Chapter 14

FEL. ¶ Quando vejo hum cortesam com pantufos de veludo 445 & hũa viola na mão tresandamo coraçam & leuame a alma & tudo.

ROD. Gonçalo, vayme ajudar aacabar minha charrua 450 & eu tajudarey aa tua. Que estoutro sa dacabar quando a dita vir a sua.

GONÇ. Eu sam ja desenganado quanto monta a Madanella.

455 ROD. Deuetela dir com ella como mami vay mal peccado com Felipa.

GONÇ. Assi he ella.

ROD. E tu, Rodrigo, em que estaas?

FERN. Estou em muito & em nada, 460 porque a vida namorada tem cousas boas & maas.

¶ Vem hum hermitam & diz:

HERM. ¶ Fazeyme esmola, pastores, por amor do senhor Deos.

ROD. Mas faça elle esmola a nos, 465 & seja que estes amores se atem com senhos nos.

HERM. O casar Deos o prouee & de Deos vem a ventura, da ventura aa criatura 470 mas com dita he por merce & tambem serue a cordura. ¶ Pondevos nas suas mãos & não cureis descolher, tomay o que vos vier 475 porque estes amores vãos teram certo arrepender. Filhas, aqui estais escritas, Filhos, tomay vossa sorte, & cada hum se comporte 480 dando graças infinitas a Deos & a el Rey & a corte.

¶ Tirou o ermitam da manga tres papelinhos & os deu aos pastores, que tomasse cada hum sua sorte & diz Fernando:

¶ Rodrigo tome primeyro, veremos como se guia.

ROD. Nome da virgem Maria! 485 lede, padre, esse letreyro, se me cega ou alumia.

Escri. Deos & a ventura manda que quem esta sorte ouuer tome logo por molher 490 Felipa sem mais demanda.

ROD. ¶ Vencida tenho eu a batalha, Felipa, mana, vem caa.

FEL. Tirte, tirte, eramaa laa, & tu cuydas que te valha? 495 Nunca teu olho veraa.

GONÇ. Ora vay, Fernando, tu, veremos que te viraa.

FERN. Alto nome de Jesu! lede, padre, que vay la?

Escrito.

500 ¶ A sentença he ja dada & a sustancia della que cases com Madanela.

MAD. Fernando, nam me da nada, seja muytembora & nella.

505 FERN. Dias ha que to eu digo & tu tinhas me fastio.

CAT. Oo Fernando de meu tio quem me casara com tigo!

GONÇ. ¶ Oo Madanela, yeramaa, 510 se me cayras em sorte!

CAT. Ante eu morrera maa morte que Fernando ficar laa tam contrayro do meu norte. E porem nam me da nada, 515 ja me tu a mi pareces bem, Gonçalo.

GONÇ. E tu a mi Catalina; mudate di y passea per hi alem, verey que aar das de ti.

520 FEL. ¶ Estouteu, Rodrigo, olhando, & vou sendo ja contente.

ROD. Se de mi nam es contente nam tey dandar mais rogando. Eu andote namorando 525 & tu acossasme cada dia.

CAT. Inda queu isso fazia, Rodrigo, de quando em quãdo, muy grande bem te queria. ¶ E quando eu refusaua 530 de te tomar por amigo nam ja porque eu nam folgaua mas porque te examinaua se eras tu moço atreuido.

HERM. Agoro quero eu dizer 535 o que aqui venho buscar. Eu desejo dabitar hũa ermida a meu prazer onde podesse folgar. E queriaa eu achar feyta 540 por nam cãsar em fazela, que fosse a minha cella antes bem larga que estreyta & que podesse eu dançar nella. E que fosse num deserto 545 denfindo vinho & pão, & a fonte muyto perto & longe a contemplação. ¶ Muyta caça & pescaria que podesse eu ter coutada 550 & a casa temperada: no veram que fosse fria & quente na inuernada. A cama muyto mimosa & hum crauo aa cabeceyra, 555 de cedro a sua madeyra; porque a vida religiosa queria eu desta maneyra. ¶ E fosse o meu repousar & dormir atee tais horas 560 que nam podesse rezar por ouuir cantar pastoras & outras assouiar. Aa cea & jantar perdiz, o almoço moxama, 565 & vinho do seu matiz, & que a filha do juyz me fizesse sempre a cama. ¶ E em quanto eu rezasse esquecesse ella as ouelhas 570 & na cela me abraçasse & mordesse nas orelhas, inda que me lastimasse. Irmãos pois deueis saber da serra toda a guarida 575 prazauos de me dizer onde poderey fazer esta minha sancta vida.

