Six One-Act Plays Part 4

RODRIGUEZ--I tell thee it would be the easiest thing in the world to capture Hafiz the Moor. I could creep through the Darro, for the thirsty sun swallows the little river with one gulp in summer, and it is dry as the road to Cordova. No one would see me until I reached the Mosque, where Hafiz will be at his infidel prayers. Hafiz the Moor! The greatest enemy to our King in all Spain, and I, I have found a way to capture him with a handful of men. I think my father will call me a soldier then, and thou wilt smile on my love, Lagrimas. No maiden can resist a victorious soldier.

LAGRIMAS--Look at the swallows building in the little turret. It must be nesting time.

RODRIGUEZ--Lagrimas!

LAGRIMAS--Don Rodriguez!

RODRIGUEZ--I have been telling thee my plans to take Hafiz the Moor, and of my love for thee, and thou answerest with some nonsense about swallows, and nesting time.

LAGRIMAS--I am very wise at times.

RODRIGUEZ--Surely it's not unwise to hear of my love and bravery?

LAGRIMAS--I have heard thee speak much of both, Don Rodriguez.

RODRIGUEZ--I am a fool to think I could ever win thee. Thou dost make sport of my affection, one minute cold, one minute hot. I never know how to take thee.

LAGRIMAS--Do not take me at all, Don Rodriguez.

(_They sit silently a moment, Rodriguez in despair. At last Lagrimas peeps provokingly at him._)

LAGRIMAS--There is a caballero wooing his inamorata. Listen to the guitar. Music is very soothing in the cool of the evening. How rich and soft his voice is! I would find it hard to flout such a seductive lover.

Dost thou not hear him?

RODRIGUEZ--No!

LAGRIMAS--I can hear him plainly. What has stopped thine ears?

RODRIGUEZ--The beating of my heart.

LAGRIMAS--A soldier's heart should not beat so loudly.

RODRIGUEZ--Mine does.

LAGRIMAS--Poor soldier!

RODRIGUEZ--I'll not have thy scorn.... When I'm killed by the Moriscoes, thou mayest repent thy coldness.

LAGRIMAS--Little soldier, thou wast to _conquer_ the Moriscoes; and capture Hafiz, the enemy of King Philip.

RODRIGUEZ--I shall conquer nothing. Deeds of valor are possible only because a lady smiled.

LAGRIMAS--I smile always when with thee.

RODRIGUEZ--Have thy jest. Broken lives mean nothing to a coquette.

LAGRIMAS--Timid lovers mean less.... Why rail against fate?

(_Pedro and Feliciana enter with a rush._)

FELICIANA--Dance! Dance! I _will_ dance whenever I please.

PEDRO--And have the commonest fellow in the ranks praise thine alluring ankles and twinkling feet. Hast thou no modesty?

FELICIANA--If my ankles were thick, and my feet clumsy, I'd be modest as a nun, and keep them chastely for thine eyes alone. Why should I hide them when they are beautiful?

PEDRO--They tempt men to foolishness.

FELICIANA--Foolishness is wonderful.

PEDRO--Well, they are not so bewitching as I have said. I have praised them in moments of weakness, but they are only so-so.

FELICIANA--Don Rodriguez, I appeal to thee! Thou givest many an admiring glance when I dance the zambra in the orange grove. Thine eyes betray thee, now say, are they but so-so? (_Raises skirt._)

RODRIGUEZ--I--well--that is--

LAGRIMAS--Why dost thou not answer? Feliciana's feet are small, but not invisible. Look at them, and p.r.o.nounce judgment.

RODRIGUEZ--I grieve for thee, Pedro. They will often dance on thy heart, I fear, but in all truth and honesty, they are not so-so.

FELICIANA--Brave Don Rodriguez! I shall dance for thee to pay for thy gallant approval.

(_Feliciana dances with castanets, while the others keep time with hands. Before the dance has finished, General Don Fernando comes upon the scene, and surveys it with much displeasure._)

GENERAL--Is it in this fas.h.i.+on the soldiers of Philip protect their country?

PEDRO--One must relax sometime, General.

FELICIANA--Caramba! Am I a relaxation? I thought thou didst take love more seriously, Lieut. Pedro. Seek new amus.e.m.e.nts for thine idle hours.

(_Exit Feliciana--Pedro runs after her._)

PEDRO--Feliciana, I swear by the stars--

(_Exit. Pause._)

GENERAL--Does my son court shame behind my back?

RODRIGUEZ--I love Lagrimas, I have asked her to be my wife.

GENERAL--Thou hast asked her?

RODRIGUEZ--I offer my hand, where I have given my heart.

GENERAL--Dost thou not owe me the courtesy of knowledge? Am I to stumble on thy secret like any outsider?

RODRIGUEZ--I would have told thee to-day.