Six One-Act Plays Part 9

GENERAL--(_Aside._) Santissima Maria, my son!

FELICIANA--Now, I will not have thee create havoc. Thou must hide thy loveliness behind a veil, or thou too shalt be discarded, and the city can mock thee also.

(_General arises in silent rage and walks back and forth._)

PEDRO--(_To Feliciana._) The lover of Lagrimas is--

FELICIANA--I know!

PEDRO--This discussion! The General's pride!

FELICIANA--It is time he understood that people do not lie in the road to keep his haughty feet free of dust.

(_Enter Rodriguez. Lagrimas again attempts to steal off with Tarik--but is discovered by the General._)

GENERAL--Who goes there?

PEDRO--(_Stops them._) Santa Maria, a miracle!

GENERAL--Who is this boy?

PEDRO--It is the boy who was killed!

RODRIGUEZ--Killed?

PEDRO--The woman's boy who flung himself over the wall. He must have been killed. It is a miracle.

GENERAL--Hold him! (_To Lagrimas._) Thou, what art thou doing here?

LAGRIMAS--I came to help the boy. I saw him struggling up the face of the wall. He is hurt, let me care for him.

GENERAL--(_Sternly._) He is a prisoner.

LAGRIMAS--Surely thou dost not fight against children, as well as women?

Let me care for him.

GENERAL--Lieutenant Don Rodriguez, wilt thou explain that our King deems it a crime against holy church to aid or shelter the infidels?

RODRIGUEZ--My word will have little weight.

GENERAL--Love should make thy tongue eloquent.

RODRIGUEZ--(_To Lagrimas._) Do not bother with the child, let Pedro take him.

LAGRIMAS--(_Bitterly._) Has success withered thy brave heart, soldier?

RODRIGUEZ--Wilt thou not understand? Interference may spell death.

LAGRIMAS--Better my body, than my soul to die. (_To General._) Is there no pity in thee? Does thy l.u.s.t for conquest extend to babies?

GENERAL--It is for thy safety he pleads.

LAGRIMAS--I do not need his pleading.

GENERAL--Is it thus thou showest love for Don Rodriguez?

LAGRIMAS--I have not said I love Don Rodriguez.

GENERAL--Hast thou not promised to marry him?

LAGRIMAS--No, no, no!

RODRIGUEZ--I have no power to either make her love or marry me.

GENERAL--No power! The man who captured Hafiz the Moor, to have no power with a woman!

RODRIGUEZ--A woman is difficult.

GENERAL--Dost thou not know, the people in the streets say she flouts thee, and mock thee for a sorry lover?

RODRIGUEZ--They will talk anyway.

GENERAL--Where is thy pride? Wilt thou have them jest at thee?

RODRIGUEZ--What have I to do with pride?

GENERAL--If thou wouldst be a son of mine, marry her out of hand. Marry her, I say! Scorn Don Rodriguez, the jade! It is intolerable.

(_Exit._)

FELICIANA--Thy father must be a terrible care, Don Rodriguez.

RODRIGUEZ--He is not always easy to understand.

FELICIANA--Thou dost not manage him right. Bring his Castilian nose nearer the earth. There are wholesome smells he is missing.

PEDRO--(_Shocked._) Feliciana!

FELICIANA--Pedro, I'm going to dance, I feel I'm going to dance. Throw thy veil away. Beauty should never be hidden.

(_Pedro throws the veil over the wall._)

PEDRO--Feliciana!

(_Pedro and Feliciana exeunt laughing._)

LAGRIMAS--(_Shyly._) The little fellow is hurt.