GONÇ. ¶ Estaa alli, padre, hum siluado viçoso, verde, florido, 580 com espinho tam comprido, e vos nuu alli deytado perderieis o proido. Yuos, nam esteis hi mais, porque a vida que buscais 585 nam na da Deos verdadeyro inda que lha vos peçais.

SERRA. ¶ Ora, filhos, logo essora, cada hum com sua esposa, vamos ver a poderosa 590 Raynha nossa Senhora, sem nenhum de vos por grosa, porque he forçoso que va, que segundo minha fama da Raynha ey de ser ama 595 & a isso vou eu la. ¶ Que tal leyte como o meu nam no ha em Portugal, que tenho tanto & tal e tam fino Deos mo deu 600 que he manteyga & nam al. E pois ha de ser senhora de tam grande gado & terra quem outra ama lhe der erra, porque a perfeyta pastora 605 ha de ser da minha serra.

GONÇ. ¶ Ha mester grandes presentes das vilas, casaes & aldea.

SERRA. Mandaraa a vila de Sea quinhentos queyjos resentes, 610 todos feytos aa candea, e mais trezentas bezerras & mil ouelhas meyrinhas & dozentas cordeyrinhas taes que em nenhũas serras 615 nam se achem tam gordinhas. ¶ E Gouuea mandaraa dous mil sacos de castanha tam grossa, tam san, tamanha que se marauilharaa 620 onde tal cousa se apanha. E Manteygas lhe daraa leyte para quatorze annos, & Couilham muytos panos finos que se fazem laa. 625 ¶ Mandaraam desses casaes que estam no cume da serra pena pera cabeçaes toda de aguias Reaes, naturaes mesmo da terra. 630 E os do val dos penados & montes dos tres caminhos que estam em fortes montados mandarão empresentados trezentos forros darminhos 635 pera forrar os borcados. ¶ Eu ey lhe de presentar minas douro que eu sey com tanto que ella ou el Rey o mandem ca apanhar, 640 abasta que lho criey.

GONÇ. E afora ainda aos presentes auemos lhe de cantar muyto alegres & contentes polla Deos alumiar 645 por alegria das gentes.

Vem dous foliões do Sardoal, hum se chama Jorge e outro Lopo, & diz a Serra:

¶ Sois vos de Castella, manos, ou la debayxo do estremo?

JOR. Agora nos faria o demo a nos outros Castellanos. 650 Queria antes ser lagarto polos sanctos auangelhos.

SERRA. Donde sois?

JOR. Do Sardoal, & ou bebela ou vertela, vimos ca desafiar 655 a toda a serra da estrela a cantar & a baylar.

ROD. ¶ Soberba he isso perem pois haqui tantos pastores & tam finos bayladores 660 que nam ham medo a ninguem.

LOPO. Muytos ratinhos vam la de ca da serra a ganhar & la os vemos cantar & baylar bem coma ca 665 & he assi desta feyçam.

¶ Canta Lopo & bayla, arremedando os da serra.

¶ E se ponerey la mano en vos Garrido amor! ¶ Hum amigo que eu auia mançanas douro menuia, 670 Garrido amor! ¶ Hum amigo que eu amaua mançanas douro me manda, Garrido amor! ¶ Mançanas douro menuia 675 a milhor era partida, Garrido amor! ¶ [Mançanas douro me manda, a milhor era quebrada, Garrido amor!]

Falado.

680 ¶ Isso he, ou bem ou mal, assi como o vos fazeis.

