The great Galeoto; Folly or saintliness two plays done from the verse of José Echegaray into English prose by Hannah Lynch

DOÑA ÁNGELA. You cannot. With you duty is always imperative, so you will respect that unhappy girl's grieving solitude [_ironically_], not upon the command of my will, which mus...

DON LORENZO. For her life! For her happiness! Why, to dry one tear of her eyes would I give all those my own could shed. For one bright hour for my Inés would I gladly turn all...

D. JULIAN. We have just come from the Opera. She has gone upstairs with my brother, to see something or other that Mercedes has bought, and I was on my way to my room when I saw...

DUCHESS. It is a sacred duty for you to place poor Don Lorenzo's welfare before your own happiness; but in any case, it is no less a sacred obligation to conform to a higher wil...

ERNEST. [_Abruptly and stammering._] I can't say—since I don't know to what I owe this honour. But what am I saying? Alas! Here, in my rooms, madam, reverence attends you, than...

D. JULIAN. And thereby hangs the devil's own tale of human ingratitude, of bastard sentiment, of miserable passions, and of blackguard calumny. And whether you tell it quickly o...

DR. TOMÁS. Madam, your husband is a sage, but wisdom may be overdone. For, if the tenser be the cord, the more piercing its notes, so the much easier is it to break. And when it...

ERNEST. You! good heavens! [_Rises and comes toward him effusively._] You speak out of the right of friendship and affection, and you read me through and through. Yes, sir; ther...

DUCHESS. Afterwards you will get to the end of my patience. I have done all for you that honour, dignity, and social convention permit—even more. But the moment has come for you...

ERNEST. I ran downstairs—half mad—I found them—we went upstairs again—locked the door. Two men—two witnesses—two swords—and afterwards—I hardly know what happened. Swords clashe...

TEODORA. Yes [_Doña Mercedes sits down with a satisfied air_], I did wrong, I know, in going to see him [_Doña Mercedes looks disappointed the confession is no worse_], but last...

TEODORA. What a lovely sunset! what clouds and light, and what a sky! Suppose it were true, as the poets say, and our fathers believed, that our fate is stamped upon the azure h...

DON LORENZO. [_Aside._] But where have I left the key? Oh, my head! and the notary will be here presently. I left the letter in the desk. I remember quite well. Two days ago, wh...

MERCEDES. [_Aside._] I should like to——but, no; I must go gently in this unsavoury affair. [_Aloud._] Listen, Teodora. My husband is, after all, your husband's brother, and in l...

D. JULIAN. Severo, they deceived me—they lied to me—the miserable pair! [_While he speaks Don Severo and Doña Mercedes lead him to the arm-chair._] There, look at them—both—she...

DR. TOMÁS. Don't be alarmed, dear madam. It will be all right. These are only ordinary precautions, for, who knows? Don Lorenzo might have another access of fury like that of th...

PEPITO. [_Aside._] By Jove, I see they know all about it. [_Aloud._] We are all here. How do you do, uncle? How do, father? [_Aside._] Easy. They know what's in the wind. [_Alou...

ERNEST. [_Looking at Don Julian and Teodora. Aside._] He and she! It is no illusion. Can it be what I feared? what that fool told me. [_Referring to Pepito, who at that moment e...

PEPITO. Not entirely, by Jove. Here, where the book is open, I find something I can't guess, and you must explain it to me. Reading a love-tale together to pass the time, we are...

ERNEST. The command was—that I should go away. [_Pause. Both remain silent without looking at each other._] And you? Are you going to repeat it? [_Teodora nods, but still does n...

DON LORENZO. [_Aside._] Their looks seem to bode no good, or is it, perhaps, that my eyes only reflect the flashes that dart across my mind? [_Inspects them again attentively. A...

INES. [_Offended._] Well, I suppose you are right. What an accomplished lover to haggle over minutes! It is always too early to come, too late to stay with his Inés, and he subj...

_Juana, Duchess, Don Lorenzo, Doña Ángela, and Inés. The latter enters R. Don Lorenzo tries to get away from his daughter, who stands at door in white; behind her, half hidden b...

DON LORENZO. A flickering shadow has passed before my eyes. Has it all been a dream? No, Juana is yonder, and the proof, the proof. [_Opens desk and takes out paper._] Here is t...

_Teodora, Ernest, Don Severo and Pepito. Ernest stands on the right in the middle of the stage, Teodora near the door of Don Julian's room. Pepito and, behind him, Don Severo, b...

D. SEVERO. [_In a low voice of concentrated anger, so that Don Julian may not hear._] I can find no word or epithet adequate to the passion of contempt I would express, so I mus...

JUANA. [_Holding the paper in her hand._] Not even for her sake! [_Sobs._] Sacrifice yourself, Juana, for your son. Renounce his caresses, tear your breast with your nails on se...

DON LORENZO. [_Aside._] Of remorse! She! Should fortune ever again smile upon her! What worse fate floats in the air and hangs threateningly above my head? Remorse!—I have again...

PEPITO. Well, here we are in a nice fix, and all for nothing! However, in spite of my uncle's belief, it was little short of madness to leave a resplendent creature under the sa...

_Teodora, Ernest, Doña Mercedes, and Don Severo. The latter remain standing behind as they enter. The room is quite dark, save for a glimmer of light shed from the balcony, whit...

DUCHESS. I understand, Señor de Avendaña, how unwelcome must be my visit, since I come to claim of you the most precious of your possessions [_points to Inés_], and certainly it...

DUCHESS. It is my duty to offer the consolations of sincere friendship in your cruel trouble. God has willed that the same misfortune should strike us all though in different wa...

