Goncalo, what is your pretence?

_G._ Madanela, Madanela!

350 _M._ Go back at once, I say, go hence, Since thou hast so little sense.

_G._ Madanela, Madanela!

_M._ What another plague is here, What annoyance, by my soul!

355 What, wouldst thou now follow me?

_G._ I suppose I need not fear That thou shouldst eat me whole.

But if me thou wouldest kill Because of this my love for thee 360 Not serious surely is thy will.

_M._ Goncalo, go back, go back to thy plough, For all this is but vanity.