SERRA. Peçouolo que canteis aa guisa do Sardoal.

LOPO. Esse he outro carrascal, 685 esperay ora & vereis: ¶ Ja nam quer minha senhora que lhe fale em apartado. Oo que mal tam alongado! ¶ Minha senhora me disse 690 que me quer falar um dia agora por meu peccado disseme que nam podia. Oo que mal tam alongado! ¶ Minha senhora me disse 695 que me queria falar, agora por meu peccado nam me quer ver nem olhar. Oo que mal tam alongado! Agora por meu peccado 700 disseme que nam podia, yrmey triste polo mundo onde me leuar a dita. Oo que mal tam alongado!

¶ Esta cantiga cantarão & baylarão de terreyro os foliões, & acabada diz Felipa:

¶ Nam vos vades vos assi, 705 leixay ora a gayta vir & o nosso tamboril, & yreis mortos daqui sem vos saberdes bolir.

CAT. Em tanto por vida minha 710 seraa bem que ordenemos a nossa chacotezinha & con ella nos yremos ver el Rey e a Raynha.

¶ Ordenaramse todos estes pastores em chacota, como la se costuma, porem a cantiga della foy cantada de canto dorgam, & a letra he a seguinte:

¶ Nam me firais, madre, 715 que eu direy a verdade. ¶ Madre, hum escudeyro da nossa Raynha falou me damores, vereis que dezia, 720 eu direy a verdade. ¶ Falou me damores, vereis que dezia: quem te me tiuesse desnuda em camisa! 725 Eu direi a verdade.

¶ E com esta chacota se sayram & assi se acabou.

¶ LAUS DEO.

NOTES:

0. _Esta tragecomedia pastoril foy feyta_ B.

0. _com hum parvo & diz_ C.

2. _estrella_ B.

4. _Castella_ B.

7. _yr_ B.

24. _despaña_ B.

34. _quant'elle_ C.

53, 54. _Imperatriz_, _Imperador_ C.

100. _faz un rey cousas_ B.

102. _atraues_ B. _a través_ C.

109. _tós_ C.

116. _dá-lhe_ C.

123. _phantesia_ C.

125. _querera_ B.

127. _seguem dous açores_ C.

135. _reccado_ C.

152. _lendes_ C.

159. _porque_ A, B, C, D, E. _porqu'é_ ?

161. _cures_ A, B. _cuides_ C.

167. _do melão_ A, B. _de melão_ C.

172. _Arrenega tu_ A, B. _Arrenego eu_ C.

179. _outra_ A, B. _outrem_ C.

196. _tem-te_ C.

197. _Inda_ C.

231. _com tigo_ A, B. _comtigo_ C.

261. _sês_ C.

265. _rogoto_ A. _rogo-te_ C.

276. _alma_ A. _a alma_ C.

284. _do_ A. _de_ C.

299, 300. _ver-te-has_ C.

308. _ca mão_ A, B. _ca a mão_ C.

327. _libara_ B.

328. _querelo_ A, B. _querê-lo_ C, D, E.

332. _bem_ A, B. _vem_ C, D, E.

353. _eu amargura_ B.

354. _quasi_ A, B. _qu'assi_ C.

378. _lhe basta_ C.

392. _vayamonos_ A. _vayamos_ C.

407. _maas_ A. _mais_ C.

408. _descortees_ A. _descortes_ B. _descortez_ C.

427. _moncarraz_ A, B. _Monçarraz_ C.

456. _mami_ A. _a mi_ C.

462. Desunt 462-577 in B.

469. _a creatura_ C.

477. _escriptas_ C.

482. _& diz Fernando_ A. _& diz o Ermitão_ C.

487. _Escri._ A. _(Lê o Ermitão o escrito)_ C.

498. _alto, nome_ C.

499-500. _Escrito_ A. _(Lê o Ermitão)_ C.

530: _amigo_ A, B, C, D, E. _marido_ ?

545: _D'infindo_ C.

566. Desunt 566-8 in C.

608. _Cea_ C.

609. _recentes_ C.

613. _duzentas_ C.