DON LORENZO. Then give it me. 'We had no children,' she said. [_Makes an unsuccessful effort to read._] Where is it? I don't know. The letters swim before me. My eyes are dim. '...

JUANA. I know the words by heart. They were: 'Lorenzo, my son, in the casket which lies at the head of my bed there is hidden a paper under a sealed envelope. When I am dead, op...

PEPITO. He suffers greatly, but says nothing. Sometimes he calls out 'Teodora' in a low harsh voice, and sometimes 'Ernest'; and then he tugs violently at the sheets, and lies q...

JUANA. At last. At last has come the hour so long desired. All things come—and all things pass! Listen to me, Lorenzo. Life is slipping from me so quickly, so quickly, and I hav...

INÉS. But answer me. Who are they? What are they waiting for? Send them away. [_Approaches the door cautiously and peeps in; Edward endeavours to lead her down the stage._] Ther...

DON LORENZO. Now am I calmer. The hurt is mortal. I feel it—here at the heart's core. Thanks, Almighty consoler. [_Dr. Tomás and Dr. Bermúdez enter C. and stand watching him._]

DR. TOMÁS. Quite so, quite so. We must proceed with great caution. It was an access of fury, a veritable access of fury, as I told you. He has only had one, the other night. Per...

INÉS. He will speak this very day to the duchess. He has promised, and he may be relied upon, for he never breaks his word. That is settled, then. He will see her, and my father...

DON LORENZO. [_Aside._] Now they will see how my madness is going to end. Before I leave this house with what a hearty pleasure will I kick that doctor out. Fresh vigour already...

ERNEST. Let Don Julian say what he will, I won't abandon the undertaking. That would be signal cowardice. Never retreat—always forward. [_Rises and begins to walk about in an ag...

DON LORENZO. What is it? Do you distrust me? Then I will go away. Promise to give me that paper. My child's happiness awaits me yonder, and nevertheless a hand of iron, the hand...

ERNEST. [_Seated at table and preparing to write._] Nothing—impossible! It is striving with the impossible. The idea is there; my head is fevered with it; I feel it. At moments...

DOÑA ÁNGELA. For pity's sake, madam, do not leave us yet. Inés wishes to see you. She calls upon your name through heart-breaking sobs, for you are her sole consolation.

PEPITO. What has happened? A great misfortune. Don Julian heard of the duel. He came here to look for you, and you were out. He went away to find the seconds, and marched them o...

D. JULIAN. Who is it? [_Pushes her away to stare at her, drags himself to his feet with a violent effort, and shakes himself free of all aid._] Teodora! [_Falls lifeless to the...

DON LORENZO. [_Seated at table reading attentively._] 'Mercy, my niece,' replied Don Quixote, 'is that which God this moment has shown me, despite my sins. Already my mind is cl...

DON LORENZO. [_Seated at table in profound dejection. Fire burns redly, room enveloped in deep shadow. Pause._] Now I am alone. How the shadows play around me! The fire burns du...

_Inés, Edward, Juana, Don Lorenzo, and Dr. Tomás. Juana appears in door C. supported by Don Lorenzo and Dr. Tomás, stands for breath and then slowly advances; is poorly and dark...

JUANA. Do not leave me. I will tell you everything, everything. I will give you that paper—which your mother wrote twenty years ago—her letter—her signature—you will see. But on...

EDWARD. I hear nothing. Has she recovered consciousness? To think how close a thing to life is death! [_Pause._] They believe that I must give up my beloved girl! They suppose m...

D. JULIAN. Let it pass for this once, but, please God! there's an end of it. Whoever in future shall stain this face with tears [_pointing to Teodora_], I swear, and mean it, wi...

DR. TOMÁS. Everything is quiet. The girl's sobbing can no longer be heard, and Don Lorenzo's fury is calmed. 'Tis but the gentle precursor of a fresh tempest. [_Pause._] There a...

DON LORENZO. Away, away! I implore, if needs be I am ready to kneel to you, but only leave me. Oh, human selfishness! They think there is nothing else besides their passions and...

DON LORENZO. My God, remove this chalice from my lips—I can endure no more—no more. Oh, strength fails me. [_Sobs despairingly._] Thou who madest me believe in them. Thou who ma...

SERVANT. Really, sir, I can't say. It's very dark outside, and the lady's face is so thickly veiled that the devil himself couldn't tell what she's like, and she speaks so low y...

D. JULIAN. I should think so, since _everybody_ is to be the principal personage of your play. You may imagine if they are anxious to be on good terms with you.

PEPITO. The crisis is past at last. I hear nothing. Poor Don Julian! He's in a sad way. His life hangs in the balance: on one side death awaits him, and on the other another dea...

DON LORENZO. You need not fear. Let Ángela receive her in the drawing-room with all ceremony. I will carry Juana up to her room, and join you in a moment.

DON LORENZO. No, it cannot be. [_Embraces her._] I killed her by calling her mother,—and the last cry she heard from my lips was Juana. Ah, my God, my God! Why hast thou punishe...

TEODORA. By ejecting the spirit of pride and distrust; by being sensible and believing that we truly love you, that we will never change; and by putting full faith in all Julian...

_Scene represents a small room almost poorly furnished. Door at the end, on the right another door, and on the left a balcony. A book-case, a table, an arm-chair. On the table D...

EDWARD. They persist in doubting. What blindness! They can't understand that the unfortunate gentleman, from force of seeking, not the righting of wrongs, like the Errant Knight...

SCENE—_A drawing-room in Don Julian's house. At the back of stage a large door, and beyond a passage separating it from the dining-room door, which remains closed throughout the...

SCENE—_Don Lorenzo's study, octagon form. Fire lighting, over mantel-piece a large mirror in black frame L. Below, a door. Door and window R. Principal entrance in background. B...