SCENE II.—_A Room in FELIX’S House.
_ANNA and ELVIRA._
_Anna._ Beside the charge of my own love, Elvira, Whose crosses, I believe, will slay me soon, My brother has confided to me at last His passion for the Princess Nisida; And, for he knows that I am near her heart, Would have me whisper it into her ears; Which, were it such a passion as _I_ feel, His eyes would have reveal’d her long ago. However, I have told her, and have got An answer such—But look! he comes.
_Enter FELIX._
_Fel._ Oh, sister, Might but your news be half as good as mine! A largess for it, come. You are betroth’d, By me, and by the Prince himself, to one In all ways worthy of you, and who long Has silently adored.
_Anna_ (_aside_). Is it possible? Cesar! (_Aloud._) Well, ask the largess that you will.
_Fel._ The Princess—
_Anna._ Well?
_Fel._ What says she?
_Anna._ All she could At the first blush—nothing—and that means all: Go to her, and press out the lingering Yes That lives, they say, in silence.
_Fel._ Oh, my sister! But who comes here?
_Enter CESAR and LAZARO._
_Ces._ (_giving the letter_). I, Felix. This must be My warrant—from the Prince. Oh misery!
_Fel._ I thank you, Cesar. (_Reads._) ‘Because happiness is the less welcome when anticipated, I have hitherto withheld from you, that he to whom I have engaged your sister’s hand, is—Don Cesar! in whom unites all that man or woman can desire. If the man lives who can deserve such glory, it is he. Farewell.’
_Ces._ Great Heav’n!
_Fel._ Nay, read the letter.
_Enter PRINCE, NISIDA, ARIAS, and Train._
_Prince._ He shall not need, Myself am here to speak it.
_Ces._ (_kneeling_). Oh, my lord!
_Prince._ Rise, Cesar. If your service, as it did, Ask’d for reward, I think you have it now; Such as not my dominion alone, But all the world beside, could not supply. Madam, your hand; Don Cesar, yours. I come To give away the bride: And after must immediately away To Flanders, where by Philip’s trumpet led, I will wear Maestricht’s laurel round my brows; Leaving meanwhile Don Felix Governor Till my return—by this sign manual.
[_Puts NISIDA’S hand in FELIX’S._
_Fel._ My lord, my lord!
_Laz._ Elvira!
_Elv._ Lazaro!
_Laz._ I must be off. Our betters if we ape, And they ape marriage, how shall we escape?
_Ar._ And learn this moral. None commend A secret ev’n to trustiest friend: Which secret still in peril lies Even in the breast of the most wise; And at his blabbing who should groan Who could not even keep his own?
There are three other plays by Calderon, on this subject of keeping one’s love secret; a policy, whose neglect is punisht by a policy characteristically Spanish. 1. _Amigo, Amante, y Leal_: which has the same Prince and Arias, only the Prince confides his love to his rival. 2. _El Secreto a Voces_: where it is the ladies who shuffle the secret about the men. And 3. _Basta Callar_, a more complicated intrigue than any.
GIL PEREZ, THE GALLICIAN
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ
GIL PEREZ.
ISABEL _his Sister._
DON ALONSO ⎫ ⎬ _his two Friends._ MANUEL MENDEZ ⎭
PEDRO ⎫ ⎬ _Servants in his house._ CASILDA ⎭
DONNA JUANA _a Portuguese Lady._
JUAN BAPTISTA _a Lover of Isabel._
THE LORD HIGH ADMIRAL OF PORTUGAL.
DONNA LEONOR _his Cousin._
A SHERIFF.
A JUDGE.
LEONARDO _a Traveller._
ALGUAZILS, OFFICERS, ATTENDANTS, FARMERS, etc.