618. _tan grossa, tam san._ B.

628. _Aguias reaes._ B.

630. _penedos._ B. _Penados._ C.

635. _brocados._ C.

645-6. Desunt _hum se chama._ et _outro._ in C. _Iorge._ C.

647. _extremo._ C.

649. _Castelhanos._ C.

655. _estrella_ B.

660. _ham_ A. _ha hi_ C.

668. _auia, havia_ A, B, C, D, E. _queria_?

685-6. _Cantiga_ B.

711. _chacotezinha_ A, B. _chacotazinha_ C.

713-4. _he a seguinte Cantiga_ C.

Note. ad fin. ¶ _Laus Deo_ B.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION:

_Pastoral tragicomedy of the Serra da Estrella._

_A pastoral tragicomedy made in honour of and played before the very powerful and catholic King Dom John III of Portugal on the delivery of the most high Queen Dona Caterina our lady and the birth of the most illustrious Infanta Dona Maria, afterwards Princess of Castille, in the city of Coimbra in the Year of the Lord 1527._

_Enters the Serra da Estrella and says:_

Joy that shakes and wakes the hill, The mighty mountain-range of me, Will increase the swelling sea And the sky with singing fill 5 Till Castilla dance in glee. And in this hour it is my will That the whole of me, no less, To Coimbra as a shepherdess, A Beira peasant-girl, shall come, 10 Since in Beira is my home. With me thither they who are mine, The hill-girls of nut-brown tresses, Each with her lover shall repair, Yea and all the shepherdesses 15 Who flocks upon my pastures keep. And the choicest of the kine And of the merino sheep, That I may have to offer there A present to our Queen of Queens 20 Who is fairest of the fair. Mistress she of broad demesnes Came unto our mountain land And among the hills hath she Borne a new princess of Spain 25 That we give to her again, Even a rose imperial As the most high Isabel, An image of Gabriel For the repose of Portugal, 30 Its precious ward and canopy. So clearly is God's purpose planned.

_Fool._ Good faith, no, not a whit he knows But the Virgin Mary knows. But he unto no good inclines 35 And only serves to burn the vines.

_Serra._ What a thing for thee to say!

_Fool._ Who? God? why, now, I swear to God That He must always have His way. For I was at Coimbra, I, 40 At the time this very queen In the palace bore a daughter: I will tell you all about it. This same queen, and may God bless her, The queen herself was in the palace, 45 For, you know, on such occasions She is rarely seen outside it. And the Lady of the Bedchamber, For she's from Castille, they say At this very time began to pray 50 A girl, not a boy, be given her. (Even here, see, goes our way) And would you know the reason why? The Empress had just before Given birth unto an Emperor, 55 And they will marry by and by. 'Twas different with my mother, she Cared not whether it might be A boy or eke a girl by chance But unto the Virgin Mary 60 Prayed she for deliverance.

_Enter Gonçalo, a shepherd of the Serra, who comes from the Court, singing:_

Flying, the magpie has flown away, O that 'twere brought to me again: In yonder covert 'Twas mine at will, 65 With its dark-brown eyes And its golden bill. O that 'twere brought to me again! By Heaven in fine trim to-day Our Serra is and all aglow!

70 _S._ Come, Gonçalo, come away, For I minded am to go, Leaving these my haunts straightway, Gathering you all together Forthwith and without delay 75 That we may all journey thither A visit to our queen to pay If God assist us on our way.

_G._ I am now come even thence And from all that I could tell 80 Our going thither will be well, Aye, 'twill be no vain pretence, For the child of royal line, The princess that has now had birth Seems, they say, a thing divine, 85 A star that ceases not to shine Though it has appeared on earth.

_S._ I'll tell thee how it is, I ween: Her birth is in a hill-country, Of a king fairest to be seen 90 Of all that are upon the earth And of a most lovely queen. And she is born in a city Which will bless her and blest has been And of great authority. 95 On lucky day too was she born, Of Mars, the god of victory, And the winds that very morn Brought rain needed instantly For the birth of grass and corn.

100 _Fool._ Sometimes God, it is a fact, Sometimes, I say, God doth act All upside down, as one might say. For unless I'm much mistaken Mondego will be in flood 105 And all the wine from the casks be taken: Could a demon do less good? For He so brings it about That the aldermen grow stout And like dry sticks girls wither away, 110 Purple the friars wax and red, Yellow and jaundiced are the lay, And lusty they whose youth is fled While the young grow weak and grey And for nothing doth He care. 115 At Coimbra when for oats they pray Of mussels enough and e'en to spare And fish likewise He sends straightway.

_G._ Serra, if you would fain go With shepherds and with shepherdesses 120 First their loves of long ago Must mutual agreement show That as yet no ending blesses. And for my part willingly Would I Madanela wed, 125 That design is in my head But I know not if she'll agree.

_Enter Felipa, a shepherdess of the Serra, singing:_

Two falcons to follow me have I, But one of them of love shall die. Two falcons had I, and the twain 130 Are here with me, being of love's train, But one of them of love shall die.

(_Spoken:_)

_F._ Gonçalo, hast thou seen my sheep, Tell me hast thou seen them now?

_G._ From the town I am just returned and trow 135 That I for thee thy flocks must keep.

_F._ Well, thou hast been married here: They only for thy coming stay.

_G._ What, married ere I can appear? Then am I in a pretty way.

140 _F._ Nay thou must marry on thy return And must go and live with her Unless Madanela thou wouldst prefer.

_G._ From the game's chance aside I turn.

_F._ Wouldst thou the best of them all thus spurn?

145 _G._ Is it, is it Alvarenga?

_F._ No, but Catherine Meigengra.

_G._ In evil fire would I rather burn. Of Meigengra is no question here: The greatest slattern, I assert, 150 Is she and if unsewn her skirt Not a stitch will it get from her, And though she covered be with dirt Yet will she never comb her hair, And at the merest word will she 155 Be vanquished of laughter utterly. She sweeps and lets the sweepings lie, She eats and will never wash the dishes, Her uncle beats her hourly, So laxly doth she flout his wishes. 160 Madanela's the apple of my eye. And there is no more to be said But tell Meigengra presently To reckon on another head.

_F._ Thy father has given his hand, thus clinching 165 The matter beyond any flinching.

_G._ To give her my foot would I be willing As if she were a melon's rind, But as for me, my heart and mind With love of Madanela are thrilling.

170 _F._ Yet richer Meigengra thou'lt find, For Madanela has not a shilling.

_G._ A curse upon money, say I, Which only brings me fresh distress: A single hour of happiness 175 'S worth all the gold beneath the sky. God give me but the girl I love Or deprive me of life's breath, And my marriage be with death If to her I faithless prove.

180 _F._ Well, I must go instantly After my flocks and see how they fare.

_G._ And I to my father will repair And find out how this thing may be.

_Enter Catherina Meigengra, singing:_

Lofty the mountain-height, 185 But stronger is love's might, Could he but hear!

_F._ Whither, Meigengra, sister, away?

_C._ 'Tis the heifer I go to seek, Hast thou seen it here, I pray?

190 _F._ I have not seen it all this week. But Gonçalo is just gone hence, Even from the Court came he And I gave him great offence When I spoke to him of thee, 195 As if thou wert a pestilence, Such disaffection hast thou won.

_C._ And by my life I'm glad of it For, sister, I have lost my wit For Ferdinand, my uncle's son. 200 If I do not marry him I will surely die of love. But Gonçalo can only move My thoughts, yes even in a dream, To distaste and weariness.

205 _F._ If for him thou dost not care He for thee cares even less.

_C._ Bad luck to him through all the land If to think of me he dare. But if Heaven only planned 210 My marriage with Ferdinand Death to me that day welcome were, Joy's victim, not of this distress. O Ferdinand, my uncle's son, For thee was all this love begun!

215 _F._ This your love, your Ferdinand, Secretly offered me his hand.

_C._ Was that long ago, I pray?

_F._ It was but on last Saturday.

_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!